The Seven Levels of Live Your List

I keep getting the same question on Twitter. As a matter of fact, it isn’t just specific to social media, I get asked this all of the time in real life too. People constantly ask me what #LiveYourList means. Like seriously dude, why do you use that hashtag all of the time? When did you get it tattooed on your forehead?

It is a question I ask myself all the time. So, what does it even mean? Jerrod Murr and I have talked about this at length, and since he is my personal assistant he has helped me compile a pretty great definition:

If you Live Your List you are taking control of your destiny. You are living an inspired life full of adventure and intrigue as a life-long learner. The Live Your List philosophy includes Bucket Lists, SMART Goals, and defining your purpose. It’s about dreams, both great and small. It is a mindset. It is a way of life.

Jerrod even thought that we should break the Live Your List Journey into seven different levels that will help guide us to the best life possible. Each level builds upon the one before it as you move toward a life of intention.

This is a very basic outline and should be viewed as a guide along this journey. Over the next few months we will be breaking down each level and we will share the tips and tricks that have helped us along the way.

1. Take Responsibility For Your Life. You can not start to Live Your List until you decide to take ownership of your actions, strengths, and even failures. Most importantly you are responsible for your reaction to life’s adversities and curveballs.

2. Create a Bucket List. Everyone has a list of things they have always wanted to do in life, but few have actually written it down. You have to write down a list of all of the things you want to see, do, be, or accomplish in life. This is a list of your life goals, dreams, and ambitions.

3. Set SMART Goals. It isn’t enough just to have a list, you have to start putting them into action. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Each goal should be reviewed often to achieve success.

4. Live in Quadrant 2. If you want to set and accomplish huge goals in your life, you have to take advantage of your time. We base our life off a mixture of Stephen Covey’s Time Management Matrix and David Allen’s Getting Things Done.

5. Find Your Verb. Finding purpose in life is a real challenge. We feel like your purpose or calling in life is actually a verb instead of a noun. Finding that verb is influential as you start to Live Your List.

6. Take Ridiculous Leaps. After you have taken responsibility for your life as you set SMART Goals and take advantage of your time, you will probably need to take a ridiculous leap of faith. And then another. And another. These leaps will catapult you as you create momentum and Live Your List.

7. Multiply. This is the ultimate goal. You eventually want to get to a point where you can help others on their journey towards a life of intention. I hope to get here some day!

Can I Live My List without a Bucket List?

Nope. You also can’t Live Your List without taking responsibility for your life, even if you have a bucket list. We put them in this particular order because as you start to fully embrace each step you will get to a point where you can give back to others…and that is what Live Your List is all about.

About the Author: Ryan Eller

Ryan Eller is a dreamer, adventurer, and avid Bucket Lister. He once hosted a leadership conference underneath mango trees in Cuba. He led team-building activities at the Christ The Redeemer Statue in Rio. He even slid down portions of the Great Wall in China. His goal is to help others learn how to live intentionally by learning how to Live Your List.