A strong start creates momentum and this lesson is intended to get you up and running right away on your first 12 Week Year.

The first step is to establish an emotionally compelling long-term vision. That is because when applying The 12 Week Year, there will be some days when you just won’t "feel like" taking action on your plan. To help you stay on track you need a powerful "why" – and that’s your vision. (*I'm using the book terminology, but it's more correct to use "mission" here instead of "vision", some people would consider it as a mistake, I know.)

The most powerful visions address and align your personal aspirations with your professional dreams. That’s because in the end, your professional vision often funds and enables your personal vision.

I didn't like much the idea of creating a blank sheet of paper with the headline "My Vision", that's why I'd like to give you a free page from Plans Matter Diary.

We start the new "year" from the 1st of December, 2015 (it will end at the 22nd of February, 2016). If you want to join, like Plans Matter page, so you can get prepared with additional materials I'm going to post here.

Allright, here is the link to download, print the page and fill the gaps in the paragraph, so you'd have your own vision to push you through The 12 Week Year. Isn't it great?

Now it ’s time to write your first 12 week plan. The plan is the roadmap needed to reach your 12 week goals. The best plans are focused on one or two things that you want to make progress on in the next 12 weeks. The fewer goals and weekly actions there are, the easier the plan will be to execute.

To get started, download Plans Matter free template, print it out, and write your first 12 week goal as Goal 1.

Write each additional goal separately. The template fits 3 Goals, it's the maximum to focus and not to be frustrated if something gets wrong. You may focus at only one Huge Goal; that’s fine.

Next, for each of your goals, define the highest-priority daily and weekly actions (tactics) that you must take to reach that goal.

In order to do this it might be helpful to brainstorm on a separate sheet of paper all the things you could do, and then select the ones that will have the greatest impact.

Good luck. smile emoticon

Link for downloading a free template for 12 Week Plan

Forget about a year. By now you can see the pitfalls associated with annualized thinking. Let ’s redefine a year: A year is no longer 12 months, it is now only 12 weeks. That’s right, a year is now a 12 week period. There are no longer four periods in a year; that’s old thinking. Now, there is just a 12 Week Year, followed by the next 12 Week Year, all the time. Each 12 week period is independent - it is your year.

Think about the real meaning of a 12 Week Year for your productivity. The excitement, energy, and focus that happen every December now happen continuously. The year-end push to hit your goals now happens not once every 12 months, but all the time.

If you got inspired, read the book "The 12 Week Year" and join us 1st of December, 2015. You may download the free sample of the book to get the basics. You may also check on their official website with videos and paid tools.

But I assure you, with Plans Matter page it'd be much more fun. We are going to start the new "year" from the 1st of December, 2015 (it will end at the 22nd of February, 2016). If you want to join, like Plans Matter page, so you can get prepared with additional materials I'm going to post here.

Currently I'm amazed with the book "The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks Than Others Do in 12 Months".

It's one of the greatest approaches in time management I've explored so far, and I like the idea to celebrate the New Year more often. kiki emoticon
So, me and a couple of my friends decided to start the new "year" from the 1st of December, 2015 (it will end at the 22nd of February, 2016). If you want to join, like Plans Matter page, so you can get prepared with additional materials I'm going to post here.

All paper sheets are compatible with A5 format organizer, I will publish them for free. If you want to get more, you can purchase Plans Matter Diary at Etsy store.

Setting goals is easy, much harder part is to prioritise and accomplish on time. Here's a set of journaling cards for your time motivation. Stick them next to your office desk, or place to your paper planner. :)

Everyone has his own bucket list of places he'd like to travel. I have mine as well. Is there anything you like in mine?

Tomorrow is my birthday, and I feel myself upset with a new date. Trying to convince myself I have plenty of time still, yet my self-eating beats me easily. Don't know why I live, can't figure out, I think I've seen enough. Hope I'll be able to put myself together.

Happy birthday cards to download for free.