Meet Nolan O'Brien
I’m Nolan, a bodybuilding competitor, lifestyle coach, and the founder of The Growth Standard.
​
My passion has always been human potential. Not just physically, but mentally. I’ve lived the highs of prep, the lows after stepping off stage, the discipline of years in the gym, and the reality of trying to balance fitness with work, stress, relationships, and life.
​
I built The Growth Standard because I know what it feels like to want more from yourself; more structure, more clarity, more confidence, more results, but not always knowing where to start or how to stay consistent.
​
My coaching exists to bridge that gap.
My Story
Fitness wasn’t always my career path.
It started long before I ever stepped on a bodybuilding stage. Growing up, I struggled with my weight. I was overweight, insecure, and uncomfortable in my own body. I didn’t feel like the person I wanted to be, and I didn’t recognize the person staring back at me in the mirror.
So I turned to fitness to change that.
What started as an effort to lose weight quickly became a passion that reshaped my entire life.
​
As I got older, life didn’t get any easier. For years, I've worked full-time in both public and private accounting, with long hours, deadlines, stress, and constant pressure to perform. Most days, training meant 5 a.m. sessions before work or late-night workouts after draining days in the office.
I know what it feels like to be exhausted.
I know what it feels like to be overwhelmed.
And I know what it feels like to want change while juggling the rest of life desperately.
​
Over time, training became more than just building muscle.
It became my anchor, a system that taught me discipline, confidence, and identity. It pushed me to compete. It pushed me to grow. It pushed me to transform not just my body, but my mindset and my standard for myself. And as that passion grew, so did my desire to help others experience that same transformation.
​
Along the way, people constantly asked me:
“How do you stay so consistent?”
“How do you balance everything?”
“Can you help me with my workouts and nutrition?”
​
What started as helping friends and coworkers became something much bigger. I realized how many people (beginners, returners, and even seasoned athletes) wanted guidance, structure, accountability, and someone who genuinely cared about both their progress and their life.
​
That’s why I created The Growth Standard:
a coaching system built on evidence-based training and experience, honest mentorship, and the belief that physical growth unlocks mental growth. A system built for real people with real lives; people who want to look better, feel better, perform better, and become better.
​
My goal isn’t just to help you get “in shape.”
My goal is to help you become the stronger version of yourself you know you can be.
Physically. Mentally. Day by day.
​
Whether you’re:
• stepping into the gym for the first time,
• rebuilding consistency after falling off,
• leveling up your physique,
• or preparing for a show…
​
I’m here to guide you with structure, accountability, and clarity, and to walk beside you through every phase of your journey.
​
This isn’t just my story.
This is the foundation of The Growth Standard.
And it becomes your story the moment you decide to raise your standard.
Our Mission at The Growth Standard
To empower everyday people and aspiring athletes to become the strongest, healthiest version of themselves — mind and body — through science-based training, dialed-in nutrition, and accountability that actually creates change.
What I Believe
-
Growth comes from consistency, not perfection
-
Your habits shape your identity
-
Your physical progress reflects your internal progress
-
Everyone deserves to feel strong, capable, and proud of themselves