Book Review: The 12 Week Year (Pt. 2)

VO: Get ready for your semi-regular dose of random ideas from the guys at Codelation. We like to talk about big ideas companies that are winning, and those that aren't along with current events in our crazy world of software startups. So come along with Erick and Josh, who challenge you to think big, start small and turn your ideas into something on this episode of, from idea to done

Josh: Hey everyone I'm Josh.

Erick: and I'm Erick and today's idea is on work efficiency. And it's the second part in our series on the book the 12 week year, where we left off, we had just finished reading part one, and I don't read a lot. Now it was like a month ago. So of course I finished it yesterday and it's time to take a little bit deeper dive into the book now that I've actually read it.

Josh: So to recap, my big takeaways from the book were discard your annual thinking, periodization and overload, and start with your end goal and work backwards. Erick, what were your big aha moments from the book now that you've actually read it?

Erick: Well, now that I've actually read it, so it's, it's write down goals and structure them, stop thinking so big that you don't even start and don't smart. Don't start so small that you can't gain any traction and really just incorporate more than just your work into your goals. Kind of tie in some health and spirituality.

Josh: So last time you talked about how you didn't like reading, but you read a book. How exactly does that work?

Erick: Uh, my boss bought me a book and he told me to read it. And now I'm talking about it on a podcast. And so I also took the first part of the book and set some goals for myself and I wanted to not lose a hundred pounds. I wanted to lose some weight at 12 pounds to be specific one pound a week. If I stick this plan by this time, next year I'll be smoking hot.

Josh: That's great. Um, that leads to one other part of the book I forgot to bring up, which is setting goals and the concept of hitting just 85% of your checklist each week.

Erick: And that brings me to my next important part of this book, which is planning my week. I actually, I scheduled into my calendar gym class around lunchtime every day. I've kind of gone to the gym and I've worked out and I was also super efficient. And while I was at the gym, I read the rest of this book while pedaling 50 miles. And while I was doing that, I exceeded my goal of working out three days a week. And I finished a book.

Josh: That's great gym class. I like that

Erick: In high school. Like I absolutely loved gym class. It kind of gave me the afternoon energy to get through stupid Spanish class. And as an adult or adult ish, normally around two, I'm kind of ready for a nap. And this week I've had energy to do, to do my work. And I've even had to stay a little later each day. But for me, it's a lot easier to catch up on emails at six 30 than to go home and start working.

Josh: Yeah, I'd agree with that. And that's, that's awesome. Um, so I've read the book and drank the Kool-Aid sounds like you're on board as well. What's next

Erick: Bringing it to the nerds. And so one of the things, the book, so that people usually miss is leadership and accountability, and it says to have a weekly accountability meeting or wham, I kind of want to make that our own though, and have a weekly, hourly accountability meeting or wham like the super group from the eighties. So I have a meeting schedule money Monday morning with my personal and professional goals lined up to present. Um, I've included everyone to do this stems for themselves and help me hold me a little accountable.

Josh: That's definitely one thing that helps drive things forward is the accountability factor. It's a lot easier when you get to say that I hit my goal versus, you know what? I only worked out once last week

Erick: And I want everyone to ask me too. If I had gym class today to help me be accountable. And at the same time I want to ask Brian or Cody. If they've had their gym class,

Josh: The accountability is something that helps align the team. And now we're fighting for each other to succeed, you know, sort of a rising tide raises all ships. So what's next

Erick: Again, presentation for all of the nerds. I have all my thoughts. I have all my stuff and it's, it's ready Monday for the group. And I really want to try to use this book and actually apply knowledge from something to raise the tide for our whole life.

Josh: Awesome. Well, I guess we'll have to wait until the final part, three of things to see how your presentation went.

Erick: Thank you for listening to this episode. If you have a startup that could use some random advice and thoughts, have them subscribe and leave a review on iTunes.