Planning Weekly Goals for Better Outcomes

I never thought something this simple would make such a difference in how I work and manage my time. This 15-minute weekly habit changed everything for me: The weekly review. This is one of the most simple yet powerful practices I've built over the years. It helps me reflect on what’s working, what’s not, and what needs adjusting. The concept, introduced by David Allen in “Getting Things Done”, emphasises the importance of closing open loops and staying on top of commitments before they pile up. Over time, it’s become a cornerstone of my productivity system. Here’s what my weekly review looks like: - Review the past week – I list the dates from the past week and, using my calendar and notes, jot down key events and tasks. - Reflect on achievements and challenges – Take a moment to celebrate what went well and spot areas for improvement. - Plan for the upcoming week – Adjust goals and priorities to make sure I’m focusing on what really matters. It’s a small investment of time, but the impact is huge. Every week, those 15 minutes give me clarity, keeps me on track, and make decision-making easier. Instead of constantly chasing the next thing, it gives me a chance to pause, take stock, and plan with intention. Do you have a system for reflecting on your week, or is this something you’d want to try?

Sunday isn’t just the end of a week—it’s the perfect reset button. Instead of dreading Monday, use today to design your week with intention. Leaders, professionals, and entrepreneurs who treat Sundays as planning days often enter the new week calmer, sharper, and more productive than everyone else. Here’s a simple 5-step framework you can follow today: ⸻ 1. Reflect Before You Plan Ask yourself: • What worked well last week? • What didn’t go as expected? • What’s one thing I’d like to do differently this week? A few minutes of honest reflection helps you avoid repeating mistakes and double down on strategies that work. ⸻ 2. Set Your Top 3 Priorities Don’t overwhelm yourself with a never-ending to-do list. Instead, pick the three most impactful outcomes you want by Friday. These become your non-negotiables. 👉 Example: • Close X client deal • Deliver Y project milestone • Dedicate Z hours to learning or fitness ⸻ 3. Time-Block Your Calendar Success is scheduled. If it’s not on your calendar, it won’t happen. • Block focus hours for deep work • Schedule team check-ins early • Add buffer time for thinking and problem-solving • Don’t forget personal time and rest ⸻ 4. Prepare for Challenges A great week isn’t one without problems; it’s one where you’re ready for them. • Identify possible roadblocks • Plan alternatives or backup strategies • Keep space in your calendar for the unexpected ⸻ 5. End with a Ritual Planning isn’t just about tasks; it’s about mindset. • Write a motivational note to yourself • Read something uplifting • Organize your workspace • Commit to one habit that makes you sharper (like journaling, morning walks, or digital detox hours) ⸻ ✅ By taking 30 minutes today, you enter Monday with clarity instead of chaos. ✅ You replace stress with strategy. ✅ And you step into the week as a leader who’s proactive, not reactive. ⸻ 🔗 Your Turn: How do you usually plan your week on Sundays? Do you reflect, set goals, or go with the flow? Share your ritual—I’d love to learn from you.

I'm excited to share my system for staying productive all day, every day. This system allowed me to sell over $100M in my B2B sales career, then build a 7 figure coaching business working an average of 40 hours/week. Most importantly, my nights and weekends are free to spend with my family. Here's are the 3 simple steps I take every single week: Step 1: Complete a Weekly Plan & Scorecard at the beginning of each week On Monday mornings (or Sunday evening), I print and fill out a Weekly Plan & Scorecard. On this document, I write down all the important tasks and action items I aspire to get done that week in no particular order. I then rank each task in order of priority, typically prioritizing RGA's (Revenue Generating Activities) for my business. I originally took this scorecard from a book called the 12 Week Year, then adapted it to include a "Rank" column, which allows me to prioritize each action item. Prioritizing the Action Items allows me to know where to start every day, and prevents me from getting overwhelmed. Step 2: Daily Task Blocking in Calendar Whitespace At the beginning of each weekday, I fill up all the whitespace on my calendar for that day with high priority tasks taken directly from the Weekly Plan & Scorecard. This ensures that the most important tasks for the week get done first and eliminates daily decision fatigue. The key is to put the specific tasks on your calendar so there's no empty space. If for some reason any tasks on the calendar don't get completed for that day, I move them to the next day in any open whitespace. Step 3: Weekly Scoring At the end of each week, I score my performance using the simple formula: Tasks Completed / Tasks Written Down = Score % My goal is to score 85% or higher each week, although admittedly there are many weeks where I fall short. If there are any tasks that didn't get completed that week, they get moved to the following week. I rinse and repeat this process every single week. This ensures that I SHOW UP every single day, and stay productive throughout the entire work week. Additional keys to success include: 1. Taking short breaks when you feel mentally drained. Stretching, a short walk, and standing desk do wonders to change your state. 2. Minimize the number of daily meetings on your calendar (4 or less is optimal) to stay focused and ensure you have enough whitespace to get deep work done. 3. Give yourself an hour lunch to break up the work day. Every day I have lunch with my wife, and that's also on the calendar. 4. Do one thing at a time 5. If you have an unproductive day, forgive yourself. Of course, this is all easier said than done... That's why next week, in our 2nd *Transformation Tuesday* LIVE training session, I'm going to walk you through exactly how to leverage The 12 Week Year (and Weekly Scorecard) to transform your productivity and your life. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/gsPsq2XR Only 500 spots available due to Zoom webinar limit!

I've set goals and failed to achieve them. I've written down goals and never hit them (here is why). - I didn't integrate my goals into my daily activities. - I didn't make my goals smart ( it was a wish list). If you write goals more like a wish list, here is what happens... - Unimportant tasks will take priority. - You won't have daily actions to move you closer to your goals. - Your action taking will be inconsistent / make it up as you go along. But there is something worse... You'll lose confidence in achieving your goals. It will create doubt. You'll have a sneaking suspicion your goals are impossible. It becomes a vicious circle. You don't take the goals seriously, so you fail to hit them. You doubt the goal is possible, so you don't want to put effort into them. It's vicious circle that confirms you can't achieve your goals. BUT if you do want to hit your goals, you need to make them smart. You need SMART goals - goals that are clear and actionable. SPECIFIC - MEASURABLE - ACTIONABLE - RELEVANT - TIME-BASED Write down your SMART goals. Then diarise the actions you need to take. Example: Specific: Get more leads per week from social media. Measurable: 4 Leads per week. Actionable: Posting 3 times per week, grow my network, offering a lead magnet to new connections. Relevant: More connections will increase my reach, leads will help me win clients. Time-bound: By 7th May 2024, I'll be getting 4 leads per week. SMART goals are the way to achieve things. Set your goals, make them SMART and work on them every day.

As an academic, I know how easy it is to feel pulled in a million directions. Between teaching, research, meetings, and deadlines, the distractions are endless. I struggled with this for the longest time until I discovered the power of deep, focused work. It changed everything. Now, instead of juggling tasks, I commit to structured, focused work sessions. Here’s what helped me, and it might just help you too: 1. Set Clear Priorities ↳ Know exactly what needs your attention before you start the day. For me, it’s the key research tasks that move the needle. 2. Time Block Your Tasks ↳ Allocate specific blocks of time for uninterrupted work. Teaching prep? 8-9 PM and 5-7 AM. Research? 1-3 PM. Editorial and industry engagement work? Fridays. No distractions. 3. Eliminate Distractions ↳ I turn off all notifications—emails, texts, you name it. A quiet workspace is the foundation of deep work. 4. Work in Sprints ↳ The Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes work, 5-minute breaks) has been a real game-changer. It keeps my energy and focus up all day. 5. Review and Adjust ↳ At the end of the day, I reflect on what worked and make tweaks for tomorrow. This small habit keeps me improving. If you’re feeling stretched thin, try making deep, focused work a priority this week. The results—both in productivity and peace of mind—will speak for themselves. Wishing you all a focused and productive week! #mondaybits #deepwork #FutureProofYourLeadership #focus #productivity

If you win enough hours, you win the day. If you win enough days, you win the week. If you win enough weeks, you win the month. If you win enough months, you win the year. If you win enough years, you win the life you’ve always dreamed of. But how do you start winning those hours, days, and weeks, especially when it comes to your data job search? Here’s a simple, actionable plan to help you get there: 1) Start with Winning the Hour: - Set a 1-hour task: Dedicate the first hour of your day to something that moves the needle—like applying for jobs, practicing coding on LeetCode, or working on a portfolio project. - Micro-goals: Break down your goals into micro-goals that you can complete in an hour. For example, gathering a list of people to research and network with. 2) Win the Day: - Daily Priorities: Identify the 3 most important tasks for your job search. For example: Apply to 3-5 jobs. Send 10 networking messages. Add X feature into personal project. - Reflect and Adjust: Spend 5 minutes at the end of the day reflecting on what worked and what didn’t. Adjust your strategy for tomorrow. 3)Win the Week: - Weekly Goals: Set weekly goals that align with your job search strategy. For example: Secure 1 informational interview. Complete 1 portfolio project milestone. Engage in 3 LinkedIn discussions to build your network. - Track Progress: Use a simple spreadsheet or app to track your progress on these weekly goals. 4) Win the Month: -Monthly Review: At the end of the month, review your progress. Did you meet your goals? What challenges did you face? Use this time to tweak your approach for the next month. -Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge even the small wins, like a positive response from a networking message or completing a tough coding challenge. 5) Win the Year: -Set Annual Goals: What do you want to achieve by the end of the year? Is it landing a specific role, mastering a new tool, or building a personal brand on LinkedIn? - Break these down into quarterly and monthly goals. Consistency is Key: Remember, consistency in your efforts will compound over time, leading to greater success. As soon as I learned this lesson about winning the hour, I started hitting more of my long-term goals faster. Whether it was breaking into data, becoming a digital nomad, or replacing my data science income, it all started with making the most of the next hour. The Takeaway: Winning your dream life starts with winning the next hour. Consistently putting in the effort—whether it’s applying for jobs, networking, or learning new skills—will add up to big results over time. What’s your top tip for hitting your goals faster? Share it in the comments so we can all learn and grow together! ---------- ➕ Follow Jaret André for more actionable data job search tips. 🔔 Hit the bell icon to be notified of new strategies to land your next role.

What goals did you set for yourself this week during job search? Sure, your ultimate mission is to secure an appropriate job that fits the criteria you've specified. But there are many small steps you will take to get you there. Specifically, what actions will you take this week? This is where SMART goals come into play. Set a goal by making it SMART SPECIFIC MEASURABLE ACHIEVABLE RELEVANT TIME-SENSITIVE Try using this template: Template: “By [time], I will [specific action/achievement].” "By Friday of next week, I will email 5 people I used to work with whom I haven't spoken to in over 6 months to let them know specifically what type of job I am looking for. " It isn't enough to say "I'll apply to more jobs" "I'll be more active on LinkedIn" "I'll network more" "I'll update my resume" These are too broad and you will end up going down a rabbit hole. You'll waste a lot of time researching or get frustrated and give up because you haven't set specific goals. Here are some more SMART goals you can borrow. By the end of the day, spend 45 minutes conducting research on XYZ company using LinkedIn company page, internet search, company website and company earnings call, to create a single page summary. By the end of the day, go to XYZ's company page on LinkedIn and identify 2 people (either 1st or 2nd degree connections or someone who holds a similar job). Obtain their email, and 1 thing we have in common. By the end of the week, read bookmarked article about LinkedIn headlines and draft 3 different versions to email to (accountability partner) for feedback. Go to my LinkedIn homefeed every day this week and leave a message on 5 relevant posts written by people who I used to work with. 💪 Your challenge for next week is to set one SMART goal and achieve it!

Back-to-back meetings can crush your week. Your calendar is packed.  Your focus is shredded. Your 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 work slides to Friday. What if one weekday had ZERO meetings? 🟢 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀: → No-Meeting Wednesday is a team rule. → One day with no standing meetings. → Use it for deep work, planning, and decisions. → Plenty of companies try one focus day each week. → They report more output and calmer teams. 🔵 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀: → Less bouncing between tasks. → Better thinking time. → Cleaner handoffs. → Less burnout risk. → You finish the work you start. 🟣 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝘁: → Pick the day and protect it on the shared calendar. → Set the rules: no recurring meetings, emergencies only. → Shift updates to async notes or a short Loom. → Limit Slack and email pings. Try quiet hours. Measure results: docs shipped, stories closed, decisions made. Review individual wins in the next staff meeting. ▶️ 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀: Lead by example. If leaders book over it, the team will too. Give a script for pushback: “Let’s move this to Thursday. Wednesday is for focused delivery.” Start with a 4-week test. Survey the team. Keep what works. ▶️ 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿-𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 Try a split: meetings before 11, focus after. Or rotate the day by function. If you work across time zones, protect one shared block for focus and schedule meetings outside that block. ▶️ 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 → Draft the compensation plan. → Build a headcount model. → Clean your SOPs. → Write tough messages with care. → Ship one thing that moves the business. Would your team commit to one meeting-free day each week? #HR #DeepWork #Productivity ♻️ I appreciate 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 repost. 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗥 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀? Visit my profile and join my newsletter for weekly tips to elevate your career! Stephanie Adams, SPHR #Adamshr #Hrprofessionals #humanresources #HR #hrcommunity Adams HR Consulting

When I was CPO, I was frustrated that I was never meeting wth the right person or teams at the right time. My calendar was packed. Yet the person or team I needed to talk to was always scheduled for at least three days away. The team needs a decision, but you just had a 1:1 and won't meet your engineering partner for another four days. A controversial Product Review happens on a Thursday afternoon, and there isn’t time to get back together before Tuesday AM. I needed to create an operating cadence throughout the week that maximized productivity. After many years, here are some best practices: ➡️ Start the week with calendar review, emails, and logistics to set up the week well. If you have an admin, meet them then. ➡️ Executive team meeting early on Mondays to triage the weekend and the week. Weekly update meetings with teams on Monday afternoons, after the executive leadership meeting. This allows me to bring context, decisions, and asks from the leadership to the teams immediately. ➡️ Tuesdays are for external and cross-functional meetings. Having these meetings after the team and leadership syncs allows me to bring the latest updates and context to my cross-functional peers and externally. ➡️ Wednesday mornings are for large group decision-making meetings. This gives the team time in the week to prepare and have their pre-meetings. It also allows for any necessary follow-up meetings to happen during the same week. ➡️ Thursday is reserved for 1:1s. These are also the most easily moved if urgent, critical meetings come up from earlier in the week. ➡️ Friday is for interviews and org work. There is almost always at least one interview on Friday, and it’s a good time to think about people and culture. ➡️ Friday afternoon is when pre-reads, weekly updates, and any critical context sharing material are due to be emailed out for the meetings the following week. This ensures everyone who attends has the time to review and prepare. Remember, the intent is to try to create themes that allow you to better prepare for meetings and have the right information. When the week operates on a loose drumbeat, everyone is better able to prepare and have productive conversations. ----- 👋 Hi! I'm Yue. I am a Chief Product and Technology Officer turned Executive Coach. I help women and minority aspiring executives break through to the C-suite. 🚀  🔔 Follow me for more content on coaching, leadership, and career growth.

💬 The Leadership Habit That Changes Everything Fridays are my chance to reset and refocus. Early in my career, I would end the week feeling busy but unsure if my efforts had truly moved the needle. I learned the hard way that leadership without clarity creates noise, not progress. Now, I follow one habit that’s transformed how I lead: I align my priorities with my purpose. Here’s how I do it: Identify the one outcome that matters most. ↳ I ask: If everything else had to wait, what’s the one result that will create the greatest impact next week? ↳ This isn’t just about what’s urgent—it’s about what moves the needle toward long-term success. Break it into clear, actionable steps. ↳ A priority without a plan is just an idea. I map out specific actions, assign owners, and set timelines. ↳ Simplicity here is key: clarity creates momentum. Communicate the focus with precision. ↳ Leadership is a shared effort. I ensure my team understands the priority and how it connects to our bigger mission. ↳ Alignment isn’t just top-down—it’s built through conversation and trust. Reflect on lessons from the week. ↳ Wins and setbacks aren’t just outcomes—they’re data. I ask: What’s working, what’s not, and how do we adapt? ↳ Growth happens when you treat every week as a cycle of learning and improvement. Simplify by eliminating the noise. ↳ Not everything requires your attention. I delegate, defer, or remove anything that doesn’t support the priority. ↳ Focus isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things with purpose. Why does this habit work? 🌱 Clarity creates action: When you’re clear about your focus, progress becomes inevitable. 🌱 Purpose inspires trust: When your actions align with your mission, your team buys in. 🌱 Reflection drives growth: Leadership evolves when you take the time to learn, adapt, and refine. Fridays aren’t just about ending the week—they’re a leadership advantage. This simple habit sets the stage for clarity, progress, and impact every single week. What’s the one thing you’ll focus on next week to lead with clarity and purpose? Share it below—I’d love to hear your thoughts. 👇 👉 Follow Ben Botes for more insights on Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Impact Investment.