Why You Need a List of 300 Things to Do Before You Die

I used to think bucket lists were kind of cheesy… until I made one.

Then I printed it on a four-foot poster and hung it in my house.

That one exercise completely changed how I see my life.

In this solo episode of The Optimist, I break down how a simple homework assignment from a coach turned into the most profound and energizing thing I’ve ever done:

creating a list of 300 things to do before I die.

I’ll share:

• How I came up with the list (with a little help from ChatGPT)

• Why 300 is the magic number

• How I designed the poster and what happened when strangers at Kinko’s read it

• The sniper rifle story (yes, really)

• And why this list has become my favorite tool for staying inspired, grounded, and excited about the future

🎁 Want your own poster?

The first 5 people who DM me their list — even if it’s messy or unfinished — I’ll design and ship you your very own version for free.

No fluff. No coaching funnel. Just a gift from me to you.

Make your list. Hang it up. Watch your life change.

👉 Subscribe to The Optimist for more honest, human conversations on identity, ambition, and becoming who you’re here to be.