I have a bucket list. Do you? When I started at the
company I currently work for, the office manager challenged me to make a list
of goals I wanted to accomplish - in 1 year and then in 5 years. I took this
challenge to heart and created a bucket list. I made the list, gave it to my
manager and never really gave it a second thought. Fast forward a year later
and my manager asked me to review my list. I had about 30 items on the list and
I was shocked to find out that I have accomplished 27 of the items!!!
Astonishing! My
manager suggested I watch the movie The Secret.
The idea behind
The Secret is that if you put it out in the universe, if you tell the universe
you want something, the universe will find a way of making this happen. Make a
dream board, a bucket list, what ever you would like to call it. So here are a
few reasons why I believe this works:
#1 - You acknowledge
these goals. You are making decisions that you want something very
specific. I get that people in life
should not focus on the destination but the journey, but if you know where you
want your journey to lead you, you will make choices along your journey to help
get you to your destination (ie. Your dream/goal)
#2 - Reviewing your
dream board or bucket list will help remind you what your goals are. Entrepreneurs create a business plan to help
stay focused on what they want their new company to become, what their goals
are and their plan on how to make it happen. Your bucket list should do the same thing for
your personal life. It’s a reminder of what you want, what your dreams and
goals are. It will help you stay focused. And remember those decisions you make
along your journey? By staying focused
on your dreams, it will help you make decisions that will get you to achieve
your dreams. And if your dreams change, that’s fine! You’ll start making decisions in life that
will help you on your journey to get to your new destination.
#3 - Your write it
out. Seeing it in words in front of you
make it seem more attainable. It’s like making a commitment; a written contract
that you WANT your dreams to come true and you’re willing to commit to make it
happen. Share it with close family and friends, or perhaps certain items. If
people know what your dreams and goals are, they may tell you about an
opportunity that they become aware of to help you achieve your dreams. They share in your dreams, and ultimately some
of your dreams and goals can also benefit those closes to you anyhow.
Some people
suggest you focus on one large goal and write it out every day. Get a note book
and write out your goal. Change it as
you feel necessary. Expand upon it. Just write it out. Again, it will help you
stay focused and remind you of what your goal is.
#4 - Be specific.
Don’t just write that you want to be rich. Or be happy. Happiness is perception
and your frame of mind. What do you have to do to become rich, or happy. Do you
need to change your career? Find more time to work on your hobby? What do you
need to do to change your career? Take some night classes. Read certain books. Network
with people in that industry by attending workshops or seminars. These are the items to put on your bucket
list.
I actually
divided up my lists into 3 different bucket lists. I have a travel bucket list,
a baking bucket list and my regular goals I’d like to achieve. (Ie. Ranch style
house on the lake surrounded by mature hardwood trees.)
Will I ever
achieve all of my goals? Maybe not, but I’ve got my eye on the prize and it
keeps me determined to keep trying.
So what’s
stopping you? Create your own bucket list. Here’s a link to my bucket list and
what I’ve accomplished so far. The sky’s the limit. Need some help getting started? Send me an email, I would love to help you!
