We start each quarter with great intentions, but mid-quarter fire drills and client emergencies always hijack our focus, causing our quarterly Rocks to sit unfinished by day ninety. How do we build a fortress around our Rocks so they actually get crossed off?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Rocks do not fail at day ninety. They fail in weeks four through eight when operational fires consume your calendar. If client emergencies are consistently preventing you from completing your quarterly priorities, you are treating your Rocks as extra credit instead of your primary job.

To protect your Rocks, you must change how you schedule your week. Treat Rock time as non-negotiable appointments on your calendar. Block out three to five hours every week specifically for Rock execution. This time must be treated with the same respect as a client meeting. If an emergency arises, you do not cancel this block. You reschedule it within the same week.

Additionally, utilize the weekly Level 10 Meeting™ to spot early warning signs. If a Rock is on track, it is reported as on track. If it is off track, even slightly, it must be put on the Issues List immediately. Do not wait until week eleven to admit a project is in trouble. IDS® the roadblock immediately to get it moving again.

Finally, make sure you are not setting too many Rocks. A leadership team should have no more than three to seven company Rocks per quarter. If everything is important, nothing is important. Keep the list lean, protect your execution time, and hold each other fiercely accountable to the ninety-day line.