How to Rock Your Annual Planning to Come Out Ahead Instead of Exhausted
Annual planning isn’t going away. It’s a ritual most companies follow. And the next few months of your life? You’re spending 60+ hours in it.
Whether you’re at Meta, Thumbtack, thredUP, Apollo, or any other product-driven company, planning season is in the DNA of the team. It’s what shapes the next year of work, and ultimately, your career trajectory.
It’s the best of times and the worst of times. You’re looking back on 2024—what went well, what still needs finishing, and what’s possible to push across the line before the end of the year.
This is when your team starts dreaming big. There’s excitement in the air as everyone gets energized thinking about what’s possible. But it’s also when the tough conversations happen—priorities clash, resources are limited, and not everything will make the cut.
Planning is about so much more than just making a list of projects. It’s one of the few times in the year where everything is laid bare—what’s working, what’s not, and where things need to change.
