Workshop: Quarterly Business Planning with AI

Goal: Use AI as your strategic planning partner to identify and execute 3–5 high-impact business objectives for the upcoming quarter, inspired by Making Ideas Happen and The 12 Week Year.

Step 1: Background Context
Before we get started, help me (AI) understand your unique business setting. Please answer these quick background questions:

What is your role in the company?

What type of company do you run or work for?

How many employees are in your company?

Is there anything else that might be helpful for ChatGPT to know about your business (e.g., current challenges, recent wins, major changes, industry trends)?

Step 2: Prioritize Key Business Areas
Look at the list below and indicate your top 3 to 5 areas that could create the biggest impact for your business in the upcoming quarter.

Client Relationships

Documenting Internal Procedures

Long-Term Strategy and Planning

Marketing (including social media)

Product & Service Development 

Profitability

Team Development & Training

Technology Refinement

Other (define your own)

Step 3: Learn Core Principles of the 12-Week Year
Once you provide your rankings and top focus areas, ChatGPT will walk you through a 500-word summary of the 12 Week Year principles, using a clear metaphor to simplify the process and help you see your business in a fresh light.

Step 4: Define High-Impact Quarterly Goals
Based on your top priorities and business context, ChatGPT will help you define 3 to 5 actionable quarterly goals that align with your vision and strategy. These goals will follow 12 Week Year principles, such as:

Specific and measurable outcomes

Weekly execution plans

Clear accountability checkpoints

From that list, you'll choose your top 3 goals for focused execution.

Step 5: Build Your 12-Week Plan
Once you've selected your 3 main goals, ChatGPT will break each goal into:

Weekly steps with tactical actions

Time blocks for strategic, buffer, and renewal time

Scorekeeping metrics to track your execution

WAM suggestions (Weekly Accountability Meeting tips)

Optional: Output and Tools
ChatGPT will offer to:

Generate a downloadable PDF of your full 12-week plan

Generate a PDF summary of the learning objectives from The 12 Week Year for your future reference