list icon in horizontal menu

[dukelips]

how to create a icons for a horizontal list menu.
The icons appear in normal vertical style. when display is changed to inline, the icons dont appear.can anyone help

[justgowithit]

<script type="text/css">

#my_list li {
float: left;
display: block;
padding: 5px 5px 5px 25px; /* left pad is width of icon image */
background: transparent url(images/icon.gif) no-repeat left center;
}

</script>

<ul id="my_list">
<li>Here's a list item</li>
</ul>

[dukelips]

tx for your timely help