There seem to be two kinds of people in the world: those who make lists and those who don’t. I have been both at different times.
Here’s what I love about lists:
– They help me organize my day
– They allow me to capture all the stray thoughts and to-do’s that run through my head, so they don’t get forgotten
– They free up brain space so I can think about more important things
– They let me see my life at a glance, especially when I divide them into categories, My favorite four are: In My Business (anything to do with current work), On My Business (anything to do with marketing, operations and all the niggly things a small business owner has to do), Life in General (for things like call the plumber, buy that birthday present) and Me (to remind me of those all too easily forgotten personal resolutions)
– Other people have great ideas for lists – such as Peter Bregman’s “To Ignore” list
– They give me a sense of accomplishment when I can check things off
Here’s what I hate about lists:
– They can start to feel tyrannical
– It’s hard to get started and can be tedious to maintain a life run by lists
– They never end and just keep growing
– They can be an excuse to do busy work and to avoid the big stuff
– They become the work
– They can appear in different places and it’s hard to reconcile all of them, unless you are disciplined and organized
Did I forget anything? Help me add to the list….
So which are you? A list-maker or a flyer-by-the-seat-of-your-pants?
Please share your experience with lists and tell us about what works for you.