Day 1

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past — frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Goal setting tips
• Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.
• Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.
• Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.
• Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.
• Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

In making this list I tried to challenge without overwhelming myself. What I've compiled here is ambitious and will take extreme discipline for me, but when discouraged I will think of what my grandfather said on his deathbed:
"It goes by so fast".

Start date 4/6/07

Physical (0/8)

1) Go swimming once a week for 3 months (0/12)
3) Start a membership at The Mission Cliffs
22) Do 30 min of Yoga every morning for a week
31) Take a yoga class
40) Take a self defense class
77) Walk on the beach 2 times a week for a month (0/8)
80) Stay a size four (or less)
84) Take a dance class

Hobbies/Art (0/13)

15) Finish the koi fish table
19) Paint five oil on canvas; one must be a self portrait (0/5) SIGN THEM!
26) Write and illustrate a children’s book (with or without Maggie)
48) Make holiday themed arts and crafts
50) Spend 150hrs drawing (0/150)
57) Paint zebra stripes on your mirror
63) Photograph at least 50 of the items on this list (0/50)
86) Color an entire coloring book
93) Take a photo a week (0/143)
97) Paint the chest the action figures are in
24) Get your bowling ball drilled
27) Complete the Artist’s Way
74) Participate: http://www.sh1ft.org/26things/

Money/Financial (0/6)

29) Pay off car loan early
30) Have $6000 saved
49) Sell something you made
67) Make a budget
68) Save $10 for every item completed on your 101 list to be spent as you choose but subtract from this $25 towards a charity for every uncompleted task (hold money in a “piggy” bank) ($0/$1010)
96) Put loose change into rolls every 6 months (0/5)

Travel/Outings (0/15)

6) Visit Italy
7) Visit the SF Academy of Science
9) Visit New York
23) Swim with a dolphin
25) Take a road trip
28) Visit Vegas (and preset gambling amount)
36) Visit Disneyland
37) See a show on Broadway
47) Visit Anna in Michigan
61) Visit your grandparents' graves
65) Go camping
82) Watch the sun rise
83) Drive to Tahoe to visit Dad and Joan
92) Attend 10 live performances (0/10)
98) Go horseback riding

Literary (0/5)

13) Either read or donate all the unread books you own
33) Complete 35 books: 5 must be from www.banned-books.com (0/5); 5 must be from http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,6903,1061037,00.html (0/5); 5 you must already own (0/5); Total - (0/35)
43) Keep a journal documenting the progress of this list; 4/6/07
44) Visit the library and check out 5 books
78) Collect in a book 50 quotes that inspire you (0/50)

Home Improvement (0/9)

4) Paint your room
41) Set up a weekly cleaning schedule for the apartment
46) Create filing system for all your papers
70) Spackle and touch-up apartment
71) Re-design main room, bedroom, and kitchen of apartment
75) Make curtains for your bedroom
56) Find a home/homes for all your action figures
69) Frame “toilet paper rolls” and display
76) Weed out clothing 4 times (0/4)

Diet/Food (0/5)

20) Plant a vegetable garden
10) Master 10 dinner recipes (0/10)
11) Master 10 breakfast recipes (0/10)
12) Master 10 lunch recipes (0/10)
89) Eat at ten top SF restaurants you’ve never been to

Purchases (0/6)

51) Buy a reading chair
58) Buy furniture for the deck
42) Copy all your CD’s to your computer or blank CD’s and buy an I-POD
45) Buy a red dress that looks fabulous on you and wear it out
52) Buy a comfortable, stylish, and affordable couch
79) Determine what key clothing pieces you’re missing from your wardrobe and make or buy them

Things to learn/Skills to perfect (0/8)

2) Increase typing speed to 40wpm
14) Learn to sew
17) Take Acting for Camera class
18) Take a wood shop class
32) Learn to make your own website
62) Take a vocal coaching class
85) Take an Excel/Word class
87) Join a chess club

Self (0/11)

8) Eliminate acne
35) Attend 10 sessions of therapy (0/10)
39) Receive acupuncture
54) Go for a manicure
59) See school counselor and decide on a degree
60) Move out
64) Schedule appointment to see if you qualify for Laser Eye Surgery; if yes, begin saving for and have procedure; if no, contacts
72) Get a bikini wax
90) Get diagnosed for a learning disability
91) Do a cleanse
100) Purchase or borrow and complete The Hard Questions for an Authentic Life: 100 Essential Questions for Tapping into Your Inner Wisdom

Others (0/9)

5) Write Raphael at least 4 letters while he’s in Honduras (0/4)
16) Complete and send out “memories” holiday cards
53) Volunteer 50hrs (0/50)
55) Take Moira out 20 times (0/20)
81) Create a list of family and friend birthdays, phone numbers, and addresses
95) Throw a surprise party for someone
99) Call Dad once a month (0/33)
21) Run a charity race
73) Start dating
66) Perform 5 acts from this site (or something like them): http://home.hiram.edu/hal/good%20deed%20ideas.htm

Social (0/4)

34) Have a game night every other week for 3 months (0/6)
94) Host a theme party
38) Get cast in a musical or play
88) Attend 10 year high school reunion

Finished?

101) Complete another list and start again (transfer any uncompleted tasks)