Q4 Planning: Preparing for Busy Season in the Crochet Industry
As summer turns into fall, turns into the holiday season, people will be looking for cozy projects and beautiful handmade gifts for their loved ones. Depending on the nature of your business, this could mean skyrocketing craft fair sales, a huge boost in blog traffic, or a greater demand for VA services. While the prospect of increased profits is exciting, managing the workload can be a challenge, particularly for creatives. That’s why Q4 planning is essential for businesses in and around the crochet industry.
This is where the 12-week year method comes in—a productivity approach designed to break down annual goals into 12-week cycles for enhanced focus and execution. With a solid plan in place, you can manage all the tasks you need to make the busy holiday season a success.
I know a lot of creatives do this—wait until there’s a deadline. And so this shrinks your deadline from annual to quarterly or 12 week chunks … Typically, what happens is you jettison the tasks that don’t really matter, so you get down to what’s important, getting that done and forgetting about the things that don’t matter.
– Pamela Grice, Founder, Crochet professionals network
In this post, we’ll cover the basics of creating a 12-week plan for Q4. But if you want to explore this and other professional development topics in depth, join CPN and attend our monthly professional development calls.
CPN members: You can find replays for all of our professional development calls in your member dashboard, here.
What is the 12-Week Year?
The 12-week year is a productivity strategy developed by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington in their book, The 12 Week Year. It condenses your year into 12-week cycles, treating each week as though it represents a month in the traditional sense. The aim is to create a sense of urgency that forces focus and effective execution. Traditional yearly planning can lead to procrastination because the deadlines seem so far away. By breaking it into smaller, more immediate periods, you reduce the risk of putting off tasks and maximize productivity.
In essence, instead of working with a 12-month annual plan, you operate with a 12-week plan. Each week is treated like a month, and this pushes you to get more done in a shorter amount of time. This system is based on Parkinson’s Law, which asserts that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” When you have a year to complete a project, you tend to stretch out the work. In contrast, if you only have a few weeks, you’ll focus on getting it done quickly.
Why Q4 Planning is Ideal for the 12-Week Year
Q4 is naturally a time when crochet businesses—and consequently, businesses that serve them—experience increased demand. The time crunch of this quarter pairs perfectly with the 12-week year strategy because it provides structure and an intense focus on critical actions. Planning for Q4 using the 12-week year gives you a sense of purpose and allows you to finish the year on a high note.
Key Principles of the 12-Week Year
The 12-week year isn’t just about setting goals—it’s about executing them in a way that avoids distraction and ensures accountability. Here are the fundamental principles:
- Accountability: Take ownership of your actions and results. Instead of blaming distractions or life’s interruptions, accept that your outcomes depend on your focus and discipline.
- Focus on Execution: Writing down your goals isn’t enough; executing those goals within the set time frame is key. Personal accountability is crucial in this process, meaning you must fully commit to your plans without leaving room for excuses.
- Greatness in the Moment: This principle pushes you to make the right decisions in real-time. Ask yourself what action your future self would want you to take today and operate from that space. It’s about acting from a place of personal power and making decisions aligned with your long-term success.
Setting Your 12-Week Goals
When setting your goals for a 12-week cycle, consider using the concept of success goals instead of traditional SMART goals. While SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) are popular, they might not resonate with everyone. Success goals, however, include elements that inspire action and enthusiasm.
Here’s a breakdown of success goals:
- Specific: Define clear, focused goals.
- Urgent: Create a sense of urgency to fuel momentum.
- Clear: Keep your goals straightforward and easy to understand.
- Challenging: Push your limits and encourage personal growth.
- Exciting: Make your goals engaging so they ignite your passion.
- Supported: Build an accountability structure around your goals, whether it’s a coach, mastermind group, or support from friends and family.
- Sustainable: Ensure that your goals are manageable over the long term and prevent burnout.
Creating Your Strategic Plan
The next step is to create a strategic plan that breaks down your goals into actionable steps. This is where time-blocking becomes a vital tool. The 12-week year advocates for dividing your time into three types of blocks:
Strategic Blocks: These are 3-hour blocks of focused work without distractions. Use this time for high-level, important tasks that move your business forward, such as planning, strategizing, and executing your most critical actions.
Buffer Blocks: These are shorter blocks (usually around 30 minutes to an hour) for handling low-value tasks like responding to emails, making quick decisions, or handling administrative tasks that still need to be done but aren’t major priorities.
Breakout Blocks: These blocks are for personal time—dedicated to rest, recovery, or recharging. Scheduling personal time is essential to prevent burnout and maintain a healthy balance in your life.
By categorizing your time in this way, you ensure that your most productive hours are spent on high-impact activities, while also managing the smaller, less important tasks and taking care of yourself.
Executing and Tracking Your Progress
After setting your goals and creating a strategic plan, the next step is execution. For the 12-week year to work, you must focus on consistent, disciplined action. Here’s how to stay on track:
- Weekly Milestones: Break your 12-week goals into weekly milestones. For example, if one of your goals is to increase your email list by 1,000 subscribers, break that down into smaller weekly targets.
- Scorecard: Use a weekly scorecard to track your progress. Monitor how well you’re hitting your weekly milestones and adjust as necessary. The scorecard helps keep you accountable and gives you a clear picture of where you stand in relation to your goals.
- Time Management and Eliminating Distractions: Be proactive about eliminating distractions. This could mean working early in the morning before the rest of the household wakes up or setting boundaries with family and friends during work hours.
- Prioritize High-Impact Actions: Always ask yourself whether a task directly contributes to your goals. If it doesn’t, it can wait. Focus on the tasks that drive results.
- Develop Productive Habits: Build habits and routines that enhance productivity. For some, this might mean exercising in the morning to jump start creativity or using a timer to stay focused during strategic blocks.
Measuring and Reviewing at the End of 12 Weeks
Once you reach the end of the 12-week cycle, it’s time to review and measure your progress. Reflect on what worked and what didn’t. Did you meet your goals? If not, why? What adjustments can you make for the next cycle? Use these insights to improve your strategy for the future.
By using a growth mindset, you can frame any failures as learning opportunities. The goal isn’t perfection but progress. Adapting and refining your strategy with each cycle will make you more effective in the long term.
Why the 12-Week Year Works for Q4
The 12-week year is particularly useful in Q4 when the pressure to finish strong is high. It forces you to focus on the most important actions and eliminate the distractions that often come with end-of-year chaos. By breaking the quarter into manageable chunks, you’re more likely to meet your business goals without getting overwhelmed.
As the holiday season approaches, planning for physical product sales, increased blog traffic, customer service, and promotional efforts becomes crucial. With the 12-week year, you can create a detailed plan to manage these activities efficiently, ensuring that your Q4 is not only productive but profitable.
Master Q4 Planning with this 12-Week Planner
When you join CPN, you’ll gain access to a growing library of professional development resources to help you have a successful crochet business—including this 12-Week Goal and Action Planner.
The 12-week year offers a powerful framework for those looking to achieve more in less time, especially during the high-stakes Q4 period. By breaking down your annual goals into actionable 12-week plans, you can focus on what matters most, stay accountable, and execute effectively. Finish the year with a strong holiday season by planning smart and using the 12-week year strategy to optimize your Q4 planning.
