Why We Run Vault Ventures One Quarter at a Time
Running the Year in 12-Week Sprints
The start of a new year always brings reflection, planning, and momentum. For us at Vault Ventures, that planning revolves around The 12 Week Year framework—a system that fits our business, our properties, and our lifestyle exceptionally well.
At its core, the 12 Week Year treats the year as four focused sprints, not one long marathon. Instead of annual goals that drift and lose urgency, we break the year into quarters, with each quarter acting like its own “mini-year.” We already track finances monthly and evaluate performance quarterly, so this approach aligns naturally with how we operate.
The often-overlooked piece of the system is the 13th week—a reset and review window. That week isn’t about pushing new goals. It’s about looking back:
- What moved the needle?
- What stalled out?
- What surprised us?
- What needs refining before the next sprint?
This year, we’re taking that same framework and applying it directly to our business plan, breaking it into quarterly focuses instead of one massive document that gets shelved.
How Our 2026 Roadmap Shapes Up
From a mile-high view, our year currently breaks down like this:
Quarter 1 – Growth & Setup
This is where momentum starts. Early 2026 will focus heavily on:
- Renovating the second half of Jake’s Bed & Bar
- Furnishing and launching four cabins at our new Expedition Cabins location in Chassell
- Stabilizing operations across five new properties coming online
Adding multiple properties at once is a heavy lift, and Q1 is about getting everything operating smoothly before stacking more on top.
Quarter 2 – Expansion & Outdoor Buildout
With snow finally releasing its grip, attention shifts outdoors:
- Campground and RV site development (14 new sites planned)
- Preparing for peak travel season
- Infrastructure and guest experience improvements ahead of summer
Quarter 3 – Operations & Execution
July through September is all about keeping the ship cruising:
- Guest experience
- Maintenance
- Clean operations
- Minimal disruption
This is not the season for major renovations—it’s about execution and consistency.
Quarter 4 – Renovation, Review & Opportunity
As travel slows, focus returns to:
- Renovations
- Catch-up projects
- Reviewing data and performance
- Identifying new opportunities for the following year
We monitor metrics daily, but Q4 is where patterns become clear and strategy sharpens.
Beyond Just Growth, Operations, and Renovations
While those three buckets anchor the plan, they don’t tell the whole story. As we refine our roadmap, we’re intentionally layering in other focus areas to keep the plan flexible and realistic.
Here are 10 additional categories we often evaluate and rotate into quarterly focus:
- Guest Experience
- Systems & Automation
- Staffing & Team Development
- Maintenance & Asset Preservation
- Furnishings & Interior Design
- Marketing & Visibility
- Financial Efficiency
- Risk Reduction & Compliance
- Community & Partnerships
- Lifestyle Balance & Time Protection
Not every category gets equal attention every quarter—and that’s the point.
A Living, Breathing Plan
Some years, we’re behind and playing catch-up. Other years, we hit goals early and unlock new opportunities ahead of schedule. That’s why we’ve always believed a business plan should evolve, not collect dust.
This framework gives us something to return to—especially when things get noisy or scattered. It helps us refocus, reprioritize, and keep moving forward intentionally.
Cheers to a happy, healthy 2026.
We’re excited for continued growth, new opportunities for our guests and properties, and sharing the journey with you along the way.
What does your next 12 weeks need to focus on most—growth, stability, or improvement?