In 2008, Bronnie Ware published a simple blog post called Regrets of the Dying. It resonated so deeply, reaching roughly eight million readers, that it pushed her to write a book that became an international bestseller: The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying.
Bronnie was an Australian palliative care nurse, looking after people in the final weeks of their lives. She asked many of them about their biggest regrets. Regret number one? “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”
In this video, I want to talk about a vital principle I call Life by Design.
Sandra and I are in the middle of nowhere in Morocco, sitting in front of a stunning lake. We are here with a group of our closest friends—people we’ve known for thirty-five to forty years—and all our kids. We live all over the globe, France, Spain, Argentina, and Sydney, yet every single year, we make it a priority to gather and share an experience like this.
In my work training senior leaders, we talk a lot about performance at work. But eventually, the conversation shifts to their personal lives. It constantly surprises me how much time, energy, and meticulous effort leaders put into planning their business strategies, while putting not enough thought into their personal lives.
That realization pushed me to create a session in our leadership programs called Amplify Your Life. The foundational mindset behind it is Life by Design. To me, designing your life comes down to four practical layers:
The Long-Term Vision (5–10 Years): Take just twenty or thirty minutes to sit down and ask yourself: What does an amazing life look like in five to ten years? Write it down.
The Yearly Plan: Every year, TK and I sit down and ask: What does a great year look like? For us, this year’s plan included blocking out time for this trip to Morocco with our long-time friends.
The Quarterly “Personal” Big Rocks: Everyone knows I am big on setting two or three business “Big Rocks” every quarter. But I also set two or three personal Big Rocks. I clarify them and write them down.’
The Weekly Calendar Execution: During my weekly planning, I don’t just look at my work to-do list. I ask: What specific action do I need to take next week to progress my personal Big Rocks? Then I schedule those small tasks directly into my calendar.
It’s a simple system. But the result is sitting by a lake in Morocco, creating memories with lifelong friends and our adult kids that we will all cherish for the rest of our lives. Speaking of personal Big Rocks, I have a massive Big Rock coming up, both personal and business. On the 1st of September, I am releasing my new book, Less Achieve More. I wrote Work Smarter: Live Better over fifteen years ago, and I decided it was time to update those principles to leave something truly useful for the next generation of leaders.
We are just about to head off on another three-hour hike through the hills. It’s going to be hard work, but incredible fun.
So, I ask you this: What is one personal Big Rock you can lock into your calendar this week?
This is this week, Work Smarter: Live Better tip.
You have a lovely day.
À bientôt,
Cyril
