On my way to the Alps: goal setting and Swiss wisdom
Part 2 of 3: Highlighting 'The Get Productive Grid'
Fritzli and I just landed in Zurich. We're on the train to Bern, where we'll switch to the Zweisimmen train. Then comes the little train that slowly curls up the mountains to Gstaad.
Speaking of Gstaad, check out Gstaad Guy's new podcast.
If you haven’t discovered him yet, Gstaad Guy is this 28-year old mystery creator behind Instagram's parody of luxury life. Through his characters Constance (a snobbish Brit) and Colton (his crypto-obsessed American cousin), he mocks the ultra-wealthy while filming my hometown.
What started as funny videos shared with friends while working his Apple day job has turned into a million-dollar business. I love his approach of not taking yourself too seriously and finding joy in life's absurdities.
In his debut podcast, you get to experience the real person (even without knowing his real name). He sits down with world-renowned Swiss chef Daniel Humm from three-Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park for a conversation about reinvention and creativity.
Daniel talks about Swiss values, balance, nuance, and listening to your heart. He believes in "progress not perfection" and says "subtle changes lead to big changes." As he puts it: "If you listen to your heart, you can never be wrong. It takes courage."
It’s about slowing down, connecting with what truly matters, staying connected to nature and finding luxury in simplicity, not just expensive ingredients (as Daniel says, 'Otoro with truffle is à la poubelle.'
The 13 Reflections Exercise
To help you connect with what truly matters, last week, I introduced you to Magdalena Bak-Maier, a London-based neuroscientist, productivity and wellbeing expert, and author who created The Grid, a powerful productivity method. I wrote about starting with generosity before setting goals. Today, I want to share, Bak-Maier’s 13 reflections exercise to help you with goal setting.
This is a crucial step. Coming up with goals cold doesn’t work. This one is a powerful tool designed to align the heart and the mind.
Complete each of the 13 statements below. The goal isn't to force answers but to notice what comes up naturally. If an answer is elusive, skip it. That reveals something too.
In the past 12 months I...
took responsibility for...
binned (let go of)...
began...
felt truly energized by...
called on others to...
made an impact in the following area/field/community...
faced...
honored...
achieved...
made a priority...
made a plan for...
completed...
was deeply touched by the following things/people/events/ideas...
In the next 12 months I want to...
take responsibility for...
bin...
begin...
feel truly energized by...
call on others to...
make an impact in the following area/field/community...
face...
honor...
achieve...
make a priority...
make a plan for...
complete...
be deeply touched by the following things/people/events/ideas...
The Heart-Mind Connection
Dr. Bak-Maier explains: "Now, looking at what you wrote down for the coming 12 months, make a note of what will help you create the results you identified in terms of specific actions. When you compare your answers in the first half of the exercise with those for the coming 12 months, what I hope you notice is this: to achieve what you set out over the coming months will require your heart and mind working together."
She continues: "In my experience, where people stall, procrastinate, or sabotage their success often matches areas where there's conflict between what the heart truly desires and what the mind decides to focus on. When either the heart or the mind tries to move forward without the other, the person suffers."
She adds: "Looking forward, you may have fewer blanks or none at all. This is because as you're reading this, your heart and mind have awakened and are making their voices and needs heard. The Grid will help you fuel them both."
Why This Matters
This framework is already reshaping my life, and I am looking forward to sharing it with my clients during their VIP Intensives in the Swiss Alps.
By managing time better and making space for what matters most, we live better.
The Grid offers a structure that supports all of that. It's not just about doing more. It's about creating a life where heart and mind work together—and where your to-do list actually reflects your values.
Speaking of living fully, my friend Henry Spingler reminds me what that looks like. He's 80 and has been sailing with some young guns on J-22s off Newport. Henry is an American sailor from Rhode Island who has been active in competitive sailing, particularly in the Etchells class. Just last week, a 20-year-old on the boat fell overboard into the frigid waters, and Henry caught the young man's leg while steering. It was a scary moment because the crew was struggling with the spinnaker at the same time. Here's to being 80 and active. That's a goal for me.
Next week, I'll share a video walkthrough of The Grid method. Here’s a screenshot of the video.
