I work with leaders from all over the world, and we often dive deep into productivity topics—emails, files, meetings, priorities, you name it. But here’s the surprising thing: the most loved session I run with them isn’t about work at all. It’s called The Dinner with a Pen and Paper.
In this session, we don’t talk about business. Instead, we focus on something that often gets overlooked: our personal lives. And, to my surprise, this has become a favourite habit not just for me and my wife, TK, but for many of my clients too.
In this video, I want to share this habit with you—something TK and I have been doing for the past five or six years. We call it “The Dinner with a Pen and Paper”, and it’s changed the way we approach each year.
Right now, we’re in Cronulla, south of Sydney. This morning, TK and I took a three-hour coastal walk in the Royal National Park—clear blue skies, stunning ocean views, and even a quick swim before heading off to a lovely beachside restaurant.
But this wasn’t just any lunch. It was our annual planning lunch.
Here’s what makes this habit special: while many people spend hours planning their business year, very few take the time to plan their personal year. And really, what’s more important than that?
Most of us put it off, saying, “I’ll get to it if I have time,” or “It’s all in my head.” But let’s be honest—those plans rarely happen unless we sit down and give them the attention they deserve.
So, over a long lunch, TK and I spent three hours celebrating the past year, reviewing what worked (and what didn’t), and dreaming about the year ahead.
We’ve kept the process simple. It’s just three steps—celebrate, review, and dream.
1. Celebrate We started by looking back on 2024 and listing 24 things that made the year great. Honestly, it took us a while because we were savouring every memory.
From big milestones to small, joyful moments, here are some highlights:
- Celebrating TK’s 50th birthday with an amazing party (after initially not wanting to do anything!)
- Our 25th wedding anniversary and being surprised by our son flying in from England.
- Watching our daughter graduate.
- Beautiful holidays and time spent with friends and family.
It was such a special exercise, and honestly, it was hard to limit the list to just 24 moments. Even though 2024 was a tough year for many around the world, we felt so grateful for all the good things we experienced.
2. Review
Next, we reflected on what worked well in 2024—and what didn’t.
We reviewed the goals we’d set for the year and asked ourselves:
- Did we achieve them?
- What went well?
- What fell short?
For example, we’d planned to have monthly date nights, taking turns organising them. We started strong, but by August, life got busy, and the habit faded. We also let our weekly planning sessions slide later in the year.
Another area I want to improve in 2025 is staying connected with my friends. I have incredible friends here in Australia and around the world, but I need to make a more conscious effort to connect with them regularly.
This reflection step isn’t about beating ourselves up—it’s about learning and recommitting to what matters most.
3. Dream Finally, we dreamed about what an amazing 2025 would look like.
We asked ourselves: If it’s December 31st, 2025, what would need to happen for us to call the year incredible?
We explored every area of our lives—family, friends, holidays, health, personal growth, giving back, finances, and more.
It’s such a beautiful process to dream together and set intentions for the year ahead. We even blocked out key dates in our calendars to make sure those dreams actually happen.
This year, we also chose a word each to guide us:
- My word is “empathy.” My goal is to focus on understanding how others feel and putting myself in their shoes.
- TK’s word is “calm.” With our youngest daughter about to do her HSC, TK wants to create a calm, stress-free environment at home.
This simple tradition—taking just a few hours to plan our year—has made such a difference in our lives.
When you take the time to:
- Celebrate your wins,
- Review your progress, and
- Dream about what’s possible,
you create a life filled with intention, joy, and meaning.
So, my question to you is: How much time do you spend planning and dreaming about your personal year?
If the answer is “not much,” give this a go. You’ll be amazed at how powerful it is to take a few hours, block some dates, and dream big.
This is this week’s Work Smarter: Live Better tip.
Here’s to an amazing 2025!
Hope you have a lovely day!
A bientôt,
Cyril & TK
