I sometimes say, “You either have money, or you have time. Not both.” It seems whenever I’ve had the most money coming in, I have very little time. But when I’m broke, I have all the time in the world. But what if there was a balance? What if you could have both, and be able to actually enjoy the money you are making and cross some of those bucket list items off of your list at the same time? Nicole Middendorf has the answer – it’s called a Live It List.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Ms. Middendorf. Nicole is described as a money maven, knowledge junkie, mentor, and a born coach. She is an entrepreneur who has run her own wealth management firm since 2003. She is the author of five books, mother of two phenomenal children, a world traveler, philanthropist, and an accomplished public speaker.
Nicole explained that she feels more like a therapist most days. She helps people find their happiness with their life.
She started the Live It List™ after her now ex-husband was arrested for domestic violence in 2010. Her children were very young and she needed something to lift her spirits and give her something positive to focus on. She began by writing twelve things that she wanted to do down, and committed herself to do one thing a month. She decided not to call it a “bucket list”, instead calling it a Live It List.
Fast forward to today and she has a Facebook community, she does a lot of public speaking, people join her on trips, she also has a journal as well as vision board making kits that people can purchase. Her Live It List Foundation helps teach victims of domestic violence to not just be survivors, but thinkers. Nicole truly helps people live life to the fullest. The Live It List is all of those bucket list items people put on a list but never find time to do because life gets in the way.
It’s all about balance.
Nicole helps people find the time and the resources to enjoy today while planning for the future. Her philosophy is that one should seize every moment, to not take any of the time we are given for granted, to Live It now instead of waiting. The most common activity that Nicole finds that people put on their lists, but never do, is travel with extended family. She also finds that most people think of things they want to do, but never write them down and do them. This is the beauty of the Live It List. The whole point is to help people to not have regrets.
Nicole’s biggest challenge in life has been being a single mom and business owner. Her advice for living a life of balance: Get up early. Find the things that you love and do them. Schedule things out. Make sure your health is a priority.
Through Nicole’s writing, public speaking, coaching program and work, she wants to be the one who supports them on all levels. The Live It List changed her life and she believes it is a tool to change other people’s lives. Nicole is currently working on launching the Live It List podcast and her goal is to have people say Live It List versus bucket list.
If you would like to learn more about Nicole Middendorf and the Live It List, please visit theliveitlist.com.
