We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nikki Velasco. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nikki below.
Nikki, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
The scariest and bravest thing I have ever done was going all in on my dreams and taking a chance on myself.
When I first started my coaching business in late 2020 I was working a full time corporate job. I was seeing one on one coaching clients in the evenings when I got home from work and I absolutely loved everything about it. It is true what they say, when you do something you love and feel passionate about as a career, it never feels like “work”!
I had been at my corporate job since 2018 and although I was good at what I did, I started to feel overwhelmed and pretty miserable at work.
The more time I spent exploring the coaching world online, I saw how many amazing women were building successful coaching businesses and I couldn’t help but think that maybe it was possible for me too. It was then when I began to think about quitting my corporate job to do mindset coaching full time. The thought of leaving my corporate job to commit to my business full time brought up fear and so many limiting beliefs up to the surface.
“What if I leave my corporate job to start this business full time and then fail?”
“What if I don’t make enough money?”
“What will others think of me?”
“Do I have what it takes to be a full time entrepreneur?”
Before deciding to leave my corporate job I knew there were a few things I had to do first.
The first thing I had to do was work on my beliefs about being “good enough”. I tapped into the tools I know and love that help me rewire my subconscious mind such as journaling, emotional freedom technique, hypnosis. breathwork, and visualizations.
The second thing I had to do was figure out my finances. I looked at how much money I had, how much I needed to invest into my business, and how much money I wanted to make each month. I was fortunate enough to have enough money saved up to help me with the initial investment for my business.
The last thing I had to do was discuss it with the people I trust most. Leaving my corporate job meant leaving my financial safety net. I spoke to my partner about my plan and he supported me 100%. I truly don’t think I could’ve done this without him!
Fast forward to April 2021 I officially quit my corporate job to work on my coaching business full time and I never looked back!
Since that moment I have worked with many clients one on one and helped them completely transform their lives for the better! I have facilitated breathwork classes for hundreds of people and helped them tap into a deeper level of healing and subconscious rewiring. I have taught others the tools they need to completely shift their mindset and regulate their nervous system so they can fully embody the best version of themselves.
By taking the risk to quit my corporate job and go all in on my business, I have helped others heal and in the same breath, I have healed myself as well. It was the best decision I could’ve made for myself.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I always knew I wanted to help others in any way I could. I pursued a degree in psychology during undergrad and worked in the neuroscience field for some time after graduating. I got into the wellness industry, specializing in mindset coaching and breathwork, because it is a field that so beautifully combines my passion for the connection between our mind, body, and spirit.
Since starting my business I have become certified in life coaching, breathwork, hypnotherapy, emotional freedom technique, T.I.M.E. Techniques, Reiki level 1, and so much more. Learning these tools has equipped me to become the best mindset coach so I can serve my community in the best way possible.
My specialty as a coach lies within the mind and body connection. When it comes to the mind, I teach my clients how to identify their limiting beliefs and give them the tools they need to shift these beliefs so they can reach their fullest potential. True shifts in mindset are not fully possible without nervous system regulation which is where the connection to our bodies is important. This is why I also teach my clients how to tap into and clear stored emotions through powerful tools such as breathwork exercises and emotional freedom technique.
I am passionate about working with individuals who are looking to create a positive change and level up in their personal and professional life. I have worked with clients one on one and in group settings as a coach. My absolute favorite classes to host are my breathwork classes! I have witnessed people from all walks of life show up to my breathwork classes and the transformation I see in them after just one class is unbelievable. Through breathwork I have seen people tap into deeper levels of consciousness, heal old wounds, release stagnant energy, and so much more.
What I love about the work I do is the ripple effect it creates in everyone’s life. When the clients I work with are able to create an internal and external world that feels fulfilling to them, they show up as the best version of themselves for their family, their friends, and their work. This, in turn, encourages the people closest to them to become the best version of themselves as well.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Being an entrepreneur has challenged me in ways I never thought possible. You see, what I didn’t realize when I first started my business was that I would go through many ego deaths. There were visions, plans, and expectations that I had for myself and my business which most of the time did not come true exactly when I wanted them to. In the past three years in my business there have been seasons of growth and seasons where everything is stagnant. It is in those stagnant moments where I wanted to give up the most. I would market my offers online only to hear crickets in response. I planned breathwork events and only had one or sometimes two people sign up. I’d host workshops and had absolutely nobody show up.
In every single one of those moments I wanted to give up. I felt embarrassed because I thought that no one showing up meant something about me when in reality, it had nothing to do with me. The biggest lesson I learned in the lowest moments of my business was that I had to hold on to the vision and keep on going.
I continued to promote my offers even if I didn’t get a single response.
I made sure I facilitated the best breathwork session to those who showed up to my class and blew their expectations out of the water.
I brought in my big coach energy and hosted the workshop as if though hundreds of people were watching.
Because that is the type of entrepreneur that I am. I am the type of person who holds the vision, holds the energy, and keeps putting one foot in front of the other. I know that the road to becoming the successful business owner I want to be is only possible through resilience and dedication to my work and my clients.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
What I believe is most helpful for succeeding in the wellness industry is to, first and foremost, practice what you preach and be authentically YOU. When you are teaching and guiding others to become better versions of themselves and to heal themselves, it is crucial as a coach to do that for yourself! When you are confident in your work and what you offer, clients will feel that energy too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thecoachnikki.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thecoachnikki
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/nikki-velasco-mindset-coach-hermosa-beach
- Other: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=69a791147b85ea1f&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIIf1c7MIzfeEox_Uh4PPwwr3Uv6og%3A1722708786793&q=Nikki%20Velasco%20Mindset%20Coaching&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgU1I1qDAzNjAyN0tJMksyTjWyTLO0MqhIMbEwtEgySTVNTjGySDEzXMQq55eZnZ2pEJaak1icnK_gm5mXUpxaouCcn5ickZmXDgAEzamESgAAAA&mat=CbDE92FXmvt1&ved=2ahUKEwi_9KaqttmHAxVqLEQIHSRrKIkQrMcEegQIFhAD
Image Credits
Lauren Urbiztondo
Connor Storch