Episode Title: Building Something Brick by Brick: The Journey of Nick Barrett

Guest: Nick Barrett, Founder of Cord Brick LLC

Episode Overview: In today’s episode, we hear from Nick Barrett, the founder of Cord Brick LLC, as he shares his remarkable story of transformation—from overcoming addiction to launching a successful entrepreneurial venture. Nick’s journey is one of resilience, creativity, and growth. Through his candid conversation, he highlights the power of community, the importance of personal growth, and how his experiences in recovery led to the creation of his innovative product.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Nick’s Early Life and Struggles: Growing up as a sports-loving 90s kid in Northern Virginia and later Philadelphia, Nick shares his childhood experiences and how insecurity led him to alcoholism as a way to cope.
• The Turning Point: How hitting rock bottom—through job loss, relationship breakdowns, and multiple DUIs—pushed Nick to confront his addiction and find sobriety.
• The Role of AA in His Recovery: Nick reflects on the importance of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and how the support and community in AA gave him the strength to rebuild his life.
• From Sobriety to Entrepreneurship: After getting sober, Nick transitioned into the entrepreneurial world, creating Cord Brick—an innovative product to solve the problem of tangled phone cords. Nick discusses the challenges and triumphs of building his business from the ground up.
• Building a Balanced Life: The importance of physical, mental, and emotional balance in both sobriety and entrepreneurship. Nick shares how he learned to prioritize self-care and discipline, leading to his success as a business owner.
• Mentorship and Giving Back: Nick’s commitment to mentoring others and sharing his journey with aspiring entrepreneurs. He emphasizes how helping others has been a crucial part of his success.
• The Power of Personal Growth: How Nick’s focus on personal development, overcoming obstacles, and staying disciplined in both recovery and business has led to sustainable success.

Key Quotes:

• "Building something, whether it’s a product or a life, is all about doing it brick by brick."
• "The real power in recovery wasn’t in the state-mandated programs, it was in the community I found through AA."
• "Every step in life is a chance to improve. Even when you’re struggling, every new version of yourself is an opportunity to get better."
• "Sobriety taught me to manage risk, but being an entrepreneur taught me to embrace calculated risks and follow through."

Where to Find Nick:

• Website: Cord Brick
• Amazon: Cord Brick on Amazon
• Social Media:
• • Instagram: @cordbrick
  • LinkedIn: Nick Barrett

Resources:

• AA – Alcoholics Anonymous
• Florida Gulf Coast University Entrepreneurship Program

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