Identifying Your Roles (pg. 73-81)
Chapter 4 of What Matters Most marks the beginning of the practical work in Part Two. The focus is on identifying the roles that shape daily life—the relationships and responsibilities that connect individuals to others and to the broader world. Roles are not lived in isolation; they arise from the fundamental human need to belong […]
Renew Your Energy, Not Your Overwhelm
As winter fades and spring begins to take hold, many of us feel a natural pull toward renewal. Longer days, brighter mornings, and the promise of fresh growth can spark motivation and a desire to do more. But true renewal isn’t about packing more into your schedule—it’s about restoring your energy so you can move […]
Time Matrix Worksheet: Free Download
The time tested methods found on this worksheet will help you to prioritize your time to focus on those things that matter most! Download and print the correct size for your planner:
Making Room For What Matters Most
March often arrives as a natural pause point. The energy of the new year has settled, spring is just beginning to emerge, and many of us feel ready to reset. It’s a season that invites reflection—and an opportunity to reconsider how we’re using our time and energy. Many of us believe that staying busy is […]
The Franklin Five: March 2026
March delivers the first awakenings of Spring. It’s a great time to work on organizing your life in a way that brings inner peace. Get into the habit of printing The Franklin Five checklist each month, and include them in your planner! Also, check out our weekly Franklin Planner Talk blog posts for great ideas and support! […]
Why Goals Fail (pg. 58-66)
Chapter 3 of What Matters Most opens with a timeless insight from Henry David Thoreau, drawn from the conclusion of Walden: “I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a […]
Fighting The Pace Of The Modern World (pg. 47-57)
Chapter 2 of What Matters Most challenges a common nostalgia: the belief that life was slower and more spacious a century ago, when people supposedly had “more time.” Hyrum Smith dismantles this idea by examining how modern technology and expectations have reshaped our relationship with time, often leaving us feeling more harried despite labor-saving advances. […]
How To Refine Your Goals
We’re one month into the New Year, and if you set goals back in January, you now have four full weeks of invaluable real-world experience working toward them. The initial excitement has met reality—some days you crushed it, others you barely touched your list. That gap between intention and execution isn’t failure; it’s data. Now […]
The Franklin Five: February 2026
In February, show yourself some LOVE. Spend a portion of quality time focusing on your foundation – your personal governing values, and creating spaces of order and calm to live and work in. Get into the habit of printing The Franklin Five checklist each month, and include them in your planner! Also, check out our weekly Franklin Planner […]
Building Momentum For The Year Ahead
The beginning of the year is a unique moment—energy is high, goals feel fresh, and anything seems possible. It’s a time when determination comes naturally and motivation feels effortless. Yet for many people, that spark begins to fade before January even comes to an end. Life gets busy. Old habits creep in. The excitement of […]