The Bucket List

Quite simply, a Bucket List is a list of things that you would like to do before you die. I could dress it up with some swanky metaphors but I think that sentence explains it just perfectly. I believe everyone should have a bucket list and let me explain why?

Have you ever sat on the couch with your family of zombies, all zoned into the idiot box? The adverts come on and the first one showcases the brand new Jaguar XKR-S and your Dad says, “I would love one of those!” The second advert shows a holiday in Disneyland Florida and the kid’s scream, “I would love to go there!”  The third advert is of a male supermodel in his skimpy underpants. Your Mum looks over at your Dad while he scratches his arse and takes another swig from his can of lager before telling her to put the kettle on…I will let you imagine what she is thinking!

Always Dream Big Dreams

If there is something in life you want, then you can have it as long as you follow a few rules first.

1. Believe that what you want is achievable.

2. Create a plan to obtain it.

3. Take action.

By following these simple rules something quite remarkable happens in your brain. Almost like magic it springs to life and starts to sub consciously push you towards your end result. This process is often referred to as setting your satellite navigation system. Just like the piece of kit stuck to the inside your car windscreen, your brain knows where you are and it is just waiting for you to tell it where to go. Once you do this – like in the form of a bucket list for example – your brain just merrily goes on about its business. Strange coincidental things start to happen that inch you closer to your goal.

A goal without a plan is just a wish – Larry Elder

Programming your brains satellite navigation system is really a lot of fun and creating your bucket list forms a part of this. Have you ever said it would be great to have everything in life that you ever wanted? Try writing them all down, you will find it a lot tougher than you would think. I have so far only managed to get to number 83!

Here is my bucket list:

Each year I plan to achieve five of these activities. I might not achieve them all but it will not be for the want of trying. In 2011, for example I entered my first ever World Series of Poker (WSOP) event in Las Vegas. To enter one of these competitions was an activity on my bucket list so I had achieved one lifetime goal. Another goal is to win a WSOP event and as I was eliminated in only three hands I will have to wait another year!

Without the bucket list I would probably not have planned to travel to Las Vegas to play in the event. The bucket list is great for affirming your sense of meaning and purpose. It gives you something to live for.

If you could achieve one thing in life what would it be?

Inspiration

I am a great believer in goal setting; after all if you are not a planner, you live in hope that nice things will happen to you. It took me a few years to realise that the way I conducted myself in business could be translated to my own personal life. Goals are just a way of life in business and your pay rises and bonuses are dependant on them, not to mention the joy of achievement.

After I had done some work on my sense of meaning and purpose I was really fired up. I felt that I could achieve anything so I wrote a list of annual goals, split the goals down into activities, planned time to complete the activities and took action. Slowly but surely wonderful things started to happen in my life.

Back then I used to play online poker each night while listening to podcasts from the fabulous website The Creative Penn by Joanna Penn. One night I listened in awe while a man called Ian Usher entered my mind. Usher had decided to sell his whole life on eBay before attempting to accomplish 100 goals in 100 weeks. That night my bucket list was born and so was the idea to share this blog post with you.

Photo courtesy of pasukaru76 (cc @ flickr.com)