Last updated June 15th, 2024
The impossible list is NOT a bucket list. Not too long ago, I used to settle for the possible things in life. The sure thing. It was “realistic”, “safe” and boring as hell. I decided I needed a challenge.
The impossible list is that challenge. This list of impossible things contains all the things I ever thought I couldn’t do because it was “impossible.” The sort of things that I assumed the cool guys on TV only ever got to do. The things I never thought that I would be able to do.
This is my list of impossible things. I’m constantly crossing things off it as I accomplish them and adding to it when needed and I’ll be making regular updates about my journey on the blog.
Since I’ve started, I’ve gone from living in my parents basement to running my two of own businesses while traveling to 41+ countries adn running ultra marathons on every continent. Meanwhile, we’ve found a way to give back to organizations that promote entrepreneurship and education and have even downsized my “stuff” to just 97 things.
But I’m not done yet – every time I find a new edge of what’s possible, I keep pushing and find the next level.
If you’re bored of a bucket list, tired of simply attempting what’s considered “possible”, or just want to try something different. This blog is for you.
Feel free to follow my journey and Subscribe via email or start your own impossible list and send me an email to let me know.
Here’s my impossible list.
The Impossible List™
Active Items
These are some items I’m currently working on.
- Sub 6 minute mile
- 20 Consecutive Pullups
- Planch Pulups (10)
- Getaway Backpack – Link
Life
- Change 1 Person’s Life For The Better
-
Help 100 Entrepreneurs Through Kiva.org– Link -
Raise $25,000 and Build A School w/ with Pencils of Promise[December 25, 2012] -
Run 7 Ultras on 7 Continents & Build 7 Schools with Pencils of Promise[7 Schools Built, $193,394 raised, Jan 19, 2017]
Fitness
-
Run a 5k[Jan 11th, 2009] -
Run a 10k[October 2nd, 2010] -
Run a Half Marathon[June 11th 2010] Run a Marathon[May 15th 2011]-
Run an UltraMarathon[October 27th 2012] -
Run a Triathlon – Fake Triathlon[October 4th 2010] -
Run a Triathlon – Sprint Distance– [June 17th 2010] [Results] -
Run a Triathlon – Olympic Distance[August 28th 2010] -
Run a Triathlon – Half Ironman[October 30th 2010] - Run a Triathlon – Ironman
Run a Duathlon– [October 4th 2015]- Run a sub 6-minute mile
-
Learn parkour and make an awesome montage video[February 4th 2016] -
Get a six pack and do a photo shoot to celebrate[June 2nd 2012] -
100 consecutive pushups[April 14th 2011] [Original Failure] -
200 consecutive squats[October 31st 2010] - 25 Consecutive Pullups
- Do a Planche Pushup (Do 10)
- Do a Fingertip Planche Pushup (Do 10)
- Do 10 Freestanding Handstand Pushups
- Go Slacklining
-
Complete a Century Ride[November 5th 2013] -
Run Tough Mudder[May 19th 2015] -
Finish the GoRuck Challenge[June 1st 2013]
Travel
-
Visit Every Continent[January 20th 2017] - Go Swimming in Every Ocean
Travel For 1 Year Straight[June 30th 2017]- Get a 2nd U.S. Passport
- Obtain dual citizenship with another country
-
Become an Estonian E-citizen[August 8th 2016] - Own a small flat in 4 different countries.
- Live on the beach in some tropical country for 3 months.
- Do A Cross Country Road Trip And Make a Film About It
- Do A Round-The-World Trip And Make A Film About It
- Visit All 50 States (49/50)
- Visit 20 Countries
- Visit 50 Countries
- Visit 100 Countries
- Visit 150 Countries
- Visit all the Countries (current total: 47)
- Start Impossible Island – Link
Minimalism
Go without internet for a month[July 31st 2009]-
Go without a car for a month[February 29th 2012] -
Count & document all my crap[February 28th 2014] -
Own less than 300 things[May 2nd 2014] - Create a “Getaway” Backpack – Link
Adrenaline Rushes
Go Skydiving[May 1st 2011]-
Go Bungee Jumping[June 6th 2011] -
Go Paragliding[May 1st 2012] -
Go Parasailing[August 1st 2009] -
Learn to Kitesurf[May 14th 2012] - Kitesurf for a month
- Learn to Surf
- Bike Across America
- Get PADI Certified & go scuba diving
-
Climb a Volcano[January 7th 2004] - Learn To Freedive
-
Go Zorbing[September 1st 2013] -
Go Indoor Skydiving[September 1st 2013] -
Walk With Wolves (and get kissed by one) [September 1st 2013] -
Fly A Rocketman Water Jet Lev Fly Board[August 19th 2013] -
Fly A Flyboard Water Hoverboard[August 20th 2013]
Misc.
-
Be an Extra in a Movie[November 12th 2010] -
Do Adventure Roulette[August 30th 2013] - Get something named after me
Events to Attend
- Visit Burning Man And Document It
- Participate in Tomatina
- Running of the Bulls
- See The Northern Lights & Make A Time Lapse Film Of It
- Coachella
-
Bonarroo[June 1st 2013] -
SxSw[May 31st 2012] - Lollapalooza
- Mardi Gras
- Carnival (Brazil)
Renaissance Man
- Learn To DJ
- Learn to Fly A Plane
- Learn To Breakdance
- Create a video that gets international coverage
- Get To Space
Walk a Red Carpet(Jun 9th, 2023)
Languages
EnglishSpanish- Mandarin
- French (2% fluent according to Duo Lingo, Feb 2016)
Entrepreneurship
Start my own marketing agency[December 12th 2011]-
Make a full-time living online[31st December 2012] -
Start an international company[February 12th 2012] Put $100k in the bank-
Give $100k away[December 31st 2016] - Build a team of 5 at IMPOSSIBLE
-
Make Impossible HQ into a Business[May 13th 2012] -
Speak at a Fortune 50 Company[February 17th 2012] -
Create an Apparel Line[October 3rd 2011] - Get Something Named Impossible
-
Get Sued By A Multi-Millionaire[January 31st 2014] - Start A Business Incubator
-
Write an e-book[December 25th 2010] -
Publish a real physical book -
Start a successful blog (50,000+ subscribers)you can too Start a second successful blog– Link- Sponsor a Film [Jun 9th, 2024]
*If you, your business or brand are interested in helping me make one or any of these impossible things a reality, get in touch.
What’s On Your Impossible List?
Free Impossible List Templates
We’ve put together some handy templates to help you start your own Impossible List. Check these out on your favorite platform and get started!
Joel, I just ran across your website from a link on The Art of Audacity. I love your list. I have a similar list of my own and I’m inspired to post it on my blog. Right now I’m saving up to quit my job and travel the world for at least a year, leaving (hopefully) January 2012. Good luck on the upcoming marathon. I’ve run five of them, but nothing feels better than crossing the finish line of your first.
5? Wow. I might have to pick your brain on training for them :). Thanks for stopping by. Lach’s blog is awesome.
hey i was stumbling and came across this i havnt read all of them yet, but i thought it might help you. http://www.nomeatathlete.com/63-running-ideas/
I love Matt’s site. He’s got some great stuff over there. Thanks Tim.
Ha, I’m truly glad that nothing feels better than crossing the finish line at your first.
Because when I crossed the finish line at my first (sub 4 hours I might add, which was my goal) I declared that it would also be my last 😉
It’s crossed off the list.
But we’ll see…
This seems quite interesting one. Will bookmark this list.
That’s a great list Joel. I have made a list of 101 goals before, but that was too many. I plan to narrow it down to some really killer “impossible” goals you have here.
Thanks Caleb! I love having a lot of goals to shoot for. There’s always something. If I’m ever bored I can just take a look at my list and say “what about that one?”
crazy list… but I have one of my own, haha. I might take on a few of yours for myself
My favorite is- Change 1 Person’s Life For The Better
but I think you’re selling yourself short. With the skills, I’ve observed, you have from reading this blog, you can make a positive impact on an entire community.
1 person is enough 🙂 Anything extra is awesome :).
It’s interesting that you don’t think you have done this yet. How many people have taken action based on this website? If all these people striving for the impossible, having adventures, learning and living isn’t changing a person’s life for the better, or helping all those KIVA entrepreneurs isn’t doing it for you I think you might need some success indicators here.
You could save someone’s life just by smiling at them and saying good morning as you pass them in the street.
Joel I know you’ve already changed my life for the better. That’s 1!
great list! what movie were you an extra in? what did they make you do? i used to be an actor and started off as an extra for the first year and a half. i have kind of an old-fashioned face so i used to work on a lot of period pieces and i got to dance a bunch. also got to be the “make-out” couple a lot with my then boyfriend. 😉
Blue Like Jazz – I’ll be posting more about it sometime soon. I was an extra in a church scene. Bascially sat in a pew & stood up & sat down a bunch of times. :(. Not as cool as being a make-out couple, but still fun :).
I really enjoyed just about everything on this website. The Renaissance Man was really inspiring. My 7th grade english teacher said, “Everyone should know a little bit about everything.” That has really stuck with me. I go to a liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, and I think that really helps to bring out the Renaissance Man in me. I feel like I could do just about anything I want (even the impossible).
I do a good bit of reading on how to be successful in life/do great (impossible) things. The problem I’m having is I don’t know what I want to put on my list of goals. I want to put things on their that I will still be passionate about in a few years. Do you have any advice for me? At 21 years old, I am just a little early to get going (I graduate in May).
This turned out to be way longer than I expected. I shared this link with a few friends already. Great work!
Best regards,
Tom
A good impossible list has a good mix of goals you can finish relatively soon as well as a few goals that you can finish a few years down the road. If you’re not sure what you want to do 10 years from now, ask yourself, What are you passionate about right now? Do that. A lot of times you won’t know what you’re passionate about until you try a few different things. If you find out you really don’t enjoy it that much, move on to something else. Make sense?
Biking across America is a popular theme! Which of those goals really ring with you?
One of my own goals is to ride from North East England to the tip of Italy via the Piaggio factory on my Vespa.
I got hooked on biking across America when I had this experience with the RAAM race. It’s an amazing way to see the entire country so I want to make it happen.
Great list, My wife and I just started a discussion on our own lists, it will be fun when we go to implement them. On mine is also to bike across america (I have been a cyclist my whole life-when I last totaled my life “miles on the bike” I was at 120,000 or so). My thoughts were to do the ride across america and combine it with earning money for charity to make it a dual purpose goal.
Bike across Antarctica would be tough! How about Bike Across Substitute Antarctica?
Antarctica is 1.4 times the size of the US in square miles.
Juts get a map of US-Canada-Mexico or Europe-Asia and then superimpose a map of Antarctica on top of the first map. Then choose a route where you can bicycle roughly around the perimeter of Antarctica but on a different continent or continents.
It would become Bike Around An Area the Size of Antarctica!
Wow!
Alex
What a fantastic list! My favorite item is own less than 300 things, I have never seen it on a list before. How’d you come up with the number 300?
This has re-inspired me to make my own list Joel. And the Kiva idea is brilliant. I am taking this and running with it!
If you want to bike across America, you should check out Bike and Build.
http://bikeandbuild.org/cms/
Joel,
You have an awesome bucket list. It’s very inspiring to see you going out there and doing extraordinary things every day. Thank you for being such a great mentor.
My own legendary quest was created as somewhat of an impossible list. There are some net trends I could care less about, but this bucket list one is pretty great.
Finally, want to race to 100 pushups? I still probably can only do about 40 so at 90 or so you have quite a bit of a head start. Up for it?
Thanks for sharing your list!! Saw a couple that I have added to mine. =D
Awesome. Going to check out yours now!
I always has my list in my head,but this make me wish to put it on the paper-looks as it start to be more realistic…strange and funny! Thx 🙂
P.S. I think first and last you can also meke it as: done.
For all readers you give it suport and help them to go on! So,that means you reach the goal-succes!
You definitely should write it down. Putting it on paper has a very cool ripple effect. Thanks for the kind words Jelena 🙂 It means a lot!
I came across your list on StumbleUpon. I signed up right away for your rss feed. I can’t wait until the marathon gets crossed off the list. I did my first last year.
If you’re like me, once you’ve finished the marathon, nothing will be impossible again.
Just a few more weeks. Almost there 🙂
Just came across your blog and I love it! fantastic idea & execution!
Thanks Ruby 🙂
YOU ARE SUCH AN INSPIRATION!!!!!!! Wow, hope to someday have the time and guts to keep track of all that life has waiting for me……….keep it up..the world needs more people like YOU 🙂
Thanks Drea. Little piece of advice. You’ll never “have the time.” You have to make it for yourself. Good luck with the impossible!
Hey Andrea! Love your first line in ALL CAPS!!!
You said someday you hope to have the time…” to keep track.
I learned something vital about the thought that we dont “have the time” for something.
It is never true.
It is always priorities–not “finding time”.
Heres an example: Did you find time to eat today? Did you find time to breathe? IF so, why did you find the time? PRIORITY! Breathing and eating are HIGH-priorities, so we always “miraculously” find the time for them.
Do you see?
Im glad you are here, and I am not meaning to offend.
You yourself, Andrea, are an inspiration!!!
Fantastic list. You’ve inspired me to make my own. I like how you have categorized the list. It makes sense to me.
Thanks Debbie! When you get yours made up, send it my way. I’d love to take a look at it!
Joel! Love this! I see you are skydiving on June 3! I just went for the first time on May 7…the most incredible experience I have ever had! Not one second of fear but lots of adrenaline! Enjoy every second of it and if you can, get it on video! It’s amazing what you forget you did when you jumped out of the plane!
Best part….FREE FALL!
Have a blast!
Hey Stephanie! I’m looking forward to it. Should be fun. We’re taking 40+ people so it should be a good group. I’ll let you know how it goes!
This is really cool, I’m not going to lie. My only question is what are you defining as a successful blog? I just StumbledUpon this, which means that you could be getting more traffic.
It’s great to see you’ve gone from 5k to Half-Marathon. As a dedicated high school athlete I appreciate people starting in our sport. Once I’m done with competitive track, I hope to be in the triathlons as well.
Keep It Up!
Wes Ward
I have a few different metrics for that, but it’s such a arbitrary word, that it’s hard to define. I feel like this blog has been very successful in terms of helping me do what I want and inspiring others. I’m very happy with it :).
Triathlons are a lot of fun as well. You should definitely give them a shot when you’re done with track!
Loved this man! i’ve done a few of these and have these on mine too… im stealing some of the other ones i didnt think of =p
Stealing is completely acceptable :). Have at it.
Hey man this list is truly amazing! I’m only sixteen but this list is already one of the most inspirational things i have seen. I just have one question, how do you fund all this, i presume you must have worked hard and earned some cash before you started this but for how many years, and will you’re supply not start to run out? Unless you have kept your job on-going whilst you complete this list… 🙂
Thanks Harris. I fund it all myself. I have a full-time job I work so this is all stuff I do in my free time. Some of the things I’ve done over the past few years, but a majority of the things have been knocked out in the last year or so.
sweet, all the best for completing THE list 🙂
🙂
Inspiring! 🙂
Thanks Henry!
This is just about awesome….hope you don’t mind, but I’m gonna copy/paste and modify this into something in my own little slot of existence.
Just about? It’s not fully awesome? 🙂
Feel free to copy/paste what you will. If you get the chance to put it up somewhere, shoot me the link! I’d love to see it!
you’re such an inspiration…makes me want to do all those things as well!! 🙂
What’s stopping you? 🙂
I’m inspired! I’m making my own list now and stealing heavily! Thanks for all the great ideas! I notice you’re training for your Half-Ironman in October and you’ll have your Ironman down the road. You may want to add biking a “century” to your list, if you haven’t done it yet as you gear up. Good luck!
It’s not officially “on the list” but it’s definitely in the back of my mind. Thanks man 🙂
This is amazing. You should be proud of the things you have already accomplished i will now start to make my own list. ps the internet one is definitely going on my list
Thanks Saulius. Shoot me an email when you start working on yours. I’d love to see it!
You can give away $100,000 to me 😀
then I could travel the world like I always wanted too.
What’s stopping you from traveling the world right now?
Money.
$$$
Hey Joel, I also have a list similar to yours, and I can honestly say that you have inspired me to dream big. But do you ever feel like you could never finish the things on your list? I feel like my whole life I’ve been told “you can’t do it” and naturally I wanted to prove them wrong. But to be honest it’s easy to get discouraged; any advise for someone seeking to finish their impossible list?
Finish it? Mine’s never gonna be finished. I keep adding to the experiences and adventures that I want to have. I want to accomplish tons of things on my list, but I hope I never get to a point in my life where I have exhausted my sense of wonder to the point that I have nothing left on it!
Knowing there are some things you might not accomplish is part of the fun. Sure you might not be able to do 100% of the things on your list, but if you do 80% of them, you’ll have done way more than you would have without it :). Shoot me an email if you have any questions!
wow, this is amazing, this is something I’ve been trying to do for quite some time now. I’m 16 and I realized that I wasn’t doing anything with my life, so i decided i wanted a change, but I haven’t done anything yet, I don’t know why, maybe its just my laziness, but I’m working on it, and now, watching all of this, makes me want to start, I know it must feel good every time you cross a thing in the list, must be awesome,so I’ll start my list and the change in my life.Thank you
I hope you accomplish everything on your list.
Greetings from Mexico
Good luck on your list Ruben! Shoot me an email when you start working on it. I’d love to take a look at it. At 16, you’ve got a head start on a lot of people. Good luck!
Coming across this list could have quite possibly just changed my life. I’ve been picking my own brain for a few months now to make an “Impossible” list and this finally got me to. Literally just sat down and filled an entire page of things to do. (Parkour, skydiving, surfing, and swimming all the oceans we on mine as well). So thanks for the inspiration and the positive influence you’re creating. Best of luck brotha,
~Joey P
Well if you’re out in the midwest and want to parkour, let me know! PARKOUR! 🙂
Lately, I’ve been through a rought time, by luck I just found your post and let me tell you it has been really inspiring. Actually if I did a list it would be very alike to yours… so thank you for helping me remember a little bit of my true dreams and mainly, to remember there’s something bigger and better that worth’s being in this life for. Bests.
Thanks Silvia. Go make your own list and let me know what’s on it. I’d love to help you out with it, if I can!
Silvia, reading your comment has brought tears to my eyes. I feel extremely connected to what you wrote. Thank you, for reminding me!
Great list! We have a lot in common with things that we want to achieve in the future. Good luck with completing it.
Thanks Brigette 🙂
As long as you’re running marathons and visiting every continent, why not run a marathon on every continent? Not so impossible if you put your mind to it – take it from someone who’s done it!
Hey Joel!
Thanks for your inspiring words! I’ve just started my list of “impossible” things! Simply writing down my goals on this blank sheet of paper feels both exciting and liberating. The challenge now is to keep myself motivated and strive to accomplish them!
Greetings from São Paulo, Brazil.
Hey Dan!
Shoot it over to me when you’re finished if you get the chance. I’d love to take a look. How’s Sao Paulo? I hear good things (now that i’m off the Brazil blacklist, maybe I’ll try to visit!)
Brazil blacklist?
Theres a story to this!
If I told you, I’d have to kill you 🙂
I have just sent you my list by e-mail. I hope you have fun reading it!
São Paulo is such a diverse and vibrant place! I love living here! Many cultural options and places to go, a melting pot, really.
The only thing that gets on my nerves is that we have the world’s worst traffic jams! Allied with an overcrowded public transport, you can imagine it takes a loooong time for you to get anywhere.
But now you’re off the “Brazil blacklist” (?? I’d love to hear that story!), you can visit São Paulo. I could show you around town if you want =D!
I might just have to take you up on that offer Danillo!
Wow, I love your list because it is so similar to mine! I definitely called my list the bucket list, but it includes running up to a marathon and visiting all of the continents. I’m only 20 but I have traveled for 4 months and through two continents. Here’s a hint, if you stay in Hong Kong for a month, you’ll go without that car. 🙂 You can also work on learning Cantonese instead of Mandarin while there. Good luck on your clearly, POSSIBLE, for you at least, list.
Thanks Anna. i’d love to see your list if it’s up on the internet somewhere. And thanks for the advice!
Joel,
Hey man, I just ran across your blog! Way to go! I did my first triathlon in summer 2009. It was an extreme off-road triathlon put on by Xterra in La Grande, Oregon. Open lake swim, Mountain bike ride, trail run…it was awesome. I have been hooked since. This actually bridges to another cool connection we have…At that time, I had the idea pop into my head to bike across America. Joel, the cool thing is the idea had a few years to percolate…As of right now I have biked over 2700 miles and raised over $5000 dollars for impoverished children!!! [check out our blog at http://www.bikeamericamission.org] (and, Hey, I did my first marathon earlier this year too).
Where are you these days still in my stomping grounds (Oregon)? because one of my goals is to meet you :)…I think we’ll have some great stories to share. Wha’d’ya think?
Goal for 2012: Ironman Couer d’Alene
I was in Oregon in June. Currently in Milwaukee.
You might want to check out my buddies blog –> http://www.natewalksamerica.com . Looks like you cross country travelers might have something in common. Ironman training huh? I’m planning on getting one in at the end of next year, crossing both fingers firmly and barring any injuries :). Congrats on the ride man. That’s huge.
Hi Joel,
Just stumbled across your blog, and have to say well done. You have some great goals on here, and I wish you the best of luck with them.
And if you ever want to start up a company in either the UK or Australia, let me know.
All the best,
Heath
You got contacts in both those places, I assume? Thanks for the kind words man. I just may take you up on that offer someday.
Time to strike “start a successful blog off the list”?!
Just might have to do that 🙂
Joel,
The “Getaway backpack” link is a parked domain. Maybe you mean a bugout bag?? Please see: http://artofmanliness.com/2011/03/07/how-to-make-a-bug-out-bag-your-72-hour-emergency-evacuation-survival-kit/
-Y-
I know. In-progress right now.
Sorta like the Bugout bag…but better. Much better 🙂
I found your website sometime back and found it a huge inspiration. I have a goal list of my own, but I have actually removed some of the “impossible” things from it. Until I found your blog. Then I started toying with the idea of putting a marathon back on the list. And then I read the book Born to Run. Not only did it tell a wonderful story, remind me of why I loved running so much in high school and confirm my belief that running barefoot is the way we should all run, but re-inspired me to run. And it inspired me not only to run a marathon, but to run an ultra-marathon. If you enjoy reading, although I don’t know you well, I feel like you would love this book. I also feel like running an ultra (50+ miles but most commonly 100) would be a pretty epic thing on your list.
I’ve looked into it, but haven’t read it all the way through. I’m contemplating the ultra…gotta check to see if it’s something I really want to do though..
One Joel to another… keep on doing the impossible!
Thanks Joel
-Joel 🙂
Thanks! This is so inspiring. I am sitting here at work and feel like i am in this bubble of contentment. I love your list and am going to steal some of them to add to my list 🙂
Do it. Shoot me a copy when you’re finished!
I am learning how to surf so, if you are ever in LA you can have a couch to sleep on, a fellow surfing buddy and check another thing off your list. I actually swam with dolphins the other day in Malibu which was pretty rad.
I might just take you up on that!
Joel, I’ve stumbled upon your blog in my own search for challenge. I recently suffered an accident that cost me a few broken bones and a lot of lost time. As a result I want to embark in a journey similar to yours (after recovery of course) and I would like your feedback via twitter.
Sure. Give me a shout –> @joelrunyon
I know I’m ignoring some of your post 🙂 but I love your running goals and I’m glad to see that you have completed a lot of them. I have a bunch of running goals myself, but I never thought to write them down like a bucket list. I definitely want to run a marathon and do a bunch of triathlons.
Great Post!
I’m partial to tris, but the marathon was definitely an experience. Good luck Jarrett.
Love this list! I have done a few of these myself and give you nothing but encouragement and “YOU GO, GUY!” on this list! If you ever do get to the point where you participate in an IronMan,..I live in a condo in Kona (my goal to live on a tropical island achieved) and have a rental condo next door. Email me and you got it–with a mai tai!
Really like the format for this blog..keep going!
What part of Kona do you live in? I love the Big Island (the big island is the best island). Now I just need to qualify :).
I see that Australia is on your list to visit – I had a great 16 months in Australia, and I recommend the following:
1- eat Morton Bay Bugs in Cairns Queensland (giant juicy prawn-like things)
2- eat Jackfruit (this monster fruit smells disgusting when you open it up, but the white stuff inside is great)
3- pull the tail of a crocodile (but make sure it’s behind bars in a croc farm (several great ones around Cairns) – and don’t get your hand stuck in the bars
4- snorkle in the Great Barrier Reef (Cairns is a great launch point) – see sharks, moray eel, giant turtles, and manta rays. Be sure not to stray too far from the boat! And go on a clear sunny day, you need totally cloudless day for the best visibility and vivid colours underwater.
5- Do a rainforest walk (several good ones north of Cairns)
Jackfruit is amazing. Love that stuff! Also, just pulling a tail of a crocodile? C’mon… 🙂
& as an Aussie I suggest you venture south of Cairns (& Queensland in fact).
The surroundings are beautiful up there but it’s like a whole different country (although the further north you go the more people act like Aussie parodies in movies).
I have the same goal to “Travel for 1 year straight”!:)
Hey Joel,
I just stumbled upon your blog, and I love your list! I see that you are into running. Why stop at 26.2 miles? You seem to have the motivation to go further, like an ultramarathon. I have a lot of similar goals on my list, but for travel goals I want to climb the highest mountain on each continent (It’s called the Seven Summits). Now I just need to graduate, get a job, raise some money and go!
We’ll see! Last year I thought a marathon was impossible so we’re taking baby steps :). Ironman next and then we’ll see after that!
Wow!
I recently started reading essays zenhabits.net and theminimalists.com and somehow ended up here.
It’s such a shock to me that I was already well on my way of becoming a minimalist, before I found out there was actually a name for it; “Minimalism.”
And now I’m reading through your Impossible List, thinking what a great idea this is, getting super inspired and crossing things off your list in my head, while coming to the conclusion that I have a pretty amazing and blessed life.
What an eye-opener! I feel so happy, I want to throw a party! (…adding that to the list…)
Thank you for sharing Joel. I think you should cross off “write a successful blog”. This is very inspiring and I can’t wait to read more!
Vicky, from Amsterdam
Thanks Vicky :). Leo, Josh & Ryan are great. Glad you ended up this way because of them.
Keep doing something impossible and let me know if there’s anything I can do to help!
Hola Joel recién vi tu lista de “imposibles” en StumbleUpon y me pareció increíble. Es una inspiración ya que los imposibles se van haciendo posibles con el tiempo. Recién empece a correr y ya complete 10k. Igual inicie con deportes extremos como rappel y canoying y ne doy cuenta definitivamente necesito escribir mi lista.
Tu lista me inspira a seguir adelante y a iniciar nuevos retos.
Saludos desde Bogota Colombia
Que bien! Si tienes un lista de imposibles tuya, yo queria verla. Gracias por leer y me emociona que tengo mas lectores hispanicas :).
Hola! I’m from peru and wow i really liked your list man, i have one of my own too, it’s called the “things to do before dieing list” hahah but i have not as much and as original things as you have.. haha after reading your blog i felt like inspired, so im gonna take my pencil and my diary right now and update that list!
bye
Awesome. Can’t wait to see it. Thanks Sofia!
Hi Joel !
I discovered this page thanks to stumbleupon. I am really impress by the list that you planned to do and even more by what you already achieved ! It’s truly inspiring ! Congrats 😉 You might be interested by tribesports.com, You can present all your sports achievements like http://bit.ly/pTEqGY .
Thanks for sharing !
Julien from London
I absolutely love this! It gives me the inspiration to get in mental, physical, and spiritual shape. I’m 18, looking at colleges, and really thinking hard about the purpose and focus my life should take. This list inspired me to dive head-first into my number one on my impossible list: End World Hunger. Crazy, right? Crazy AWESOME! A group of high school students decided that they weren’t going to sit back and watch as people born in less developed countries starve. So, four years later, I’m on a team with some really amazing students who are doing the “impossible”, attempting to send our 1 millionth meal to third world countries, and ending world hunger. Check out FoodFightForHunger.org to see what high school students across Illinois are doing for this great cause:)Thanks Joel!
Awesome stuff Jackie! I’m from Wheaton, so right by you. Love what you guys are doing. I think you’d love the Impossible League (the community behind the site). It’s full of people doing amazing things like you. Keep it up and let me know what I can do to help!
Hi Joel. I love love love these lists. I have been doing them since I was 14 years old. I do mine a little differently. Every January I make a list of 100 things I want to do before I die. I don’t look at the other lists until I have written my new one. This way overtime i cansee the things that arereally important to me, and i do things as i go along… I am 31 now and last year biked across Africa ( Cairo to Capetown) and when I got home I fell apron my list I wrote in 1994, it said, 10. Bike across Africa. My mom and I were floored, I hadn’t seen that listin over ten years… Amazing how when we write things down we actually seem to get them done. I love your blog, I think the first step to making a difference is helping people to see and understand that impossible is possible. It is just a frame of mind. Thank you.
HI, i found ur website on stumbleupon,, and have to say it’s awesome!!!! i admire what u r doing.. keep it going 🙂
someday i’ll make a list too, and the top one would be get a six pack abs or maybe eight.. If i do something different in my regular life, i will mail u the details,, thanks for inspiring me
Thanks Ranjit. Looking forward to seeing your list!
Hey Joel,
You’ve inspired me to bump up my goals. I’m excited about them cause they seem so crazy to me.
I was wondering about other personal goals like:
Get married
Date a supermodel
Have kids
Did you chose to not publish them, or are they easily possible so they were not included?
– Ray
Haven’t really put them on the list.
I think “getting married” is a weird goal because it’s sort of a two-person thing. I’d rather not get married then just marry someone because it was a “goal” of mine. if it happens, it happens, but I find that sort of a hard thing to put on, then cross off of a list.
Hey, Joel,
Just got your book and I have to say it’s very affirming. Looking at your list above, I’m even more affirmed.
I recently quit my US jobs, sold a bunch of crap, and moved to Indonesia with few prospects for making money – living the impossible. It’s amazing how quickly setting a goal and opening up my mind and heart to receive got me here. Within ten days I have a lead on an amazing job that will fulfill me and help me continue to live this impossible life.
Let me know when you start working that trip to Asia – I’ve spent about ten months of the last year and a half here and have a lot of good resources and travel tips for Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia.
I love the “Getaway Backpack” idea. Everyone should have one!
Good luck – I look forward to seeing how you progress!
-Heather Boylan
That Asia trip might come sooner than later – I’ll let you know 🙂
Nice – yes, please do:) I’m a wealth of information about this, from US – Asia flights all the way to strategies to NOT end up staying in a sucky place no matter where you end up!
Cheers! Heather
I love this. Those are great goals, you gave me some ideas!!
Dude, you’re cheating. You did not become fluent in English, you already were… I’ll give you a tip : learn Indonesian (Bahasa) – it’s spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia (good scuba-diving, Asia, btw) and Singapore and it’s literally the easiest existing language.
Keep up the good not-work.
Ha, English took the first few years of my life!
I have been doing the Marathon Kids program with my daughter for part of her homeschool fitness time. I am beginning Couch to 5K this month. I am wondering what you’ll do after you do an Ironman (lol…one of my old boyfriends did it every year). Have you heard of the Tough Mudder run? I think you’d like that. If I had discovered it younger (I am now 50 with a wonky knee) it would have been on my list cus it looks like a hoot!
Tough Mudder is on the list at some point. Maybe this summer? :). Bet you still could do it if you really set you mind to it (think about it) ;).
I think you can cross off “start a successful blog”. I think you’re doing very well!
I red your manifesto and agree with many of your ideas. Thank you for the work done!
You are further ahead in your journey than I am or might be in the short run. I have an experiment to propose to you: could you choose a country which is not your own, possibly one that does not offer the liberty of choice and privilege that you (and I) enjoy, and push your limits there?
My question is provocative without being judgemental or mean. It is the result of the cross-over of ideas from your project and this http://www.ted.com/talks/ory_okolloh_on_becoming_an_activist.html. You may certainly see this as my “living vicariously” but I hope you will humour me with your thoughts on it and take it as an experiment and cross-fertilisation of ideas.
Congrats. I myself have reached one or two fitness goals that seemed next to impossible at first, and your list is very inspiring to me. Good luck with Esperanto, it’s a great language to know and use.
I’m looking forward to it.
Joel. you’ve inspired me to stop looking at the small-steps I’m currently taking to meet some small(ish) goals but to expand my horizon to also consider the BIG picture.
I’ve written up my own ULTIME goal list now (http://www.thisgeeksgoals.com/musings/ultimate-goals) and my mind is already whirring, trying to figure out how I do what first. Bring it on!
Thanks again.
Mark
Good luck Mark! Let me know if there’s anything i can do to help!
This Impossible list is great. After looking over each sub category I would say you’re off to a great start with this list. I myself have begun to make a list of impossible things I wish to accomplish. A lot of what you have on your list could defiantly fit onto mine. This blog has certainly opened my eyes in a positive way. And I’m sure many of the people commenting would agree. Inspiration is something that everyone in the world needs. Whether it comes from yourself or someone else. Without inspiration your life will be dull, and boring. You can certainly back up that statement, because you once lived an everyday boring life. Yet you inspired yourself to make a list of impossible things and do them. On top of that you made a blog to inspire other people to do things they never thought they could do. That is something you should cross off. Your very fist life goal is to change someone’s life. This blog alone has probably opened so many people’s eyes to what they can accomplish if they just try. That alone is changing someone’s life. And for that I thank you.
It has been a while since I discovered a website that has really made me feel very excited!
Thanks to Caleb of Pocket changed for sharing your link.
Start a successful blog??? I think you do have a successful blog already “BLOG OF IMPOSSIBLE THINGS”!!! WOW!!! I love your blog.
Great blog….. Have you read the book “Doing the Impossible”?
Nope. I haven’t heard of the book.
I think its your kind of a book. I love your site do much that I’ll send it to you as a gift. Let me know what your mailing address is and iill mail it out to you this week.
Keep making a difference,
PBD
Hi Joel, I just finished reading the manifesto… I gotta say this came at the right time, right when i needed a change of perspective and a fresh start.. I’ll start working on many things now that Im fully aware of the story i wanna tell with my life.
THANK YOU
This is incredibly inspirational. There has always been things that I have wanted to do, and haven’t been able to do. I think I am going to have to make my own version of something like this. Thank you for putting this up for the world to see!
I am happy I stumbled upon your blog. It is one of the most inspiring one I have ever read. It has inspired me to take a relook at what I have so far considered impossible. Thanks and good luck.
Hey Joel! Ok so I ran across your site and it has inspired me so much. I really admire all of your goals. One day, I plan on doing just as much as you have written down. But I have one question: how is this all manageable? I love having goals, but sometimes I can’t find the motivation to work for them! Some tips on reaching goals in a busy lifestyle would be great.
Best of luck with your goals!
-Maggie
I love it. I hit the same place about a year ago. Bored, tired, sick of everything. Then it hit me! I needed more challenge in my life. Since then, I wrote a novel, got a puppy, became a triathlete, started minimalising and simplifying my stuff, and travelled more. And having started meeting challenges, more keep coming to mind. Best of luck (as if you need it when you have motivation)!
Hey man,
Have you ever thought of attempting the Spartan Death Race? Roughly 10% of competitors finish it.
http://www.youmaydie.com
Check it out!
I’m running it this summer.
Fantastic list Joel, super-inspiring for sure. I like doing mine in a “map” form. Definitely going to add some things to my map this week!
I just crossed off ‘Run a 5K’ from my list today and it feels awesome. And if knocking off an ‘impossible’ thing from my list wasn’t enough, I got to do it with thousands of other people and cancer survivors at the Sprint For Life in Houston. Seriously an inspiring experience. Your list (and blog) is quite awesome and really motivating. Keep it up!
Hi Joel,
I just ran into your blog and found that it completely related to my own blog! I started my blog as a way to dream about 7 impossible things per blog post since I read it in some book as a characteristic of some highly successful people. I love what you have done with your blog and hopefully you can give me some tips for my own.
Good luck on your impossible list! (I just signed up for a half marathon in July!)
Thanks,
Vaishali
Wow! This is awesome!
I started making a list like this when I finished high school and my friends thought it was ridiculous. I’ve had some cool experiences but have barely put a dent in the list! Now that I’m almost done with college, I’m hoping to get through some of it this year. Hope you don’t mind me borrowing some of your goals!
Good Luck!
I am currently working on lifting a million pounds of iron in 24 hours to challenge the world record by Shaun Jones. I have lifted 1,076,000 pounds this week. Now just to pack it into a one day work out. I never knew being 60 years old could be this much fun.
This Wednesday and Thursday I lifted 1,158,000 pounds witnessed and timed. Now to do it in just one workout and I will have my “impossible” finished. Why?? I invented an endurance food for everyone who lives by their own daily manual labor. The weight lifting is a way to quantify what can be accomplished using my endurance food. Why the out-sized lifts? Because that is what it takes when a sudden avalanche blocks your route down K2 or a rock-slide in South America traps you or survival at sea requires mind-blowing amounts or strength. I want to give people the stuff that fuels my mad-crazing lifting schedule. Why? I want to show anyone who will look; to demonstrate what amazing things the human body was designed to do. Kathy
Sweet, man, sweet. So happy I stumbled onto this blog — now I’m off to review my bucket list and turn it into an impossible list! Keep on inspiring, the world needs people like you. 🙂 And dude, you really need to come to Asia, maybe cross off that surfing task in your list?
I just made my own impossible list after being inspired by yours. Thanks for doing this, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on my impossible list. Maybe there are some things on my list you’d like to add to yours – I certainly borrowed some of yours! http://shanereiser.com/my-impossible-list/
Wow!! I came across this site from some other blog (copyblogger or problogger, I can’t tell). After going through the list I am inspired to dream big! I am already making a small list of my own, though not as impossible as these are.
It’s funny, I made a list like this three days ago and I swear we have about 50% in common. I had the space one as well and I thought it a little extreme, but if the average human life expectancy increases to 400 years old in the next fifty years, then who knows? Keep it up dude I’ll be right there with you!
Sounds good and all. Some of us have to work to carry on in this world.
Great list Joel! I ran across your blog through your recently published article at Get Rich Slowly. You’ve got 2 countries on me, but I noticed you haven’t hit some of the world’s hot spots yet like Iraq or North Korea. 🙂
Fantastic list! You have done a lot of impossibles! So I should do mine.
Here is another one for your list – try be a bit less narcissistic and self involved.
I’m sorry you don’t like my free site. You’re certainly not required to read it.
Hi, Joel. Thanks for inspiring my list: http://adadizonangeles.blogspot.com/2012/05/the-improbable-list.html
I hope you consider visiting the Philippines, when you get the chance to cross out that item on going to Asia.
I have really been mulling this over since I heard about it two days ago. IMy list would probably be more of an improbable list than an impossible list which I think most of the others are as well
But my list would consist of things like losing 40#, making up all the fabric that I have into hundreds of quilts – mostly for charity – with perhaps a few for family, getting into shape, and highest would be the meditation time. Becoming a master quilter and spinner
Nothing really impossible, but highly unlikely unless I use these types of things as the challenges.
Reading these comments, has made me realize that if these things are really important to me, then, I need to make much better use of my remaining years
Thank you Joel for this list. You do a wonderful job of inspiring others to do the same. I would like to make a list of things I want to do, probably not a list of impossibles, but (like another commenter said) a list of improbables. I only say that because I’m not a very productive person. I’d rather be lazy. I hate saying that about myself…enough to want to change. Things like clean and organize our extra bedroom, go through my clothes, read through the Bible in a year, stay off the internet for a month, walk and use public transportation for a month, save every penny I earn and help my husband save to quit his job so he can be a small business owner full time.
🙂
Thanks again Joel!
IF you are in Portland, ad Mt.Tabor to your “climb a valcano” list.
You say this aint a buckit list, but come on, how many people do you know have some of these things on the ifmous bucket list
I have list as well – it contains only one thing:
-Raise my kids to be upstanding members of humanity.
Looking at how our species behave in general, that’s more than impossible enough for me 🙂
Love your list, though – good luck, mate!
Well, it’s me again, about two years ago I found this, I was inspired by it and even left a comment on it, but as usual, I didn’t do anything about it, I just imagined how awesome it’d be, but never did anything. Now two years later, I find it again, but this time its different, I’m again inspired by it, but now i’m doing,because I havent done anything in almost 5 years. So I thank you again, for the impact you’ve had in my life, best of lucks in your journey and I’ll later send you my version of this as you suggested two years ago.
thanks again Joel and greeting from Mexico
Hi Joel,
I read you completed a 10K run in 10/02/2010, my birthday and I am not a runner. My first impossible goal is: to run a 10K.
Also popped from your list: scuba dive (I already do it and recommend for everyone) and Iguaçu Falls. Yes, you really need to be there.
Regards,
Benito
Joel,
Absolutely love your blog, it’s kick ass! I’ve shared the link with all my friends and I hope they find it motivating.
Doing the spartan beast at Killington, VT in September
http://www.spartanrace.com/vermont-obstacle-racing-the-beast-2012.html
It’s 13 miles on a mountain and 26 military like obstacles. Who knows, maybe a triathlon next year!
Thanks for your blog! It makes my day.
wow, that’s really surprise me, I am impressed by your list. I have to admit that I never see anyone like you who have been very positive in life. I’m gonna make my own list. Thanks for the inspiration Joel…~
Congratulations so far. I am really looking forward to your Ironman. Can I ask a question? I am running my second half marathon end of September. How did you train yourself from half marathon fit to full marathon fit? Cheers!
I used a Hal Higdon training program.
Hey Joel, I recently found your website, and I think its really great. I think you’re onto a really awesome idea, and I have to admit, you’ve really inspired me (and now my boyfriend and my sister!).
I’m not sure if you’re aware of a website called Tribesports.com. Its basically a website where people of all fitness levels can seek motivation, challenges, tips etc. Just wanted to let you know that I’ve created a “Tribe” (sort of like a forum group) that encourages people to check out your list and take from it what they will. You should check it out sometime 🙂
http://tribesports.com/tribes/the-impossible-list
Keep it up dude! (and I look forward to hearing about your experience with Tough Mudder!)
I admire all the people who accomplish the seemingly impossible things that they wanted to do. Be it acquiring material things, traveling, starting a business and making money from it, being healthy, etc.
I only have one impossible jewel that I truly and deeply long for, more than any material things or wealth, far more than any thousands of miles traveled, or any business…one that I truly dreamed and long for..
my ONE TRUE LOVE..
Hi Joel,
I just wanted to say that this really, really encouraged me. As I got up the strength to plan out some things I want to do I Googled “confidence to do something impossible” and your site came up. Appreciate your positivity and drive! You reminded me than I CAN DO THIS.
Oh, yeah. Without a doubt doing this. I’ve had all my fitness goals in my head since I started an active lifestyle a few months ago (ran my 5k just last week!), but this sort of thing is a much better way to keep track of all of them. I put down all my fitness goals first, with date ranges to complete them, but I’m not too sure what to do besides that. I guess I’ll just have to give it a shot.
When I read this myself, I did not take the entire thing seriously, but as I reached the bottom of the post, I was inspired from the inside out, hungry for more posts and left with a desire to get a taste of those experiences. It is no wonder commenters have anything but encouragement to say. I am now going to start my own Impossible List, and although it may not have sky diving, it will include writing a children’s book. Hopefully others now understand, like I now do, just how important it is not to not just think we will have time to do something at some point in life; the time is now. So I am setting the alarm for my impossibilities and must say thanks Joel, for reminding everyone that just because we grow up doesn’t mean our dreams have to. You are changing “realistic, possible” lifestyles one post at a time.
Hey Joel,
As with everyone else here – thanks for the inspiration man! Mainly for the thought that physically writing it out and putting it up online makes it so much more motivating and accountable. I’m enjoying the regular email updates and using you as my silent mentor. I’m currently quitting cigarettes but northern lights have been top of my list for too many years so I’m doing that next year with my all time number two goal of seeing a three toed sloth. I stole a couple of your ideas but I put a link in my blog to say thanks. When you cross off your travel goal of Australia 1. Travel the Great Ocean Road and 2. Hit me up if you need a place to crash in Sydney.
Again, thanks man!
Great list! You have already done so many listed. Maybe I will create my own list…
Amazing and perfect concept! I am so thankful that I have discovered this kind of approach from CollegeInfoGeek.com
I already have my list and will do my best!
Not sure if someone already asked this but… how in the world did you go one month without Internet? What did you do? What was your process like? How can others do the same?
Hi Joel,
I just randomly came across your page, I can’t wait to spend more time checking it out! I have done so many things both travel, adventure, fitness and in life but to see them listed and crossed off is so awesome! I am going to do that! I have been to 6 continents and 50 countries so far so I would be happy to give you suggestions when you are ready to cross off a few more! Keep being awesome 🙂
Jackie
Thankyou for this site. You don’t know how much I needed this inspiration. I’ve always longed to live my life richly and deeply, but lately I’ve been letting myself lose heart and focus.
I’ll be buying a shirt, and keeping with the site, thanks!
-Aaron
All 5 star american hero like, what about a REAL IMPOSSIBLE challenge: go without sitting on a chair (or any kind of seat) for 30 days ?
I mean your challenges are great, love them! By “real” I mean another urban challenge
Awesome list Joel…love it…but I was wondering how you can buy a ticket without knowing where you’re going??
Show up at the airport counter. Buy a ticket.
Ohhh I see…I thought you meant not knowing till the plane landed…sounds like it would be a fun thing to do 🙂
I love finding other people who stopped believing that “impossible” should be a red light.
This year I’m traveling to 13 countries, supporting myself full-time as an artist, and training to make it to the next Olympic boxing trials.
Keep inspiring the world, sweetheart!
All the best,
Catherine
You should add: ‘learn to play an instrument’ to the list.
Might take a couple of years, but you seem like the perseverant type
Hi Joel. I just subscribed your newsletter and I have to say that I really admire you for what you’ve already achieved and your next goals. I agree we should live not just for living and do something great in our lives, memorable. That is the attitude and is also my attitude.
Despite I’ve already visited groundbreaking places and have been with amazing people I think I still have to do so many things. So, I accepted the challenge and started now doing my list.
Well, wish me luck and good luck for you too.
PS: Nice typing you’ve got for the blog’s headline. I also have that one. Impossible 😀
Great list Joel, I am just starting my own and your list has been an inspiration. How often do you look at your list and pick one of the things to specifically go after? Or even cleanse the list of goals you no longer wish to achieve?
Come to Oz. learn to surf and scuba dive here and perhaps cross a few more off your list.
My list has- give a real TED talk
Climb Kilimanjaro.
The real Carnival is in Trinidad, sir.
Admirable list 🙂
Awesome list!! Gonna make one of my own soon and probably take some of yours haha. My favorite is “learn parkour and make an awesome montage video” !!
I’m curious about something. While I admire your passion for doing the impossible, how does someone without the time or namely, te money, pull something like that off? I don’t exactly have a job that would allow me to just up and visit Antarctica. Not only that, but I have my responsibilities as a husband and father, things I have no desire to start half-assing any time soon. (Besides, my wife and I are having some issues we’re trying to work through, so a trip out of country is pretty much not in the cards.)
You set a goal & go after it. Step by step.
I know exactly how you feel. 3 years ago I was broke and living in my parents list. However, when you make something a priority – it tends to get a lot easier to just figure things out.
Hello Joel,
Your list is the first one that’s why old one too and you have accomplished several impossibilities as well. I liked it very much and I have created my impossible list as well. Now I’ll do impossible as well. I want to open school in my village as well.
Regards,
Abdul
A few short days ago I began writing down my own list like this. Mine is also, not a bucket list, and I didn’t want to call it such. The name struck me out of nowhere, and described what it was perfectly. The Infinity List. In it’s full form it is all the things I want to see, do, experience, know, and is as such always evolving and changing, but in a more refined sense it seems incredibly similar to your Impossible List. I like it, and am super stoked I’ve found your blog. Cheers Joel!
Wow amazing!
One thing, the continent is Australasia not Australia : )
-(New Zealander speaking)
I just StumbleUpon your blog and thought it was amazing. I’ve always wanated to start a blog, do something impossible, but well I always thought it was impossible. You inspire me to realize that word has no true meaning. I am going to start my blog next week. Thank you very very much. I just have one question, you already crossed out buying a ticket to a random destination. How did you do it? Where did you end up?
Ohh Man, you inspired me to do the impossible thank you so much. You have become my inspiration and now I am going to make a list of imposibble things like you. I think I can’t make such large as you but I’ll try.
Thank you so much again.
Dude, BADASS LIST!
Let me know when you launch Impossible Island. That is the perfect place to throw a huge mastermind for bloggers and entrepreneurs.
Hi Joel – just updated my list – http://50bpm.com/new-year-new-site-new-list-new-training-period-and-few-other-new-things. Thank’s for being an inspiration!
Great list with awesome progress! I just completed my list of 101 things in 1001 days, and it really made me more confident to work my way through the list. I did things like take a trapeze class, travel alone, and I went zorbing too. Now, I am feeling ready to take on bigger challenges. (I’m not sure what they are yet, but I know I will try to give a speech somewhere–my biggest fear–and raise money for a cause.)
Can I suggest a small twist to one of your impossible items to make it even more impossible. “Complete an IronMan – and never tell anyone that you did it, ever” This is one you don’t get to cross out, because it would be telling someone you did it. If you want to build some mental toughness, running the IronMan is easy, telling absolutely no one that you accompished it, that’s impossible. (Telling your wife would be acceptable, 1.you are one flesh anyway, 2. it’d be hard to conceal and 3. she has to put up with the training). “Running a Marathon and telling absolutely no one … ever” is on my impossible list. And I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you if I’ve done it or not.
By the way, I love your site. Impossibly Awesome.
JT
Come to Mardi Gras! We would love you show you a good time down here!
You know what you should add to your list is “Watch a Rugby test match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South African Springboks at either Loftus Stadium in Pretoria or Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg. You wont regret it.
This list is so bossy, like the best mission statement for life i’ve ever seen. Totally inspiring me to create one of my own. Thanks Joel:)
Take me along to Antartica
Namaste Joel!
That’s really inspiring thing to make a list of impossible and make it possible. Thanks for sharing your list, it’s motivating. If we don’t try what we love and feel impossible, we can never know that it was actually possible if would give it a try. Many of us get discouraged by the negative comments by others and never know that we could live our dream. This list has inspired me too! 🙂
I noticed how all of it concerns yourself.
Is there any challenge that involves helping others ?
I guess this is what we Westerners see as progress, focussing on our own ego.
Hi Anne,
Please see the first item on the list.
I think number one on the list is all about Joel. That seems to be the only persons life he’s trying to change. Take some of that money for all those trips and give it away. Then you’ll truly know what happiness is. Because that’s the best feeling in the world
Hi Taren,
Check out our 777 project. Our previous school we built in guatemala and our Kiva lending team. I giving is a big joy. Feel free to join any of our ongoing philanthropic projects.
my thoughts exactly. I just finished typing a post about that exact thing. How about crossing off some of the things that help others, and stop serving yourself all the time. helping others is the real meaning about life.
Hi Taren,
I’d love to follow your lead on this. I’m leaving for Patagonia today to run 1/7 races for our 777 project. I will match whatever you donate to the project. You can check it out here –> https://impossiblehq.com/777
I love your attitude here and I’d love to demonstrate my willingness to learn from you here. Would love to see you join the cause and live out your beliefs.
Hi, Joel! I know I am coming across this post a few years after it was written, but this is a really awesome list. Hope you’re still at it 🙂
that’s a great list. Unfortunately all of the things on the list that you’ve crossed off are only self serving. It would be nice to see the things helping others being crossed off. That’s what life is all about giving to others. I think a lot of people miss that. also when we do help others or give something away, it is to be done anonymously, not published. life isn’t about walking around getting a pat on the back. Something to ponder
Hi Karen,
Check out our 777 project. Our previous school we built in guatemala and our Kiva lending team. I agree – helping others is much more productive 🙂
Reading this legit made me cry a little bit. The idea that you set these goals for yourself and achieved so many of them is so amazing and even though I don’t know you I’m so proud of and happy for you.
I randomnly came across this website and I have to say…It’s @#! awesome!
I really like that you are making the impossible possible!
I’m joining the e-maillist right now!
Thanks for inspiring me, I’m going to keep going 😀
I found out about your list from Grant Baldwin’s podcast. I love the concept and although I never published one of these, I still keep one of these since high-school.
Graduating engineering and medical schools were on my impossible list – but I managed to do them both in parallel. I have no idea how I managed in the end, but I had to do it because I never know when I’ll have another asthma attack, so I may never get a second chance.
On my current impossible list lies writing a second book on comparative aging of the species. I started it in 2014 and it seems impossible to ever finish it, not to mention publish it.
Oh my god this is the first time I am seeing such a long list that too almost completed…. No words man.. No words…
Just amazed by your accomplishments..
Wish this will motivates millions….
Hi, my name is Marcos Hernández. I`m spanish (Canary Islands, such a paradise, right?) and I`m 18 years old. I really want to spend some time telling you that, in some meaningful way, I find this `Impossible List` idea (or project, whatever you want to call it) very interesting.
Personally speaking, I think the best thing I can do now is to build up a plan, project, guide like this and put there all of the (im)possible cool amazing things that can happen in my life that only TV cool guys seems to be prepared for (as you mentioned in the beginning). I have been tremendous inspired by you and Thomas Frank in self-improvement and developing my skills. One good example of this is travelling to space (which seems to be possible in my life time) and giving a TedTalk which would be great of course.
Finally, I want to ask you for a favor if you have time to answer this. I want to build a list just like and have some questions: 1. How is the best way to keep it with me in about 10 years from now (like being a blog for example); 2. Does the list have some requierements like “Shouldnt put this” or “things that..”.
PD: Sorry for the possible mistakes you may found in my writing expressing. Im sure there are. Anyway, THANK YOU for inspire and maybe in some years you can delete the “Change 1 Person’s Life For The Better”.
I really hope you answer this.
Hi Joel,
You have motivated me! I do recommend to do Scuba diving since it’s not difficult for who always maintain good fitness level. Of course, you can completed PADI Open Water in several days. If you have chance to come to Thailand where I am. It’s very easy to achieve scuba diving certification.
Best,
Sakares
It looks like its been awhile since you’ve crossed off an item. What’s with that?
I got the idea from Frank Thomas but came to check yours out right away. I have also just posted my own:
http://anotherdesperatehousewife.wordpress.com/2015/09/10/my-impossible-list-2/
SUCH a great idea!
Wonderful blog! Do you have any suggestions for aspiring writers?
I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option?
There are so many choices out there that I’m completely overwhelmed ..
Any tips? Kudos!
I’ll Admit. I was that person who thought “Oh I don’t need to start with the cold showers”. But then I kept reading, and decided to just try it anyway. I’m three weeks in and I absolutely love it. I don’t want to stop them now, they are the best start to the day and its such a quick win for a sense of accomplishment, even if I achieve nothing else in a day, I have achieved that straight off the bat.
The psychology of it seriously works.
Thank you for such a great blog. I didn’t think I could write a huge list, but ended up with 140 things after my first try. Thanks so much for your inspiration and motivation.
Nice list, Joel. It’s very inspiring! I’m looking to expand my limits too. I’m from Brazil and I already gone to Iguazu Falls, if you want I can share some infos and hints about there.
Hey Joel, came across your site today 3-12-16, truly inspiring and motivating, including taking a cold shower on purpose today. If you ever make it to Coachella, you have a place to crash. My wife and I live less than a mile from the Polo Field in Indio. You sound like a really determined and interesting human being. It would be really cool to meet you.
This list is so inspiring I would like to do the same thing and document it. I want to hold myself accountable as well.
Hi Joel,
I actually was reading a post on collegeinfogeek.com blog and it referred a link to your impossible list. THIS IS AWESOME. when I see that you have actually done a lot of them, it gives me this impression that I can do whatever I want, just as you and Thomas(collegeinfogeek.com) did.
I just wanna thank you for telling us that the impossible is not always impossible!
I’m really inspired and I wanna make an impossible list for myself.
I wish you all the best.
just love it. <3 creating mine today
Hey, first thank you a lot for the idea of the impossible list 🙂 I am starting one right now as well (visible on my blog) but I am kind of stuggeling with some things.
Regarding to the countries, you want to travel, did you seeked to travel all countries in the first place and wrote down steps like 20 countries, 50 countries to make the progress easier or did you really want to travel “just” 20 countries in the first place. When I am writing my impossible list, I feel that I am automatically creating sub- goals and steps but I am not really sure whether this really helps.
Wow man, your list is *SO* similar to mine. I’ve even done most of the things you’ve done.
Wow that was huge for me and motivate me to make my own blog for it!!!
You can check, if you want, my impossible list in my new blog?
http://nonimpossible.wordpress.com/2016/09/28/my-impossible-list/
Your coolest item is become fluent in mandarin, best language you can learn. I am from argentina and the past 2 years i ve been living in china, shanghai and then nanjing. If you have any question about chinese language, just ask, i can give you some really helpful tools to learn it.
I figure between english / spanish / mandarin – I’m able to talk to a few billion people worldwide. Not bad, huh?
Add Hindi to the list as well, you’ll be able to speak to one billion more 🙂
Hey, love this website and your list. I came across it reading an article about how to get into Cyclocross (tried it this morning, what fun! once would have been impossible, so what a happy accident your website is!)
Will be using you as inspiration, thank you. Currently planning on how to do the impossible with mindset changing in corporate business. Good luck on your list.
Inspirational! Thank you very much for sharing!!!
I just came across your site after having a group conversation with other Dads and one Dad told me I should look you up. I’m a pretty active guy and I have done quite a few things in my life and a lot of other Dads act like I’m crazy. Most tell me it’s because I have a wife that allows me to do such things. Your list has inspired me to actually make a list.
I’ve never thought of inspiring people with my actions but I’ve noticed a few trends of people things after I’ve done them. Do you believe their is a demographic of middle aged men that could benefit from inspiration like your? Most guys I talk to say I wish I did that when I was in my 20s. How do you convince such people that they have time to do these things
I think everybody wants to do more. Most people are scared or need an example.
There’s always room to be an example.
Hi Joel, I/ve completed 4 marathons and was active in Crossfit until I tore my Meniscus. Trying to get back into the groove but procrastinating. II’m 65 not that it matters.
Joel,
I like your list. Here are my ideas:
You can satisfy “Change 1 person’s life for the better” by donating blood just one time. Your donation will definitely help a person. If you can’t donate blood, perhaps you can see a need and supply it. This is not as easy as it sounds. A person has to be very aware of the needs of others. Good teachers do this occasionally. I was a teacher a long time ago and I think I achieved “Change 1 person’s life for the better” once or twice.
25 pull ups? That’s a great one. I hope you make it.
Oops. I forgot something…
I like the Minimalism list as well. A life with no car, no TV, and no sugar would be better I think. I don’t have TV, but it would be hard for me to drop the other two. Definitely a worthy goal though.
Woah. Simply Woah. I was searching for Shining Object syndrome and got to your site. You just did something to me, ignited a spark or something but man I’m IMPRESSED. You’ve like made into my ideals list. I am subscribing and bookmarking this post in a new bookmark named “impossible”. Thanks for this amazing list.
And to put it truly, I wannabe be like you. You’ve inspired me to my core.
Oh my, this is something really gets me driven. Looking at all the items in your IMPOSSIBLE list makes me want to create one for myself. I guess when you go beyond and above the ordinary, makes all the rewards extraordinary, that’s when the motivation will come. Thank you so much for creating this post, I’m fired up. 🙂
Wow, thats an awesome list. Love the use of Airtable to sort through it.
Hi Joel,
Just want to say thank you. Love the no BS approach. Love the results it gives.
Cheers,
David
Just retired (55 years old). Now I have the holy trinity sorted – health, time and money… I have a few things checked-off on your list but it has given me a few good ideas. 🙂
I love how you provided blog links to some of the completed items- like give $100,000 away. Way to inspire others!
Well…it appeared that someone didn’t want me to send this email…but I am going to do the impossible…right now!!!!!!!!
I was looking on the internet…and I put in “Impossible”…and your website was here. “The Impossible List”! I believe that this was exactly what I needed to see.
I was working at a company…and worked until 1 or 2 or even 3am. I had to get up for a meeting at 7am…and, let’s say…that my body couldn’t handle this…and I had a “stroke” in 2015. At that time (I just want to hurry and tell you)….that I couldn’t even say but 2 words. One was my daughter’s name (Angel)… and her son’s name (L.J). Since then…I’ve been trying to do the “Impossible”…and learn “how to speak”.
It’s been 4 years…and I now want to do a few things. 1). To get my Domain 2). Get a Website 3). Start a YouTube channel
Other’s may think that this is “possible”…but for me…It is “IMPOSSIBLE”… But, I am about to do this.
Thank you so much for your “Impossible List”!!!
That was the best idea I heard this year. I just created mine today.
http://skiraindustries.com/index.php/impossible-list/
Hi Joel, thank you for your input and motivation. I am planning to go on a pilgrimage from Bavaria (Germany) to Santiago de Compostela (Spain), aprox 2250km, on spring 2020 (April-Mai) in order to build schools and/or hospitals in abandoned and poor villages in Peru. Can you please tell me how can I start looking for serious sponsors to promote this event? If this information is important, I am 60. You can also write me inbox. Thank you very much for your support and information.
Wow, great list. I’m going to save it because you inspired me to make my own. But what happens after 2017? It’s not updated. Thanks for sharing.
I read this years ago and I still find myself coming back here to check in regularly. This post made a big impact on my life, thank you for that.
Was wondering if you carried a reusable water bottles or a single use PET bottle for water?
Been having this debate with some environmentalists about sacrificing convenience and utility for the environment.
Yes – you can grab an impossible water bottle here – https://impossible.co/collections/accessories/products/water-bottle
Wow, your list is impressive. Something that I can add to this list. To buy a Lamborghini for my Mom and take her back to home
The Impossible List is an inspiring concept, so I made my own https://goforthegoals.com/impossible-list/ . I can’t wait to accomplish what I’ve listed down. 🙂 Thank you for sharing, Joel!
This is awesome,!! Although some of the things that were impossible for you, I was born with. For example, I owned my first car when I was 30, so I went without a car for 30 years!! 😉 The same goes for the internet!!
For you that are reading this: don’t take things for granted and be grateful for what you already have. Live is beautiful!!