• About
    • Meet Joel
    • The IMPOSSIBLE Shirt
  • Speaking
  • Giving

IMPOSSIBLE ®

Push Your Limits | Do Something Impossible

  • Home
  • Impossible List™
  • Blog
    • Archives
  • Gear
  • Apps
    • Running + Fitness Calculators
    • Move Well – Mobility Exercises
    • Cold Shower Therapy
  • Podcast
  • Events
  • 777
You are here: Home / The Impossible / The Impossible List is NOT a Bucket List

The Impossible List is NOT a Bucket List

August 30, 2011 By Joel Runyon 83 Comments

The Impossible List is NOT a Bucket List.

Not The Impossible ListThere’s a difference. Not just in the name, but in the entire concept.

Lots of people have a bucket list. They’re static things made up at one point in time that most people don’t end up actually incorporating into their lives and discard when things get tough.

The impossible list is different. It’s fluid, updating status of what’s coming, what’s next and where you’ve come from. It’s always changing, always updating and always evolving. The impossible list isn’t just a piece of paper, it’s a commentary to yourself on how you’re living.

I don’t have a problem with bucket lists. They’re probably better than nothing, but the worst part about a bucket list isn’t that it’s just a bucket list, but that it’s a just list. It’s a set of things waiting for you to check off. If you don’t get to them, you fail.

That’s a really bad approach.

The impossible list is different.

It might be a list, but the impossible list is a list that helps give narrative to your story. It gives purpose to your actions and it gives context to your journey.

I’ve said before, that the best way to write something that matters is to first do something that matters, and then write about it. Not the other way around.

The impossible list is a good barometer for that.

If you’re getting bored with your life, it might be because it’s because you just have a list of things to do someday, instead of a list of things that you’re actively living out day to day in an attempt to live a life worth writing about.

It’s a fine line to walk so here’s a quick rundown of the differences between a bucket list and the impossible list.

How the impossible list is different from a bucket list.

A bucket list is static, the impossible list evolves.

A bucket list is a set list of things you want to do. It never changes…mostly because you never do anything. The impossible list is different. It’s changing, not only because you’re busy actually doing things, but because you’re busy adding things as well.

A bucket list gets smaller, the impossible list gets bigger.

A bucket list is a set of things you check off and hopefully you get to them all before you die. Slowly,but surely, if you’re dedicated you’ll eventually cross everything off your  list. The impossible list is different. The impossible list expands what you’re capable of doing. You should be constantly checking things off the list, but you should be adding items as well. With the impossible list, your limits expand, your horizons get bigger, your dreams become larger. You constantly check things off your list, and you realize that what’s literally impossible to you now is completely different than what you thought was impossible even just 3, 6, 12 months ago.

A bucket list is focused what you do before you die, the impossible list is focused on how you live.

Hopefully you get to everything on your bucket list before you die. Hopefully. If not, too bad. The impossible list isn’t as concerned with doing everything on the list, but doing some of the things on the list, exploring the limits of what you think you can do, and going even further. When you have an impossible list, doing something is much more important than doing everything.

A bucket list revoles around you, the impossible list is focused on others.

A bucket list is focused on making your life as great as possible. The impossible list is focused on telling as good of a story as possible. Sure that involves doing some great things to enrich your own life, but it also involves actively helping and enriching the lives of others as much as possible, in order to help them tell a good story of their own.

A bucket list is focused on the event, the impossible list is focused on the journey

Most bucket lists serve as a highlight reel of life – a series of unrelated exciting accomplishments between which most of the time people are bored. The impossible list is a journey. The impossible list is a series of events, each building on each other in order to create a great story. Each list has a meaning and a purpose and the list expands and changes in order to tell a story of how you’ve grown, what you’ve overcome and how you’ve gotten to where you are from where you’re from. The check marks designate things accomplished, but the purpose is not to get to simply achieve specific accomplishments but to change in the process that occurs between those those events.

A bucket list has accomplishments, the impossible list has meaning.

A bucket list is focused on doing things. The impossible list is focused on doing things with meaning. Doings things over and over that you think other people will care about or doing what other people find impressive is not the point. The purpose is to stretch yourself to do things you never thought possible, regardless of other people’s opinions on the topic.

A bucket list is made up of someday dreams, the impossible list requires action today.

A bucket list is stuff people hope to do someday. “Maybe, one day when I get lots of money, I’ll do ‘X'”. The impossible list takes action today. It requires you sit your butt down, and go get stuff done. It’s not all pie in the sky and it won’t just happen if you think about it hard enough. It takes work and you have to actually do something in order to get there.

A bucket list expires, the impossible list aspires

There’s a countdown for the bucket list out there. The time ends when you die. If you didn’t get to everything, too bad. You lose. Failure. The impossible list is different. It’s focused on challenging you to question what’s impossible right now, and pushing you to bigger and better things rather than being comfortable with the status quo. It forces you to constantly expand the sphere of what you believe is possible right now. A bucket list expires when you die. The impossible list is about what you’re aspiring to do right now…because that’s the only time you really have.

Bucket List or Impossible List? What will you choose?

***

If this made you think, do me a favor and share it with someone in your circle of influence.

Also, if you want more of this be sure to subscribe via email. Besides getting regular updates in their inbox, email subscribers are getting a special invitation from me tomorrow (Wednesday, August 30th at 10pm CST) about how , so be sure to get on it.

***

Special thanks to Tim Dyer for helping me articulate a few of these thoughts.

[Photo Credit]
Tweet
Pin2
Share54
56 Shares

Filed Under: The Impossible, The Impossible List Tagged With: bucket, Bucket List, Impossible List, kick the bucket, life lists, list of things to do before i die, possible list, The Impossible List

About Joel Runyon

I started IMPOSSIBLE to push myself to try to live a life worth writing about by pushing my limits, living an adventure & telling a great story by doing the impossible. You can get free updates in your inbox via your new favorite newsletter, free fitness training tutorials, and see all my businesses at Impossible X and our philanthropic efforts at Impossible.org

Comments

  1. Srinivas Rao says

    August 30, 2011 at 10:13 am

    Joel,,

    I love it. This is one of the most inspiring things I’ve read in a while. Your writing gets better and better with every post. I always look forward to seeing what you’ll come up with next 🙂

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      August 30, 2011 at 8:12 pm

      Thanks Sri. Glad you’re getting something out of it :).

      Reply
  2. Therese Schwenkler says

    August 30, 2011 at 10:26 am

    … alright- I’m convinced that I’ve gotta make an impossible list. I actually think I already have one, but it’s not on paper yet and it could stand to become a bit more tangible. Look for it in your inbox soon 🙂

    A few of my favorite things you said:

    “…the purpose is not to get to simply achieve specific accomplishments but to change in the process that occurs between those those events.”

    “A bucket list is focused on doing things. The impossible list is focused on doing things with meaning.”

    Awesome… thanks Joel.

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      August 30, 2011 at 8:24 pm

      I’ll be waiting for it. Thank YOU for reading Therese :).

      Reply
  3. Teri Simmons-Crenshaw says

    August 30, 2011 at 12:02 pm

    Exceptional blog post! What a fantastic way to consider how you are living your life. Are you taking action on your list or just creating one to impress your friends? The focus on creating your story and then writing about it is brilliant.

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      August 30, 2011 at 8:24 pm

      Thanks Teri. It works for me. i’ve found it to be a lot more lasting source of motivation than simply trying to impress others.

      Reply
  4. Ryan says

    August 30, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    The timing of this post could not be more perfect for me. The past few weeks while I’m out running, I’ve been contemplating that I want to put together a “bucket list,” and what I want to put on said list. After reading this post, I’ve realized that at 23, it’s an Impossible List that I need. I feel that some of my best years of life are taking place and that I need to embrace them and do the impossible,not create a checklist that counts life down. I want to create lasting experiences and stories, other than just the end result. Thanks for the inspiration, great post!!

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      August 30, 2011 at 8:22 pm

      Awesome. put it together and send it over. I’d love to see what you’re up to :).

      Reply
  5. Kurt Swann says

    August 30, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    Joel,

    I nominate this to be the Best Joel Blog Post EVER!!

    Sometimes I read “bucket lists” and I get an uneasy feeling. Your article explains more clearly what bothers me about some of the lists. I’ve seen “bucket lists” with items such as “meet a certain Hollywood celebrity.” Everybody has their own priorities but just meeting a famous person? Really?

    I prefer lists that as you say have “meaning”, “focus on how you live” and “focused on the the journey.”

    Maybe even “Impossible Lists aspire” but also “inspire” too.

    Kurt

    p.s. KFC? Too funny 🙂

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      August 30, 2011 at 8:17 pm

      EVER! 🙂

      i think a lot of bucket lists are outwardly focused. Not based on what you actually want, but based on what you think will make you look good in front of others. If that’s the case, then you’re really fighting a losing battle because there’s way too many people out there with different opinions of what “looks good” and there’s no way you’re going to be able to please them all.

      Reply
  6. Vic Magary says

    August 30, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    I’ve read this twice today my friend. And it’s a rare blog post that I read more than once.

    Your comparison of the bucket list the impossible list is spot on. And it makes me realize that I have neither at this point.

    Time to put in work. Many thanks.

    Reply
  7. Deborah says

    August 30, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    Joel, like Vic I’ve read this post twice. In fact, I just read it aloud.(Gimme a break. It’s what we theatre folk do.)

    There is such a wealth of material here that I’d think, “Oh! That’s my favorite line!” Then, a moment later, “No! THIS is my favorite line!” Followed quickly by, “Wait! What about this? I forgot he said this! Maybe this is actually my favorite?!”

    It’s like flippin’ Sophie’s Choice! I can’t pick a favorite because they are all. too. damn. good.

    Kudos!! (Also? As Kurt pointed out? The KFC bucket is kind of genius.)

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      September 1, 2011 at 1:55 am

      The next step is reading it aloud as a monologue :). Glad you enjoyed it Deb :).

      Reply
      • Mrs. Finance says

        October 8, 2019 at 8:56 am

        Just got inspired to create my own impossible list after not having much of anything, no list at all, and I love looking at it. At first it’s a little overwhelming. Now I’m so glad to see what I’ve done recently and what I’m going to accomplish soon as well as develop a plan on how to accomplish them.

        Reply
  8. Anum says

    August 31, 2011 at 1:09 am

    I love this: “I’ve said before, that the best way to write something that matters is to first do something that matters, and then write about it. Not the other way around.”

    I’m the kind of person who lives in her own head, thinking and sometimes even illustrating how that awesome backpacking trip in a continent I’ve never been before must be like… when I really should be backtracking and thinking, well, why am I not already doing this?

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      August 31, 2011 at 2:58 pm

      Why aren’t you already doing it?

      Reply
  9. Adrian Collins says

    September 4, 2011 at 3:09 pm

    I’m actually reviewing my own list as I type this, the main difference is in keeping with the name of my blog ( Gates of Infinity ) I called my list The Infinity List. However, like your impossible list, it is NOT a bucket list either, it evolves, it changes, it gets bigger and better.

    Quite a few of the items on the list I could actually be doing right now, like writing that children’s book, I really need to give myself a kick up the hole at times as well!

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      September 9, 2011 at 8:28 pm

      “It gets bigger and it gets better”
      I think that’s the essence of what I’m talking about. Keep it up Adrian.

      Reply
  10. [email protected] says

    September 25, 2011 at 7:26 pm

    Love it! I HATE the term “bucket list” and I hate it even more when people refer to my list of goals as such. Of course, I never knew what else to call it, but I’ve always been opposed to calling it a Bucket List.

    I love how you’ve defined what a Bucket List is all about, and how your list is different. I’m not sure I’m willing to call my list of goals an Impossible List either, though, since I don’t believe in that word.

    Since starting my list almost 3 years ago, I’ve added 80 goals…I’ve almost doubled it! The list keeps growing, and the more I explore and learn about, the more things that get added!

    I also like how you make the distinction that a Bucket List is about you, and your personal milestones. I think that’s hugely important. There are many Bucket List bloggers who only ever talk about their list, and not what happens between those milestones. I get frustrated sometimes with other list bloggers who don’t talk about their struggles, their failures, their insecurities…I feel like I’m alone in my stumbles, and that all these people have it totally together. I hope that my blog shows other people that it’s okay to be insecure and unsure.

    Right now I’m months away from leaving for Africa to join the Peace Corps, and it scares me to death. I will give up my entire life as I know it today in order to be a part of something bigger than myself. I love that this could (if I’m accepted) be a part of my story, but I’m terrified of leaving behind my “old life.” My girlfriend. My career path. My education.

    A Bucket List is more about sitting around in the comfort of your life and once in a while doing something cool. I don’t like that aspect of Bucket Lists. It really is about constantly making moves to do better, be better, change your life, and improve the world.

    I hope I can be a part of your Impossible League. 🙂

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      September 27, 2011 at 12:18 am

      When you talk about an impossible list, you sort of change how you look at it. Impossible isn’t a statement anymore, it’s a challenge.

      We’d love to have you be part of the League. Join up and lets talk. I’m sure people would love to hear what you’re up to!

      Reply
  11. Alejandro says

    July 16, 2013 at 7:27 pm

    I just stumble your blog by chance and caught my attention. I’m working on something similar to you, but a little different. You said you want to write your story (Manifiesto), I want to write the story of my life, literally, but for my future kids (I have none yet, but I’m writting twice per week some kind of diary that I will give to my kids when they grow up, instead of writting my memories when I’m old and I don’t remember them, better to write them while they happen) and related with this, the next year (2014) I’m starting a without-end trip around the world and in the process of preparing the trip I’m working on a blog related to my trip, for my friends, family, future kids and anyone interested on it.

    Getting back to the point, I do have my bucket list (is on my blog), and contains similar stuff that your impossible list but I treat mine as you treat your Impossible list.

    In my case, each end of the year I make the plans for the year and I pick up 4 or 5 things on my bucket list and I treat them as my small impossible list for the year and do them.

    So, for me the Impossible list IT IS a Bucket List, in the end is a matter of perception and not the name.

    Reply
  12. Umar Hafeez says

    November 4, 2013 at 5:50 am

    Great blog… aspiring, challenging and really motivating…Love it keep it up.. Hopefully I will do some of things suggested here right now…

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Starting The Impossible List | Sonja Foust, Romance Author says:
    August 30, 2011 at 4:22 pm

    […] is, if not the inventor of the impossible list, at least the most vocal proponent of it. He says the impossible list is not a bucket list. A bucket list is static, the impossible list evolves… A bucket list gets smaller, the […]

    Reply
  2. Ophelias Webb » Blog Archive Don't Sweat The Small Stuff...Savor It says:
    September 7, 2011 at 12:50 am

    […] kudos to them for loving that big stuff! The world is a better place because there are many so many different people in it making it spin […]

    Reply
  3. The Impossible List « Something In Latin says:
    October 16, 2011 at 12:46 pm

    […] that I need to start my own list of impossible things. Joel, the creator of the blog describes what the impossible list is, and what is it not. I’ve decided to do my own combination of 26 in […]

    Reply
  4. My Impossible List « RAWKSTAR says:
    December 30, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    […] Manifesto, and his Impossible List, and decided to make one of my own.  Joel will tell you that an Impossible List isn’t a Bucket List.  “A bucket list is focused what you do before you die, the impossible list is focused on how […]

    Reply
  5. My Impossible List « says:
    December 30, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    […] Manifesto, and his Impossible List, and decided to make one of my own.  Joel will tell you that an Impossible List isn’t a Bucket List.  “A bucket list is focused what you do before you die, the impossible list is focused on how […]

    Reply
  6. Do Something Impossible Or Go Home | Blog Of Impossible Things says:
    March 28, 2012 at 5:05 am

    […] dust while the person who wrote it basks in false sense that they’ve accomplished something. The impossible list is not a bucket list. It’s a constant reminder to live a better story in the present by doing something impossible […]

    Reply
  7. The Impossible List : Meg Soro says:
    April 8, 2012 at 6:47 pm

    […] of things that might happen, but things that you can actively try to achieve. In the words of Joel Runyon, who came up with the idea of the impossible list, “A bucket list is focused what you do […]

    Reply
  8. Linkage: Unplugged Weekend Edition says:
    May 27, 2012 at 5:45 pm

    […] retweeted out his thoughts on the difference between a bucket list and an “impossible” list (which was the inspiration for my journey list. The whole thing is good but particularly this: The […]

    Reply
  9. 10 Things You Can Do Right Now To Start The New Semester Off Right | College Info Geek says:
    December 27, 2012 at 10:11 pm

    […] If you’d an example, you can check you my own Impossible List. You can also read more about the concept straight from the dude who inspired me to make my own – Joel Runyon. […]

    Reply
  10. Hatim Otarid — My Impossible List says:
    December 31, 2012 at 4:55 pm

    […] fix that, I’ve created my impossible list. Here’s a link where Joel Runyon explains the difference between it and a regular bucket […]

    Reply
  11. The Impossible List | riskingtruth says:
    April 25, 2013 at 3:19 pm

    […] in me to want that thing. I found a great article about this type of list. The author calls it the Impossible List. That is to say, what I once felt was impossible, I now find myself doing. I like that. So here […]

    Reply
  12. Introducing the List of Incredible Aspirations | Bloom to Fit says:
    June 19, 2013 at 7:53 pm

    […] Runyon does a great job of explaining the difference between the two, but I’ll quickly summarize it here for […]

    Reply
  13. Impossible List | Spencer Carli says:
    June 25, 2013 at 7:23 pm

    […] This is my adaptation of Joel Runyon’s Impossible List. The concept behind it is awesome, rather than the static bucket list the impossible list grows with you. I like to do things differently and make every moment in my life an experience, this falls right in line with the impossible list. If you’re interested in reading more about the mentality behind the impossible list check out Joel’s site. […]

    Reply
  14. the impossible list | light night says:
    June 29, 2013 at 8:59 am

    […] like this one by Joel Runyon helped me differentiate between bucket lists and impossible lists. My favorite section, and the one […]

    Reply
  15. Adventure Roulette | Impossible HQ says:
    August 30, 2013 at 9:52 am

    […] Your impossible list should be constantly growing. If your list is static, then it’s just another boring bucket list that you make one time, get excited about, and then never do anything with it. For the past two weeks, I’ve been feverishly knocking some of these things off my list. Hanging out with wolves, flying a jetpack, and pretending I’m Iron Man. So, when it came to this item, I realized there was literally nothing in my way of making it happen. Like most things, I just needed to do it. […]

    Reply
  16. Changing Lanes: The Impossible List | footloose diary says:
    September 24, 2013 at 7:34 pm

    […] the Internet, trying to understand this meaning and purpose of this famous list. Then I came across Joey Runyon’s article on the Impossible […]

    Reply
  17. Be Mindful Of Your Path | College Info Geek says:
    October 28, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    […] highly recommend his full blog post on the Impossible List concept to get a better picture of what we’re going for […]

    Reply
  18. You Only Have To Beat An Excuses Once | IMPOSSIBLE says:
    January 1, 2014 at 8:48 pm

    […] the same reason why I tend to avoid bucket lists. People get all excited about the ideas of the accomplishments they’d like to do someday […]

    Reply
  19. From Settling for the Possible to Doing the Impossible says:
    February 12, 2014 at 10:44 am

    […] should always be growing. I’ve got a full post on the difference between a bucket list & an impossible list right […]

    Reply
  20. Getting Unstuck “The Impossible List” | Getting My Fucking Life Together says:
    March 31, 2014 at 4:09 pm

    […] with taking cold showers I’ve decided to create “An Impossible List”. The author of this blog post […]

    Reply
  21. What Are You Willing To Give Up? / IMPOSSIBLE says:
    April 17, 2014 at 7:09 pm

    […] spend hours writing out lists of what they want and things they want to […]

    Reply
  22. Goal Inspiration: 10 Epic Bucket Lists You Might Want To Steal From | College Info Geek says:
    May 4, 2014 at 1:57 pm

    […] The Impossible List by Joel Runyon (originator of the Impossible List concept) […]

    Reply
  23. My Impossible List [Incomplete] | madchildoftheuniverse says:
    December 3, 2014 at 11:58 pm

    […] https://impossiblehq.com/the-impossible-list-is-not-a-bucket-list […]

    Reply
  24. Why (And How) You Should Build An Impossible List | College Info Geek says:
    March 19, 2015 at 4:38 pm

    […] what Joel Runyon, the creator of the first Impossible List, said about the difference between the […]

    Reply
  25. Why You Need to Create an Impossible List - Blissful Gal says:
    May 8, 2015 at 6:04 am

    […] Impossible List and started this whole trend! Below is his definition of how an Impossible List is different from a bucket […]

    Reply
  26. My Impossible List | corimpossible says:
    May 10, 2015 at 9:59 am

    […] 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. […]

    Reply
  27. New Revised List | Project Minerva says:
    May 25, 2015 at 10:39 pm

    […] differently. I read this article from Thomas Frank over at CollegeInfoGeek (who got his idea from Joel Runyon), and then I reviewed my goals for the first time in almost a year and noticed a few overarching […]

    Reply
  28. MY IMPOSSIBLE LIST - Myles Robertson says:
    June 24, 2015 at 8:44 pm

    […] list, you can read more about the conception of this list and how it differs from a bucket list here. I will make a point of NEVER removing any of the goals that I put up here, however, the ones I […]

    Reply
  29. My Impossible List | On My Random Mind says:
    July 29, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    […] Info Geek. And it hyperlinks to the first-known impossible list maker, Joel Runyon, on his blog: Impossible. Basically, it is the list of event you think you will never able to do, that’s why it is […]

    Reply
  30. On The Impossible List | Restless Turtle says:
    July 31, 2015 at 9:11 am

    […] the problem with bucket lists is, as Joel Runyon points out here, that usually bucket lists are like wishlists—you never really get around to checking items […]

    Reply
  31. My Impossible List 08.11.2015 | YANOVEM says:
    August 10, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    […] to a bucket list, but it is something that push you to make the impossible possible. It evolves, as Joel Runyon, the creator of the “impossible list” idea, puts it. It will grow more and more once […]

    Reply
  32. The Impossible List – says:
    January 15, 2016 at 8:21 pm

    […] list comes from. This idea was created by Joel Runyon, who defines the differences between a bucket list and an impossible list. In short, an Impossible List is ever-evolving list of experiences that implore you to take action. […]

    Reply
  33. Impossible List – niekyvanveggel.eu says:
    March 23, 2016 at 11:43 am

    […] I have followed his excellent example and started an “Impossible List” (idea by Joel Runyon). My list is not very long yet, but it will expand over time. With a bit of luck, I will also be […]

    Reply
  34. Impossible List – Clivane Previlon says:
    January 9, 2017 at 8:27 pm

    […] the original creator of the The Impossible List™. Joel wrote a must-read blog post where he explains the difference between a Bucket List and The Impossible List. I was […]

    Reply
  35. Fique atento ao seu caminho – Thiago Calazans says:
    May 13, 2017 at 10:40 am

    […] Joel Runyon, um blogger norte-americano, criou o conceito de lista de desejos impossíveis e eu utilizei esse conceito para melhorar minhas metas. […]

    Reply
  36. Esteja atento ao seu caminho – Blog Thiago Calazans says:
    June 30, 2017 at 9:55 pm

    […] Joel Runyon, um blogger norte-americano, criou o conceito de lista de desejos impossíveis e eu utilizei esse conceito para melhorar minhas metas. […]

    Reply
  37. Impossible list - Controversial Defiance says:
    August 28, 2017 at 7:46 pm

    […] my life. I got the idea from from Joel Runyon, the creator of the first Impossible List. Runyon has redefined your average bucket list and made into something that you can use to change your life instead of […]

    Reply
  38. Day 46 – Suraj at Samsung says:
    September 28, 2017 at 12:16 am

    […] The Impossible List. […]

    Reply
  39. My Impossible List - Riana Shahid says:
    December 9, 2017 at 7:58 am

    […] can read more about impossible lists here. Joel Runyon, the guy who came up with this concept, goes a little more in-depth into what […]

    Reply
  40. 50+ Lessons For Designing A Life And Career While In College says:
    March 23, 2018 at 8:51 am

    […] impossible things. Invite your friends to do impossible things, […]

    Reply
  41. My Impossible List – Rinse & Release says:
    May 20, 2018 at 7:29 am

    […] From Joel Runyon, the creator of the Impossible List, in 2011 when he unveiled the concept to the world: […]

    Reply
  42. Impossible. | Oh Shit Maybe says:
    June 19, 2018 at 2:40 am

    […] learned about the impossible list from once-new voice S. It’s a fascinating take on bucket lists from Joel Runyon, who believes that what you strive to do during your life should be an ongoing […]

    Reply
  43. Coop's Impossible List | Two Corporate Millennials says:
    July 25, 2018 at 12:11 am

    […] Seth posted his Impossible list earlier this week and I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by. You may be asking what an impossible list is and how it differs from a Bucket List. Joel Runyon developed this concept which you can read more about here. […]

    Reply
  44. My Impossible List - Jacob Kenneally says:
    March 2, 2019 at 9:32 pm

    […] like Joel Runyon had the original idea and created the world’s first impossible list and defined the difference between it and just a normal bucket list. Put simply, the impossible list is an ever-evolving list […]

    Reply
  45. Impossible List - JJ Balisanyuka-Smith says:
    July 27, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    […] action. Impossible lists seek to break this cycle by inspiring action. Inspired by Thomas Frank and Joel Runyon my impossible list is a record of ongoing experiences and achievements that build upon each other […]

    Reply
  46. The Impossible List - An original blog post by Treymondo says:
    September 4, 2019 at 11:44 am

    […] I started reading Joel’s explanation of what he calls the Impossible List and I was blown away. So, using his as inspiration, I started […]

    Reply
  47. Impossible list - Benjamin Nunn Blog - My Goals and Ambitions says:
    June 28, 2020 at 2:06 pm

    […] https://impossiblehq.com/ […]

    Reply
  48. My Impossible List (Not a Bucket List) - Comical Medic says:
    June 29, 2020 at 4:06 am

    […] reevaluating your goals in life. This is not going to be the usual bucket list as Joel Runyon had differentiated. He founded the idea of creating a personal impossible list and I admit that it’s one of the […]

    Reply
  49. My Impossible List | Traek Wells says:
    July 6, 2020 at 12:17 pm

    […] He got the idea from a dude named Joel Runyon who I believe is the founder of impossible lists. He explains that the main difference between an impossible list and a bucket list is that while the bucket list […]

    Reply
  50. My Impossible List. says:
    August 20, 2020 at 12:19 am

    […] must say- that’s quite the definition. Check out this post to read […]

    Reply
  51. My Impossible List - The Ever Evolving List to Achieve Your Dreams says:
    September 3, 2020 at 10:20 am

    […] List. Taking inspiration from Jony Runyon, I also decided to create my own! He describes the difference between an Impossible List to a Bucket List and I couldn’t agree […]

    Reply
  52. The impossible list – Góc của Linh says:
    February 18, 2021 at 9:22 pm

    […] Nó thì có nhiều điểm hay ho hơn bucket list, như tác giả ngợi ca ở đây: The Impossible List is NOT a Bucket List | IMPOSSIBLE ® (impossiblehq.com) […]

    Reply
  53. My Impossible List - The Distracted Monkey Impossible List says:
    April 29, 2021 at 4:09 am

    […] his Idea of this list from Joel Runyon, who created the world’s first impossible list and defined the difference between it and a regular old check list. In short, Impossible List makes actionable goals which […]

    Reply
  54. Meine "Impossible List" | Felix Gehm: Blog, Book Notes, TMT-System und Mehr says:
    August 13, 2021 at 1:42 pm

    […] habe ich von Joel Runyon, der die weltweit erste “Impossible List” erstellt und den Unterschied zu einer “Bucket List” definiert hat. Um es einfach auszudrücken: Die […]

    Reply
  55. Por qué (y cómo) deberías crear una lista imposible • Wobt says:
    February 3, 2022 at 9:21 am

    […] es lo que Joel Runyon, el creador de la primera lista de imposiblesdijo sobre la diferencia entre los […]

    Reply
  56. Mi lista de imposibles | Friki de la información universitaria • Wobt says:
    February 3, 2022 at 3:02 pm

    […] Obtuve la idea de Joel Runyon, quien creó el la primera lista imposible del mundo y definido la diferencia entre él y una lista de deseos normal. En pocas palabras, la lista imposible es una lista en […]

    Reply
  57. Sé consciente de tu camino • Wobt says:
    February 3, 2022 at 3:12 pm

    […] encarecidamente su entrada de blog completa en el concepto de la Lista Imposible para tener una mejor idea de lo que estamos buscando […]

    Reply
  58. Почему (и как) вы должны составить невозможный список • Wobt says:
    February 4, 2022 at 3:51 pm

    […] что говорит Джоэл Раньон, создатель первый невозможный списоксказал о разнице между […]

    Reply
  59. Мой невозможный список | Информация о колледже Компьютерщик • Wobt says:
    February 5, 2022 at 4:11 am

    […] создал первый в мире невозможный список и определил разница между ним и обычным списком желаний. Проще говоря, […]

    Reply
  60. Помните о своем пути • Wobt says:
    February 5, 2022 at 4:57 am

    […] очень рекомендую его полный пост в блоге о концепции невозможного списка, чтобы лучше понять, к […]

    Reply
  61. @markjfitzpat's Impossible List • Mark Fitzpatrick says:
    September 26, 2022 at 1:12 am

    […] Here’s the definitive guide to Impossible Lists. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

the-impossible-shirt

Hi, I'm Joel Runyon


I created IMPOSSIBLE to help people push their limits by taking on impossible challenges and living a good story.

Follow @joelrunyon

My I recently finished running 7 ultra marathons on 7 continents and raised nearly $200k for Pencils of Promise. Read more about my story here.

Subscribe & Listen To The Podcast

How To Start A Blog Walkthrough

how-to-start-a-blog-guide
impossible abs

no-excuse-workout

cold-shower-therapy

The 777 Project

777-project

THE IMPOSSIBLE FAMILY

  • IMPOSSIBLE • Blog + HQ
  • IMPOSSIBLE Fitness • Tutorials & Training
  • IMPOSSIBLE Podcast • Podcast
  • IMPOSSIBLE X • Businesses
  • IMPOSSIBLE.org • Giving
  • IMPOSSIBLE Gear • Apparel + Supplements

"How To" Guides

  • How To Start A Blog: The Definitive Guide
  • How To Start A Podcast: The Definitive Guide

Looking For Something?

About The Impossible Shirt

IMPOSSIBLE®

  • Impossible X®
  • Impossible.org
  • Impossible Gear™
  • Impossible Fitness ®
  • Impossible Nutrition ®

RECENT

  • Building Calluses
  • New IMPOSSIBLE Gear is Here (End of Winter Drop)
  • The Tao of the Gym Bro
  • If you’re lacking vision, try asking this question…
  • Creative Debt

Inspiration

  • An Unexpected Ass Kicking
  • How Bad Do You Want It?
  • The Iron & The Soul
  • The Only 2 Real Excuses Why People Refuse To Take Cold Showers

We Built a School! (2012)

impossible-pop-school

And We Built 7 More! (2017)

777-project

| Copyright © 2023 | Built on Genesis & Hosted By BlueHost | Affiliate Disclosure | An Impossible X Company

IMPOSSIBLE®, the IMPOSSIBLE® logo, IMPOSSIBLE HQ®, IMPOSSIBLE X®, IMPOSSIBLE Nutrition®, and IMPOSSIBLE Fitness® are registered Trademarks of IMPOSSIBLE X LLC.

The IMPOSSIBLE List™, Push Your Limits™, and Cold Shower Therapy™ are trademarks of IMPOSSIBLE X LLC.

Join Our Newsletter!

Stay up to date with our newest podcasts, latest deals and special offers! We announce new content every week so be sure to stay in touch.