Home
>
Small Business
>
Creating Lists to Learn About Yourself, Your Business and Your Customers

Creating Lists to Learn About Yourself, Your Business and Your Customers

I love lists. I make them for everything. And I'm not just talking about groceries, things to do this week or places to see before I die; but more important lists that help me learn about myself, my business and my life.

A few years ago when I began writing books, giving speeches and publishing articles, I became obsessed with lists; mainly because they're easier for other people to follow, and easier for me to write. But the science behind lists is a fascinating thing.

It all started with my friend Ed. He once told me to make a list called "101 Goals for 2005." That's a lot, I thought. It certainly puts those New Years Resolutions to shame! But coming up with 101 of anything is a lot. And over a period of two weeks, I finished my list. And as per Ed's suggestion, I made the first item on my list "Write a list of 101 goals." When I was done, I crossed it off!

Then over the next few months, I looked at my list frequently. It kept my goals, dreams and desires in front of me; both business and personal. And I crossed new items off every week, accomplishing more than ever before!

Lists allow us to easily put information which belongs together in one place. They don't prioritize, segment, or bias any one item; but rather allow us to simply get it all down on paper ? and sometimes that's the most important part of learning. In my case, I learned what goals I wanted to accomplish in 2005 ? some of which I NEVER would have thought of otherwise. So, the beauty of lists is two sided: making the list, and using the list.

Organization
First of all, lists help you examine your ideas, thoughts and problems visually, often resulting in patterns. This works better than thinking or talking because humans remember that which appeals to their vision three times as well as any other sense. So, creating lists will widen the areas of your memory circuit and allow your information to become clearer.

Here's a great example: try making a list of "10 Problems My Customers Complain About." This exercise will identify several key difficulties for which your business has solutions. Not to mention, this is great information to memorize for future conversation with those customers.

Creativity
If you read any resource, book or website on creativity, all of them will tell you the same thing: lists stimulate and challenge your creativity. Sure, it's easy to pin down one answer to a problem or question. But what about 5? 7? 10? Forcing yourself to adhere to a set number of required items will generate greater depth and breadth of your ideas. Especially when you start making lists of 25, 50 and 100, you're bound to stretch you mind to its very limits!

Capturing
Have you ever heard the scientific fact that "humans only use 10% of their brains"? Whether or not this is true, I don't know. But I do believe each one of us has a stockpile of valuable ideas, experiences, memories and brain sparks that need to be leveraged for the purposes of learning. People have so much information in their minds that making lists can capture these valuable thoughts in a visible way.

This is great tactic to help you understand your own personal brand. My mentor, Shep Hyken, author of Moments of Magic and The Loyal Customer, once told me to write my own list called "Top Ten Reasons You Should Hire Me." Wow. I'd never really thought of myself in that way. And I admit, it was a difficult task.

"Don't just put 'Because I'm nice,'" Shep told me, "write a word or phrase, and then expand on it in a detailed paragraph."

So?what are the Top Ten Reasons anyone would want to work with YOU?

If you'd like to view my list, go here.

Learning
A few weeks ago my friend Ed ? the same friend who challenged me to create that initial list of 101 Goals ? summed up the issue perfectly.

"Lists help you evaluate yourself. They allow you to 'approach' who you are as a person. It's almost like building an INNER front porch?to yourself."

Whoa. Somebody used my own term back to me! That blew my mind. But Ed was right! If a front porch increases approachability, and approachability is a function of knowledge and uncertainty, then creating lists about yourself invites YOU to get to know YOU.

Maybe we need to be more willing to approach ourselves. After all, Socrates once said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." Here are a few of my favorite lists, all of which I've completed and update/cross off regularly. I encourage you to take some time in the next few weeks to write a few of them out:

1.100 Things That Make You Happy
2.50 Things You Like About Yourself
3.25 Accomplishments I'm Proud Of
4.101 Goals for 2005
5.25 Best Pieces of Business Advice I've Ever Been Given
6.50 of My Favorite Success Stories to Tell
7.A List of Everything You Want to Be
8.15 Things Your Customers Need to Know About You
9.10 Reasons You're An Expert
10.7 Characteristics of Your Ideal Client

Good luck and happy listing!

Scott Ginsberg is a professional speaker, "The World's Foremost Expert on Nametags" and the author of HELLO my name is Scott and The Power of Approachability. He helps people MAXIMIZE their approachability and become UNFORGETTABLE communicators - one conversation at a time. For more information contact Front Porch Productions at http://www.hellomynameisscott.com.

scheduled maid service Northbrook ..

In The News:

A third-party dental marketing agency's unsecured database exposed millions of patient profiles with personal information that could be exploited for identity theft and insurance fraud.

New York-based Aircela unveils refrigerator-size device that converts air and water into fossil-free gasoline, with initial deployments planned for 2025.

Your home address is easily accessible on people finder sites, putting you at risk for stalking and identity theft, but data removal services can help protect your personal information.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents

Robot combat evolves at Unitree's Iron Fist King event as G1 robots face off in China, featuring knockouts, precise strikes and agile machines that can perform side flips.

Take control of your digital privacy with actionable tips like Facebook privacy checkup, location tracking management and data removal services to protect your personal information.

Smart TVs and streaming devices manufactured in China are being compromised by BadBox 2.0 malware before users even power them on; infections have been detected in 222 countries.

The lightweight, 15-pound Tenniix tennis robot mimics pro playing styles like Nadal and Federer, using AI trained on 8,000 hours of professional tennis data.

Oak Ridge's uranium enrichment facility supports America's AI ambitions amid concerns that China's aggressive nuclear reactor construction could give it an edge in powering data centers.

Facebook scam ads now leverage AI and deepfakes to create convincing celebrity endorsements, targeting specific demographics with sophisticated schemes.

Apple unveils iOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe and iPadOS 26 with translucent Liquid Glass design at WWDC 2025, featuring ChatGPT integration as competitors advance rapidly.

The Atom Touch prosthetic arm combines an AI neural interface with EMG sensors, allowing amputees to control individual fingers with precision at an affordable $25,000.

Aspen officials aim to have crews on the scene within five minutes — something they say would be nearly impossible without precise location data the AI technology gives.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says iPads are usually secure, but hackers can access them. Spot warning signs early to protect your data.

Tech expert Kurt Knutsson reveals how to easily move photos and videos off your iPhone or Android to securely protect your favorite moments.

The Social Security Administration is launching digital SSN access this summer. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to use it and protect your identity.

Glide underwater with CudaJet and make the ocean your playground. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses the redesigned tech that might be your next big thrilling adventure.

Protect yourself from login alert scams with five security steps, including avoiding suspicious links, checking account activity and enabling two-factor authentication

Skip the usual Father's Day gifts with personalized ideas for tech enthusiasts, home brewers, pool owners, seniors, outdoor lovers and privacy-conscious dads.

DMV text scam alert: Fraudsters impersonating motor vehicle departments nationwide are sending threatening messages about unpaid tickets and tolls to steal your information.

Fox News' AI Newsletter brings you the latest on this rapidly evolving technology.

E-BAR, MIT's mobile robot, provides physical support for seniors with handlebars that follow from behind, helping prevent falls while maintaining dignity for aging adults.

AI is changing everything – now, we can even use it to generate video. I tried OpenAI's Sora and Google's Veo – here's how they measure up against each other.

Five simple phone setting tweaks that make your device work harder for you, from automatic text message deletion to scheduled focus modes.

Android users can save time with 10 simple automations, including automatic battery saver mode, location-based Wi-Fi settings and scheduled "Do Not Disturb" mode.

Creating Lists to Learn About Yourself, Your Business and Your Customers

Small Business