The list of 30 people
I learned this trick from New York Times best-selling women’s fiction author Debbie Macomber a few years ago. And since then–magic.
She, too, is a believer in the power of Life Lists, although hers take a different form than mine. Long ago Debbie wrote down her five biggest, dream-come-true goals as a writer. She did not allow herself to think small. As she told us at last year’s Romance Writers of America conference, when she pulled out that list recently, she discovered she had achieved every single thing on it, including being a consistent New York Times best-selling author.
Then it was our turn. Debbie handed out bright neon index cards and had us write down our own 5 biggest, pie-in-the-sky goals for our writing careers. She told us to write the date on the card, then put it away somewhere safe for about 7-10 years. When we looked at it again, she said, we’d be amazed at how many of them had come true. Debbie believes, as I do, that writing down goals plants a seed in the brain that then predisposes us to look for opportunities. We start living up to what we say we want for ourselves.
But the list I wanted to talk about today is the other one Debbie Macomber suggested, at a different conference years ago. She said she started keeping a list of 30 people she wanted to meet in her lifetime. Again, she didn’t just hold the vague idea in her head, she actually took the time to write down each person’s name. And since then, she has met a large majority of the people. Each time she checks off a name, she adds another one. The list never ends.
Always one to follow instructions, I wrote out my list of 30 people right there at the conference. And of the 30, I have already met several–people like Julia Cameron, Byron Katie, and Pam Houston. My list has changed over the years as my interests have evolved. Some people’s names had to be removed, either because I’ve already met them by now or because I was sort of, um , over them, and needed to make room for others. Other people, like Oprah, have been on the list from the start.
You can see my current list here. Among the people on the list these days are authors Meg Cabot and J.K. Rowling, scientist Dr. Kenneth Miller, adventurer Helen Thayer, and endurance swimmer Lynne Cox. Each of them has delighted me with their books and accomplishments, and I’d love the chance to tell them so in person.
And keep in mind, when we say meeting these people, we don’t mean just sitting in the back of a convention hall where one of them is speaking. It has to be a real one-on-one, even if it’s just for 5 minutes. Although 20 would be much nicer.
So why do these lists work? Is it magic? Some force in the universe? Or is it simply this notion of programming your brain to notice the opportunities in front of you and to take them?
Whatever it is, I and many others are living proof that these lists work. But don’t just believe what you read. Time to treat yourself as your own experiment, and try it yourself.
Who would be on your list of 30? Write it down. Put the list away someplace safe, then check it again in a year. See if you can amaze yourself.
And when you’ve made your list–even if you can only come up with the first 5 names for now (don’t worry, more will occur to you over time), please feel free to share a few of those names with us here. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m nosy that way.
Technorati Tags: Debbie Macomber, Julia Cameron, Lynne Cox, Helen Thayer, Meg Cabot, J.K. Rowling, Kenneth Miller, Life List, Goals, Motivation, Goal-Setting
June 3rd, 2006 at 8:42 am
Hey, this is cool!
Already met: Paul Levitz, Joe Haldeman. Those were two of my biggies since I was a kid.
No longer with us: Julie Schwartz, Joe Shuster, Jerry Siegel, Curt Swan, Jack Kirby.
On my list: Stephen King, Keith Giffen, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Terry Davis, Chris Crutcher, Pete Hautman, Philip Pullman, and the God of Rock, Bruce Springsteen.
June 3rd, 2006 at 9:46 am
Yeah, Barry, Philip Pullman is on my list, too. He’s published by my publisher, Knopf, so I’m hoping there’ll be a Knopf author party some day, and I can grab my 20 minutes with Philip.
Also, I noticed in Publisher’s Weekly that your book (The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, for any of you who don’t know Barry) is being released the same day as one by Bruce Springsteen, who’s on your List of 30. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
Maybe the two of you can share a book launch party?
June 3rd, 2006 at 5:04 pm
Hi Robin!
Cool list. At first I couldn’t think of any, but reading your list helped. Oprah, for one and Lucy Lawless would make my list.
Here’s a few quick ones that I think will make my list.
Richard Dean Anderson
Jon Stewart
Drew Bledsoe
Bill Belichick
Hmm, now I have to go find a place to store a list of things to accomplish and people to meet.
Goal #1 - Make my character from March look poor and unaccomplished.
June 3rd, 2006 at 5:19 pm
Oh, yeah, Patrick–Jon Stewart. Whom am I going to bump to put him on? Or better yet, maybe I’ll meet one of my 30 soon, and that will free up a space.
Thanks for your list!
June 3rd, 2006 at 5:36 pm
Hmmmm - okay, off the top of my head:
James Patterson
Nora Roberts
Carl Hiassen
Christopher Moore
Richard Dean Anderson would be nice *G*
Ursula LeGuin
Sean Connery
Dean Koontz
Stephen King
Douglas Preston
Lincoln Child
Clive Cussler
J.K. Rowling
Gads, I’m stuck in authordom *G* That’s it for now.
Take care,
Louisa
June 3rd, 2006 at 6:35 pm
Oh, my gosh, Patrick and Louisa–speaking of Richard Dean Anderson, I just saw the new Mastercard commercial with him as MacGyver–priceless.
June 3rd, 2006 at 8:21 pm
i feel REALLY stupid–who is richard dean anderson? i’m googling all of these people (except ophah and jon stewart, even i’m not that much of a cave dweller) to see if i’d like to meet them, probably so. i did hear bill clinton speak night before last (didn’t get to “meet” him, that was for the folks willing to pay way more than me). whatever your politics, i’m tellin’ you that is one smart dude. he is such a captivating speaker. predictably his message was sobering; the selling off of what should be our children and grandchildren’s legacy by the thieves in political office and the complaceny of “middle america” that has allowed and continues to allow it to happen. if all of you will put a simple goal on your life list–”do some affirmative act to take back our country, in addition to voting”–then i will put meeting mr. anderson on my list and report back to all of you on whether or not he’s a stand up guy.
June 3rd, 2006 at 8:38 pm
Poor Annette, you really missed out. Richard Dean Anderson is the actor who played MacGyver, the guy on the TV show by the same name who could make nuclear warheads out of spit and hairballs.
As for seeing Bill Clinton last week, lucky dog! I agree that he is refreshingly smart and such a great speaker. Wish I had been there.
June 4th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
This IS a cool idea. Let’s see…
JK Rowling
Diane Mott Davidson
Torey Hayden
Harrison Ford
President George W. Bush (don’t kill me for that one, Robin! )
Laura Bush
Condelezza Rice
Michael Crichton
Dan Brown
Dave Barry
Rush Limbaugh
Sean Hannity
Alan Colmes
Ron Moore
Joss Whedon
David Boreanz
James Marsters
June 4th, 2006 at 12:29 pm
Laura–Re your choice of the Bushes–just proves we are the world and can all still get along.
June 4th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
Debbie is full of great ideas. I just started setting goals regarding my writing life and I’m hoping that is going to help me with all the next steps that I can see in front of me. I heard Debbie speak about listing the people you’d like to meet, but I haven’t completed my lists. I can think of the following off the top of my head:
Dalai Lama (I’ve nearly been run over by him in his car, but I don’t that’s quite what Debbie envisioned)
Birute Galdikas
Wade Davis
Riane Eisler
Rohinton Mistry
Nora Roberts
Neslon Mandala
Seven down - twenty three to go.
June 4th, 2006 at 1:50 pm
laura w.,
ditto robin’s comment to you, but we need to talk.
June 5th, 2006 at 3:31 am
“Oh, yeah, Patrick–Jon Stewart.”
Good choice, but his middle name is not ‘Jon’.
Patrick Stewart has made my list. Professor Xavier and Picard. The man is an ICON.
I think it would be interesting to meet George. I’m not sure I want him on my list, but it would be interesting.
Annette - You don’t know who Ricard Dean Anderson is?!?!? We need to talk. Seriously.
June 5th, 2006 at 6:25 am
Annette - LOL! Just think of me as proof of diversity in the world!
June 5th, 2006 at 8:41 am
patrick,
you force me to admit–i was raised by wolves. there are so many things in the human world i have yet to learn–be patient with me.
June 5th, 2006 at 3:44 pm
Now here’s something to try: Show your list of 30 people to five friends and ask them if they know anyone who might know any of the people on the list. You may be surprised at the answers!
(Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon)
–Pati
June 5th, 2006 at 4:06 pm
Oo, Pati, I LOVE that idea.
I’ll start. I am two degrees of separation away from at least three people on these lists:
1. (From Laura’s) Dave Barry: My friend Annette and I met him at a Bar convention several years ago. Annette convinced him that she had gone to high school with him. I was so shocked he had fallen for it, I immediately blurted out that she was lying, thereby ruining everything. But I’m sure Annette could still swing the hook-up. Annette, are you out there?
2. (From Barry’s) Philip Pullman: We share the same publisher, Knopf, and I’ve already put in a word with my editor that I’ll travel to any party, anywhere so I can meet him. So Barry, you’re welcome to come lurk along.
3. (From Louisa’s) Carl Hiassen: Same situation at Philip Pullman. Louisa, I’ll let you know.
Okay, everybody else, spill your connections. Pati is right–among us we must know someone who knows some of these people.
June 5th, 2006 at 4:17 pm
And I’ve never quite understood the rules. If I know someone who knows someone, does that put me one degree away, or two?
June 5th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
>
Cool beans *G* This is definitely getting intriguing. My son said Carl Hiassen was on 60 Minutes last night. Need to see if I can find the transcript *G*
So far the closest I can come to knowing anyone on a list is skiing the same chair lift as Richard Dean Anderson years and years ago. It was snowing so hard you couldn’t tell who anybody was. Imagine how disappointed to find out at the end of the day I’d probably skied right next to him and never known it *G* And Mr. Anderson’s current gig - besides the cool MacGyver commercial - is Star Gate: SG1, the first what - 7 seasons, I think.
And Karen - almost getting run over by the Dali Lama??? Now that’s a story I haven’t heard yet *G*
Take care,
Louisa
June 5th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
WOW! That is too cool, Robin. I will have to scan the lists and see if I know anyone who knows anyone on them…
June 5th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Robin - I think it depends if you are measuring in Celcius or Farenheit.
I haven’t met anyone, but remember, you can all say you knew me when…
June 5th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
I’ve met Neil Gaiman, and have friends who are friends of his.
I’m on an email list with Ursula LeGuin, and know friends of hers.
I’m in Novelists, Inc., who were supposed to have Nora Roberts as keynote at this year’s conference (she had to cancel because of life rolls). I’m hoping they’ll have her another year.
June 7th, 2006 at 8:05 am
The almost getting run over by the Dalai Lama story:
There I was in Daramasala and I’m waiting with a bunch of people to see the Dalai Lama when he arrives from a visit somewhere else in the world. I
decided to shift position along the road and wouldn’t you know it - his
cavalcade arrives just as I’m walking down the road and I get honked out of
the way. My story, sad as it may be. I guess his driver didn’t have DL’s
patience. I mean I WOULD have gotten out of his way eventually!