Today is my 10-year wedding anniversary. As my wife and I continue to grow together, we agree on how difficult it continues to get to support a dual career household with kids. And while “planning” might sound too corporate for something as personal as family life, it’s actually one of the best tools we have to reduce stress, increase connection, and stay aligned on what matters most. If you’ve never done it before, this might be the year to try setting shared family goals.

Tip of the Week: Before setting individual goals for 2026, try setting one or two shared family goals. Alignment at home makes everything else run smoother.

Side Note: It’s hard to reflect (let alone grow) when your calendar is in constant chaos. If you want to align your time with what actually matters (at work and at home), the first step is getting your workload under control.

That’s why I built the Effective Workload Management Systems course. It’s a practical framework to help you reclaim your time, reduce overwhelm, and create space for the things that move your life forward — including planning as a couple. The newest version is the strongest yet, refined with input from over 70,000 Amazonians and built to meet real life, not just ideal life.

The Theory Behind

Start with a shared vision, not a task list. Sean Johnson encourages us to ask ourselves: What do we want to stand for as a family? What values do we want our kids to grow up seeing modeled every day? What kind of life do we want to build, and what will we look back on with pride 10 or 20 years from now? These answers can shape your goals and priorities for the year. And no... you don’t need a vision statement on the fridge. You just need to talk about it, check in occasionally, and course-correct when needed.

Translate the vision into input and output goals. As I’ve written before, output goals are results like “save $20k this year.” Input goals are what make those results happen. Things like “track spending every Sunday” or “limit restaurant meals to once per week.” For example, one of my family's shared values was to spend more time in nature. The input goal? A small hike or walk every weekend. We didn’t always hit it, but over time, the kids began seeing those weekend outings as just part of who we are (and most importantly started to walk on their own).

Design a weekly rhythm that supports the goal. James Clear says systems beat goals. For families, systems show up as weekly habits. Some of the best rhythms I’ve seen are non-negotiable date nights and weekly prep meetings where both calendars are open and logistics get handled. The key is keeping them separate. One is for connection, where logistics are off the table. The other is a standing operational review. When couples mix the two, they usually miss both.

Create clear ownership to reduce friction. A surprisingly common problem I've seen is both partners trying to manage everything (from school emails to grocery lists to cleaning dishes). This creates redundancy, confusion, and low-grade stress. Instead, assign clear ownership. In our home (and because we have both been Product Managers), we actually t-shirt size every household task and assign and divide ownership... just like we’d do in a product launch. That way, when something isn’t done, it’s obvious who’s accountable - no blame, no guessing. It’s the same principle that works in high-functioning teams: when ownership is shared, it’s often ignored.

What I’ve Learned

My wife and I have been together for nearly 19 years. We met in college, did our MBAs together, and then spent nearly a decade working at Amazon, all while raising two kids and managing a full life. That might sound like a LinkedIn self-love post, but what it really means is: lots of messy calendars, last-minute runs to pick something up, and countless of times when we think we are going to drop a ball. We’ve learned (and re-learned) that alignment doesn’t happen magically, but through conversation and planning.

We’ve tried both extremes. We’ve gone without systems and felt overwhelmed. We’ve gone all-in on structure and felt robotic. What works best is starting with a solid plan, then loosening it up over time. It’s easier to make space for spontaneity when the foundation is stable. Yes, it takes effort. Yes, it sometimes feels like work. But if you want your home life to feel less like chaos and more like connection, a little structure goes a long way.

Make It Happen

1. List everything it takes to run your household. Capture all recurring tasks: school, meals, finances, planning, etc.

2. T-shirt size each one (S/M/L). This creates shared visibility into the true workload.

3. Assign clear owners. Each item should have one person responsible - never both. Check how is the weight distributed between partners.

4. Set 2–3 shared family goals for 2026. Choose themes like nature, health, finances, creativity, or connection.

5. Define input goals that support each one. For example, “Do a Sunday hike” or “track budget weekly.”

6. Create two weekly touchpoints. One for logistics and planning; one for connection (no logistics allowed).

7. Add a monthly review session. Check in on how things are going with health, money, energy, and goals.

The other harsh reality I’ve seen (and experienced) is that in couples who don’t plan, the burden often falls disproportionately on women. They end up carrying the mental load or feel forced to micromanage their partner. I’ve been there, and I can tell you: it doesn’t feel great on either side. If that resonates, maybe give shared planning a try. Or just reply to this email - I'd be happy to share more details about what what’s worked (and what hasn’t) for us.

Marry someone you admire,

Jorge Luis Pando

Say hi 👋 on LinkedIn or YouTube

PS: Wow, you made it all the way down here? You must really care about your personal development! Here are 3 ways I can help you grow even faster:

1. Get My Most Popular Course: Learn the exact system I’ve taught to 70,000+ professionals to take control of emails, meetings, and DMs, and reclaim 150+ hours in your year.

2. Join The Effective Collective: Our private membership is opening soon as invite-only. Get access to two best-seller courses, weekly coaching, and support to level up your performance without burning out.

3. Book Me for Coaching or a Workshop: Need help scaling yourself or your team? I offer 1:1 coaching and custom team sessions to help you work better, not harder.

Enjoying what you’re reading? Help a friend out… and you will win something for yourself too.