How do we work with our Exec team to help narrow down what we focus on?

This one is easy: Keep it simple and collaborative. Make them part of your plan since the very beginning.

It all starts with arranging a meeting with the Exec group to learn what their key objectives are and how success is accomplished in their eyes. Have them rank or stack-rank these priorities. For each initiative, show your team's bandwidth and anticipated impact. This further demonstrates how time and resources line up versus what is of genuine importance.

From there, you can decide what goes first and which can be left until next cycle; and of course where any extra resource should go.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to provide regular updates with a good summary so the exec team can see for themselves the decisions that have been made jointly and then directly measure their success.