This is the time of year when a lot of us like to set goals, make resolutions, and get back on track with exercise, food, relationships, and other personal, work, and life goals. One particular book that I recently read gave me a new perspective on productivity, time management, and goal setting. The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington resets the idea of spending 12 months on a goal, but instead challenges us to focus on one goal for a 12 week period of time.
With their system each week becomes one month. Then, every 12 weeks you get to reset and start on a new goal. The secret to success with their system is not over committing to too many goals in a 12 week period as well as scheduling time each week to do the work to accomplish your goal. They also encourage building in buffer time, strategic time, and breakout time to allow for creativity, everyday tasks, and research.
From September – November I tried their system after listening to the book on Audible. My cookbook manuscript was finished and I wanted to make progress on another project that had been on my mind. I committed to the goal worked in a constructive and focused way as I watched the goal come to life in just 12 weeks. I could have spent 12 months on the same goal, but with focused and consistent action, I did in 12 weeks what could have taken longer.
For January – March 2016 I plan to pick another goal and work in much the same way. Through implementing their system it’s possible we could all accomplish 4 major goals in the next 48 weeks. This also even builds in time for vacations (which I love) and gives us the opportunity to see progress rather than just dreams about goals to accomplish during 2016. Here is a link to the 12 Week Year website and the book can also be purchased at online or brick-and-mortar retailers, as well as on Audible if you like to listen to audio books.
No matter whether you set goals for the new year, or not, I wish you joy and peace as we begin 2016.
Author, editor, and culinary dietitian Maggie Green coaches aspiring cookbook authors during the pre-publication phase of writing a cookbook. If you want to write a cookbook, and wonder if you’re ready, download her 11-point checklist Am I Ready to Write a Cookbook?