Nick Lavery is an active-duty U.S. Army Special Forces soldier and Special Forces Warrant Officer from Massachusetts.
In 2013, he lost his leg in an insider attack while deployed to Afghanistan. After extensive recovery at Walter Reed, he refused medical retirement and returned to operational status in 2015, becoming the first Special Forces operator to return to combat as an above-the-knee amputee.
A highly experienced expert in special operations and mission planning, he has completed multiple elite courses and received numerous awards, including the Silver Star and three Purple Hearts.
Nick is also a speaker, author, husband, and father of two. 💪🇺🇸
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Produced by TORCH LEAP®, LLC, a leadership and education company providing group coaching, virtual personal coaching, in-person learning forums, and educational media in the fields of leadership, personal growth, organizational growth, culture, resilience, and podcasting.
Passing The Torch is a TORCH LEAP® podcast.
© 2026 TORCH LEAP®, LLC.
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➡︎ Key Topics:
The role of humility and soft skills in elite performance
Reframing failure as an opportunity for growth
Importance of human capital over technology
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🔥 Nick's Resources
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➡︎ Website: https://mchn.co/
➡︎ Book Objective Secure: https://amzn.to/3XKTwbN
➡︎ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenicklavery/
➡︎ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheNickLavery
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Subscribe and Listen to Passing The Torch Podcast HERE
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🎙️ Podcast: https://www.passingthetorchpod.com/
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC04suOPTX3ny_M0aDxmBAXQ
➡︎ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/passing-the-torch/id1338122884
➡︎ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/47ZwWTJWETz5SwEfcuPQwF?si=055366dec7154b3c
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Connect with Passing The Torch!
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Facebook: ➡︎ https://www.facebook.com/torchfoster
IG: ➡︎ https://www.instagram.com/torchmartin/
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QUESTION - What did you take away from this video?
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This video is NOT sponsored.
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⏰ Timecodes ⏰
00:00 The Power of Humility
03:03 Life's Opportunities and Gratitude
05:56 The Importance of Discipline
08:54 Embracing Failure as a Teacher
12:05 The Role of Patience vs. Discipline
14:48 Human Capital Over Hardware
18:03 Childhood Challenges and Identity
29:45 Building Resilience Through Adversity
31:58 Pivotal Childhood Moments
33:56 The Power of Influence and Leadership
37:23 Mentorship and Personal Growth
43:11 Reflections on Influential Figures
49:01 The Importance of Authentic Leadership
52:36 Messages of Hope and Purpose
56:10 Personal Mission and Life's Direction
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Full Audio episode with Chapters:
➡︎ https://www.buzzsprout.com/1946508/episodes/18822006
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Mentioned in episode:
Chris Cathers
Jocko
LTG Cleveland
Jimmy Rooney
Trey Pace
Physical Therapist Kelly
Denny Giamazzo
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Quotes to open episode:
“Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward.” – John C. Maxwell
“A man cannot understand the art he is studying if he only looks for the end result without taking the time to delve deeply into the reasoning of the study.” - Miyamota Musashi
“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it-then I can achieve it.” – Muhammad Ali
"The only obstacles that exist, are the one's we place in our own mind."
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Episode Sponsor:
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Keywords: resilience, leadership, humility, discipline, failure, human capital, elite performance, mental toughness, personal development, military leadership, The power of reverse psychology, communication guys, Becoming a leader people love to follow, motivational speech, strategy simplified, how to claim your leadership power, commitments of conscious leadership, game changing
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The power of reverse psychology
Communication guys
Becoming a leader people love to follow
motivational speech
Strategy simplified
How to claim your leadership power
Commitments of conscious leadership
Game changing