Checklists Save Lives (and Businesses also)

Chris Lagarde · 10-08-2009, 09:54 AM

Lifehacker.com has an interesting post today that really resonated with me.
Use a Procedure List to Make Sure Routine Tasks are Done Thoroughly

One of the commenters posted a New Yorker article by author Atul Gawande on the importance of using checklists in complex situations. In other words, the more you keep in your head, the greater the chance you will forget to do a crucial step. Gawande really pulls in some descriptive stories on the importance of checklists.

Gotta agree with Gawande. Checklists are life-savers for me. If you haven't checked into David Allen's "Getting Things Done", I highly recommend it. It's the only goal-setting book that has ever worked for me.

Allen discusses why the human mind is terrible for remembering a myriad of details...details that can easily be written down. What the human mind does excel in doing is creative thinking, and big picture stuff.

By freeing the mind from having to keep track of lots of little details, the mind is able to play to its strengths. Creative connections and breakthroughs are more effortlessly achieved.

An an internet marketer what are the checklists you've created that you routinely use?

What do you use to create these your checklists? Word, Excel, Mind Manager, other? I just started using Mind Manager for creating my checklists.

Once I create the checklist in Mind Manager I can output the mindmap into Outline format in Word. So I get the best of both worlds...a good looking (and creatively inspiring) mind map, and a simple checklist!

10-08-2009, 09:54 AM	#1
Chris Lagarde HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 284 Thanks: 112 Thanked 69 Times in 44 Posts	Checklists Save Lives (and Businesses also) Lifehacker.com has an interesting post today that really resonated with me. Use a Procedure List to Make Sure Routine Tasks are Done Thoroughly One of the commenters posted a New Yorker article by author Atul Gawande on the importance of using checklists in complex situations. In other words, the more you keep in your head, the greater the chance you will forget to do a crucial step. Gawande really pulls in some descriptive stories on the importance of checklists. Gotta agree with Gawande. Checklists are life-savers for me. If you haven't checked into David Allen's "Getting Things Done", I highly recommend it. It's the only goal-setting book that has ever worked for me. Allen discusses why the human mind is terrible for remembering a myriad of details...details that can easily be written down. What the human mind does excel in doing is creative thinking, and big picture stuff. By freeing the mind from having to keep track of lots of little details, the mind is able to play to its strengths. Creative connections and breakthroughs are more effortlessly achieved. An an internet marketer what are the checklists you've created that you routinely use? What do you use to create these your checklists? Word, Excel, Mind Manager, other? I just started using Mind Manager for creating my checklists. Once I create the checklist in Mind Manager I can output the mindmap into Outline format in Word. So I get the best of both worlds...a good looking (and creatively inspiring) mind map, and a simple checklist!