My Bucket List

This is my ever-changing list of experiences and achievements that I hope to achieve in my lifetime.

I believe this practice is valuable at multiple levels:

  • First, it serves as an exercise in gratitude for all of the great things that have already happened in my life.
  • Second, it reminds me that I have many more exciting things to do.
  • Finally, it helps me find other people who share the same dreams and goals as me so we can try to achieve them together.

Please tweet/DM me @neilthanedar if you have any ideas about this list. I’d love to meet more people who have similar bucket lists and try to knock off as many items as possible together!

My Bucket List:

Family:

  • Adopt dogs: 2011
  • Foster dogs: 2015
  • Marry Shoua: September 2015
  • Kai is born: January 2017
  • Live near parents: December 2018
  • Ajay is born: May 2019
  • Lead kids’ cub scouts den: October 2023
  • Maya is born: December 2024
  • Coach kids’ little league team:
  • Attend kids’ graduations:
  • Attend kids’ weddings:

Business: 

  • Start a company with Dad: May 2010
  • Build a $1M+ company: February 2012
  • Start my own startup: May 2012
  • Move to San Francisco: November 2012
  • Get into Y Combinator: November 2014
  • Build a $10M+ company: May 2012
  • Sell my first company: November 2016
  • Launch my own Startup Studio: August 2021
  • Earn a patent: 
  • Build a publicly traded company: 
  • Help 100+ people become $1M+ entrepreneurs:

Activism:

  • Recruit 1,000+ new volunteers: April 2010
  • Build a 501(1)c nonprofit: September 2021
  • Pass a bill through the House: May 2023
  • Pass a bill package into law:
  • Win a ballot proposal:
  • Amend the US Constitution:
  • Help 100+ people become activists:

Politics:

  • Advise a political campaign: January 2017
  • Advise a winning campaign: November 2020
  • Advise a national campaign: January 2021
  • Win a local election:
  • Win a statewide election:
  • Win a national election:
  • Help 100+ independents run for office:

Travel — Tourism:

  • Visit the Eight Wonders of the World
    • Taj Mahal: 2004
    • The Colosseum: 2006
    • The Great Pyramid: July 2019
    • Chichen Itza: December 2020
    • Great Wall of China
    • Petra
    • Machu Picchu
    • Christ The Redeemer
  • Live in another country for over a month.
  • Travel to 10+ countries in one year.
  • Travel to 100+ countries in my life.

Travel — Sports:

  • US Olympics: July 1996
  • World Series Game: October 2006
  • Super Bowl: February 2012
  • Indy 500: May 2012
  • Stanley Cup Game: June 2019
  • Final Four Game: 
  • Kentucky Derby: 
  • Tour de France:
  • World Cup:
  • Monaco Grand Prix:
  • Running of the Bulls:
  • International Olympics:
  • The Masters:
  • US Stadiums: Michigan Stadium, Madison Square Garden, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Cameron Indoor Stadium, Rose Bowl, Lambeau Field, Notre Dame Stadium, Lamade Stadium
  • World Stadiums: Centre Court Wimbledon, Estadio Azteca, Maracanã Stadium, Camp Nou Stadium, Wembley Stadium, Stade Roland Garros, Lord’s, Eden Gardens

Sports: 

  • Win a State Championship (Team): 2004
  • Make a State Tournament (Individual): 2005
  • Break 100 in Golf (No Mulligans): 2006
  • Learn to Ski: 2007
  • Run Half Marathon: 2011
  • Learn to Surf: 2015
  • Sub-2:00 Half Marathon: 2016
  • Earn CPL License: March 2019
  • Join Roller Hockey League: June 2019
  • Run Full Marathon: October 2019
  • Join Ski Club: December 2021
  • Score 100 Points in Hockey: October 2021
  • Score 100 Goals in Hockey: July 2022
  • Break 90 in Golf (No Mulligans):
  • Break 80 in Golf (No Mulligans):
  • Earn a Captain’s ‘C’ in Hockey:
  • Run Sub-4:00 Full Marathon: 
  • Take Judo/Jujitsu Classes:
  • Compete in Judo/Jujitsu:
  • Win Judo/Jujitsu Division:
  • Compete at CrossFit regionals:
  • Compete at CrossFit Games:
  • Ski Top 10 Resorts: Courchevel, Zermatt, Whistler, St. Val d’Isere, Vail, Revelstoke, Corina d’Ampezzo, Telluride, Niseko
  • Golf Public PGA Courses: Pebble Beach, TPC Sawgrass, Torrey Pines, Bethpage Black, Doral, TPC Scottsdale, Kapalua (Plantation), Harbour Town, TPC Deere Run, PGA National, Innisbruck (Copperhead), PGA West, TPC Louisiana, Golf Club of Houston, TPC San Antonio, Mayakoba

Art:

  • Get a piano: May 2015
  • Get a drum set: May 2017
  • Take drum lessons: March 2019
  • Get paid to act: December 2020
  • Write 100 essays: September 2023
  • Learn to play tabla:
  • Join a band as a drummer:
  • Learn to read music:
  • Learn to write music:
  • Learn to compose music:
  • Write a song:
  • Write a book:
  • Sell a piece of art:
  • Create a TV show:
  • Create a movie: 
  • Create a play: 

Things:

  • Buy a house: September 2014
  • Buy/build a backyard ice rink: December 2021
  • Buy/build a race car: 
  • Buy a lake home: 
  • Buy a downtown apartment:
  • Buy a mountain home: 
  • Buy a boat: 
  • Buy an island:

Lifetime Achievements:

  • Write a NYT Best Seller:
  • Earn an Emmy:
  • Earn a Grammy:
  • Earn a Oscar:
  • Earn a Tony:
  • Give a U-M commencement speech: 
  • Become a billionaire:
  • Buy the St. Louis Blues: