Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Middendorf.
Hi Nicole, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Live It List began with Nicole Middendorf’s own journey of finding the courage to change her life.
In 2010, Nicole was a mom to a six-month-old daughter and a two-year-old son when she realized she was going to be a survivor of domestic violence. She knew she needed to make a change, but through that difficult season, she also began asking herself a bigger question: Why do we wait until we are dying to do the things we’ve always wanted to do?
That question changed everything.
Nicole decided to stop putting her life on hold. She rewrote her traditional “bucket list” and began intentionally doing the things she had always dreamed of doing. One of the first was booking a trip to Las Vegas to drive a race car. On the plane ride there, she told the man sitting next to her that she was going to complete one thing from her list every month for a year. He thought she was dying.
In many ways, Nicole felt like a part of her had died—but she realized she still had the opportunity to truly live.
That experience became the foundation for Live It List™, a movement built around the belief that we shouldn’t wait for a milestone, retirement, crisis, or the end of our lives to experience the things that bring us happiness. Instead, we should create our list, find what makes us happy, and start living it now.
What started as Nicole’s personal journey has grown into a brand and community that inspires others to do the same. Through the Happiness Wheel, Live It List Journal, books, courses, podcast, articles, social media, speaking, events, and travel experiences, Nicole continues to share her story and encourage others to step outside their comfort zones, create meaningful experiences, and build a life they don’t need to escape from.
Nicole is especially passionate about being vulnerable and sharing her own experiences because she knows firsthand that one person’s story can give someone else the courage to change theirs.
Live It List was born from Nicole choosing to take her life back—and today, she helps others realize they have the power to do the same.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road at ALL! I was thinking my name was next to the word “resilient” in the dictionary. The struggles were realizing I was a victim and needed to not just survive but thrive. Going through a divorce. Not living the life I wanted for myself and my values. Having to pay spousal maintenance and never receiving a dime of child support. I let my health and my sleep go to be able to survive. But is that really surviving? Its now even more a motivator for me with the Live it List and helping others be happy and creating the life of their dreams.
As you know, we’re big fans of The Live it List. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Live It List™ is more than a brand—it is a movement designed to inspire people to stop waiting for “someday” and start living their lives to the fullest today. Founded by Nicole Middendorf, Live It List encourages people to identify what truly makes them happy, set meaningful goals, step outside their comfort zones, and intentionally create a life they love.
At the heart of Live It List is the Happiness Wheel, a simple but powerful tool that helps people look at eight different areas of their lives and identify where they feel fulfilled and where they may need more attention. We believe happiness looks different for everyone, and the Happiness Wheel provides a visual roadmap for understanding your life as a whole—not just focusing on one goal or one area. It is the foundation for helping people move from feeling stuck or overwhelmed to creating a more balanced, intentional, and fulfilling life.
The Live It List experience extends far beyond the Happiness Wheel. Through courses and coaching, books and journals, the Live It List Podcast, articles, speaking, social media, trips, and experiences, we provide inspiration and practical tools to help people take action. Our content encourages people to get clear on their “why,” set goals, try new things, build confidence, strengthen relationships, and create memories along the way. The Live It List Journal, for example, combines goal setting, a vision board, the Happiness Wheel, reflection, and a personal list of experiences to help turn inspiration into action.
What sets Live It List apart is that we don’t believe living your best life has to mean making huge, dramatic changes. It can be something big like traveling somewhere you’ve always dreamed of visiting, or something small that simply pushes you outside your comfort zone. Every new experience can build confidence, resilience, and momentum.
We are especially proud of the community and vulnerability behind the brand. Through social media, we inspire others every day by openly sharing real experiences, lessons, challenges, and successes. We believe that being vulnerable creates connection—and that sharing your story can give someone else the courage to take their next step.
Ultimately, Live It List is about giving people permission to want more, dream bigger, and actually live the life they desire. We want our readers to know that their life doesn’t have to be put on hold until everything is perfect. You can start where you are, with one small step, one new experience, or one item on your Live It List—and that decision can change your life.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I wake up every morning at 4am before my alarm goes off. I jump out of bed and don’t drink coffee. I have a zest for life. I want to leave a legacy and that is my why. To help others create happiness and a life of their dreams like I have done for myself. I love public speaking. I love sharing my story for I know that it can help inspire others to change their lives. I was on stage a number of years ago speaking at a conference at a hotel downtown Minneapolis and eluded to the fact that I was a victim of domestic violence. I got off the stage and there was a line out the door of women in tears and women wanting to talk and give/get a hug. The person running the conference asked me to go into the hallway for we were disrupting everything for the next speaker. It was at that moment that I realized I needed to be vulnerable. I needed to share my story. That by sharing my story and being vulnerable I could leave a legacy and make a difference.
Pricing:
- Live it List Journal: $32.99
- Vision Board Kit: $49.99
- Love & Money Conversation Cards: $15.00
- Who Pays? Navigating Love and Money Book: $20.00
- Love & Money Course: Free Trial, then $34.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theliveitlist.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theliveitlistbynm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1621890494922258/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/the-live-it-list-749439422
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theliveitlistbyNM
