Hi Michael

I can see why you might be confused.

Initially after that conversation I stopped making my To Do Lists but no I didn’t start an achievement list either. The person who made comment was the head guy and good at what he did but he did (may be still does) thrive on belittling people. So yes it made me feel like “stuff you” at the time.

These days I still make To Do Lists because psychologically it is good to tick jobs off as done and if you tick them all off you end up with a de facto achievement list. I also find it easier than letting things hang around in my head which can be a strain if you try to remember everything. Although I haven’t done it in a while for a two year period I kept a log (not a diary) which I wrote in when I felt the need. It too was a great way to download and include achievements.

I cannot for the life of me see how an achievement list is “bragging” if only the author sees it. To me it’s a bit like a spur to better things. If you say “I’ve had a bad day” do you think you will feel any better about it? The subconscious works on instructions so if you tell it you’ve had a bad day it will concentrate that feeling. An achievement list is telling it you’ve had a pretty good day. Now would you rather promote a good or a bad day?

Chris

> Chris:

> I have a question for you at the end...

> And, of course, it means you were
> accomplishing the most important things.

> WHY?

> You stopped making your To-Do lists and
> instead started making What-I-Have-Done
> lists, right?

> So now, instead of actually accomplishing
> the most important things as you had been
> doing, you spent time looking back on minor
> things as if they were big and important in
> a kind of "look what I have done"
> bragging to yourself way.

> Is that how it went?

> That's all fine and well... if you want to
> make yourself feel good. Thought I fail to
> see how that actually helps you achieve
> more. Specially since you no longer take the
> time to figure out what the most important
> tasks are and do them.

> I can see how doing both could help.

> I'm a little confused about what you
> actually do now. Do you now make your
> Important To Do list as well as your What I
> Have Done list? Or do you just wing it
> during the day and only look back at what
> you have achieved?

> Michael Ross