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Impossible List

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.

Written on February 5, 2021 and takes about minutes to read.

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.

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 working on improving my User Interface and User Experience design skills while simultaneously trying to learn Vue 3 and vanilla JavaScript more deeply (doing both is difficult).

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 16th, 2022)
  • Complete a 24 hour fast (January 31st, 2022)
  • Intermittent fast for at least 13 hours per day, for a full month (January 2022)
  • Go a month without alcohol (January 2022)
  • Learn a full song on the guitar (January 16th, 2022)

Professional Goals

  • Get 1,000 blog visits (all time)
  • Start a YouTube channel
  • Grow Twitter followers to 500
  • Grow Instagram followers to 500
  • Start hip-hop music review blog (May 1st, 2020)
  • Speak at a conference
  • Give a TED Talk

Coding Goals

  • Move site to WordPress (July 2nd, 2020)
  • Build this site with Nuxt (January 18th, 2021)
  • Learn Vue
  • Learn React
  • Learn PHP
  • Learn Laravel

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
  • Type 70 wpm
  • Become a competent guitar player
  • Learn a full song on the guitar
  • Learn five full songs on the guitar
  • Perform a song on the guitar at a campfire
  • Perform a song on the guitar at a bar/restaurant

Fitness Goals

  • 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 (October 2nd, 2021)
    • Finish under 45 minutes
  • Finish a half marathon
  • Finish a marathon
  • Finish a duathlon
  • Finish a triathlon
  • Complete a GORUCK challenge
  • Do 75 push-ups straight
  • Do 100 push-ups straight
  • Do 20 pull-ups straight
  • Do 25 pull-ups straight
  • Get 15% body fat

Health Goals

  • Complete a 24 hour fast
  • Complete a 48 hour fast
  • Complete a 72 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
  • Go a month without alcohol
  • Go two months without alcohol
  • Go three months without alcohol

Financial Goals

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

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
  • Volunteer at Feed the Starving Children
  • Read 100 books

Video Game Goals

  • Make it Elder God rank in Mortal Kombat 11
  • Get first place in Call of Duty: Warzone Solos
  • Get first place in Call of Duty: Warzone Duos
  • Get first place in Call of Duty: Warzone Trios
  • Get first place in Call of Duty: Warzone Quads

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.

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