“What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.” – Plutarch
In a world where boardrooms often steal the spotlight, Colin Davis is rewriting the script, one small business at a time.
Based in Richmond, Virginia, Colin isn’t your typical executive coach. Before launching First Principles Coaching, he spent nearly a decade as a missionary and monk, living a life centered on purpose, reflection, and service. But today, instead of monastery walls, his mission field lies in storefronts, family-run shops, and home offices, the often-overlooked engines of local economies.
A Life Rewritten by Purpose
Colin’s story begins with his father, a small business owner whose first attempt at business failed, but who then rebuilt his life and business from the ground up. Watching that transformation imprinted on Colin a lifelong respect for small business owners and the resilience required to succeed against the odds.
That seed grew into a deeply intentional journey. Between the ages of 18 and 27, Colin devoted himself to spiritual service, cultivating habits of mindfulness, time management, and leadership while helping church organizations grow. His work wasn’t just theological—it was strategic. He helped to align fragmented teams, grew memberships, and nurtured organizational clarity. That same clarity is now a cornerstone of his coaching practice.
From 27 to 39, Colin transitioned into leadership roles within church ministries and nonprofits, sharpening his organizational and leadership skills while continuing to drive results, both in effectiveness and community impact. The work was deeply meaningful, but still something was missing.
Then, in 2021, at the age of 39, everything converged. With encouragement from a mentor-coach and clarity from personal discernment, Colin founded First Principles Coaching, aligning his purpose, experience, and vision into a business that could impact business and help transform lives.
The Coaching Model That Feels Like a Calling
Unlike typical business coaches who aim for scale, Colin focuses exclusively on very small businesses, those with 2 to 10 employees who’ve bootstrapped their way to success but now face the growing pains of scaling.
“Too often, these businesses get left behind,” Colin says. “They’re not yet big enough to attract high-level coaching, but they deserve it just as much.”
That’s where his approach comes in. First Principles Coaching offers both one-on-one and group coaching with a hybrid model: a structured curriculum covering time management, mindset, business systems, and team building, alongside personalized coaching tailored to each client’s unique challenges.
And it’s working.
Colin recently helped two clients achieve 3x revenue growth in just 2 years. On average, his clients see 40% revenue growth while working 10% fewer hours. But beyond the metrics, what makes his work transformative is the deep alignment he fosters between personal and professional goals.
“I help business owners de-compartmentalize,” he explains. “The business is a part of their life, not separate from it. When they align their values and goals, everything changes.”
What Sets Him Apart?
Colin’s approach isn’t just unique—it’s practically monastic in its depth and discipline. His 5 key differentiators are:
- First Principles Thinking: Cutting through surface issues to get to the root.
- Holistic Systems Analysis: Connecting the dots between people, processes, and outcomes.
- Hybrid Coaching Model: Balancing structured learning with just-in-time problem solving.
- Business Meets Psychology: Combining operational strategy with deep emotional intelligence.
- EQ Edge: Helping clients lead with both heart and mind, because decisions are emotional before they’re rational.
A Vision Grounded in Impact
Colin’s dream isn’t to become the next Tony Robbins. It’s to build a trusted coaching firm that retains the human scale that he finds so appealing in small business: lean, impactful, and relationship-centered.
But more than his own company, it’s about the ripple effects—business owners who find purpose, build strong teams, grow their companies, and go home at night feeling fulfilled. Employees who feel seen. Customers benefit from businesses run with integrity. Local communities that thrive.
Wisdom Rooted in the Classics
True to his philosophical roots, Colin weaves ancient wisdom into modern leadership. His favorite quotes from Socrates, Aristotle, Seneca, and Epictetus are less about intellectual flair and more about timeless truth:
- “No man is free who is not master of himself.” – Epictetus
- “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” – Seneca
- “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle
These principles shape his coaching and his life.
Final Thought: Your Business is Your Canvas
For small business owners, Colin offers not just guidance but a mirror. His message is clear: Find your purpose, find the vehicle to fulfill that purpose, and become the person your purpose requires.
He’s not selling silver bullets. He’s offering a path rooted in ancient wisdom, refined through years of service, and proven through real-world results.
To learn more about Colin Davis and his transformative approach to business coaching, visit First Principles Coaching. You can also connect with Colin directly on LinkedIn to explore his insights on leadership, purpose, and holistic business growth.
