Intended OS is built on 6 pillars. We deliberately kept the number small — few enough to remember, comprehensive enough to cover everything that matters. Each pillar answers a fundamental question about family life and maps to a specific cadence in your review system.
Why 6 instead of 10?
We started with 10 pillars but found that was too many to track meaningfully. When everything is important, nothing is. Six pillars hit the sweet spot: broad enough to cover all of life, focused enough to actually score and improve.
1. Vision & Values Annual
Question: Where are we going?
Your family's north star. This pillar encompasses your mission, your 10-year dream, your core values, and your family identity. It's the "why" behind everything else.
- Define 3-5 core family values
- Create a family mission statement
- Paint a 10-year vision together
- Revisit annually at your Vision Day
2. Roles & Responsibilities Quarterly
Question: Who does what?
Clear ownership eliminates conflict. This pillar covers task ownership, rotation systems, kids' chores, and accountability structures.
- Map all household responsibilities
- Assign owners (Owned, Rotating, Shared, On-call)
- Include age-appropriate tasks for kids
- Review and adjust at quarterly planning
3. Finances & Resources Monthly
Question: How's our money?
Financial clarity reduces stress and builds trust. This pillar covers budgeting, savings, spending review, and financial goals.
- Create a family budget together
- Set savings goals as a team
- Hold monthly check-ins to review spending
- Teach kids about money progressively
4. Routines & Home Weekly
Question: How does daily life flow?
Good systems free up mental energy for what matters. This pillar combines daily rhythms with your physical environment — morning routines, meal planning, home maintenance, and organization.
- Design morning and evening routines
- Create weekly rhythms (meal prep, cleaning days)
- Maintain a home maintenance schedule
- Organize spaces for function
- Declutter regularly
5. Communication Weekly
Question: How do we stay aligned?
Regular connection prevents drift. This pillar covers meetings, calendar management, conflict resolution, and decision-making processes.
- Hold weekly family meetings (30 min)
- Use a shared calendar religiously
- Create safe spaces for hard conversations
- Check in daily, even briefly
- Have a clear decision-making framework
6. Wellbeing Monthly
Question: How is everyone doing?
A healthy family is a resilient family. This pillar brings together physical health, personal growth, learning goals, and relationship connection — everything that helps each family member thrive.
- Track health basics (sleep, movement, nutrition)
- Support each person's learning and growth
- Schedule quality time (1-on-1 and whole family)
- Maintain extended family and community connections
- Check in on emotional and mental health
Reflection Is Built In
You might notice "Reflection" isn't a standalone pillar. That's intentional. Rather than treating reflection as one more thing to track, we've woven it into every cadence session:
- Weekly: Quick wins and issues review — what worked this week?
- Monthly: What went well, what needs adjustment?
- Quarterly: Rock retrospective — did we hit our goals?
- Annual: Full year in review before setting new direction
This way, reflection happens consistently rather than being forgotten as "pillar #10."
Scoring Your Pillars
At each quarterly planning session, score each pillar on a 1-10 scale. This simple practice reveals where you're thriving and where you need to focus.
| Score | Meaning | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 9-10 | Thriving | Systems working, maintain momentum |
| 7-8 | Healthy | Minor improvements possible |
| 5-6 | Needs attention | Some friction or gaps to address |
| 3-4 | Struggling | Significant issues, prioritize this |
| 1-2 | Crisis | Requires immediate focus |
Low-scoring pillars become focus areas for the next quarter's Rocks. If "Routines & Home" scores a 4, that's where you direct your energy.
How the Pillars Connect
These pillars don't exist in isolation. Your Vision & Values should inform your Routines. Your Communication practices help you stay aligned on Finances. Your Roles & Responsibilities map affects Wellbeing.
Think of them as a web, not a checklist. Strengthening one pillar often improves others.
Where to Start
If you're new to Intended OS, we recommend starting with:
- Communication — Start a weekly family meeting. This creates the space to work on everything else.
- Roles & Responsibilities — Create a responsibility map so everyone knows who owns what.
- Vision & Values — Define your family values to give direction to your decisions.
These three create the foundation. The rest follows naturally.
Cadence-to-Pillar Mapping
Each pillar has a natural home in your review cadence:
| Session | Primary Pillars | Reflection Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly Meeting | Communication, Routines | Wins, issues, what's working |
| Monthly Check-in | Finances, Wellbeing | Month review, adjustments |
| Quarterly Planning | Roles (all pillars scored) | Rock retrospective |
| Annual Vision | Vision & Values | Year in review |
This mapping ensures every pillar gets regular attention without overwhelming any single session.