Every YEAR I failed to reach my goals, until I understood this

I have a question. Would you like to achieve your one-year goals in just three months? If you answered yes, then keep watching because today I'm going to summarize a book called 12-Week Year. Get more done in 12 weeks than others do in 12 months, written by Brian Moran and Michael Lenington. Most businesses and people set annual goals and create 12-month plans. You also do this in your own life. You set a New Year's resolution on January 1 and commit to changing your life by December 31. The authors of the book argue that this type of thinking and planning is not effective, wastes so much time, and stops you from achieving your goals.

我有一个问题。你想在三个月内实现一年的目标吗？如果你的答案是“是”，那么请继续关注，因为今天我要为你总结一本名为《12周年》的书。这本书由布莱恩·莫兰和迈克尔·莱宁顿撰写，它的中心思想是让你在12周内完成别人12个月才能完成的事情。大多数公司和个人都会设定年度目标并制定12个月的计划。你自己生活中也是这样：你在1月1日设定新年决心，并承诺在12月31日之前改变生活。然而，这本书的作者认为，这种思维与计划方式并不高效，浪费了大量时间，阻碍了你实现目标。

If annualized planning doesn't work, then what is the alternative? The authors argue that a better alternative is the 12-Week Year program. And here is why. First, within the 12-Week Year program, seasons don't exist. There is no summer, there is no winter, there is no autumn. A week now takes the place of a month, and each day accounts for a week. Through this lens, you can see how important each day and week become. Second, all the excitement and productivity of the year-end push now happens four times a year. Your deadline is always in sight, so you stop telling yourself that there's still plenty of time.

如果年度计划行不通，那有什么替代方案呢？作者认为，一个更好的选择是12周计划。原因如下：首先，在12周计划中，没有季节的概念。不存在夏天、冬天或秋天。一个星期相当于一个月，每一天相当于一周。通过这种方式，你可以更清楚地看到每天和每周的重要性。其次，每年年底的冲刺带来的那种兴奋和生产力现在每年会发生四次。你的截止日期总是在眼前，所以你不再对自己说还有很多时间。

If you have a slow week, you might be able to make it up the following week, but you know you can't have too many bad weeks if you are going to be successful at the end of 12 weeks. This mindset makes every day important, and the need to produce results every week becomes vital. Third, you can't possibly predict every action you will take over a 12-month period, so any plan you make will be based on assumptions and theories. In contrast, a 12-Week plan removes assumptions because the timeframe is short enough for you to make an accurate plan and execute it successfully.

如果你这一周进展缓慢，可能下一周可以补上，但你知道如果要在12周后成功，就不能有太多不好的周。这种心态让每一天都变得重要，每周都需要取得成果，变得至关重要。第三，你不可能预测一年里每一个行动，因此任何计划都以假设和理论为基础。相比之下，12周的计划时间较短，使你能够制定准确的计划并成功执行它，减少了假设的影响。

Fourth, instead of waiting until December to find out if you failed or succeeded, you will find out much sooner and course correct. No need to wait another year. Finally, the fifth benefit is the relaxation and celebration you look forward to after all your hard work. You now have four opportunities to reflect on your achievements and take a few days off to recharge. And when you come back, you have a fresh start again. If for some reason your first 12 weeks didn't work out as you had hoped, you don't have to wait another year. You have three more chances to get it right and finish the year strong.

第四个好处是，你不必等到十二月才知道自己是失败还是成功，而是可以更早发现问题并及时调整，无需再等待一年。最后，第五个好处是，在辛苦工作后，你可以享受放松和庆祝。你有四次机会可以反思自己的成就，并抽出几天时间休整。当你回来时，又可以重新开始。如果第一次12周的计划没有达到预期，也不必等到下一年再试，你还有三次机会来纠正问题，让这一年有一个圆满的收尾。

If these benefits excite you, then here is the four-step formula. Step number one, vision. Everything around you, such as your computer or the phone you're using now, is created twice. First, it started as an idea or vision in somebody's head. And second, it was created in physical form in some factories. What I'm trying to say is this, before you set goals, you need to get crystal clear about your destination, about your vision for the year. Imagine it this way. Imagine that your has ended and you look back and see that you have achieved all the things for that year.

如果这些益处让你感到兴奋，这里有一个四步公式。第一步：愿景。你周围的一切，比如你现在使用的电脑或手机，都是“被创造了两次”的结果。首先，它们在某个人的脑海中作为一个想法或愿景产生。其次，它们在工厂被制造成物理形式。我想说的是，在设定目标之前，你需要对你的目的地、对你一年的愿景有非常清晰的认识。可以这样去想象：想象一年已经结束，你回头看看，发现你实现了当年所有的目标。

What does that perfect year look like? How much are you earning? Do you finally have your own business? Are you earning 10 grand per month? Are you in great shape as you have always wanted? This is a kind of dreaming stage. You are dreaming about your perfect year. Don't let your analytical mind come in and say, how the hell will you achieve all that in 12 weeks? It's not realistic. This is not the time for how. We will get there as well. It is time to dream and dream big. Why dream big? Because soon you will push yourself beyond your comfort zone.

那完美的一年是什么样的？你赚了多少钱？你是否终于拥有了自己的事业？你每月赚1万美元吗？你是否达到了自己一直以来梦寐以求的理想体型？这是一种梦想的阶段。你在梦想着自己完美的一年。不要让你的理性思维介入，质疑该如何在12周内实现所有这些目标。这并不现实。现在不是考虑“如何”的时候，我们也会讨论到。现在是做梦的时候，而且要敢于梦想。为什么要梦想大一些？因为很快，你将会突破自己的舒适区。

And if it is not big and exciting enough, you will give up. Step number two, plan your execution. Now that you know where you want to go, it's time to plan how you will get there. First, you need to find a clear goal. You might have more than one goal, but don't overwhelm yourself with too many goals. The key is to identify a few essential ones that if achieved would bring you the results you want. Second, list all the key tasks for that goal and plan how you will get them done. Apply the same logic you applied to goals and focus on key tasks.

如果目标不够大和令人振奋，你就会放弃。第二步，计划你的执行。既然你已经知道了自己的目标，现在是时候计划如何实现它了。首先，你需要找到一个明确的目标。你可能有不止一个目标，但不要被太多的目标搞得手忙脚乱。关键是识别出几个重要的目标，一旦实现它们，就能带来你想要的结果。其次，列出所有与该目标相关的关键任务，并计划如何完成它们。运用你在设定目标时的同样逻辑，专注于关键任务。

For example, your goal might be to earn $120,000 for the year. Now, how do you plan to earn that amount of money within 12 weeks? Will you earn 10 grand in the first week, another 10 grand in the second week, and continue at this rate for the rest of the time? Or will the first four weeks have no earnings, but in the remaining eight weeks you will earn 15 grand per month? The goal at this stage is to plan each week and identify what results need to be achieved by the end of the week and what tasks need to be done. Each week needs to be planned in advance and it should look like this.

例如，你的目标可能是年收入12万美元。那么，你计划如何在12周内赚到这笔钱呢？你会在第一周赚1万美元，第二周再赚1万美元，并以这样的速度继续赚下去吗？还是说前四周没有收入，而在接下来的八周里每月赚1.5万美元？这个阶段的目标是为每周制定计划，明确到周末需要实现的结果和需要完成的任务。每周都需要提前计划，应该是这样的。

The goal at the top of the page for that week and the list of tasks to achieve that goal. Now, when you are planning one of the most often questions you will be asking yourself is how? How do I get this task done within one week? Or how do I get this big goal achieved within three weeks? Let me tell you a little secret. You are asking the wrong question. You shouldn't be asking how. You should be asking who. I recently read a book called Who, not how, but one of the greatest business coaches, Dan Sullivan. Dan says when we want something done we are trained to ask how can I do this? This is the wrong question. The right question is who can do this for me? For example, if you need to design a logo you need to ask who can do this for me instead of how can I do this? You might say, well, I have no idea how to find a logo designer so I will figure out how I do it myself. Well, if you don't know who can design a logo then you need to find another person who will find you a logo designer. Again, you need another who question, not a how question. This sounds so simple and it is simple, but don't let the simplicity fool you. Asking who is not natural for us so it will take quite some effort to shift your mindset. Once you start asking the who question, the doors open up for you. It saves you so much time and money plus improves the quality of your output because you are involving others who are experts at what they do.

在页面顶部列出每周的目标以及实现该目标的任务列表。当你在计划时，常常会问自己“怎么做？”比如：“我如何在一周内完成这个任务？”或者“我如何在三周内实现这个大目标？”让我告诉你一个小秘密：你问错了问题。你不应该问“怎么做”，而应该问“谁来做”。最近我读了一本书，叫《谁，不是怎么做》，作者是著名的商业教练丹·苏利文。丹说，当我们想要完成某件事时，我们习惯性地问“我该怎么做？”这是错误的问题，正确的问题是“谁可以为我做这件事？” 比如，如果你需要设计一个标志，你应该问“谁可以为我做这个？”而不是“我该怎么做？”你可能会说：“我根本不知道怎么找一个标志设计师，所以我会想办法自己去做。”但是，如果你不知道谁能设计一个标志，你需要找另一个人来帮你找到设计师。换句话说，你需要再问一遍“谁”，而不是“怎么做”。 这听起来非常简单，确实是这样，但不要被这种简单性所迷惑。问“谁”对我们来说并不自然，因此需要费一番功夫来转变思维。一旦你开始问“谁”的问题，会发现机会之门为你打开。这不仅能为你节省大量时间和金钱，还能提高你工作的质量，因为你让那些在各自领域有专业经验的人参与进来了。

Step number three, control your process. The idea is simple. At the beginning of each week, ideally on Monday, review the progress you made in the last week. Did you complete all the tasks for the past week or not? In the next step, I will explain how to measure your progress. Once the evaluation of the last week is done, then create a new weekly plan for the coming week. Make a weekly plan every day to ensure you are completing the right tasks and the timeline of your week still makes sense. If it does, then keep moving. If not, review the plan to restructure the tasks in order to achieve the week's goal. Step number four, measure your progress. You can't know if you are progressing without measuring it. This is actually one of my favorite parts of the book and here is why I like it. The author recommends two types of measuring systems. One for the results and another one for your execution. For example, let us say you want to lose one kilo of weight per week and to achieve that, you have planned that you will exercise five times a week and eat 2,000 calories a day. Using this example, we can say that measurement of the result is the amount of weight loss in one week. Did you lose one kilo in the past week or not? This is the measurement of the result. However, the measurement of execution is different. What is the number of tasks you completed to achieve that result? In this example, it was five days of exercising and eating under 2,000 calories per day. Did you exercise for five days and eat under 2,000 calories every single day? If yes, then you have a 100% execution score. This is the measurement of execution. The author says you should focus more on measuring execution rather than the results. People who focus on more execution have a higher chance of reaching their goals compared to people who focus on measuring their results only. Using the above weight loss example, if the only thing you measure is the result, losing one kilo per week, then you will probably get discouraged once you step on the scale and see that you haven't lost anything for that week. On the other hand, if you focus on the execution, you know that result will come because you are doing all the right things. The author says if you complete 85% or more of your tasks every week, results will come and you will reach your goals. You might not see the result for one week, but the next week you will probably see it if you stick to executing your plan. You might ask, what if the result doesn't come after two or three weeks? Well, that means something is wrong with your plan and it has to change. For example, maybe you have calculated the calories wrong. You had to eat 1,500 calories instead of 2,000 in order to achieve the result you wanted. This is why it is important to measure both the result and execution and keep them separate.

步骤三：管理你的过程。这个想法很简单。在每周开始时，最好是周一，回顾一下上周的进展。你是否完成了上周的所有任务？接下来，我会解释如何衡量你的进度。当对上周的评估完成后，为接下来的一周制定一个新的计划。每天都要关心你的周计划，以确保你做的是正确的任务，并且在时间安排上是合理的。如果合理，那就继续进行；如果不合理，那就重新审视计划，重新安排任务以实现周目标。 步骤四：衡量你的进度。你不对进度进行测量就无法知道自己是否在前进。这实际上是我在书中最喜欢的部分之一，而我喜欢它的原因在于作者推荐了两种衡量系统：一个是针对结果的，另一个是针对执行的。比如，如果你想每周减掉一公斤体重，为了实现这个目标，你已经计划每周锻炼五次，每天摄入2000卡路里的热量。根据这个例子，结果的衡量就是一周的体重减轻量。你在过去一周里减掉了一公斤吗？这就是结果的衡量。但执行的衡量是不同的。你为了实现这个结果完成了多少任务？在这个例子中，就是五天的锻炼和每天摄入不足2000卡路里。你是否连续五天锻炼并且每天都控制在2000卡路里以下？如果是，那么你的执行得分就是100%。这就是执行的衡量。作者说，你应该更关注执行的衡量，而不是结果。对于那些更多关注执行的人，比只关注结果的人更有可能实现他们的目标。用上述的减肥例子来说，如果你唯一衡量的就是结果，即每周减掉一公斤，那么当你站上体重秤却发现并没有减重时，你可能会感到沮丧。但另一方面，如果你关注执行，你会知道结果会到来，因为你正在做正确的事情。作者说，如果你每周完成85%或以上的任务，结果就会到来，你将实现你的目标。你可能某一周没看到明显效果，但下周如果继续执行计划，你就可能看到效果。你可能会问，如果两三周过去了仍没有效果怎么办？那就意味着你的计划有问题，必须做出调整。比如，你可能计算卡路里时算错了，为了达到你想要的结果，应该每天摄入1500卡路里而不是2000卡路里。因此，分开衡量结果和执行是很重要的。

So to quickly summarize the 4-step formula, 1. Create a clear vision, 2. Plan how you will execute your vision, 3. Control your process by evaluating the past week and planning for the new week, 4. Measure your progress and focus more on execution. If you would like to stop watching at this point, you can do that. You already got the core of the message of the book, in my opinion. However, I have 10 small tips that will make it very easy for you to implement this 4-step formula. Here they are. Tip number 1. Manage your time well by splitting your day into blocks. It takes approximately 15 minutes for you to get back to your tasks when you are stopped to check emails or text messages. On average, 28% of employees' days are spent managing interruptions and refocusing on what they are doing. In a 40-hour work week, that is 11 hours of time wasted. That is why the author advises separating your day into three blocks. Tip number 1. Strategic block. This is the time block where you work on strategic tasks. Minimum 3 hours. No emails, no talking to colleagues, no daydreaming about what you are going to eat for lunch. Block number 2. Buffer block. The purpose of this block is to handle those small tasks such as emails or calling your mom, etc. Block number 3. Breakout block. Success is not about working hard all the time. You must allow your mind to rest and recharge so you can always work at your full capacity and focus.

总结一下这个四步公式： 1. 创造一个清晰的愿景； 2. 规划如何实现你的愿景； 3. 通过评估过去一周并规划新一周来控制你的过程； 4. 衡量你的进展，更多地聚焦于执行。 如果你愿意，你可以就此打住，因为你已经掌握了本书的核心内容。不过，我还有10个小技巧，可以让你更容易地实施这个四步公式。以下是其中之一： 技巧1：通过将一天分成不同时间段来合理管理时间。每当你因为查看邮件或信息而中断时，大约需要15分钟才能重新集中注意力。平均来说，员工有28%的时间花在处理中断和重新专注上。在每周40小时的工作时间里，这相当于浪费了11小时。因此，作者建议将一天分成三个时间段。 第一段：战略时间段。这是专注于战略任务的时间段，至少需要3小时。期间不看邮件、不与同事交谈、也不胡思乱想午餐吃什么。 第二段：缓冲时间段。这段时间用于处理一些小任务，例如查看邮件或给妈妈打电话等。 第三段：休息时间段。成功不意味着一直努力工作，你必须让大脑休息和充电，以便始终保持最佳状态和专注力。

Tip number 2. Work-life balance is a lie. You struggle to find a balance between work, family, friends, health, and personal time so you decide to give equal time and energy to each of them. The problem is that when you do that, you overextend yourself and become frustrated. Success can't be achieved by balancing your time in each area of life. This happens when you intentionally create an imbalance and direct the time and energy toward one or two areas of your life. Different moments in life will require different amounts of energy and there is nothing wrong with that. The purpose of intentional imbalance is to put your energy where you want it to go. Tip number 3. Avoid having too many goals. Too many goals mean too many strategies and obstacles. They will quickly drain your energy and will make you give up.

提示2：工作与生活的平衡是一种谎言。你努力在工作、家庭、朋友、健康和个人时间之间找到平衡，所以决定对每个方面都投入同等的时间和精力。问题是，当你这样做时，你会让自己过度疲惫，并感到挫败。成功并不能通过在生活的每个方面平均分配时间来实现。这需要你有意识地创造一种不平衡，将时间和精力集中于生活中的一两个重点上。生活的不同阶段需要不同的精力分配，这并没有什么不对。故意偏重的目的是为了将精力投入到你重视的地方。 提示3：避免设定过多的目标。目标太多意味着策略和障碍也更多，这会迅速消耗你的精力，使你感到疲惫并最终放弃。

Tip number 4. Create a routine. Your execution will suffer a lot if you don't form a routine. You need a routine for everything from your sleep to the time you work. Tip number 5. Create your model week. Your model week is kind of like your perfect scenario where you get everything done. Once you start designing your model week, you will quickly be able to say if your plan is realistic or not. If the plan isn't realistic, you will not be able to find space on your weekly calendar to put some of the tasks. Make sure to do this before you start your week 1. Tip number 6. Avoid focusing on tasks that involve your weaknesses. Most tasks you are working on should be based on your strengths, not your weaknesses. Tip number 7. You are allowed to say no when someone invites you somewhere or someone asks you to commit to something. Say no as often as you can. Tip number 8. Don't multitask. When you spread your attention too thin over multiple directions, you are not fully applying yourself to any tasks. You are overworked and tired. Burnout is a likely result and in the end you haven't mastered anything. You've just become mediocre at several things. Tip number 9. Some tasks will not get done and it is okay. Many people believe they can do it all and work day and night to catch up with everything on their plate. They focus on what they can do quickly to get it out of the way, which puts their strategic tasks in danger. Some tasks will eventually fall through the cracks and it is okay. However, those tasks should never be the strategic ones. Tip number 10. Celebrate. Even if you didn't reach your goal, you still have 3 more chances and you probably made tons of progress. So celebrate and start again.

第4条建议：建立一个日常流程。如果你不养成习惯，你的执行力会大大受影响。需要为一切事务建立规律，从睡眠到工作的时间都包括在内。 第5条建议：创建你的理想一周计划。你的理想一周就像是一个完美情境，能够让你完成所有事情。一旦开始设计这一计划，你很快就能判断这个计划是否现实。如果不现实，你将无法在每周的日程中找到空间来放置一些任务。在开始第一周前务必完成此操作。 第6条建议：避免专注于体现你弱点的任务。你所从事的大多数任务应该基于你的强项，而不是弱项。 第7条建议：当别人邀请你或要求你承诺某事时，你有权利说不。尽可能多地说不。 第8条建议：不要同时处理多项任务。当你把注意力过于分散在多个方向时，你无法全心投入任何一个任务。这会让你过劳和疲倦，最终很可能导致倦怠，并且你没有在任何事情上精通，只是在多方面变得平庸。 第9条建议：有些任务可能完不成，这没关系。许多人相信自己可以做到一切，并夜以继日地努力赶完所有任务。他们专注于快速完成能马上解决的事情，这让策略性任务处于危险之中。某些任务最终会被遗漏，这没关系，但这些任务不应该是战略性任务。 第10条建议：庆祝一下。即使你没有达到目标，你仍然有三次机会，而且你可能取得了很多进展。庆祝一下，然后重新开始。

Finally, here is a bonus tip from my personal experience. Sleep well. I can't emphasize the importance of sleep. It is the best productivity tip you will ever need. I know how much my life suffers when I don't have enough sleep. But still, very often sleep is the first thing somehow I end up sacrificing when things get tough, despite the fact that I know how important it is. So keep an eye on your sleep. This is the area I am doing my best to improve as well. In the end, I would like to mention that the reason I summarize this book isn't that I know a lot about planning? It's quite the opposite. I quite suck at it. And this was the reason I picked up this book. I usually read books on the areas that I want to improve, and this was one of them. I hope it was a useful video. Thanks for watching.

最后，分享一个我个人的经验作为额外的小秘诀：好好睡觉。我无法强调充足睡眠的重要性，睡眠绝对是提升效率最好的秘诀。每当我睡眠不足时，生活就会受到很大影响。但即便如此，每当事情变得困难时，我还是常常优先放弃睡眠，尽管我知道它有多重要。所以，请注意你的睡眠质量。这也是我努力改善的一个方面。最后我想提到，我总结这本书并不是因为我在计划方面很有经验，正相反，我对这方面相当不擅长。这也是我选择阅读这本书的原因。我通常会阅读那些我想要提升的方面的书籍，而这正是其一。希望这个视频对你有帮助。感谢观看。