Thursday Planning Ritual
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A simple but effective weekly planning system that uses analog methods instead of digital tools to stay focused and productive.
Core Planning Process
- Done every Thursday (not Friday)
- Print physical document with:
- Q1 focus and goals at the top
- Personal goals (e.g. "tell wife how much I appreciate her daily")
- Business goals
- Fitness goals
- Previous week's accomplishments and reflections
- Tasks for upcoming week
- Section for assistant tasks/support needed
Implementation Details
- Assistant prints document every morning, ready for Monday
- Carry physical paper everywhere during workday
- Avoid digital tools like Notion or Asana
- Use high quality materials:
- Sketch pads with quality paper
- Nice pens
- (Suggested improvement: Add presidential briefing style or wax seal for fun/prestige)
Key Benefits
- More effective than complicated digital systems
- Creates physical reminder of priorities
- Helps ensure tasks get completed
- Provides weekly reflection opportunity
- Combines both strategic (quarterly goals) and tactical (weekly tasks) planning
Format
- Single printed page
- Clear hierarchy with goals at top
- Space for reflection and planning
- Simple enough to reference throughout day
- Portable format to carry during workday
The system emphasizes simplicity and tangibility over digital complexity, making it easier to stay focused on key priorities and tasks.
Sam Parr
Host of MFM and fitness influencer
Sam Parr is a serial entrepreneur and business media pioneer.
In 2016, he founded The Hustle, a business news media company that started in his kitchen with just $12 and grew to eight figures in revenue.
Sam led the charge in making newsletters popular when few believed in their potential.
After four successful years, he sold The Hustle to HubSpot, a publicly traded company. Now operating as HubSpot Media, The Hustle reaches 3 million readers daily, employs a team of nearly 100, and has been the launchpad for dozens of its staff to found their own media companies and newsletters.
Sam remains the host of the popular business podcast, My First Million, and continues to start and sell companies. He also co-founded Hampton, a highly vetted community for entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs, and teaches people to write better through his platform, Copy That.