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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The 12 Week Year summary
Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington
Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 months
21 mins
Brief summary
The 12 Week Year by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington is a guide to achieving great results in a short amount of time by focusing on 12-week cycles instead of yearly goals. It provides actionable advice on prioritization, goal setting, and execution.
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The 12 Week Year
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
We’re held back from achieving our potential, not by a lack of ideas, but by a lack of consistent execution.
We’re all familiar with the aphorism “knowledge is power.” But this kernel of wisdom is a bit misleading – because, in and of itself, knowledge bestows no particular power on its possessor. Rather, the power comes from what one does with one’s knowledge.
In short, ideas are only powerful if they’re acted on.
Let’s look at a few examples. Roughly 65 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese. But that’s not for lack of knowledge. There are around 46,000 diet books available, and the diet and fitness industry is worth $60 billion a year. Everyone knows deep down that they need to eat a little better and move a little more. They just don’t act on that knowledge.
The same is true in business. Sure, you need a great idea to succeed. But execution is what makes the difference: ideas are only rewarded if they’re deftly executed in the market. Apple is a success because they took a series of great ideas and executed them with incredible skill. Achieving your true potential isn’t about dreaming big; it’s about executing ably.
Evidence shows that the consistent application of best practice will improve results significantly.
Take Ann Laufman, a financial advisor from Houston. Laufman had a sense that she could be doing better, but was at a bit of a loss as to how to move forward.
Laufman began using the 12 Week Year approach which focuses on executing tasks more effectively. Instead of taking a new approach – focusing on wealthier clients, for instance, or widening her potential market – she simply applied her existing approach more effectively. She soon found that focusing on execution worked wonders.
Eventually, Laufman increased her output by 400 percent, and became the first woman in her firm’s history to be awarded “associate of the year.’”
The 12 Week Year approach can help you execute better, too – that is, to focus on what’s important, manage your time better, measure your results and achieve more, faster.
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What is The 12 Week Year about?
The 12 Week Year (2013) provides a blueprint for revolutionizing your planning, delivery and productivity. Many individuals, organizations and businesses plan around an annual cycle, but it’s near impossible to make accurate plans for an entire year, and it’s just as hard to muster a year’s worth of focus. This book offers an alternative, explaining how to plan around a 12-week period, execute critical tasks and radically improve results.
Best quote from The 12 Week Year
Most people have the capacity to double or triple their income just by consistently applying what they already know.
—Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington
Who should read The 12 Week Year?
- Workers who feel they could be doing more in less time
- Business leaders striving for higher productivity and faster execution
- People struggling to put their great ideas into practice
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