Meet Nicholas Cicio

We were lucky to catch up with Nicholas Cicio recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nicholas, so great to have you sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our readers and so let’s jump right into one of our favorite topics – empathy. We think a lack of empathy is at the heart of so many issues the world is struggling with and so our hope is to contribute to an environment that fosters the development of empathy. Along those lines, we’d love to hear your thoughts around where your empathy comes from?

The conditions that allowed me to develop my empathy were nothing short of extraordinary—and not in the way you’d expect. I’m 27 years old now, but my early twenties were a chaotic mix of poor choices, survival, and lessons that completely reshaped me.

I was a good kid. I graduated college with a degree in architecture and a 4.0 GPA. I had big dreams, ambition, and all the potential in the world. But life had other plans. I spiraled into a gambling addiction that derailed everything. I sold my car, maxed out my credit cards, and fell so far down the rabbit hole that I became a full-time drug dealer just to stay afloat.

The people around me only added to the chaos. I found myself living with meth-addicted squatters, caught up in a toxic love triangle with a 30-year-old narcissist who was deep into credit card fraud and constantly blamed me for everything. He even convinced himself I was in love with his wife—talk about drama I didn’t sign up for. There were moments I was physically attacked, had boiling water thrown at me, and was thrown out of the house in the dead of winter with no phone, no money, and no friends to call.

I hit rock bottom so many times it felt like the floor kept breaking beneath me. I lived out of hotels, slept in my car, and even called a U-Haul home for a short time. Collection agencies were on my back, I owed money to countless people, and it felt like there was no way out.

But somewhere in the chaos, I started to see slivers of hope. Strangers showing kindness, moments of clarity, and a deep realization that I couldn’t keep living this way. Climbing out of that dark place wasn’t easy. I had to confront my worst habits, ask for help, and rebuild my life from scratch.

Today, I’m a business owner and content creator, using my creativity and resilience to build something meaningful. Those experiences taught me more than any classroom ever could. They gave me empathy for people’s struggles, an understanding that everyone is fighting battles we can’t see, and the drive to help others feel seen and understood.

I used to be ashamed of my past, but now I see it as the foundation of who I am. It taught me resilience, self-awareness, and, most importantly, the value of compassion. If my story can inspire even one person to believe in their ability to rise, then every mistake, every hardship, was worth it. Life threw everything at me, but I didn’t just survive—I grew, and I’m proud of who I’ve become.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a full-time UGC content creator, social media manager, SEO specialist, copywriter, and website designer—I wear a lot of hats, and I love every one of them! At the heart of what I do, I create content for brands, helping them connect with their audiences in authentic and impactful ways. Whether it’s crafting compelling ad campaigns, managing social media pages, or building a sleek, user-friendly website, my goal is always to help brands tell their story in a way that resonates.

I own my own business, Nicholas Creates LLC, which has been such a fulfilling journey. What’s special about it is how personal it feels—I get to build relationships with brands, understand their visions, and bring those ideas to life. Every project is a chance to be creative and make something that truly matters.

I started my career as a signed model, and while I still love modeling, it’s not the most consistent industry. That inspired me to pivot and start contracting directly with brands, creating content that feels like the perfect balance of creativity and strategy. Essentially, I make ads and engaging content for social media platforms, helping brands thrive in a fast-paced digital world.

Right now, I’m focused on expanding my business. I’ve been taking on new clients, refining my skills, and exploring exciting opportunities to help brands grow. I’m also passionate about sharing what I’ve learned—helping others understand the power of great content and how it can transform their online presence.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that shaped my journey are gratitude, resilience, and authenticity.

I used to think I had it all—Louis Vuitton, a Corvette, designer shoes, gold chains, two Rolexes. But losing it all taught me a valuable lesson: materialism doesn’t matter. Now, I’m thankful for the simple things—clean water, healthy food, and a strong body. Gratitude has completely changed my perspective.

Resilience got me through the toughest times. Life knocked me down hard, but every time, I found the strength to rebuild. And authenticity helped me connect with others. The moment I stopped chasing perfection and started being real, doors opened.

Advice: Be grateful for the little things, embrace challenges as growth, and stay true to yourself—success will follow.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

A particular challenge I’m facing now is figuring out what’s next. For the past 11 months, I’ve essentially been homeless. After being evicted from my apartment, I moved in with my parents briefly, and then life threw me a curveball. A family friend—a 75-year-old woman—needed help transitioning into a senior living facility. She needed someone to step in and manage everything: consolidating her belongings into storage units, helping her close on her house, and just being her full support system.

I’ve been living with her for the past 10 months, acting as her personal assistant and support system. While it’s been rewarding to help her, I now find myself wondering: where do I go next? Should I fly to Central America and explore life there? Should I try finding a roommate in Arizona? Or maybe even take the leap and move to Italy?

The beauty of my situation is that I work from my laptop, so I have no boundaries. But that freedom also brings its own kind of uncertainty. I’m at a crossroads, and figuring out the best path forward is my biggest challenge right now.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nicholas-creates.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicholascreates/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholascicio/
• Twitter: https://x.com/ugc_nicholas