1 min readThe Most Important List You’ll Make

by Guy Gage | June 1, 2026 | Business, Leadership, Performance

Everyone has a to-do list. We look at it first thing in the morning and immediately begin organizing our day around it. We prioritize tasks, rearrange responsibilities, and measure progress by what gets checked off.

But what about your to-be list?

Getting things done matters. Productivity matters. Execution matters. But who do you want to be while doing all those things? That question may matter even more.

You are not remembered only for your production. You are remembered for your character while producing. People experience your attitude, your patience, your integrity, your encouragement, your humility, and your consistency long before they celebrate your accomplishments.

A to-be list forces you to think differently. Instead of only asking, “What do I need to accomplish today?” you begin asking, “Who do I want to become today?”

Maybe this week you want to be more patient. More disciplined. More present. More encouraging. More courageous. More focused. More grateful.

Choose one quality and make it your priority for the next seven days.

Execution:

  1. Select one characteristic and commit to it for at least a week.
  2. Attach it to your daily to-do list so you review it every morning and throughout the day.
  3. Pay attention to how your decisions, reactions, and interactions begin to shift.

Over time, your actions start aligning with the person you truly want to become.

We are human beings, not human doings. What you accomplish is important, but who you are while accomplishing it is what leaves the deepest impact.

So, before you dive into your to-do list this week, take a moment to ask yourself:

“Who do I want to be today?”

Read Related Blogs:

Undervalued Essential Skills

When you hear people talk about the future of the accounting profession, how do you feel? Excited? Uneasy? Anxious? Many believe the future will look much like the past, with a few adjustments along the way. Others expect significant disruption. Whatever the future...

read more

You Can’t Calm the River, But You Can Lead Through It

“The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence – it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” – Peter Drucker There’s a temptation for leaders to believe our job is to eliminate uncertainty. If we could just create the perfect plan, answer every question,...

read more

Are You The Right Person?

Many leadership teams look around the leader table for someone to coordinate a strategic initiative, based on capacity, expertise, or experience. But that person may not be the right one to make it happen. Consider an initiative to create a new department to serve an...

read more