“Before you start anything make a list.”

What lists have you made in the past?

• A shopping list
• A playlist
• A gratitude list
• An adventure checklist
• A New Year’s resolutions list
• A pros and cons list of some guy you’re dating?

I’m only asking because in Sputnik’s guide to life on earth, an alien, disguised as a dog asks Prez, the main character, to save Earth by making a list of all the wonderful things on Earth.

It’s also the opening advice that Prez’s grandfather gives to him:

“Before you start anything make a list.”

That way you’ll have a purpose, you’ll get things done, and you won’t get distracted by the unimportant things not on your list.

By his standards, that means I should have made a list on the day I was born, before I even came to Earth. So my list is well overdue.

By the way, if you also want to write a list of all the wonderful things on Earth, here are the conditions as set out by Sputnik:

• Your list can’t include the stars because technically stars are from outer space, not Earth.
• Your list can’t include man-made structures because that’s not naturally part of Earth
• And your list can only include the places and things you’ve seen with your own eyes.

So, if you can’t think of anything to write on the list, do what Prez does and go find out. The point isn’t to already have something to write on the list, the point is to discover it, otherwise that would be the end of the story.

Challenge accepted? Now start writing that list.