Why It’s So Hard to Work on the Things That Matter (And What Finally Helped Me)

And what our upcoming book is all about...

Sound familiar?

You're on top of things at work—calendar full, inbox (mostly) under control, getting stuff done. But your personal projects? Not so much. That online course you signed up for, the novel you always meant to write, the business idea scribbled in your notes app… somehow, they keep getting pushed to “later.”

That was me. For years.

I’m Wolfram, and for most of my career in consulting and financial services, I prided myself on being organized, reliable, and effective—at work. But outside the office, my own personal goals never quite got the same treatment. I wasn’t lazy or unmotivated. I was just... always busy. Always “next week.” Always hoping I’d magically find time after the next deadline.

There were seasons when I thought, “Once this quarter is over, I’ll finally start working on that side project.” Or “When things settle down a bit, I’ll focus on getting healthier.” You know how that story goes.

Then I stumbled across something that finally helped: a concept called #OKRs.

From Google to Getting My Life Together

I knew OKRs—Objectives and Key Results—from the corporate world. Intel, Google, and startups everywhere use them to stay focused. But I’d never applied them to my personal life.

Until I did.

Instead of vague resolutions or messy to-do lists, I began setting just a few clear, measurable goals each quarter. Suddenly, things I’d talked about for years—like writing this book—had structure. And traction.

Why It Helped

• It made me prioritize. No more chasing ten things at once.
• It turned ideas into action. “Write a book” became “Finish Chapter 3 by March 31.”
• It created rhythm. A short weekly review kept me on course.
• It built momentum. Progress felt good—and kept me going.

I won’t pretend it was magic. I still get derailed by life, just like anyone else. But this approach gave me a way to come back to center. It became my personal GPS when I veered off track.

Why We Wrote This Book

That’s what led Sebastian Voss and me to write our upcoming book, now with Scribe Media (still working on the title and cover, watch this space).

We’re not productivity gurus. We’re not monks living in minimalist bliss. We’re just two professionals who got tired of watching our best ideas—and most meaningful goals—gather dust while our work calendars stayed full.

So we built something we could actually stick with: a personal OKR system that brings clarity, accountability, and momentum—without requiring a full life overhaul.

If you're someone who gets stuff done at work but feels stuck when it comes to personal goals, this is for you. If you’re tired of endless to-do lists that never seem to move the needle, this is for you.

And if you’ve ever said “this year will be different,” only to end up right back where you started—yep, this is for you too.

Let’s Build Something Better

We're excited to share the full system soon, along with stories, templates, and practical tools you can use right away.

Let’s stop waiting for “the right time.” Let’s start making progress on the stuff that matters most!