Have you heard? The checklist is the new to-do list.
The difference isn’t as small as it seems. Using a checklist implies there is a known process that, when followed, will produce a known result.
A to-do list, on the other hand, is often seen as a random basket of random things that help you produce a random effect known as your life.
I think you see my point.
Working from a checklist also implies that you are going to do the things on that list.
There’s nothing random about it. Follow these steps, get the result.
All the time, every time.
The real power of working from a checklist, though, is in the process of actually creating one, for yourself in the first place.
It takes hard thinking to start with a random basket of possible thing you can do, to narrowing them down to a concrete process.
Of things you will do, every day, to get the results you desire.
Creating a checklist can take hours, even days. Because there are always dozens of things you can do, and even hundreds of things you would like to do.
There are probably only 10 to 20 things, however, that when you do them, will produce the result you are after.
So the real benefit of the checklist comes in the process of actually creating one in the first place.
Doing the hard thinking necessary to figure out which tasks are important, and which are time wasters, errands and other frivolous items.
One of the tricks to building an effective checklist for your goal, project or even your life is to start with the result you are after at the top of a blank page. Add a time deadline underneath that goal, and then work backwards.
What are the tasks that are going to contribute to achieving that goal?
For extra credit (and faster results, try and pick out the top 5 tasks that will create most of the forward momentum).
Then create your own form (titled, “Checklist”) and print out a couple copies.
Maybe even print out 30 copies.
So you can see what happens after a month.
Maybe you will have created the perfect checklist on the first attempt.
And you will be enjoying the fruits of your labor.
At the very least you will have started the process of being more scientific about running your own life, which will begin to start feeling less random.
One of the great things about our program, How To Create Paid Email Courses, is that it takes you through a proven, 8-step checklist to help you achieve the specific goal – selling your own content from your own website, directly to your audience.