Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacy Matson.
Hi Stacy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story began with a phone call that changed everything. My dad called to tell me he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer, just one month before he was due to retire. Instead of celebrating the next chapter of his life, he was facing the fight of his life. I drove to Minnesota to bring him to live with me, and the next few years were spent in and out of hospitals for surgeries and chemotherapy, and eventually hospice care.
What stayed with me the most was that my dad never got to enjoy the retirement he worked so hard for, and he never had the chance to cross anything off his bucket list.
After he passed, I was lost for a while. But through a lot of soul searching, personal growth, and reflection, I began asking myself a powerful question: What would it look like to truly live while we still have the chance? That question changed the direction of my life.
I started getting involved with a local club where I helped plan events and trips. Over time, I began organizing experiences on my own, and my circle of friends kept encouraging me to turn it into a business. That’s how Bucket List Unlimited was born.
My mission is simple but deeply personal: to help people realize that life is short and meant to be lived now, not someday, because none of us truly know how much time we have.
Since then, the vision has grown far beyond travel and event planning. I wrote my book, Bucket List Living: Living Your Purpose, which inspired a coaching program to help people step into purposeful living. I also host the podcast The Author Entrepreneur Collective, where I interview nonfiction authors and entrepreneurs about their books, their journeys, and the businesses they’re building. I founded an entrepreneurial book club where we explore these ideas together and apply them to our lives, and I’m currently developing a new entrepreneurial networking community focused on mindset, motivation, and meaningful growth beyond traditional business metrics.
Today, everything I do is rooted in the lesson my dad unknowingly gave me: life is precious, time is not guaranteed, and purpose deserves to be pursued boldly.
This year, my personal goals reflect that mission – to be in the same room with 100 inspiring entrepreneurs and to step onto a TEDX stage to share the message of bucket list living with an even wider audience.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Like many solopreneurs, I started with nothing but an idea, a mission, and the willingness to figure out things as I went. When you build something on your own, there isn’t a team behind you, you are the strategist, the marketer, the tech department, the customer service representative, and the visionary all at the same time.
There have been financial challenges along the way, and technology has often been one of my biggest hurdles. Much of what I’ve built, from my website to my podcast to my programs, I’ve had to learn from scratch. There were plenty of moments where things felt overwhelming, and I questioned whether I was doing it all the right way.
What helped me move forward was continuous learning. I follow and learn from many entrepreneurs who openly share their journeys, and I spend a lot of time reading nonfiction books and listening to podcasts about business, growth, and leadership. That constant exposure to new ideas has been invaluable.
But if there is one thing that has made the biggest difference, it’s mindset. In my experience, mindset is the foundation for everything. Building a business will test your resilience, your confidence, and your patience. There will always be obstacles, but developing the mindset to grow through them rather than give up has been essential to continuing the journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work centers around one core idea: helping people live with intention instead of postponing their lives for “someday.” I specialize in what I call bucket list living and purposeful living, encouraging people to identify what truly matters to them and start taking action now, rather than waiting for the “perfect” time.
I’m known for several things that reflect that mission. I am the author of Bucket List Living: Living Your Purpose, which I published in December 2025. I also appeared on The Blox Season 16, an experience that pushed me to think even bigger about entrepreneurship and impact. Through my company, Bucket List Unlimited, I’ve also built a reputation for planning meaningful events and travel experiences that help people create memories and live more fully.
What I’m most proud of is publishing my book. That moment represented more than just writing a manuscript, it represented years of personal growth, healing, and the courage to share a message that is deeply personal to me. My father’s experience taught me that time is not guaranteed, and this book allowed me to turn that lesson into something that could help others.
What sets me apart is perspective. I don’t see many people actively teaching or talking about bucket list living as a life philosophy. For me, it’s not just about travel or adventure, it’s about designing a life aligned with purpose, courage, and meaning.
I’m also a visionary by nature. I’m always looking for ways to grow, improve, and create new opportunities for connection and learning. Whether it’s through my podcast, my book club, live events, or entrepreneurial communities, my goal is always the same: to inspire people to think bigger about their lives and take action on the things that truly matter.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
If there’s one thing I would want readers to take away from my story, it’s this: don’t wait to start living the life you’ve dreamed of.
So many people postpone their dreams, their adventures, and even their purpose for “someday” when they have more time, more money, or when life feels certain. But the truth is, none of us are guaranteed that someday. That lesson inspired my work and ultimately led me to write Bucket List Living: Living Your Purpose and build Bucket List Unlimited.
Bucket list living isn’t just about travel and big adventures. It’s about intentionally creating a life that reflects what matters most to you – your relationships, your passions, your impact, and your purpose. Sometimes the most meaningful bucket list items are the simplest ones.
My hope is that readers walk away asking themselves one powerful question: What is one thing on my heart that I’ve been putting off? And then take the first step toward it today.
Because life isn’t meant to be lived someday. It’s meant to be lived now.
Pricing:
- Book available on Amazon (price depends on format purchased)
- Coaching program-pricing varies depending on level of coaching and support
- Speaking & workshops – pricing varies depending on format & location
- Travel/Events/Experiences- pricing varies
- Retreats- pricing varies depending on location and length
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistunlimited2024
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14aKnwWQdaV/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacy-matson-5946bb333
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@stacymatson-s5y
