Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas Devlin
Hi Nicholas, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Here’s the brief story of how a little boy from Massachussetts almost committed suicide, but instead found inner freedom and became a transformational life coach, helping people live their dreams.
Growing up in the Northeast US, I always wanted to be a soldier. I used to ‘play Army’ all the time. I played with GI Joes, and built forts in the woods by my house, pretending to battle imaginary hordes of enemy forces.
I was a well behaved kid, gettign good grades and folllowing the rules. I was friends with pretty much everybody in school – never really one of the ‘popular’ kids but mostly accepted by all the different crowds.
Underneath this seemingly peaceful exterior however, was a deep seated fear. Some of my earliest experiences were violent. I learned at a young age that the world could be a very scary place. I was born into an unhappy marriage. My father was a violent drunk, and associated with a tought crowd. I witnessed my mother enduring physical and verbal abuse before I could talk. When I was 2 yrs old my parents divorced. On the night my mom left my dad, he chased her around the house while she was carrying my older brother.
My mother did her best, but she was the child of depression era parents, one a combat Marine in WWII and the other a scrappy Irish Catholic girl. My mom witnessed her dad beat her younger brother almost to death one night. She carried a great deal of trauma from her upbringing and inevitably exhibited some of the same narcissistic, manipulative behaviors that she had learned from her parents.
I know now that a lot of my ‘good behavior’ as a child was coming from a fear of making mistakes, getting in trouble, and disappointing others for fear of being abandoned. I was terrified to step out of line.
I had no vision for myself other than to be a soldier. I lived my entire life for decades based on what others said I should do. Even the military dream, I now realize, was the product of excellent marketing and growing up in a culture that glorified ‘Us vs Them’ ways of thinking and made heroes out of men and women in uniform.
When I attempted to join the military in my junior year of high school, I was rejected. They said that my medical history (epilepsy and asthma) meant I could not serve.
I began to rebel, wearing a black leather jacket, growing my hair longer and sneaking cigarettes. In college I found the punk rock scene and took that rebellion to another level. Tattoos, drinking and multicolored hair was the new norm.
At the same time I was in college for mechanical engineering, struggling with the juxtaposition of punk rock and an inevitable corporate career of button ups and khakis.
I lived this conflicted existence for about 12 years in Boston Mass, working all day, wearing the mask of a professional engineer, and then putting on the costume of a hardcore punk after dark. After burning the candle at both ends for over a decade, I was bored and burned out. I was desiring to be a part of something bigger than me and find a sense of purpose. That’s when the universe again presented me with the option to join the Army.
Of course this meant I had to have my neck tattoo removed. That was 17 yrs ago.
The rest of the story so far includes:
over 200 combat missions as a elite special operations soldier with the 75th Ranger Regiment,
Witnessing the explosion while losing one of my best friends Rob on a mission in afghanistan to an IED
My dad having a stroke, falling into a coma and me deciding to take him off life support (2 weeks after losing Rob)
Struggling with physical injury, PTSD and reintegrating into society after the military
Marriage, 3 kids, multiple moves to new states
Earning an Ivy League MBA
Complete corporate burnout
Spiritual awakening
Opening the marriage
Moving to a tropical island
Brutal Separation and Divorce
Herpes
Becoming an entrepreneur
Dark Nights of the soul
Suicidal Planning
More spiritual awakening
Cross country van life soul searching
Psychedelics and sex parties
Sexual Awakening
Struggling Financially
Healing the relationship with my ex wife
Figuring out loving supportive co-parenting
Learning to surf
Deeper connection to Higher Power
Inner freedom, peace
Successful coaching business,
Waking up every day in deep gratitude for the magic of life
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
LOL. See earlier answer.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My professional background includes:
Engineer
Manager
Army Ranger
Life Coach
I started working at a young age. Washing dishes, cooking, helping my dad as an apprentice bricklayer.
As an engineer I worked for a manufacturing company designing processes for new product developement. I always enjoyed the creative process and loved seeing the vision come to life from a whiteboard sketch to being. a tangible product in a customer’s hands.
I’m really proud of my time as a special ops soldier, even though I ultimately grew tired of the role. I learned what I am truly capable of and had incredible experiences during my time in the service. I also got to be a part of such a high performance unit, surrounded by humans at the absolute peak of excellence.
I am most proud of becoming an entrepreneur and professional life coach. This is my calling. I am here on this earth to help free people from the limitations of their own minds. I truly believe that we are all free and evolving towards unconditional love. Some of us just don’t know it yet.
I specialize in helping people get clarity on what they truly want and creating a life where they get to live it. I help move through limiting beliefs and create new ones. I help you remember how to play. I help you practice real life growth opportunities to upgrade your skillset, mindset and energy. I help you create and execute a winning strategy to your best life. One defined by freedom, connection and purpose.
What sets me apart is :
The years of studying and applying methods and techniques to create peak human performance in individuals and groups.
The lived experience of becoming the best version of myself, and redefining this over and over again
The professional credentials of being a certified life coach
My personal journey from pain and darkness to freedom and love
My deep belief that anything is possible
My superpowers of deep listening, holding space, sensing energy and clairvoyance
My passion for co-creating a world without violence and separation
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Yes! The best idea is to approach it from the energy of building a real relationship, and keep showing up. With a mentor – stay open and humble. When networking, don’t expect that the people you meet will be customers. They might be, but approaching from a collaborative energy is better. I like to create referral partners or trade services with my networking group. And definitely stay consistent with attending meetings and followign up with members of the group.
I do like to offer a ‘product demo’ – which for me is a coaching session – so that they really have a feel for what i do and can better refer me.
Pricing:
- $750 for 3 one hour coaching sessions – typically over 30 days
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nickdevlincoaching.com
- Instagram: @therealnickdevlin
- Facebook: nicholas-devlin-5
