That’s right – the silent killers. Silent, but deadly. The checklist is the thorn to your ambition.
Let’s look at the Checklist Worker, the Checklist Student, and the Checklist “Empowered” Go-Getter so we can see just how deadly this “checklist” concept really is …
The Checklist Worker’s Day:
Wake up at 6 something in the morning. Check.
Meditate or read the newspaper. Check.
Exercise. Check.
Work. Check.
A little bit of time to catch up with social media, friends/family, or a hobby. Check.
Rinse and repeat. Check.
The Checklist Student’s Day:
Wake up at 7 something in the morning. Check.
Finish an assignment or meet with a project group. Check.
Go to a couple classes. Check.
Engage in extracurriculars. Check.
A lot bit of time to exercise, socialize, and pursue other interests. Check.
Rinse and repeat. Check.
The Checklist “Empowered” Go-Getter’s Day:
Wake up at 5 something in the morning. Check.
Listen to a podcast. Check.
Listen to an audio book. Check.
Read lots of information sources, like newspapers and written books. Check.
Work on brainstorming new ideas or sifting through your new insights collected from the day’s information sources. Check.
Rinse and repeat. Check.
Do you see a problem with these checklists? (Disclaimer: The above checklists are generalizations, and their main function is to reinforce the concept of a “checklist culture.”)
The problem is that they’re exactly what they are – checklists! You make a checklist, complete the list, and then move on to the next checklist.
But what did you accomplish exactly? You completed the tasks on the prior checklist, sure, but what did you actually accomplish?
The Checklist Worker completed another day at work. The Checklist Student completed another day at school. The Checklist “Empowered” Go-Getter completed another day in information collection and recycling.
Save checklists for grocery shopping. For the mundane tasks that require a simple reminder for completion, such as setting up a hair appointment or dropping off your dry cleaning. Keep your checklist with your daily planner … and leave it there.
Too many people have translated the checklist concept to their lives. To their mission, goals, and daily efforts exerted to support those goals. Writing down a goal, and developing a game plan to attack it and reevaluate it, is entirely different than writing down a goal, making a checklist of the actions required to achieve that goal, and moving through the checklist without intention, thoughtful reflection, and real-time edits.
The Checklist Worker can get work done, but to what end? More often than not, the work is disengaged, unproductive, and not impactful. The work rinses and repeats, and ultimately creates a leaky faucet that drips and drops without ceasing. Many Checklist Workers check the boxes of job security, benefits, and retirement planning, while completely ignoring the boxes of mission fulfillment, individual development, and leadership growth.
The Checklist Student can get studying done, but to what end? A degree? An enhanced resume? A specialized graduate program and consequent diploma? These are all pieces of paper, just like the checklist itself. Just like the paper in the Student’s textbooks, or the papers turned in for homework assignments. A lot of paper, and a lot of ink, without a lot of intention or substance to the paperwork.
Just like paper is recycled, many Checklist Students recycle their academic pursuits semester after semester, without intentionally aligning their studies with their mission and goals. Or, even worse, these Checklist Students may not have a particular mission or consequent goals, which leaves their studies even more fruitless. Many Checklist Students check the boxes of degree completion and internship/job placement, while completely ignoring the boxes of intentional focus, enlightenment, and empowerment.
The Checklist “Empowered” Go-Getter can get and collect information all day long, but to what end? No amount of podcasts, motivational videos, or printed material can translate ideas into action. Being a perpetual student and acquirer of information must be met by one’s application of that information; in other words, in transforming oneself from a student into a practitioner. Hiding behind the ideas of others, and sifting through them without reflection or application on a daily basis, compels an individual to hide himself from his full potential. Many Checklist “Empowered” Go-Getters check the boxes of early morning starts and updated podcast lists, while completely ignoring the boxes of direction, meaning, and practical application.
Moral of the story: don’t turn your life into a checklist. Remember … writing down a goal, and developing a game plan to attack it and reevaluate it, is entirely different than writing down a goal, making a checklist of the actions required to achieve that goal, and moving through the checklist without intention, thoughtful reflection, and real-time edits.
Say “checkmate” to checklists … by moving your own pawns, responding to other players’ moves, and trading your pen for your rooks, castles, and queen. You’ll control the outcome and actively engage in the game of your life, as opposed to passively writing down fruitless words on a piece of paper. Make your fruit by moving your next chess piece forward. Take action! And destroy the Checklist Culture.
