Is an annual plan too long to be effective? That’s what Brian Moran and Michael Lennington argue in their book The 12 Week Year, which has become one of my go-to resources for formulating business strategy and getting jobs done.
They believe that having KPIs six or twelve months down the road gives no sense of urgency, and leads to postponing important but not imperative tasks.
Rather than have distant goals that can be put off, they say ambitious business owners need small, regular wins to give us the sense of achievement we need to spur us on.
The book is full of practical suggestions on how to achieve these wins. Three big takeaways are:
1. Execution is what sets successful businesses apart
Most businesses aren’t short of ideas. The ability to execute them sets successful businesses apart from the rest. A 12-month horizon leaves too much opportunity to delay action or to go over details again and again, over-thinking and revising plans instead of implementing them.
In contrast, a 12-week horizon focuses us on getting things done. It’s now or never, and a solid plan that’s actually put into effect is infinitely better than a perfect plan that’s never executed.
2. Plan every week. Have monthly goals.
A 12-week horizon means focusing on fewer, more high-priority tasks. It becomes vital to identify and prioritise the most important, with planning and time management more critical than ever.
So, block time to focus, every week. Block time for both planning and executing tasks. Block time for strategy. Block time for emails, finances, and the day-to-day stuff needed to run your business. And block time during your working week to ‘break out’ – doing anything other than work. Be ruthless about it. And make sure you measure the performance of everything you do – because, often, only what is measured actually gets done.
3. Don’t go it alone
Being a business owner can be a lonely road. You mostly have only yourself to talk to; your partner and kids got bored with your business stories years ago. Having a business coach is invaluable, even if you only meet quarterly. But if you want a real game-changer, get into an ‘accountability group’.
With a team to talk to, you can geek out on business and cheer each other on. As well as moral support, you’ll get new insights and ideas from other smart business owners. These new perspectives can help you execute your goals faster and with more energy, enrich what you’re doing, and help you avoid fruitless and expensive mistakes.
For example: will a Google Ads campaign bring in the right leads, or are you better off upping your social activity? Why guess when you can discuss the question with others who have faced the same choice?
Moran and Lennington’s biggest idea is the one in the title. A 12-week year can be a powerful tool in speeding up your business planning, execution, and journey to success.
If you would like help setting up your 12-week year, get in touch, I’m sure we can help.
