Do you have a Bucket List?

Lately, “bucket lists” are all the rage. A “Bucket List” is a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime. It comes from the phrase “kick the bucket” and was popularized by the 2007 movie, The Bucket List.

I’ve had a formal bucket list for the last 3 years. I didn’t start out calling it a bucket list, but rather a list of things I wanted to do before my next birthday. In that time I’ve gone zip lining (and beat my fear of heights) and spent a weekend in a yurt. I’ve tried caviar and escargot, ate completely clean for 30 days, tried stand-up paddle boarding, spent a day on my own private beach, gave a $100 bill to a person in need and rode a mechanical bull. I grew my own food and learned how to make crepes. I could go on and on, but I will spare you the rest of the items I’ve crossed off my list. These last three years have truly been the most productive 3 years of my life. And I owe it to my list. And not only were these years productive, but they have also been filled with the most amazing memories!

It has been proven that when you visualize your goals and you are unsatisfied with how far along you are in reaching those goals, it pushes you to reach higher outside your comfort zone. Visualizing your goals isn’t enough – you need to break them down into steps that you are able to manage and attain. When talking about goals, there is a popular acronym by George T. Doran, that states goals should be S.M.A.R.T. – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. They don’t all have to be serious goals, but like my list, more of a list of things to try and see, or places to go.

While it’s true that at the end of your life, no one’s tombstone will say “I wish I’d spent more time at work,” it’s also true that you will spend a significant amount of your time at work. Then, wouldn’t creating a bucket list that includes everything you need to do to create a successful and satisfying work life also be advantageous. A bucket list may serve as your “career compass”, guiding you in the right direction. Some would simply call this goal setting. But creating a career bucket list offers a little more. It dares you to think big about what you can do and about how you could truly find self-satisfaction in your work.

And doesn’t a career bucket list sound so much more interesting than a “two year career plan?” It’s about what you want to do and not what others think you should do. It could be fun, meaningful, inspirational and about self-satisfaction rather than making more money or moving up the corporate ladder (although these could appear on your list too!).

The goal is to find meaning in your career, to add items that will give you some challenging, yet doable, tasks to bring some additional meaning and purpose into the daily grind. You see, the more items you tick off your list, the more enjoyment you’ll get. We only have one life, so be sure yours is enjoyable.

So what could you include on your bucket list? It’s really all about you and what you want. Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
Encourage a group of colleagues to get involved in something external, such as a sports team

*Do 3 things that take you out of your comfort zone
*Find a mentor and meet with them regularly
*Get promoted
*Speak at a career day
*Establish a charitable initiative or event and inspire colleagues to get involved
*Take a colleague you would like to get to know better out to lunch
*Establish long lasting relationships with influential people
*Create an idea that increases company profits

You should note that career bucket lists do not need to be super serious, in fact you can create a more ‘light hearted’ version and base it more on personal achievements at work, such as: winning the most creative holiday card award, be employee of the month, show your spirit and dress up for every holiday, etc.

Whatever you choose to do, the fact that you have taken the time and care to create a career bucket list shows your dedication and determination to be successful. I hope if you choose to create a bucket list for the next year, it will be fun, inspiring and full of memorable experiences!

Get to know me! I am Kori Moses, the local Sales Representative for Duralee Fabrics and previous owner of Mi Design Group – a residential interior design consulting firm in Chandler.   I hope you enjoyed reading my posts! You can reach me at kmoses@duralee.com or at 480-213-4708. Duralee is an established company with a fresh, young perspective on design; Duralee has continuously expanded their extensive offerings of fabric, furniture, and trim to include designs from traditional to modern in order to supply the Interior Design industry with the proper tools to continue its rapid growth. www.duralee.com.