Hey everyone and welcome back to another episode of Monday BreakThrough!
If you’ve been listening to the previous episodes or reading my newsletter, you already know very well that I don’t set New Year’s resolutions. I did set them before, but as is most often the case, they would fall apart by the end of January, and for the rest of the year, I would be on some autopilot of not really having any plans or goals.
So, today, at the end of January, when you might be in the same spot, I want to share something that fundamentally changed the way I work and the results I’ve been able to achieve. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your creative process or overwhelmed by big goals, this might be the perfect approach for you. Let’s dive into the concept of "The 12 Week Year" by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington and how it’s transformed my workflow as a type designer.
So first of all, what’s The 12 Week Year? It’s a book, a principle, a guide, and at its core, "The 12 Week Year" challenges the traditional way we think about planning. Most people set yearly goals, but the book argues that this long timeline leads to procrastination and lost focus. Instead, it condenses your year into 12 weeks. So every week equals one month. And each week becomes more impactful because there’s just no time to push things off. The focus sharpens, and your progress accelerates. Somehow, it makes you create urgency without burnout.
I’ll admit, at first, I was quite skeptical. But once I started applying this mindset, I saw how much clarity and momentum it brought to my creative process. For example: In 2023, when I made my last New Year’s resolution, I released 20 fonts. In 2024, after adopting the 12 Week Year system, I released 41 fonts and font updates. The difference wasn’t more hours or overworking. It was smarter planning, focused execution, and just accountability to my goals every single week.
Now you’re probably wondering, how can I apply the 12 Week Year? First of all, I would recommend reading the book and preparing yourself. I will link the book in the podcast description, and I will do it without any affiliate links or anything like that.
What I did after reading the book was:
Set Clear and Measurable Goals: For each 12-week period, I’d focus on a few specific goals, like finalizing 4 new fonts and introducing updates to existing designs.
Break Down Weekly Actions: Each week had its own checklist of actions tied directly to my 12-week goals. Every action mattered, and there was no room to waste time.
Maybe the most important step is to Measure Progress, Not Perfection: I tracked progress every week. Even if I didn’t hit 100% – and most of the time, I didn’t – I knew where I stood and what to adjust for the next week. It was just about momentum, not perfection.
And lastly, Focus on Discipline Over Motivation: Motivation comes and goes, but discipline keeps you moving. I built routines and habits that supported consistent progress, even when inspiration wasn’t there.
By working in 12-week cycles, I became more intentional and efficient. Each cycle felt like a sprint, but with enough space to breathe and reassess. And the numbers speak for themselves: more fonts, more updates, and a more balanced creative process. But beyond the numbers, this system gave me confidence. I stopped second-guessing myself and started executing with purpose. If something wasn’t working, I didn’t wait until the end of the year to fix it. Every 12 weeks became a fresh start. And you actually celebrate the new year four times a calendar year. You’re encouraged to celebrate your successes every week, just like you would if you had a successful year.
So, if you’ve been struggling to keep up with your creative goals or just feel stuck, I can’t recommend "The 12 Week Year" enough. Start small: pick one or two key goals for the next 12 weeks and break them into weekly actions. You might be surprised at how much progress you can make.
And that’s it for this Monday BreakThrough! I hope this inspires you to rethink how you plan your creative projects and take control of your time. If you’ve tried the 12 Week Year or are curious about it, let me know – I’d love to hear your thoughts. Until next time, stay focused, stay creative, and keep breaking through!