Do more in 12 weeks
Photo by Alex Jones on Unsplash
At the start of each year we like to think ahead and set goals for ourselves. We want to get healthier, be more productive and move our careers forward. 3 months in we have slipped on at least one of these goals and by 6 months we have set new goals. By the end of the year most of us haven't achieved all the items we set out to achieve.
I have been goal driven for quite a few years yet I still fall into the categories I mentioned. 6 months ago, I listened to the Audible book The 12 Week Year. The book is about setting structured goals based on a 12-week period. The issue with setting yearly goals is that we don't break them down into small enough tasks so we can track our progress. If we can't easily track our progress it is easy to leave things till too late or forget what we set out to achieve.
Over the last few months people have asked me why I started writing. I have always wanted to write but over 4 years I had only published 2 articles online. I had read a few books and then read the 12-week year. I followed the framework and set a goal to write 12 articles in 12 weeks. Setting the goal in that timeframe made it easy to break it down into weekly goals. 7-day goals were easy to keep front of mind and force me to make the time. More importantly it forced me to press the green 'publish' button each time. There is nothing worse than having a series of half-finished initiatives. May five insights I wanted to share as follows.
One. Small things are easier to finish.Yes, it can be that simple. By setting a goal that you can achieve in 12 weeks means you are setting something realistic. Then breaking it down into weekly mini goals means you have already started the thinking process. This means that you get to cross things off each week. You are never overwhelmed by either a long list of tasks. Or a goal that you don't know where to begin with. Crossing things of your list weekly releases a chemical in your brain called Dopamine. It is our happy chemical. When your brain feels the dopamine release and feels good. It pushes you to do it again. As you finish small things you already want to finish more things. Leaving you with a series of completed tasks after 12 weeks and your larger goal reached.
Two. Less time to get distracted. With the 12-week goal you are running to each weekly goal. When your goal is front of mind you are more likely to be more focused and not as easily distracted. Holding yourself accountable or using an accountability partner will keep driving you week on week. I found I was planning my days better to ensure I would get to the gym or pre-plan the structure of an article early in the week. Each week that I ticked things of my list made the next week easier to remain focused to do the same thing again.
Three. Get more done.People have a misconception on what an achievement is. We feel we need to have solved a large problem for something to matter. It isn't true. Early in my career I kept wanting to move to a 'bigger' program of work. Because that is what everyone seemed to promote on their resumes. When I got to the point in my career where I worked on large programs. I realised it was just an accumulation of smaller projects. Which was an accumulation of smaller tasks. I can sound experienced by explaining a single feature and how we simplified complexity. Or solved a complex problem which had a particular impact.
Four. Self-doubt has less breathing space.In 4 years, I published two articles. In 12 weeks, I published 12. The only difference is that I didn't get to spend weeks and weeks ruminating over if anyone would like it. Worse still I read it and edit it over and over till I give upon because it is not good enough. Allowing myself doubt to win over and over meant I published zero articles. Setting a weekly goal meant I had to click the publish button and I didn't have time to bathe in my self-doubt. It was very rewarding after I published the first article. It didn't matter if anyone liked it. I felt good about myself. I set a goal. I reached my goal. I ate a chocolate doughnut and went to the gym after it.
Five. The commitment is in the detail. When we set a goal like wanting to be promoted this year. It doesn't force us to think of the 'how'. You have a higher chance of failing that goal as you don't know what you need to do to be promoted.
A better goal is in 12 weeks I will go above the expectation of my role by completing side project New Peak. From there you work backwards and work out the weekly tasks required to complete project New Peak. After 12 weeks you complete it. After 26 weeks you have completed 2 above expectation projects. By 52 weeks you have completed 4 projects and 52 milestone tasks at least. If you brought your manager along the journey there would also be active conversations on this.
This isn't a fail-safe guide to get promoted, but it will certainly put you in a better position for it. By setting the 12-week goal and the weekly milestones you get to complete the details. The detail is what allows us to commit and complete any task.
In summary I wanted to share two goals I have set and surpassed since using this framework. My focus on my health and fitness has never been better. With my exercise and move goals are up to a 178-day streak so far. Since reaching 12 articles I set another 12-week goal which I found easier than the first. As an unexpected outcome, I have had several engaging conversations with people about their careers and their obstacles.
Which 12-week goal are you going to set out to do?
Note: Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer.