What’s in a name? Do you have a ‘to-do’ list? Is it called, ‘to do list’? Is it, ‘task list’? …

Do you have a ‘to-do’ list? What’s it called? Is it, ‘to do list’? Is it, ‘task list’? Is it, ‘my daily plan’? If it is called something like that, does the name motivate you to get those things done? Does it inspire you?

Here’s another way to look at it. When we talk about surrounding ourselves with positive expressions, we mean in every way possible. Instead of ‘to-do list’, how about ‘my ticket to the Caribbean list’ or ‘my Aston Martin list’ or my ‘villa in Portugal list’.

Completing the list isn’t the goal, it is the step toward achieving the goals you have for yourself, your company and your family. Yes, you need to be ticking off those items and it feels great to do so but ultimately what are you doing that for? The goal has to be attaining the outcome from completing the list, the big ticket, whatever it is you wish for. Of course, by doing this you will be using a big to-do item as a name for the list. You want the vacation right? The car of your dreams, that home in the sun, whatever?

And here’s what you have to do when one of those big goals is achieved, rename the list. Then run it until that next big thing is in the bank.

Do you maintain a list of your finances, maybe in a spreadsheet on your computer? What’s it called? Is it ‘my accounts’? Is it ‘my finance’? Does the name inspire you? How do you think your mind might view it if it were called ‘my abundant wealth’ or ‘my growing rich list’?

The name we apply to things directly plays into the abundance/scarcity principle. This is not voodoo or some mystical exploration of spirituality, this is hard fact and easily demonstrated. If I say wedding or funeral which one offers you most inspiration? If I say work or vacation which one makes you feel better? If I say birth or death which one will set you up for the day? If I say wealth or poverty which direction will your mind start to travel?

State the obvious but your brain scans the words and your mind conjures up the imagery and depending on the switches that were flicked you will feel great or miserable, elated or de-motivated. It will happen in an instant and will effect the way you perform and the way you approach the world. Make no mistake about this, it will be a major contributing factor as to whether you succeed or fail.

The words you use and the names you give things will effect all those around you. They will effect the clients you meet, the customers you hope to acquire, the people you wish to impress, your children who you hopefully wish to motivate and your day will either be great or dismal and that could be directly because of the vocabulary you choose to use.

So, what is the name of your ‘to-do’ list?