Achieving More in Less Time: The 12 Week Year Strategy

It is January 17th, and although it feels like this new year has just begun,  can you believe that 5% of 2024 is already behind us?

Isn’t that a little crazy to think about? Time passes quickly and if we are to be good stewards of our gifts, talents, abilities and opportunities that God has placed before us (Matt 25), we must “redeem the time” (Eph 5:16) that we have been given. 

As such, I thought it would be helpful to share with you Parkinson's Law. Have you heard of it? It is the idea that work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion.

What this means is that we often will take longer than necessary to complete a task, or we will procrastinate and complete the task right before the due date.

Have you ever noticed how much you can accomplish the day before leaving town for a vacation, knowing that you have a finite amount of time to accomplish all that must be done before leaving?

I want to help you be that productive (not necessarily that busy) so that you can accomplish more in less time, enjoy increased productivity, and achieve your goals and dreams.  

Last year I read a book that I found incredibly impactful – "The 12 Week Year" by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington. I will share a very brief synopsis of this book with you in hopes of providing something of value that can help you.

"The 12 Week Year" challenges the conventional annual goal-setting approach and introduces a revolutionary concept: condensing a year's worth of work and progress into just 12 weeks.

Here's a brief overview:

Most people and businesses operate on an annual planning cycle, which often results in procrastination, lack of urgency, and missed opportunities. In contrast, the 12 Week Year proposes setting shorter, more frequent goals – 12-week "years" – to create a sense of urgency and focus.

The book provides a step-by-step framework for implementing this concept, emphasizing the importance of clarity, commitment, and accountability. It guides the reader to setting clear, measurable objectives and developing a weekly execution plan to stay on track.

Throughout the book, it delves into the psychology of goal achievement, discussing the importance of mindset, motivation, and resilience. It also addresses common pitfalls and most importantly, offers strategies to overcome them.

The methods discussed in this book have been widely praised by many successful individuals and organizations for its ability to drive meaningful results in a shorter time frame.

Who wouldn't want that? 

It lays out a clear blueprint for achieving more in less time, and I believe its principles can boost your personal or professional performance, making a profound impact on your life and goals. If you are looking for your next good book, I hope you consider giving this one a read.