The 12-Week Year is hands down my favorite system for setting goals. It’s like a cheat code for progress: stop thinking in months and years—focus deeply for 12 weeks, and get more done than you thought possible.

But here’s the problem: most people set goals that feel impossible by Week 2. I’ve seen it, I’ve done it, and I’ve fixed it.

I’ve got two hacks that take the 12-Week Year from good to game-changing. They keep you motivated, make progress feel doable, and—most importantly—fun.

Hack #1: Progressive Goals That Build to a Tangible Reward

Here’s where most people go wrong: they set goals like, “I’ll work out 3x a week for 12 weeks straight.”

Sounds ambitious, right?

It’s also the fastest way to quit.

Goals need to grow. Start small, build momentum, and reward yourself in a way that reinforces the habit.

Here’s what that looks like for fitness:

Month 1: 1x home workout per week. (Small win, zero excuses.)

Month 2: 2x home workouts per week. (Slightly harder, but now you’re confident.)

Month 3: 2x workouts—but here’s the game-changer: you book a fun reward that ties back to the goal. Like signing up for a series of paid classes you’ve been eyeing or scheduling a few sessions with a personal trainer.

Notice the reward isn’t a random “treat.” It’s part of the goal itself. By Month 3, you’ve built momentum, the habit feels strong, and you’re excited about the payoff.

Hack #2: Write Your Weekly Tactics as the Person You’re Becoming

Weekly tactics are where the 12-Week Year comes to life. These are the actions you take every week to hit your goal. But most people write them like a checklist:

“1 hour on LinkedIn.”

“Study Spanish for 2 hours.”

“Do 30 minutes of exercise.”

Boring, right?

Here’s my hack:

Write your tactics as the identity you’re stepping into. Who is the person who already achieved this goal?

Instead of “1 hour on LinkedIn,” write: “1 hour as a Successful Entrepreneur.”

Instead of “2 hours learning Spanish,” write: “2 hours as a Fluent Spanish Speaker.”

Instead of “30 minutes exercise,” write: “30 minutes as a Marathoner.”

It’s a small change, but it flips your mindset completely. Suddenly, you’re not just doing tasks. You’re showing up as the person you want to be.

Why These Hacks Work

Goals fail when they’re too big, too fast, and too disconnected from who you’re trying to become.

These two hacks solve that:

1. Progressive goals build momentum instead of burnout, and the reward gives you something to look forward to.

2. Identity-based tactics turn boring checklists into a daily practice of stepping into your future self.

Simple tweaks, massive impact.

Final Thoughts

The 12-Week Year already works—but these two hacks? They make it a game-changer.

If you love talking about mindset, goal-setting, and ways to make progress fun, same here. I’ve even got a meetup group for solo entrepreneurs where we talk about exactly this.

Give these a try. And tell me: what identity are you stepping into this quarter?