Life Goals

The list.

Things that seemed almost impossible. Some completed. Some still chasing. All of them better for being written down.

A few years ago I read Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson. He shared his life goal list and challenged readers to write their own — especially the ones that seem too big, too hard, or too ridiculous for a reasonable person to pursue.

Joel Runyon of impossiblehq.com took it further: write the goals that feel truly impossible without some kind of divine intervention. Then go after them anyway.

This list has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. It has led to more adventure, more growth, and more gratitude than anything else I've done to pursue a better life. Not because I've checked everything off — but because having a list changes how you show up every single day.

If you see something on my list that you'd like to join me for — or if you have something on yours and want company — let me know.

47%
Goals completed so far

The list is more than a bucket list. It's a commitment to the kind of life you're willing to build — one item, one adventure, one year at a time.

💼 Career & Business
  • ○Write an e-book
  • ○Publish a book
  • ✓Complete my doctorate — completed Aug. 2000
  • ✓Develop a personal website — completed 2008
  • ✓Own an auto repair business — completed Dec. 2015
  • ○Own a fitness business
  • ○Own a consulting business
  • ✓Become a school superintendent — completed July 2011
  • ✓Teach at the university — completed Aug. 2002
  • ✓Have an investment portfolio — completed 1996
  • ○Develop passive income streams
  • ○Give a TED Talk
  • ✓Speak at a church
💪 Fitness
  • ✓200 lb deadlift — completed 2008
  • ✓300 lb deadlift — completed 2016
  • ○400 lb deadlift
  • ✓225 lb benchpress ten times — completed 2000
  • ✓315 lb benchpress — completed 2002
  • ✓100 pushups — completed 2018
  • ✓20 pull ups — completed 2017
  • ✓Handstand pushup — completed 2018
  • ✓Marathon — completed 2004
  • ✓Half marathon trail run — completed 2018, 2019
  • ○Complete an ultra run
  • ✓Complete a Spartan race — completed 2020
  • ○Complete a GORUCK
  • ○Bicycle across the United States
🌍 Travel & Adventure
  • ✓Ride motorcycle in all 48 continental states — completed 2008
  • ○Ride a motorcycle on every continent
  • ○Swim in every ocean on the planet
  • ○Hike the Grand Canyon
  • ○Ride a Hot Air Balloon
  • ○Summit a mountain
  • ○Hike to Everest Base Camp
  • ○New Year's Eve in Times Square
  • ○See the pyramids in Egypt
  • ○Visit Machu Picchu
  • ○Walk along the Great Wall of China
  • ✓Visit 10 countries — completed 2024
  • ○Visit 30 countries
  • ○Visit 50 countries
  • ○Visit 100 countries
❤️ Causes
  • ○Start my own charity/organization
  • ○Build a school
  • ○Donate a million dollars to charity
  • ○Impact 1 person's life
  • ○Impact 50 people's lives
  • ○Impact 100 people's lives
  • ○Impact 1,000 people's lives
🎯 Skills & Simple Life
  • ○Learn to fly a plane
  • ✓Learn to ballroom dance — completed 2010, 2019
  • ○Learn a second language
  • ○Learn to play the harmonica
  • ✓Learn to play the guitar — completed 2010
  • ○Learn to code
  • ✓Learn to tie my own flies — completed 2018
  • ○Take photography lessons
  • ○Live without a phone for a month
  • ○Live without any digital stimulation for a month
  • ○Watch every sunset for a month

"Write down a list of goals that seem almost impossible for you to accomplish. Then go after them anyway."

— Joel Runyon, ImpossibleHQ.com

Should I add something to the list? What's on yours? If you, a friend, or an organization would like to help me achieve any of the items on this list — or if you want company on something from your own — get in touch.

Let's Talk