I Lost Everything. Then I Found Everything. Paul Gautel’s Journey of Transformation
January 23, 2025
"I lost all my money, I had a divorce, I got federally investigated, and then I experienced social death," he says, almost nonchalantly, recounting the seismic events that tore his life apart over a decade ago. These weren’t isolated incidents; they were a series of "life deaths," as he calls them, each forcing him to release attachments to his identity. The takeaway? "Rather than being a continuous person, you are somebody constantly changing."
This isn’t a metaphor for Gautel—it’s his life philosophy.
Paul Gautel’s surname is more than just a name. "Gautel is a Breton word, a French Celtic language, and it means 'man of the woods,'" he explains. But in English, it takes on a whole new meaning: "go tell." For someone whose career revolves around sharing inspiration, it’s a serendipitous match. "At school, they’d sing hymns like 'Go tell it on the mountain,' and I’d think, 'That’s my song!'"
True to his name, Gautel has spent decades "going and telling." He’s been a DJ for over 40 years, a coach for 25, and now speaks to audiences across the globe, from Mindvalley to, of course, the Nomad Cruise. His mission? To ignite what he calls a "self-revolution" in others.
Before he became the coach and speaker known today, Gautel lived a very different life. Before the age of 30, he achieved significant success as a producer, DJ, and marketing professional in the global music industry. However, feeling disillusioned with the conventional markers of success—power, money, and fame—he embarked on a transformative journey that spanned five years and over 75 countries.
During this time, Gautel immersed himself in diverse cultures and wisdom traditions. He lived with Aboriginal communities, Bedouins, and Buddhist monks, and visited sacred sites worldwide to gather ancient wisdom through direct experience. These experiences profoundly shaped his philosophy of life and self-transformation.
For Gautel, nomadism isn’t just a lifestyle—it’s a vessel for transformation. "When you’re constantly moving, you’re less hooked to the schedule of your identity," he says. Traveling with strangers offers an opportunity to shed preconceived notions of who you are. "If you’re always with the same people, they expect you to repeat what they know of you. But when you’re traveling, you’re free to evolve."
The Nomad Cruise, a floating hub of entrepreneurs, creatives, and seekers, exemplifies this freedom. Gautel shares that he’s had over 15 deep, heartfelt conversations on the ship. "Everyone here is hungry to connect. And if you bother to pay attention, they’ll share something that’s relevant to you."
One conversation, in particular, struck a chord. A woman recounted a traumatic event that had pushed her to her limits physically, mentally, and emotionally. "As she shared, I offered a perspective that allowed her to see the event as freeing rather than limiting," he recalls. "It’s like angels taking away what no longer serves you, even if it feels like a loss at first."
After 15 years of deep self-work, Gautel settled in Hawaii to distill the wisdom he had acquired. This culminated in his book, The Big U: A Guide to Self Revolution, which serves as a guide for individuals ready to revolutionize their lives. The book emphasizes that people often live a limited version of their true potential and encourages readers to initiate a self-revolution within themselves.
Gautel’s approach to transformation is rooted in what he calls "The Big You." It’s about dismantling limiting beliefs and rebuilding a new operating system—one grounded in authenticity and courage.
"Truth requires risk," he emphasizes. "Most people are so addicted to their identity that they’ll sacrifice authenticity for safety. But when you take risks, you discover the fulfillment that comes from living in alignment with your true self."
He’s not just theorizing—he’s lived it. After two near-death experiences, the most recent at Vancouver Airport, Gautel came back with a renewed purpose: "to ignite self-revolution." For him, this means constantly putting himself in vulnerable positions that challenge his sense of safety and identity.
As an elder statesman in a crowd of digital nomads, Gautel sees tremendous potential in this community. "Traveling allows you to drop elements of yourself that no longer serve you," he says. But he cautions against letting the lifestyle become another source of stress.
"If your nomad life is more about metrics than experiences, you’ve missed the point. Your passion should feed your work, not the other way around."
For Gautel, the ultimate goal is to help people find the courage to be fully themselves—to take what they’ve hidden and make it their guiding force.
As our conversation winds down, Gautel reflects on what’s next. His retreat center in Maui is transforming into a haven for intensive, transformational experiences. "Half the year, I’ll travel and harvest insights. The other half, I’ll bring people to Maui for real transformation."
Before we part ways, I ask Gautel how he wants to be remembered. He smiles, leaning back as if savoring the question. "I want to be remembered as someone who helped others remember themselves."
If his journey teaches us anything, it’s that losing everything can sometimes be the first step to finding your Big You.
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