Impossible List

Ever since I came across Thomas Frank’s impossible list I knew I had to make one for myself. He got the idea from a dude named Joel Runyon who I believe is the founder of impossible lists.

An impossible list is a catalog of challenges that you have given yourself. Unlike a bucket list which is static and gets smaller as you complete the items, an impossible list will grow and evolve with you as you live.

I’ll be 100% honest here, I took a lot of Thomas Frank’s goal categories because they were great categories quite frankly (no pun intended). Almost every productive person has goals that they want to achieve, but putting them somewhere public will not only hold you accountable but also keep you reminded of what you’re aiming for.

Let's get this party started.

Current Focuses

I'm also in a constant battle with imposter syndrome and it's a back and forth battle. At the moment, I'm winning and feeling pretty confident but it comes and goes.

Lastly and always, I'm working on becoming a better person and appreciating the moment as much as I can.

Recently Completed

• Learn a full song on the guitar (January, 2022)
  • Learn five full songs on the guitar (May-ish, 2022)
  • Learn five full songs on the guitar (September-ish, 2022)
• Complete a 24 hour fast (January, 2022)
• Finish a half marathon (October, 2022)
• Finish a marathon (October, 2022)

Professional Goals

• Get 1,000 blog visits (all time)
• Start a YouTube channel (Check me out)
• Grow Twitter followers to 500
• Grow Instagram followers to 500
• Speak at a conference
• Give a TED Talk
• Learn PHP basics
• Learn Laravel basics
• Learn Typescript
• Learn how to unit test
• Learn Vue 3 basics
• Move site to WordPress (July 2nd, 2020)
• Build this site with Nuxt (January 18th, 2021)
• Learn React basics
• Start hip-hop music review blog (May 1st, 2020)

Skill Goals

• Learn how to skateboard
• Do these tricks:
  • Ollie
  • Kickflip
  • 360 flip
  • Shove it
• Become fluent in Spanish
• Learn archery
• Learn how to salsa dance
• Learn how to ballroom dance
• Learn how to sword fight
• Type 70 wpm
• Become a competent guitar player
• Perform a song on the guitar at a campfire
• Perform a song on the guitar at a bar/restaurant
  • Learn a full song on the guitar
  • Learn five full songs on the guitar
  • Learn ten full songs on the guitar

Health and Wellness

Health

• Get to 15% body fat
• Complete a 48 hour fast
• Complete a 72 hour fast
• Abstain from alcohol
  • For one month
  • For two months
  • For three months
• Complete a 24 hour fast
• Fast for 400 hours in a month (February 28th, 2021)
• Intermittent fast for at least 13 hours per day, for a full month

Fitness

• Run a 5-minute mile
• Finish a 5k (April 4th, 2021)
  • Finish under 22 minutes (April 4th, 2021)
  • Finish under 20 minutes
• Finish a 10k
  • Finish under 45 minutes
• Finish a half marathon
• Finish a marathon
  • Finish at 4 hours or less
• Finish a duathlon
  • Sprint distance
  • Normal distance
• Finish a triathlon
  • Sprint distance
  • Normal distance
• Complete a GORUCK challenge
• Do 75 push-ups straight
• Do 100 push-ups straight
• Do 20 pull-ups straight
• Do 25 pull-ups straight

Financial Goals

• Make $100 passive income per month
• Make $10,000 (gross) in a month
• Have a positive net worth
• Pay off student loans by December 2022

Creative Goals

• Write a fiction book (at least 50,000 words)
• Self-publish a book on Amazon (less than 15,000)
• Publish a paperback or hardcover book
• Sell a drawing online

Fun Goals

• Skydive
• Bungee jump
• Go to Japan
• Go to Russia
• Go to Greece
• Go to Rome
• Do an Alaskan Cruise

Life and Charity Goals

• Help a turtle cross the street
• Volunteer at Minnesota Zoo
• Volunteer at Como Zoo
• Read 100 books (GoodReads)
• Volunteer at Feed the Starving Children

Similar to who I got the idea from, I would encourage you to create your own impossible list. It’s kind of difficult to come up with goals off of the top of your head, at least it was for me, so I would recommend checking out Thomas’ or taking goals from this one. I think it’s ideal to have it somewhere digital but there’s nothing wrong with paper and pencil too. Just make sure you account for adding sub-goals and even sub-categories.