Feb 25, 2021
In 2006, Ben Nemtin and three childhood friends
started The Buried Life: a list of 100 things to
do before you die. For every item on the list they
accomplished, they helped a stranger cross something off their
bucket list.
Ben has crossed off 93 including write a New York
Times bestselling book What Do You Want to Do
BeforeYou Die?, make a TV show, be interviewed by Oprah
(who called their mission “truly inspiring") and play
basketball with President Obama
(who said Ben is an “inspiration for a new
generation”).
Today, Ben shares what inspired the bucket list quest, its
impact on millions to thrive personally and professionally and the
practical steps you can take to create your bucket
list today.
SHOW NOTES:
- Growing up in Pleasantville: Although
Victoria, British Columbia + his childhood was idyllic, Ben put
unsurmountable pressure on himself leading to anxiety and crippling
depression as a young adult. After being dropped from the national
rugby team, Ben dropped out of school and became isolated.
- Rediscovering a zest for life, Ben + three friends set out on a
two-week road trip with a bucket list of 100 things they’d like to
do before they die, and helping others accomplish something on
their list along the way.
- MTV's The Buried Life
- The series name The Buried Life was inspired by
Matthew Arnold’s poem written in 1852 by the same name.
- "But often, in the world's most crowded streets, But
often, in the din of strife, There rises an unspeakable
desire After the knowledge of our buried life." Read the full poem
here.
- A-Ha, the Ripple Effect: During the 14-year
journey, The Buried Life team was inspiring others to
create and go after their own personal goals and passions.
- When creating an item for the list, which included play
basketball with President Obama, ride a bull and sing the National
Anthem to a packed stadium, they pretended they had $10 millions
and that anything was possible. Get the full list here.
- In 2006, a man named Brent wanted to deliver pizzas to the
homeless shelter he spent three years living in. He pulled himself
out of that homeless shelter by starting a business that relied
heavily on a now-broken down truck. With $408, the team bought him
a truck and felt the profound impact they were having on
others.
- Valuing authenticity, they battled to executive produce The
Buried Life when MTV signed them to a contract in 2010.
- “No goal is greater than any other goal.”
Kissing the Stanley Cup was a reminder that no matter how mundane
or epic a list item was, it was important as long as it was
important to them.
- “You’re 77% more likely to achieve your goal if you
have someone checking in on you.”
- Take action on your bucket list:
- Take 30 minutes to develop your initial list with things that
are important to you, understanding it will evolve as you
evolve.
- Create accountability by sharing your goals with others.
- Break down the bigger, more important items into smaller,
tangible steps.
- “You are the architect for your own inspiration. Start taking
steps towards your goals to create inspiration through
action.”
- “Accountability and inspiration through action will drive us
towards our personal goals.”
- Of the original 100, Ben looks forward to crossing off “make a
movie” and “go to space”.
- Organically over time, Ben graduated into the next evolution of
his career as the outrageous list items seemed less
intriguing.
- How to manage + improve your mental wellbeing:
- Acknowledge that feeling any type of anxiety or depression is
okay.
- Speak to someone you trust about these feelings, giving others
the chance to help you.
- Develop a Resilience or Mental Health Toolkit with things that
increase your wellbeing.
BEN NEMTIN'S LIVE INSPIRED
7
1. What is the best book you’ve ever
read? The Overstory by Richard
Powers and Third Door by Alex Banayan.
2. What is a characteristic or trait that you
possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited
today? Naivety.
3. Your house is on fire, all living things and
people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one
item. What would it be? Mugs from when my
grandfather was in the war.
4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a
gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long
conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it
be? President Obama.
5. What is the best advice you’ve ever
received? The truth will set you free.
6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old
self? Slow down and smell the roses.
7. It’s been said that all great people can have
their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to
read? What do you want to do before you die?
***
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