I stole an idea from my friend Dustin a couple years ago that I think everyone should steal.

Dustin, like myself, is big on making goals. Creating a finish line, for whatever purpose, and measuring your progress toward it can inspire and show you where you need to change direction.

Beyond short term goals, though, there’s got to be a bigger picture, and here’s where Dustin’s idea comes in.

Take out a piece of paper and a pencil (or your laptop, Phelps). I say pencil cause you might want to modify this later. On the paper, write down 100 things you want to do before you die.

These can’t be pie-in-the-sky kinds of goals. They’ve got to be things you actually believe you can accomplish. No visiting Jupiter or bringing about world peace.

Some examples from my list, which I keep inside the jacket of my journal for periodic review, include:

? Run for Congress or state Assembly (both?)
? Win a Pulitzer Prize
? Write a best-selling book
? Host Saturday Night Live
? Place in the Oceanside Pier Swim
? Learn to surf
? Take pictures in each of the 50 states
? Live in England for at least a year
? Earn a PhD
? Allow my hair to grow to at least my shoulders

Etc…

You don’t have to put them in any kind of order, and if you don’t reach 100, that’s fine too. Add more later.

They can be fun, career oriented, personal — whatever. It’s a fun thing to do, and it’s great to check items off.

Which brings me to the reason I thought of my list. This weekend I realized I had accomplished one of my 100 things without being conscience of it.

No. 15 on my list — START A MAGAZINE.

Done.