Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas Cicio.
Hi Nicholas, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was 22, working as a grocery store cashier in Philadelphia during COVID, making $11 an hour after spending four years and nearly $100,000 on an architecture degree. The next four years were complete chaos: gambling, drugs, evictions, homelessness, fraud, court cases, fast money, designer clothes, watches, and cars. Along the way, I lost almost every relationship I had; my family and friends completely disowned me. After my seventh eviction in Philadelphia (yes, the 7th eviction), I left with a backpack, two T-shirts, a pair of Nike Air Force 1’s, my smashed iPhone 12, and $0 to my name. It’s only now, years later, that I’m beginning to understand that much of what I was involved in was essentially a manipulative and narcissistic cult.
I had to completely rebuild my life from scratch. I spent 11 months working for a 75-year-old hoarder in Virginia, slowly rebuilding my finances and realizing how little material possessions actually mean. I bought a car, paid back debts, rebuilt my 508 credit scrore, regained trust with my family, and started rebuilding my UGC career. Eventually, I had $900, everything I owned fit into two backpacks, and I booked a one-way flight to Mexico. From there, I rebuilt my UGC and digital marketing businesses and started traveling full-time. Now, 484 days later, I’m writing this from the Galápagos Islands, working remotely and creating content for brands, hotels, and tourism boards.
The next chapter is helping others do the same – mentoring other creators and digital nomads on how to build online income, leave the U.S., and create a life where they can work and travel on their own terms.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not. If anything, the obstacles are probably the biggest part of my story.
I went through gambling, drug addiction, homelessness, seven evictions, credit card debt, debt collectors, court cases, and losing every single relationship I had.
My family completely disowned me and cut me off. I went from having a family and a normal life to essentially having nobody. There were times when I was sleeping on park benches. I remember begging for food at the fried chicken spot on the corner of Spring Garden and Broad in Philadelphia. At one point, I was using the city rental bikes to do Uber Eats deliveries just so I could afford the $25 a night for a bed at Apple Hostel.
Eventually, I ended up in Virginia working for a 75-year-old hoarder. I spent 11 months helping her completely organize and declutter her life. We went through an overwhelming amount of belongings and ultimately organized her possessions into eight storage units.
That experience was honestly a mental and emotional challenge in itself. Imagine walking into someone’s home after decades of accumulated possessions and slowly sorting through their entire life. For 11 months, that was my reality.
So now, whenever something goes wrong, I have a completely different perspective. I’ve already been at rock bottom. I know what I’m capable of surviving — and I know how to start over.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a UGC content creator – I basically make content for brands and I don’t have to post it on my own socials. UGC (user-generated content) is authentic, creator-style video that brands can use for their own social media, ads, websites, and marketing. I started 4 years ago and went full-time around 2 years ago.
I now a fully remote digital nomad and found out about travel ugc – collaborating with hotels, restaurants, tourism boards, and travel brands to create content for their own socials – again never posting on my own socials.
Over the next few months, I’m also expanding into mentorship, helping people leave the U.S., become digital nomads, and build income online so they can travel and work from anywhere.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’ve taken some pretty significant risks in my life, especially when it comes to leaving behind stability in the USA for the chance to build a different life. I’ve moved abroad to non-english speaking countries, traveled long-term with no traditional career path, and built my business around the idea that I can work from anywhere.
I’m comfortable with uncertainty, but I try to take calculated risks. I’d rather bet on myself, learn from something that doesn’t work, and adapt than stay stuck because I’m afraid of failing. My biggest risks have ultimately created some of my biggest opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nicholasnomad.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicholasnomad/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicholas.cicio/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Nicholasnomad
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicholas.nomad
