Navy SEALs are trained to remain calm and cool in stressful situations. But even the strongest and well-trained men in the military have their breaking points.
For Nick Norris, that was after the tragic loss of his brother in 2013. That’s in addition to his lost friends while on tour in Afghanistan and Iraq, and his father, who died while he was deployed.
The unexpected death of his brother forced Norris, who was stationed on the West Coast between tours at the time, to reassess his career path.
“Work comes first, right?” he said. “It’s our country, it’s our duty, it’s our mission, and my wife understood it up to that point. [before his brother died]She became a very independent woman during my deployment, but now has a daughter to think about and understand what happens to me as an active duty soldier.
After leaving the military after 14 years of service, Norris realized that he not only had a family to look after, he had to look in the mirror.
“I never really grieved for all the people I lost,” he said. It’s a problem.”
As soon as he entered civilian life, Norris began looking into holistic wellness as a solution to some of his post-military struggles. His two solutions he focused on — proper hydration and proper rest — led to his career and his founding of Protekt in 2019. The company’s products include calorie- and sugar-free beverage supplements. Healthy living and wellness are important aspects of life for Norris, the company’s CEO.
“The company was the culmination of years of trial and error, but it was trial and error on a personal level,” said Norris. “Understanding what really moves the needle to promote good health has put me on a path to becoming a better version of myself, physically, mentally, or spiritually. All of a sudden, overnight, you’re ready to go, without even flipping a switch.”
Lack of sleep was common for Norris during his military service, and the concern extended into his civilian life. He found that the kinds of products Protekt now sells have helped him become a better version of himself.
“We’ve really seen noticeable changes in sleep — positive changes — with regular, proper hydration,” Norris said. I recovered better from my workouts and was more motivated to work out.My mental clarity and my ability to articulate and interact with people made me feel more vibrant and alive. I felt it would lead me to something.”
Norris’ success as CEO of a wellness company doesn’t mean he’s turned his back on military life entirely. He remains an advocate and advocate for veterans struggling with mental health issues.
“I serve on the board of directors for an organization called Veterans Search Treatment Solutions (VETS),” said Norris, who works with a group that helps veterans recover from traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. I can’t say enough good things about it.One of the biggest impacts is feeling like you can get involved and be an advocate.Mental health has long been stigmatized and we are often Military service members should not feel ashamed or guilty of feeling unwell from a mental health standpoint, we need to embrace that more openly.
“There’s nothing wrong with emotional vulnerability. Too often men are told to suck it up and not show their emotions. I’m trying to be a small beacon of light in that room.
