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Did you know that billionaire Richard Branson can't function without lists? He says so himself. Branson says he constantly jots down things to do, reviews his lists regularly, and checks off each item he finishes.
This system, which undoubtedly contributed to his success, requires no fancy technology; he keeps his lists in notebooks anybody can pick up at the local grocery. No clever methodology is needed, either, as the whole system can be explained in this post. Moreover, the only special "skill" it takes to emulate Branson is the ability to read your own handwriting.
So what's on Richard Branson's lists? And what can mere mortals learn from his disciplined approach to noting down what he has to do?
In his autobiography, Losing My Virginity, Branson writes that he keeps four types of lists:
Lists of people to call: Winning people over and getting them to move in the same direction as him is one of the most impactful things Branson does. In many cases, he finds it just as fruitful to adjust his direction so he is aligned with them. Either way, Branson considers noting down who to call to be such an important aspect of keeping people on his side that he says, "Each day I work through those lists and that sequence of calls propels me forward."
Lists of ideas: Whether the idea comes to him from a person he encounters on the street, or from a day dream, Branson immediately writes the thought down so he won't forget. He revisits these lists often to make sure he hasn't missed anything. Of course, ideas don't always make as much sense when viewed a second time, but they work out so well in enough cases that they make the process worthwhile.
Lists of things people say: Branson says he writes down comments made by anyone he meets. Because he makes notes of all telephone conversations and all meetings, he rarely loses track of the different points of view. Furthermore, Branson says that an nice side effect of this discipline of writing everything down is that it forces him to listen to people carefully.
Lists of people who can make things happen: Branson keeps a running list of people he needs to stay in touch with to help make things happen. He makes sure he keeps these people in the loop and he makes sure he knows what these people are thinking. Keeping movers and shakers on his side is one of the best investments he makes with his time.
I'm not suggesting Richard Branson's approach to keeping lists will make you a billionaire, but I am saying it will help you focus on what's important. If you get into the habit of writing down things from the four categories listed above, you won't lose track of what you should be doing.
By the way, don't throw your lists away. When Branson finishes a notebook, he saves it; from time to time he gets out an old one and finds a good idea that's worth reviving. He says that over the years he's worked his way through a bookcase of notebooks.
There you have it. Keep track of the important things and spend most of your time working your way through your lists. With a little discipline, you can overcome the problem of forgetting all the different things you want to do.
Now if we could only take a peek at Richard Branson's current to-do list.
