Secret Listers

Secret Listers

According to the dictionary the word “listless” means.... lacking energy or disinclined to exert effort; lethargic:

Personally I define “listless” as a person without a list! If you are listless in my definition you certainly are not lethargic...frantic perhaps… but not lethargic!
I wonder if there really are people out there who don’t use a list. I can’t imagine that there are. Personally, I think if they exist they are either extremely unorganized or "Secret Listers”. They surely cannot simply remember everything!

Some times people don't like to admit they are listers, I’m not sure why but they seem to pride themselves in the fact that they can remember everything, I don’t really think they can. My friend Reggie told me she doesn’t use a list, however when she put her coat on to leave my house one day, her Christmas list fell out of her pocket…she is definitely a Secret Lister! Reggie insists she only uses lists on special occasions!

There are some people who are listers but don’t even know it. Ever use a phone book, a Rolodex or a dictionary? These are all lists. Today computers are fairly common and really function by using lists. Just think about some of the following sites:
· Ebay.com – list of items for auction
· Amazon.com- list of books to buy
· AskJeeves.com- lists answers to your questions
· Travelocity.com- airlines, hotels, and rental car companies list their products
· Monster.com- lists of jobs available
Computers could basically be called Listing Machines. I think there are more Listers out there than non-listers.

Lists of Lists

List of Lists
1. Book list- a list of books or recommended reading
2. Laundry list - random list of items
3. Watch list – a list of persons or things to watch for possible action in the future
4. Wish list- a usually unwritten list of things one wishes for
5. Sick list- a list of persons who are sick
6. Punch list- a list of unfinished matters that require attention
7. Price list- a list giving the prices of items for sale
8. Mailing list- a list of addresses
9. Hit list- a list of persons singled out as targets for murder
10. Free list- a list of articles that may be brought into a country
11. Shopping list-a list made by a shopper
12. White list- a list of novels, movies deemed suitable for everyone
13. Black list- a list of persons who are for some reason thought deserving of punishment
14. Most Wanted list- a list of criminals wanted by the police
15. Dean’s list- a list of students of high scholastic standing

It is important to recognize the distinctions between lists.

Master Listers

Master Listers

ComputerPeople who dance are dancers, people who sing are singers, people who clean are cleaners, people who golf are golfers, therefore it only makes sense, that people who make lists are Listers. People who take list making to a higher level are Master Listers. I know some people who are Master Listers and I’m sure you do to!

My sister-in-law Linda is a Master Lister. Linda has her main grocery list on the computer where she has several options, when she goes to the store she can simply print a copy of the master list and highlight the needed items. Where she lives in Dallas, Linda also has the option to email her list to the local grocery store; someone else does the shopping and actually delivers it to her house. Oh the power of lists!

Lisa is part of the sandwich generation and another Master Lister. When Lisa goes to the grocery store she not only shops for her family she also does the grocery shopping for her mother. Lisa has developed a listing system with items listed in the same order as she shops in the store. She also puts items for herself in one color and items for her mother in a different color on her list, that way she’s able to keep track of who wanted what.

Kirsten Lagatree wrote the book, Checklists for Life: 104 Lists to Help You Get Organized, Save Time, andUncluttered Your Life. She is a Master Lister.
Sandra Choron and Harry Choron authored ‘The Book of Lists for Kids ‘ and ‘The Book of Lists for Teens’; they must believe in the value of lists and are Master Listers.

What makes one person more likely to be a Lister or a Master Lister than another?
According to The New Birth Order, a book by Dr. Keven Leman, it may depend on your birth order. Dr. Leman writes ‘only children’ are organized perfectionists who are list makers. First- born children are organized goal oriented list makers. This doesn’t mean that middle children (like me) or last-born children aren’t Listers, but perhaps they have a more creative approach to list making (like Lisa).

Lists and Your Money

$Lists and Your Money$

Do you think of lists when you think of your money? Well you should!

Most people carry a checkbook with them everywhere they go, and a checkbook is just a list of whom you have given your money to for whatever reason.

Whether you pay your bills by automatically deducting the money from your account or write a check for them when they arrive in your mail it doesn’t matter. A bill is simply a listing of goods or services provided and how much you owe for them.

Paychecks are a good list to get! It lists the hours you’ve worked and how much money you’ve made.

Every month the bank sends a statement listing how much money you’ve earned, how much money you’ve spent, and if you’re lucky how much money you’ve saved.

Budgets are one list I do not use very often. Finance experts always agree a budget is a good list to have, so I plan to start a budget list soon.

Lists at Work

Lists at Work

Whether you realize it or not, you are probably surrounded by lists at work. It doesn’t matter where you work or what you do, stop and take a minute to just look around, you may be surprised at what you see.

I sit in a cubical where there is not a lot of room for displays of any type. I do have a couple of family photos and a couple of trinkets to make my space my own.

But I also have five different phone lists, a list of the corporate objectives, a list of my scheduled events, a list of different business units, a list of my new bosses previous accomplishments, and a list of books I’ve read.

Basically my cube is wall-to-wall lists. I decided to check my colleagues’ cubes, and was relieved to find out I’m not alone; their walls were also covered with lists!
Where do you work?

If you work in a restaurant lists also surround you:

Menus list the foods available
Order pads are for writing the list of food the customer requests
The Specials Board list the day’s special items
86 List – when daily specials are no longer available
Schedules list who’s working when and the best part of this list is when you are off the list and on the ‘day off’ list


For people who work in hospitals there are plenty of lists:

Patients Charts list medicines and procedures
Doctors Orders list timetables and requirements from the doctors
Emergency procedures are posted
Supply inventories are listed
Emergency and Department phone numbers are essential lists to have posted nearby
Break Schedule and Work Schedules are very important lists

Teachers, principals and students are inundated with lists:
Attendance lists
Lists of grades
Lesson plans are a list of what the teacher plans to do each day
Reading lists are posted in school libraries
And of course there are those spelling lists

Construction Workers may not have walls but they still have lists:
Lists of materials needed
Phone lists for suppliers
Job lists and locations
Mileage driven

Movers keep their lists in the truck:
§ Lists of what their packing
§ Lists of where its going
§ Lists of what their unpacking

Anyone doing any job has a list for something lists are everywhere.

What Work Lists do you have?

Kids and Lists

Kids Lists
One of the most popular lists for children comes from their parents, the dreaded Chores List!

Take out the garbage
Clean your room
Put your toys away

Some things never change!

Lisa, a young mother, makes a Chores List for her 5-year-old son TJ. She puts one item on the list each week and when the chore is completed TJ gets to cross it off.
Put away toys.
TJ loves having a list and is learning responsibility and the thrill of accomplishment.

Even more than the Chores List, I hated the Punishment List. You may or may not have done one... I did many!
1. I will not talk in class.
2. I will not talk in class.
3. I will not talk in class.
4. I will not talk in class
5. I will not talk in class.
How many of the following lists have your children made?

Countries
Spelling words
Planets
Vocabulary Words
States
Capitals
Multiplication tables
Science Terms
History Dates

This next generation will be Master Listers!

Lists and Laughter

Lists and Laughter

Lists and laughter seem to go hand in hand, how many jokes have you read or seen which contain lists?

If you go on the Internet and search ‘Laughter and Lists’ you will find actual web sites, which contain lists that will make you laugh. Here’s a good example of a Laughter List:
You're Not a Kid Anymore When …

You quit trying to hold in your stomach, no matter who walks into the room.
You enjoy watching the news.
The phone rings and you hope it's not for you.
The only reason you're still awake at 4 am is indigestion.
People ask what color your hair USED to be.
You're proud of your lawnmower.
Your best friend is dating someone half their age AND isn't breaking any laws.
You start singing along with the elevator music.
You really do want a new washing machine for your birthday.
Your car has four doors.
Neighbors borrow your tools.

David Letterman and the TOP TEN Lists are another great example.

Everybody Makes Lists!

Lists are for Everybody

If you go to Amazon.com and search for “lists”, you will find over 2000 references. Contrary to popular belief it is not just little old ladies who use lists!

Old, young, male, female, white, black, red, yellow, tall, short, fat, thin…it doesn’t matter, everyone uses lists.

Coaches have their lists of plays, teachers have their attendance list, firefighters have a list of safety equipment, and preachers have a list of prayers.

Duane has a list of the models he’s built, Mary Jo has standard packing lists for business and pleasure trips and Freda has a Party List with booze, decorations, food, and invitations she uses over and over again.

Karen makes her cleaning lists by rooms of her house. When she is cleaning the basement she doesn’t forget to put in a load of laundry while she is there.

Jennifer, an administrative assistant says she couldn’t survive without her lists. Not only does she make them for herself, she makes them for her boss.

Steven a vice president at a major corporation ends his workday by listing items by priority to address the next morning. Throughout the day he reviews, edits and updates his list. No wonder he is so successful!

Nancy was a Lister long before she became a proprietor of a Coffee Café. Now she has a master list to keep track of all her other lists.

Kay uses list with her clothes; she has one list on her calendar that she tracks the clothes she wears each day so she knows when she last wore something. She also has an ‘Accessory List’, where she keeps track of which accessory, for example a scarf belongs with each outfit.

Ron keeps track of his first edition books while Linda has a birthday list where she lists everyone by month and date and includes the year they were born.

Bed and Breakfast houses often have a guest list for people who have stayed with them. At my home I have a guest list for every one who has visited, but instead of writing down their names, I take their photo and keep them all in my photo guest book.

Jennifer used to always pack Todd’s suitcase for him when he was traveling. On one trip to a small ski resort in the mountains Jennifer remembered she had forgotten to pack his underwear. There are many things you can live without on a trip, but underwear is not one of them. Todd packs for himself now, and has developed his own packing list so as not to forget anything. (This can also be useful if you are flying and the airlines loses your luggage as you will have a complete inventory of what was in your bag).

What kind of lists do you make? Send me a sample or tip!

Are you a Lister?

A List is a List

No matter what you call it – a list is a list! I spoke with several people who said they never use a list, however after further discussion it was revealed they too were Listers! A list by any other name is still a list!
Words whose definition contains list:
Accounting
Agenda
Batting order
Bibliography
Bill
Black Book
Calendar
Calorie Chart
Catalog
Compilation
Contents
Dictionary
Directory
Docket
Glossary
Inventory
Phonebook

Just to mention a few!

Top of the List - New England Patriots!

Oh No !! I lost my List!!

One typical Saturday morning, I got ready and headed off to the grocery store. Once I was there, I reached into my pocket for my list…it wasn’t there. Calmly I checked my other pockets…no list. I was starting to get a bit nervous and began to rummage through my purse…no list! I ran back to the car…it wasn’t there!

I always keep my list in my pocket and dreaded the thought of shopping without my list! Panic started to invade my otherwise reasonable mind as I struggled to remember all the items on the list. Bravely I entered the store and tentatively the shopping began.

I pushed my cart slowly up each aisle hoping needed items would jump out at me as I walked by. At checkout I reviewed the items one by one, I was feeling pretty good - could it be I remembered everything?

As soon as I got home I saw it. Lying on the counter. …right where I had left it. Frantically I checked the forgotten list. Did I do it?

Milk X
Bread X
Chips X
Birdseed NO

For some reason, I never remember everything! I guess it’s true, there are people who make lists and use them, and there are people who make lists and lose them.

From a friend ..to a friend: A List to Live By

A List to Live By:


The most destructive habit..............................Worry
The greatest Joy.......................................Giving
The greatest loss........................Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work.......................Helping others
The ugliest personality trait.....................Selfishness
The most endangered species.................Dedicated leaders
Our greatest natural resource.......................Our youth
The greatest "shot in the arm"..................Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome.........................Fear
The most effective sleeping pill................Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease....................Excuses
The most powerful force in life..........................Love
The most dangerous outcast..........................A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer................The brain
The worst thing to be without.... ................... Hope
The deadliest weapon...............................The tongue
The two most power-filled words......................."I Can"
The greatest asset......................................Belief
The most worthless emotion..........................Self-pity
The most beautiful attire..............................SMILE!
The most prized possession......................... Integrity
The most powerful channel of communication.............Prayer
The most contagious spirit.........................Enthusiasm

Do you have a list to share?