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Writer's pictureSarah Pirie-Nally

Behind the Mothership: How We Keep Big Dreams on Track with Our Life OS

Updated: Nov 6, 2024


You can watch me talking all about this for 5 minutes here:


Steve and I are no strangers to the “Whoa, that’s a lot!” reaction. It usually comes when we share our vision, our (long) to-do list, or the whirlwind of projects that fill our days. And yes, we admit, it is a lot. But what many people don’t see is the finely tuned “mothership” that keeps our ambitions grounded, our family connected, and our work flowing.

Today, I’m excited to pull back the curtain a bit on how we make it all happen — from strategic planning down to the nitty-gritty details, all within one digital “command center” that we’ve lovingly dubbed our Wonder & Wander Life OS.


1. The Big Picture: Dreaming in Decades, Living in Days

Steve and I believe that for big dreams to thrive, they need structure and space to breathe. Our Life OS isn’t just a weekly planner; it’s a blueprint that encompasses family life, business, personal goals, and our vision for the next hundred years. Yep, you read that right.

We’re planning birthdays and milestones a century ahead (not kidding!). Why? Because thinking in longer timelines helps us see the legacy we’re creating. We’re actively building a future for our kids — and their kids — where well-being, adventure, and innovation are the norms. With our “100-year calendar,” we see all those important life events and family moments that make our hard work worthwhile.


2. The Family Hub: Life as Our Most Important “Project”

To us, our family is the most meaningful “project” we have, so naturally, they get their own dashboard. We track things like family well-being, check-ins, and life goals here. Yes, we’ve adapted the idea of “customer satisfaction surveys” for our kids. Every month, we do a family check-in to make sure everyone feels seen, heard, and aligned.

This part of the Life OS keeps us focused on what truly matters and helps us address issues or celebrate wins in real-time. It’s our way of ensuring we’re not just working hard but living fully and with purpose.


3. Sifting for Success: Tools and Tactics

I love a well-structured system — almost as much as I love a strong coffee. Notion is our go-to platform because it’s visual, adaptable, and frankly, gorgeous (beauty matters, even in project management!). Notion lets us create dashboards for everything from family goals to business growth, all in one place. We layer it with other tools, like FigJam for brainstorming and ClickUp for more detailed project breakdowns.


I like to think of our productivity tools as ingredients in a recipe. You wouldn’t skip sifting flour if you wanted a smooth cake batter, right? Likewise, we sift through the details to get everything running as smoothly as possible.


4. Bringing the Invisible to Light

One of the most transformative things we’ve done recently is to map out every task we do — both in business and in life. With a bit of help from AI (hello, ChatGPT), we laid out all of our roles and responsibilities. This activity makes it easy to see where things might be falling through the cracks or where there’s room for improvement. It’s also a great way to spot any unconscious bias in task delegation.


5. The Jobs-to-Be-Done Mindset

One thing we’ve realized is that we each have specific “jobs” in our life and business that go beyond standard roles. By defining the core “jobs to be done” in each area, we’ve gained clarity on who’s doing what, where, and why. This has allowed us to streamline our efforts and maximize our impact without the daily scramble. (And yes, ChatGPT was a big help here, too!)


Why the Mothership Matters

Our Wonder & Wander Life OS isn’t just a tool; it’s a philosophy. It’s how we stay connected to our purpose while keeping the wheels turning on a life that’s bursting with ambition. We’re juggling roles as parents, business owners, and eternal adventurers — but our system lets us live a life that’s not just full but fulfilling.

If you’re wondering how to manage your own wild dreams and ambitions, start with a system that can grow with you. Create a blueprint that honors both the big picture and the day-to-day details. Trust me, with a Life OS that works for you, anything is possible.


So, there you have it — a little peek behind the scenes at the “mothership” that keeps our dreams alive and our family grounded.


Now, if only it could brew me another coffee...


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