Stolen To-do Lists

Mar 19, 2025

Throughout history, some of the most brilliant minds—writers, inventors, artists, and leaders—have captured their thoughts in lists. Some are practical, mapping out daily tasks or lifelong ambitions. Others are guiding principles, defining how they approached life, work, and creativity. Together, these lists offer a fascinating window into structured thinking, discipline, and the pursuit of mastery.



01. Leonardo da Vinci's To-Do List (1490s)

In his late 30s, while working in Milan, da Vinci filled his notebooks with observations, inventions, and questions, constantly pushing the boundaries of art and science.

  • Calculate the measurement of Milan and its suburbs

  • Get the master of arithmetic to show you how to square a triangle

  • Examine the crossbow of Maestro Gianetto

  • Find a book that deals with Milan and its churches

  • Discover the measurement of the sun promised me by Maestro Giovanni Francese

  • Get the master of hydraulics to tell you how to repair a lock, canal, and mill in the Lombard manner

  • Describe the tongue of the woodpecker

02. Johnny Cash's To-Do List (c. 1973)

In his early 40s, at the peak of his career, Cash jotted down a simple but revealing list of personal priorities.

  • Not smoke

  • Kiss June

  • Not kiss anyone else

  • Cough

  • Eat

  • Not eat too much

  • Worry

  • Go see Momma

  • Practice piano

  • Help someone

03. Benjamin Franklin's Daily Routine (c. 1726-1750s)

In his 20s and beyond, Franklin structured his life around self-improvement, tracking his adherence to this schedule in a journal.

  • Morning (5-7 AM) – Plan the day, reflect: "What good shall I do today?"

  • Work (8 AM-12 PM) – Focused deep work

  • Lunch (12-1 PM) – Read, reflect, relax

  • Work (2-6 PM) – Continue deep work

  • Evening (6-9 PM) – Review the day, track progress, unwind

  • Night (10 PM) – Sleep

04. Thomas Edison's Innovation List (1888)

At age 41, with over 100 patents to his name, Edison was still relentlessly working on new inventions.

  • Cotton picker

  • Artificial silk

  • A new phonograph improvement

  • Ink for blind writing

  • An electrical piano

  • A new battery

  • A better hearing aid

  • A synthetic rubber substitute

  • A way to preserve fruit longer

05. Andy Warhol's Notes (1970s)

By his 40s, Warhol was as much a businessman as an artist, balancing creativity with brand-building.

  • Call Interview Magazine

  • Buy a new tape recorder

  • Find someone to paint portraits

  • Go to Studio 54, see who's there

  • Send flowers to a collector

  • Find out what Basquiat is working on

06. Richard Branson's Entrepreneurial To-Do List (1972)

At 22, Branson was launching Virgin Records and mapping out his vision for expansion.

  • Learn to delegate

  • Make a name for Virgin as a quality label

  • Expand into America

  • Work on distribution

  • Consider signing more progressive artists

  • Take more risks