A Better Kind of "To-Do" List

Posted on by Ron Dawson

evernote_to-doDon’t you just hate to-do lists? No matter how much you attack them or how effectively you manage them, the never, ever seem to go away. My wife and I were working on some master to-do lists last Friday. Mine was two pages long. And many of the items were larger projects that are really composed of their own set of to-do lists.

But that evening I saw a better kind of  list. And I found it on the mirror of my 14 year old daughter’s bathroom. Besides making me feel terribly proud, it reminded me the importance of keeping your dreams and objectives in the forefront of  your mind. To visualize them  (daily if possible). And, minimally, to at least write them down.

I got permission from her to share her list on this blog. I hope it will encourage you to compose your own such list.

Things I would like to do…

To master French

To be well educated

To have a strong sense of hope

To speak clearly

To have read all Jane Austen novels

To have ten completed and perfected songs

To finish ninth grade early

To save money

To have $500 in my bank account

To be sensitive to others

To completely trust in God

To fully believe in God’s power

Memorize quotes, passages, and poems worth knowing

To be strong and healthy

To be efficient and confident

To be proud of myself

Imahni, if you’re reading this blog, know that I am proud of you.

13 thoughts on “A Better Kind of "To-Do" List”

  3. Mostly, I just wrote it because everything I was trying to do wasn't working and I was getting frustrated. Writing that list helped me begin with the end in mind. That way I know it's not just not working. It's just taking more effort than I thought it would. Which is a much better way to see it than in one short word of failure. 🙂

  4. Mostly, I just wrote it because everything I was trying to do wasn't working and I was getting frustrated. Writing that list helped me begin with the end in mind. That way I know it's not just not working. It's just taking more effort than I thought it would. Which is a much better way to see it than in one short word of failure. 🙂

  10. Great post…but I wonder my list is longer? I think I need to audit it!!! I also read an interesting blog that contains an anti-list/goal theme. I'm not too fond of that idea but it did resonate with me that perhaps I have too many list/goals. Maybe it's a control thing. Let me know your thoughts.Regards,Carl

  11. Wow, you should be proud..she is well on her way to fulfilling all her dreams…and her priorities are in the right place. Good job on some awesome parenting!H

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Brand and content marketing for the media and tech industries at Blade Ronner Media. Producer and host of Radio Film School. Think of it as "This American Life" for filmmakers. Author of the upcoming satirical memoir Dungeons 'n' Durags.