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Making a List
A couple of weeks ago a friend asked me how I keep track of everything I am doing right now – selling house, HardcoreFaith.com, writing a book, etc. I told him that one of the things I learned early on is this: If you want to succeed at anything you have to make a list. Want proof? Santa makes lists and he succeeds every year! Okay, maybe the Santa analogy stretches the point a little, but the fact remains, those who make lists tend to succeed.
In His Word God made some lists including, among others, the Fruits of the Spirit and the seven deadly sins, and He succeeds in getting His point across every time 
. So maybe this clues us in to an all important truth… when planning and implementing it’s good to make make lists.
When my wife and I began our business ten years ago we made lists. When we moved to Canada we made lists. When I studied in Seminary I made a list. When I pastored I made lists. When I started HardcoreFaith.com I made a list. When looking for a home we made a list. And when in the planning stages for the book I am currently writing, guess what, I made a list.
To be honest, I haven’t always made lists, I learned this valuable ability from my wife (she makes lists about lists!). I used to think ‘I need to do this and this and that’ but then just as quickly forget just what it was I had planned to do. The mind is a wonderful thing, but one thing I have learned in life is not to use it as a diary or PDA. Life is pretty hectic at best and it’s easy to lose track of the things that need to be done, birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, wants, tasks, goals, dreams, and even prayer requests. So I personally make lists.
For instance I have goals that I want to achieve next year. So instead of just thinking and remembering I made a list.
1. Finish the book I am currently working on “Monsters in the Church” by end of March, 2010.
2. Publish “Monsters…” after which you can buy a copy…
3. Begin writing next book (I have several idea’s that I have been working on – again I have them all on lists).
4. Find prayer partners for my ministry (wanna be one?)
5. Get some speaking engagements to promote “Monsters…”
6. Write more frequently for HardcoreFaith.com
7. Try and double the readership of HardcoreFaith.com (you can help this become a reality by linking from your site, Twitter, Myspace, or FB accounts, or suggesting this site to family and friends)
That’s just a few of the things I want to achieve next year. By making a list I have a tangible thing to look at to see how I’m doing. With regards to my book “Monsters in the Church” I am a little behind in the writing. How do I know this? Yup, I made a list with dates and everything. Oh yeah, dates are a good thing too if you are trying to stick to a deadline.
Lists may not be for everyone and to be honest lists can be a bind sometimes, especially when you have so many like I do. But at least everything is written down so that I can refer back to them at some other time.
Christian St John M.Div, BChM, ACS
December, 2009
This is good advice. I have made lists for years and I would say that I have succeeded, or at least completed, at what I set out to do. I liked that you mentioned that God makes lists… I have often marveled that the God of all Creation would take the time to do this for our benefit.
I love this site and pray that you succeed in all you have set out to do.
It seems so simple and yet so very few people intentionally make lists. Thank you Michael and may you long continue to make lists
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I love making lists. One of my best companions is a beat up old Palm Pilot that I am constantly jotting down info and lists on. It has helped greatly to keep my scattered brain in order. now I need to go make my Christmas card list …