Over the past few weeks, I’ve been asking a lot of people one simple question: Why do we let work take over everything else in our life?
I got heaps of interesting responses, but one really stuck with me. This one lady said: “Because we think our family will understand and accept it—until they don’t.”
That hit home.
Bonjour. In this video, I want to share three simple tactics to live a rich life.
At the moment, I’m in Fiji with TK, my daughter Mirabelle, and one of her friends, Uki. We’re on this absolutely stunning, remote island. To give you an idea of how “off the beaten track” we are: we flew from Sydney to Nadi, Fiji—a 3.5-hour flight. From there, we took another flight to a smaller island, then a bumpy bus ride along dirt roads to reach a bay. From the bay, we hopped on a ferry for two hours before another half-hour drive down a dirt road. Finally, we arrived. Not many people make it out here, and it’s breathtaking.
The people are warm and welcoming, the island’s beauty is beyond words, and we’ve had two unforgettable days. Yesterday, we explored the world-famous Rainbow Reef—known for its vibrant coral and as one of the top dive sites on the planet. The day before, we snorkelled with manta rays. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and right now, my happy tank and love tank are overflowing.
But back to that lady’s response—we think our family will understand and accept it until they don’t.
That really got me thinking.
I have the privilege of working with many leaders across the globe, helping them with time management and productivity. Often when they hear those words, they immediately think of work. They’re always surprised when I explain that, for me, productivity is about making sure you put the important things first—and the most important things are your family, your passions, and the people you love.
Unfortunately, I’ve seen it time and time again—those important personal things often become what I call “residual beneficiaries.” They get the crumbs. We organise our time around work—meetings, projects, business trips—and our loved ones end up getting whatever’s left.
So, how do we stop letting work take over our lives? Here are three simple tactics that have made a big difference for me.
1. Make a Yearly Plan
At the end of every year, TK and I sit down and plan the next 12 months. I have a simple Excel spreadsheet with a year’s view, and we block out important dates for family time. We think about what we want the year to look like for our family and plan accordingly. This way, we’re not just reacting to work and squeezing family time in where we can. It’s proactive, intentional, and it works.
2. Design Your Ideal Week
I encourage everyone I work with to do this exercise—design your ideal week. Think about what your perfect week looks like, and the key is to start by blocking out personal time—family time, hobbies, passions. Don’t start with work.
Does my week always look like my ideal week? Absolutely not. But by taking the time to think about it and prioritising the important people and activities, I ensure that they’re not just an afterthought. Even if my week doesn’t go to plan, at least I’ve given it some thought and made them a priority.
3. Plan Weekly and Protect What Matters
I’m a big believer in the weekly plan. Every week, I sit down and map out my schedule, making sure I’m protecting time for my family, my home, and my passions. Of course, it’s not perfect. Just recently, Fleur, my eldest daughter, had an important event at university but the university only gave us two weeks’ notice. Unfortunately, I had already committed to a key session with a client that I’d booked six months in advance. Sometimes, you just can’t change things. But if you plan and protect your personal time 80% of the time, your happy tank and love tank will stay full.
So, my question to you is: Are the important people in your life getting the best of you, or are they just the “residual beneficiaries” of your time? Do you have any tactics in place to make sure they come first?
I’m going to spend the next few days soaking up this incredible time with my family, continuing to fill up my tanks. I hope you’re doing the same and giving the important people in your life the time and attention they deserve.
Wishing you a lovely day!
A bientôt,
Cyril
