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A few months ago, we had the pleasure of having at Cowork Crew the fabulous Joe Glover from The Marketing Meetup.
Before his talk we got talking about, well, life. New baby. New season. Same big dreams. I asked him how on earth I was meant to "do it all."
Joe said something that rerouted my brain: you're not sacrificing, you're prioritising. You're choosing how to show up. That line lifted the guilt I didn't know I was carrying. I stopped looking for a perfect balance and started building better boundaries.
And here's my spicy take: I hate the phrase "work‑life balance." Life isn't a perfectly even pie chart. It's seasons.
Some weeks it's 60% work and 40% friends and family. Other weeks you flip it.
That doesn't make you a bad parent, partner, or professional. It makes you intentional.
As December is literally slipping through our fingers, we're having plenty of chats with our students about setting goals at Alt Marketing School: resolutions flop because they're vague, vibes‑only, and built for fantasy calendars.
Only about 9% of Americans actually complete their New Year's resolutions, with roughly 43% dropping off by the end of January. Source
Real life has naps, deadlines, and curveballs. So instead of "New Year, New Me," let's refresh your Wheel of Life (but make it practical).
What's the Wheel of Life?
It's a simple snapshot of your life across a handful of areas that matter to you. You rate where you are now, decide what "better" looks like, and pick one tiny action per area.
The Wheel of Life is widely credited to Paul J. Meyer and popularised in coaching as a simple way to visualise life balance and set focused goals. Read a clear overview.
Here's my twist: instead of using generic categories, you should use your values. If it doesn't matter to you, it doesn't go on the wheel.
How to Build Your Wheel
Grab a sheet and split it in two.
Personal values: relationships, joy, movement, rest, etc.
Professional values: focus, creativity, autonomy, impact, etc.
Circle your top 4 across both lists. That's your current life's "big four." Those become your wheel slices.
For each slice, jot two things:
Current score from 1–10 (gut feel)
What a +1 would look like this month
Then ask the five clarity prompts:
What's great about this area right now?
What's not perfect (yet)?
What am I willing to do to make it how I want it?
What am I willing to stop doing to change my situation?
How can I enjoy the process while I work on it?
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A Real Example from My Life
Constraint: I've got two days a week to do five days of work with a 6‑month‑old.
Value wheel slices: Focus, Family, Creativity, Revenue
+1 moves this month:
Focus: 2× 90‑min deep‑work blocks per working day
Family: Weaning mealtime as a group activity
Creativity: One idea parking lot, batch writing on Day 1 AM
Revenue: One sales activity per week (follow‑up or offer)
Stop doing: context switching, guilt‑yeses, perfection polishing
You're not aiming for all 10s. You're aiming for balance that feels sustainable for this season. One +1 per slice beats twelve dramatic reinventions that fizzle by week two.
Build Your Wheel in 30 Minutes
Do this in the next week. List your top 4 values. Turn them into 4 wheel slices.
Score each slice 1–10. Be honest, not harsh. Write one +1 action for each slice that fits your real week.
Make a Cut List: remove or delegate 3 things blocking your +1s.
Block 2× 90‑min deep‑work windows on your next workday.
Celebrate one tiny win when you complete your first +1.
YOUR HOMEWORK ✍️
Here's your first step: set a 10‑minute timer and sketch your wheel with four slices. If you get stuck, start with Focus, Relationships, Creativity, Revenue.
December is all about planning and reviewing.
If you’d like more of this planning goodness, join us for our Class in Session season where we'll help you reflect on what worked, set intentional goals, and build a marketing plan that actually fits your life.
Live planning workshops to map your next quarter all over December
Replay of our 5 sessions on social media, paid ads and personalisation
Templates and worksheets to implement what you learn
Save your spot: Join Class in Session
Remember to go extra easy on yourself boo. And pick actions that would still work on a messy day.
Focus on one wheel, one month: then review and refresh monthly or quarterly. And yes, please do share yours on LinkedIn with me.
Always cheering you on,
Fab
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