Get More Done In 12 Weeks Than Others Do In 12 Months - The 12 Week Year

Summary

The script explores the concept of 'The 12 Week Year' by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington, which emphasizes the importance of consistent execution over knowledge. It suggests that success is often hindered by execution problems rather than a lack of knowledge. The book introduces a framework to increase productivity, inspired by athletic training techniques, and emphasizes the need to redefine the year into 12-week periods to create urgency and accountability. It also highlights the significance of an emotional connection to one's goals and the implementation of an execution system, including setting goals, controlling processes, and tracking progress to achieve long-term objectives.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The '12 Week Year' by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington is a framework designed to increase productivity by focusing on consistent execution rather than just acquiring more knowledge.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The concept of 'periodization', an athletic training technique, is adapted to improve performance in various life aspects by focusing on specific skills for a set period before moving to the next.
• 🔄 The book challenges the traditional annual planning approach, suggesting that 12-week cycles create a sense of urgency and provide more frequent opportunities for fresh starts and goal reassessment.
• 🌟 Creating an emotional connection with your long-term vision is crucial for maintaining motivation and overcoming the natural tendency to prioritize short-term comfort over long-term goals.
• 🧠 The book explains the neurological basis for the importance of envisioning a compelling future, which strengthens the prefrontal cortex and aids in goal-oriented behavior, counteracting the risk-averse amygdala.
• 📝 Writing down a vision for the future and reviewing it daily helps to stay aligned with long-term objectives and provides a clear purpose for daily actions.
• 🎯 Setting 12-week goals and tactics derived from a medium-term vision helps in breaking down the steps needed to achieve larger aspirations into manageable weekly and daily tasks.
• 🤝 Peer support and accountability are vital for staying on track with goals, with the book suggesting weekly meetings to discuss progress and hold oneself accountable.
• 📊 Tracking progress with numbers and confronting the truth about one's performance is a powerful motivator and helps to build self-esteem and confidence by documenting achievements.
• 🔄 Regularly reviewing and adjusting plans based on progress and setbacks is essential for continuous improvement and staying adaptable to changing circumstances.
• 🌱 The '12 Week Year' encourages the belief that by controlling daily actions, one can achieve the life they are truly capable of, beyond the limitations often imposed by daily distractions and comfort-seeking behaviors.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the book 'The 12 Week Year' by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington?

The main theme of 'The 12 Week Year' is achieving life-changing results through consistent execution. It emphasizes that success is more about the execution of known strategies rather than acquiring more knowledge.

What is the concept of 'periodization' as discussed in the book?

Periodization is an athletic training technique that focuses on concentrating on one skill at a time for 4 to 6 weeks before moving on to the next. It is used to improve performance and can be applied to any aspect of life to enhance success.

How does the book suggest changing the way we view the year to improve productivity?

The book suggests redefining the year to just 12 weeks to create a sense of urgency and to provide more frequent opportunities for fresh starts, which can help maintain motivation and accountability.

What role does an emotional connection play in the execution system proposed by the authors?

An emotional connection, tied to a compelling vision of one's future, is crucial for staying highly accountable. It helps prioritize actions over short-term comfort and strengthens the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in goal-oriented behavior.

How does the book address the issue of procrastination and lack of urgency in long-term planning?

By proposing a 12-week planning cycle, the book aims to create a sense of urgency similar to that experienced when facing a looming deadline, thus reducing procrastination and increasing focus on important tasks.

What are the four key insights from the book that the transcript highlights?

The four key insights are: the athletic training technique of periodization, redefining the year to 12 weeks, the impact of an emotional connection to one's actions, and the execution system itself for turning ideas into a weekly routine.

How does the book propose to create and use a vision for daily motivation?

The book suggests writing down a vision for life 5 to 15 years in the future, focusing on key areas such as physical, spiritual, mental, relationships, financial, professional, and personal, and reviewing it daily to stay motivated.

What are the components of the execution system as outlined in the book?

The execution system consists of four elements: creating and using a vision, setting 12-week goals and tactics, controlling the process with weekly plans and peer support, and confronting the truth through progress measures.

How does the book recommend setting weekly and daily actions to achieve 12-week goals?

The book recommends aligning weekly and daily actions, known as tactics, with the 12-week goals that are derived from a medium-term vision. This provides a clear plan of action to achieve the goals.

What is the significance of tracking performance with numbers according to the book?

Tracking performance with numbers helps to build self-esteem and confidence by documenting progress and achievement. It also prevents rationalizing poor performance and focuses on actual results rather than comfort.

How does the book suggest using peer support to enhance accountability?

The book suggests setting up weekly accountability meetings, such as the 15-minute WS meetings, to support and hold oneself accountable. For individuals, joining or setting up a community like a Discord server can provide the necessary peer support.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Unleashing Potential Through Consistent Execution

This paragraph introduces the concept of achieving life-changing results by addressing the gap between knowledge and execution. It highlights the common misconception that more knowledge is needed to succeed, using the example of health and fitness where despite widespread knowledge, many still struggle with weight issues. The paragraph introduces 'The 12 Week Year' by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington, a book that presents a framework for increasing productivity and achieving more in less time. It emphasizes the importance of planning and execution, backed by psychological and neurological evidence, and outlines four key insights that the book offers, including the athletic training technique of periodization, the redefinition of the year, the impact of emotional connection, and the execution system itself.

05:01

🎯 The Power of Periodization and Vision in Goal Achievement

This paragraph delves into the technique of periodization, originally used in athletic training to enhance performance, and its application in personal and professional development. It discusses the principles of focus, concentration, and overload in mastering specific skills. The '12 Week Year' is presented as a version of periodization for life goals, emphasizing the importance of daily actions aligned with long-term objectives. The paragraph also addresses the limitations of traditional annual planning and suggests redefining the year into 12-week periods to maintain a sense of urgency and accountability. It introduces the idea of an emotional connection to goals, explaining how tying actions to a compelling future vision can increase motivation and counteract the brain's natural aversion to uncertainty and risk, supported by the concepts of neuroplasticity and the interplay between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex.

Keywords

💡Potential

Potential refers to the latent qualities or abilities within an individual that can be developed and used to achieve success. In the context of the video, it emphasizes the idea that many people do not reach their full potential due to execution problems rather than a lack of knowledge. The script suggests that by tapping into one's potential, significant life achievements can be realized within a short period.

💡Execution

Execution is the act of carrying out a plan or strategy. The video script highlights that the difference between those who achieve great things and those who do not often lies in the execution of their plans. It contrasts the common belief that more knowledge is needed with the reality that effective execution is the key to success.

💡12we Year

The 12we Year is a framework introduced in the video, which is based on the book by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington. It is a system designed to increase productivity and achieve life-changing results through consistent execution. The term is used to illustrate a redefined approach to goal setting and planning, focusing on 12-week periods instead of the traditional year-long plans.

💡Periodization

Periodization is an athletic training technique that involves focusing on one skill at a time for a set period before moving on to the next. In the video, it is recontextualized as a method to improve success in any aspect of life, including personal development. The 12we Year is described as a version of periodization, aiming to change thinking and action towards achieving long-term goals.

💡Urgency

Urgency is the sense of immediate importance or need for action. The script discusses how setting goals within a 12-week framework creates a sense of urgency, which is crucial for maintaining focus and driving success. It contrasts the lack of urgency in traditional annual planning with the constant pressure and motivation provided by the 12-week cycles.

💡Accountability

Accountability is the state of being responsible for one's actions or decisions. The video emphasizes the importance of being accountable for one's actions to achieve goals. It mentions the role of peer support and weekly accountability meetings as part of the execution system to ensure that individuals stay on track with their goals.

💡Vision

A vision is a clear and compelling image of the future that guides decision-making and inspires action. The video script suggests tying short-term actions to a long-term vision that includes both professional and personal goals. It argues that an emotional connection to this vision can increase motivation and help individuals prioritize actions over short-term comfort.

💡Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt as a result of experience. The script explains that by regularly thinking about a compelling future or vision, one can strengthen the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with goal-oriented behavior. This concept supports the idea that envisioning and working towards a goal can lead to tangible changes in the brain that facilitate achievement.

💡Tactics

Tactics are specific actions or steps taken to achieve a goal. In the context of the 12we Year framework, tactics are the daily and weekly actions derived from the 12-week goals that align with one's medium-term vision. The script uses the term to illustrate the importance of breaking down goals into actionable steps that can be consistently executed.

💡Progress Measures

Progress measures are methods used to track and evaluate the success of actions taken towards achieving goals. The video script discusses the importance of confronting the truth about one's performance by using numbers to track progress. It argues that this approach helps build self-esteem and confidence by documenting achievements and maintaining focus on performance rather than comfort.

💡Confronting the Truth

Confronting the truth involves acknowledging one's performance and results honestly, without rationalizing or making excuses. The script suggests that tracking performance with numbers is a way to confront the truth, which can be challenging but ultimately leads to a stronger focus on achieving excellence.

Highlights

The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington offers a framework to increase output by four times through consistent execution.

Most people have an execution problem, not a knowledge problem, as evidenced by the high rate of overweight adults despite knowing the basics of diet and exercise.

The book introduces the concept of periodization, an athletic training technique that focuses on one skill at a time for improved performance.

The 12 Week Year adapts periodization to change thinking and action, emphasizing the importance of daily actions in achieving long-term goals.

Annual planning is criticized for lacking urgency due to distant deadlines, which can lead to procrastination and missed goals.

Redefining the year as 12 weeks creates a sense of urgency and provides more frequent opportunities for fresh starts and goal reassessment.

An emotional connection to one's actions is key to maintaining high levels of accountability and motivation.

Tying short-term actions to a compelling future vision can help overcome the brain's natural resistance to uncertainty and risk.

Neuroscience supports the idea that envisioning a compelling future strengthens the prefrontal cortex, enhancing goal-oriented behavior.

The execution system outlined in the book includes creating and using a vision, setting 12-week goals and tactics, and controlling the process.

Writing down a life vision for the next 5 to 15 years and reviewing it daily can help maintain motivation and focus.

Creating 12-week goals and daily tactics ensures a clear plan that prevents jumping from idea to idea without progress.

The importance of a weekly plan, peer support, and progress measures in maintaining accountability and tracking performance.

Confronting the truth about one's performance through tracking and scoring can build self-esteem and confidence.

A completion percentage for weekly actions helps to identify areas for improvement and maintain a high level of performance.

The 12 Week Year system encourages choosing the uncomfortable path necessary for achieving the life one is truly capable of.

The book provides practical tools and methods for individuals to control their actions and achieve their full potential.

Transcripts

how is it that most people never achieve

what they're capable of when some people

accomplish so much what would your life

look like if you could fully tap into

your potential what could you achieve in

6 months 3 years or 5 years if you

performed every day at your best that's

what this book is all about when we want

to accomplish something great we often

assume we need more knowledge but that's

not entirely true for example most

people know that to get in better shape

you need to eat less and exercise more

and yet nearly two out of three adults

in the US are overweight we don't have a

knowledge problem we have an execution

problem this is the 12we Year by Brian P

Moran and Michael lenington it explains

how to achieve life-changing results

through consistent execution through

their work with individuals and

companies the authors have developed a

framework that increases your output by

four times it's been developed over the

years through real world testing and is

supported by evidence from Psychology

and Neuroscience it shows how through

changes to your planning and execution

you can get more done in 12 weeks than

others do in 12 months as the authors

say it's not what you know it's not even

who you know it's what you Implement

that counts there are four key insights

from this book that really stuck with me

firstly we'll talk about the athletic

training technique that inspired this

framework secondly redefining the year

thirdly the impact of an emotional

connection and finally the execution

system itself so firstly let's talk

about periodization it began as an

athletic training technique designed to

massively increase performance it has

three principles Focus concentration and

overload on a specific skill rather than

working on all the skills in athlet

needs at once they focus on one skill at

a time for 4 to 6 weeks and then they

move on to the next skill this technique

was first implemented in the 1970s in

preparation for the Olympics and is

still widely used today periodization

doesn't just work in sports though it

could be used in any aspect of your life

to improve your success the 12we year is

a version of periodization designed to

change how you think and act it defines

what's important to do today to achieve

your long-term goals your results are an

outcome of the actions you take and

those actions are just manifestations of

your thinking therefore when you change

your thinking Everything Changes the

result is more urgency and a clearer

focus on those few activities that

actually drive success if you complete

those actions daily you're guaranteed to

achieve your long-term objectives the

second key point from the book is

redefining the year most people make

their goals for next year at the end of

the current year and from that goal

they'll make a loose plan on how they'll

achieve it interestingly the authors

argue that these annual plans are

actually a bad idea there are many

issues with annual plans but the main

one is that the deadline is too far away

if you get behind in anuary you won't

worry too much as you have a long time

to catch up this thinking continues

until late into the year when it's too

late to actually hit your goals with a

deadline that's so far away we don't

have the urgency to perform every day at

our best it's human nature to act

differently when a deadline is looming

we procrastinate less and focus on what

matters but imagine if we could be like

that all the time to achieve this the

book suggests we redefine the year to

just 12 weeks this has two main benefits

firstly 12 weeks is long enough to get

things done but short enough that you

have a sense of urgency it's like having

the focus that you get when you're

pushing to meet a deadline or cramming

for an exam all year round and the

second benefit is that it brings the New

Year's excitement forward if this year

doesn't go to plan and you get derailed

you don't need to wait 6 to 10 months

for the next one you get a fresh start

every 12 weeks and just like at the end

of the 12mon year at the end of the 12we

year you get a chance to take a break

celebrate and recharge and this reduced

time frame helps to create urgency and

keep you accountable but the book has a

second more critical component the key

to creating almost unlimited motivation

Focus that brings me to the third key

point of the book the emotional

connection the authors suggest that to

stay highly accountable you need an

emotional investment in your actions

they say that the best way to do this is

to tie your short-term actions to a

vision of your future a dream that

includes both your professional and

personal goals I'm not going to lie to

you I struggled to get to grows with

this concept initially but the book

eventually convinced me this resistance

is also widespread amongst typ a people

we tend not to believe in Visions mood

boards or anything like that we see them

as fluffy and unscientific and I'll be

the first to admit that I was firmly in

this camp but the authors convinced me

with these two points firstly when you

have to choose between a comfortable

action or an uncomfortable one is human

nature to want to choose Comfort how

often have you skipped to the gym

because of bad weather if you've got no

emotional stake in the outcome it's too

easy to prioritize your comfort over

your goals to achieve at a higher level

than you are now you need to have a way

to prioritize actions over your

shortterm comfort you must have such a

powerful vision of your future that you

can ignore your short-term discomfort

behind every impossible achievement is a

dreamer of impossible Dreams Robert K

Green Leaf this argument began to

convince me but then the book explains

the science when facing uncertainty

about your future a part of your brain

the amydala reacts negatively the

amydala is helpful when avoiding danger

and staying alive but not when trying to

grow and improve our lives the second

you start thinking about something risky

or uncertain the amydala will try to

shut that down to stop you from doing

something dangerous but there is a

counterbalance to the amydala the

prefrontal cortex the prefrontal cortex

is involved in goal oriented behavior

scientists have proven that there's an

increase in activity in your prefrontal

cortex when you think about a compelling

future Studies have also proven that

your brain can change even as an adult

this is called neuroplasticity your

brain actually changes depending on how

you use it so by regularly thinking

about your compelling future AKA your

vision you strengthen that part of your

brain and that then makes it easier to

act on that vision and if you can

consistently act on it you'll eventually

achieve it but a vision without a plan

it's just a pipe dream and that is where

the final Point comes in the execution

system this system is how you turn these

ideas into a weekly routine that

guarantees success there are four

elements to the system the first is how

we create and use the vision we just

discussed to start you write down a

vision for your life five to 15 years in

the future try to focus on these seven

key areas physical spiritual mental

relationships Financial professional and

personal then look at this every day at

the start of your day I've been doing

this by having it at the top top of my

daily plan which is a notion template I

made to help me complete the 12we year I

look at my daily tasks and I naturally

glance at my vision I would never have

thought I'd be into something like this

it naturally goes against my personality

but it is definitely helping me to stay

motivated right from the get-go each

morning it reminds me why I've dragged

myself out of bed why I'm working and

what I want to achieve the second

element of the execution system is your

12we goals and tactics these are your

actual plans you look at your vision and

from there create a slightly shorter

term goal 3 to 5 years in the future

then set one to four goals for the

upcoming 12we period that align with

your medium-term vision from there you

create weekly and daily actions AKA

tactics that will get you to that goal

doing this gives you a simple plan that

breaks down every action you need to

take to achieve your goals it sounds

simple and honestly it's because it is

but having a clear plan for the next 12

weeks stops me from jumping from idea to

idea when you work on your own it's so

easy to get distracted and try to work

on a 100 ideas at once you start one

idea and everything's great but then it

gets tricky so you quit and try

something else and if you keep doing

that you never really make progress on

any one idea to stop this you need the

third element of the system controlling

the process there are three elements to

this the weekly plan peer support and

progress measures your weekly plan is

just the actions from your 12we plan

that are due this week and your daily

plan is just the actions that are due

that day these plans don't include

everything you need to do that day or

week just the actions that drive you

closer to your goal I look at my plan

each morning and then do those tasks

first I then leave time later in the day

for any other task that I need to do

with buffer blocks that gives me a clear

idea of where to focus but the second

Point has made the biggest difference to

me so far peer support the 12we year

mostly focuses on teams in business so

they have weekly accountability meetings

or WS set each Monday these quick

15-minute meetings help support you and

help you to hold yourself accountable

but that's hard when you work on your

own which is why I set up a Discord

server for anyone doing my 12we year

challenge we meet on Mondays and do an

accountability meeting knowing that I

need to attend that meeting and report

back on my progress gives me that little

push I need to stay on on track and if

that would be helpful to you there's a

link to join for free in the description

at the end of the week you should take

some time to review your progress work

out what went well and what didn't this

will help you to avoid the same mistakes

next week to understand your progress

you need to be able to measure it this

is where the fourth element in the

execution system comes in this element

is confronting the truth there's a

common misconception that scoring

someone damages their self-esteem but

research shows the opposite it builds

self-esteem and confidence as it

documents progress and achievement and

achievement is one of the top motivating

in the workplace according to a study in

the 1940s tracking your performance with

numbers stops you from rationalizing

poor performance we've all done it we

underperform and then find a reason

because it's easier than confronting the

truth while it can be tough keeping

score makes us focus on performance

rather than Comfort at the end of the

week calculate a completion percentage

for each of your weekly actions last

week for example I completed almost all

of my actions I got 100% on my content

and no alcohol actions but missed one

gym workout which led to an 86%

completion score on my exercise goal

when you had these out and divide by the

total I get a total score of 96% for the

week tracking this each week helps to

know if you're actually on track the

author's studies find that a score above

85% is what you need to aim to hit to

achieve Excellence this might be my

favorite part of the system knowing that

skipping something that day will impact

my score is usually enough to get me off

the sofa and doing what I need to do

even if I don't want to life is hectic

and full of distractions full of reasons

not to do something that's hard but

important full of reasons to choose the

comfortable path the great thing about

the 12we year is it makes it easy to

choose the uncomfortable path most of us

have two lives the lives we live and the

lives we're capable of if we can control

our actions today we can achieve the

life that we're capable of thank you so

much for

[Music]

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