Last week I went to a conference called “The Global Leadership Summit” put on by the Willow Creek Association. For two days we listened to speakers everywhere from Christine Caine an Australian pastor and founder of The A21 Campaign dedicated to end human trafficing, to Blake Mycoskie the founder of TOMS Shoes (for every pair sold, they give a one to a child in need), to Jack Welch the former CEO of GE. Beyond the information overload, there were many things I took away that I would love to apply to my life, both in work and family and personally.

Jim Collins, self-proclaimed data geek and author of Good to Great and How the Mighty Fall, challenged us to do 10 things after leaving the conference. Number 7 was “Create a Stop Doing List.”

We all have “To Do” lists and “Honey Do” lists, but a “Stop Doing” list? This implies that something we’re doing isn’t right. Or that we can even afford to stop doing something that we do regularly. Stop doing… huh. I wonder if I could (or should) stop doing something.

My Stop Doing List

  • Stop comparing myself to other moms.
  • Stop procrastinating on Facebook 7 times a day. 1 or 2 is enough.
  • Stop staying up so late. I need more sleep.
  • Stop cleaning … I wish
  • Stop giving my work around the house such little value.
  • Stop stressing about money. God has provided and will provide.

This feels so negative, but each point could really be made into a To Do:

  • Be confident in my mothering.
  • Be content with 1 or 2 visits to Facebook a day.
  • Go to bed by 10 and get at least 8 hours of sleep!
  • Keep finding ways of cleaning that work for me.
  • Value my work around the house.
  • Thank God for what we have.

There. That’s better. And the thing is, I want to do all of these things.

What about you? What is on your Stop Doing List?