October Theory: Gen-Z Discovers Quarterly Planning (and the Olds can learn a thing or two)

Is October the new January? Gen Z thinks so, and they might be onto something. In this Thinkydoers Short, I dive into the viral TikTok trend of "October Theory" and explore how it intersects with established business practices like quarterly planning and OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career journey, this episode offers fresh insights on goal-setting and achievement.

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction to "October Theory" and its viral spread on TikTok
• How October Theory aligns with business quarterly planning practices
• What us Olds can learn from the youth on the importance of end-of-Q3 retrospectives and learning reviews
• Introduction to Key Results for Gen Z goal-setters
• The benefits of outcome-based goals over activity-based goals

Key Questions:

• What is October Theory?
• How does October Theory relate to business planning cycles?
• What are Key Results in the context of OKRs?
• Why are outcome-based goals more effective than activity-based goals?

Notable Quotes:

"Let's listen to the next generation on this one and prioritize the end of Q3 reset."

"Key results are a different kind of goal... We're going to think about what would be really incredible to achieve in terms of impacts or quantifiable outcomes of our effort."

"Instead of the risk of the all or nothing bad feelings that we get when we set just activity based goals, when we create key results, that's what we're pursuing... We get instantly curious, even if you're not having any progress."

Episode Chapters: 

00:00 Introduction to Thinkydoer Shorts 

01:15 Discovering October Theory

02:07 Understanding October Theory and Its Impact

03:43 The Power of Key Results for Gen Z

04:06 Implementing OKRs in Business

06:21 Creating Effective Key Results

09:02 The Benefits of Key Results Over Activity Goals

12:57 Conclusion and Join the Pre-Launch List for You Are A Strategist

Links and Resources:

• Pre-launch list for "You Are a Strategist": youareastrategist.com
• Sara's website: saralobkovich.com
• Shortcut to Sara's website: findrc.co