The Quarterly Operating System

Frameworks in this book

Every framework The Quarterly Operating System teaches, gathered in one place. Each is paired with a workbook chapter in the book — scan, revisit, and put them to work.

Implementation Intentions

Pre-decide the when, where, and how, so the moment runs on rails.

Primary source: Peter M. Gollwitzer, Implementation Intentions: Strong Effects of Simple Plans (1999).

Habits

OKRs

Ambitious objective, measurable key results. The goal stops being a talking point.

Primary sources: Andrew S. Grove, High Output Management; John Doerr, Measure What Matters.

Goal Setting

Rocks, Gravel and Sand

Big rocks go in the jar first, or they never fit.

Primary source: Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, and Rebecca R. Merrill, First Things First.

Productivity

Ruthless Prioritization

Cut the B+ work so the A work has room to breathe.

Origin unverified; presented here as a practical exercise without attribution.

Productivity

The 90-Day Window

The quarter: short enough for urgency, long enough for direction.

Original to the Accelerate10x series.

Goal Setting

The Annual Wayfinder

Close the year by measuring the ground you actually covered.

Original to the Accelerate10x series.

Goal Setting

The Eisenhower Matrix

Four quadrants that show whose priorities your calendar runs on.

Primary sources: Dwight D. Eisenhower, the originating attribution, 1954; Stephen R. Covey, First Things First.

Decision Making

The Monthly Compass

A mid-quarter check that catches drift while there is time to steer.

Original to the Accelerate10x series.

Productivity

The Pre-Commitment Test

Eight written questions that separate real commitments from enthusiasm.

Original to the Accelerate10x series. Its lineage runs through Dan Sullivan's Impact Filter, Amazon's PR/FAQ, and Gary Klein's pre-mortem.

Decision Making

The Quarter-Close

A ninety-minute ritual that moves this quarter's learnings into the next one.

Original to the Accelerate10x series.

Productivity

The Start-Line Measure

Measure from the start line. The horizon never gets closer.

Primary source: Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy, The Gap and the Gain.

Personal Growth

The Year Chain

Vision, obstacles, transformations, actions: walk the chain backward before you plan.

Original to the Accelerate10x series. It extends the reverse-engineering method of The Identity Install, Chapter 5.

Goal Setting