Why Did I Start My Own Business?

Hi everyone,

I have been so busy that I have neglected this blog, but I have to get back to what I love to do. Write. This next post addresses a question that I promised I’d answer and one of my awesome Instagram followers asked me "why did I start my own business? I figured I better get busy…Thank you Erick!

Keeping things simple can be a real challenge for me at times. When my “creative button” is pushed my mind can become a locomotive train that can sheer straight through previous thoughts and ideas that I held as “my best” just moments before. Although my creative hand may have taken a break- my mind remains the perpetual dripping faucet that keeps me up all night. At times I wish I could shut it off so I can rest, but it is then I realize I am truly on a mission. I’m on a mission to be the best me that I can be at whatever it is I do. In doing this I tap into wells and knock on doors of opportunity that I hope one day will positively influence those around me, those I have yet to meet and dare I say- those I will never meet. Those are the priceless gems that I pursuing. Everything else will follow.

We often have heard the saying: “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” I have always believed that as a young person and now a little older, I still find those words just as profound…so without further ado here’s why I decided to never work a day in my life and start my own business!

On a bright sunny day (sounds corny, but the best stories come from those "corny beginnings") I was having a lighthearted conversation with my best friend, Arlene and like so many occasions she said “you are such a nerd.”  Now, being a nerd is something that I have grown accustomed to and have proudly accepted  as a term of endearment. This particular day however was pure serendipity! Being called a nerd that day stuck like wet paper towels to a grade school bathroom ceiling (not that I ever did that) is really what set this entire story in motion.

• "Wouldn’t it be cool to start a Nerd Nation?"

Those are the words that immediately followed Arlene calling me a nerd. When she asked me that question, that old creative button was pushed and the locomotive was rolling!  I was both instantly intrigued and resigned to the idea, but as serendipity would have it, the idea kept nagging at me and so on one of those “dripping faucet” nights, I was intrigued and inspired. Once I accepted the “mission” I had to see it through. Well, the mission can be compared to a thousand piece puzzle thrown in the air. Chaos, right? Exactly! My thoughts were racing and I couldn’t put them together fast enough. I had to slow down and realize that there was no time limit to this mission. The first thing that I wanted was a name and a face to build on. This was the boarder of that puzzle. It took me some time to get it together, but a little help from Twitter and an awesome graphic designer by the name of Dan Robinson Miller came this little nerdy character who still didn’t have a name- neither did the company. After awhile frustration began to rare its ugly head and I had to walk away from the “puzzle!” The faucet still dripped and dripped and dripped. Still nothing. I can remember just staring at this little nerd imploring him for his name. That didn’t work. When all else fails- Google it! I looked up “nerdy boys names” and in the pile of trite and ordinary, there stood the name Nigel! I had found the missing piece and killed two birds with one stone! The name of the character and the company! "Nigel’s Nerd Nation!" The boarder was finally done! Whew!

Nygel, The Nerd

Nigel becomes Nygel...

This was a minor bump in the road, but one that I am glad that I hit. Short story…I did something to my Twitter account and messed up my “Nigel” user name and so, I had to think of something. Nigel simply became Nygel. That’s all to it!

What is Nygel’s Nerd Nation Purpose?


I struggled with this so bad.  I wanted it to be literal nation of nerds that would span across the world, but there was no real substance to that idea, but I didn't want to completely erase it either. I put that idea in the corner of my mind because it had something catchy to it. I also wanted to use Nygel's Nerd Nation for rewards and recognition for students who performed well academically. I have not totally dismissed that idea, but there was still something missing. At this point, it literally feels like I am in a house of crazy mirrors- all these images and ideas, but only one is the genuine foundation. My purpose.

Revisiting myself...

Remember I said that keeping things simple is not always so simple for me? Well, you are seeing in living color in a very truncated view of how I have to take the country mile just to walk a city block. All the things that I wanted Nygel's Nerd Nation to be wasn't 100% true to my vision. Don't get me wrong, doing something positive for kids is a strong desire and in fact Nygel's Nerd Nation has a very dedicated story and purpose all its own that I will post soon, but I realized that those things are respectively secondary. I have to do what I truly love so that all those gems that I mentioned would be beneficiaries of my vision. For as long as I can remember, I have always had a love for cool, retro t-shirts, socks and basically anything that set me apart that other people loved and would begin to imitate. I also prided myself on the fact that I never conformed to popular standards. I was/am my own standard. 

Enter The Nerd Culture...

The Nerd Culture is a true homage to the standard that I set for myself. It's of all things ironically-simple. It's being the best that I can be at what I do best. The Nerd Culture's vision is to not only sell awesome t-shirts and cool socks, but more importantly, it's our goal as a company to encourage each and every Nerd Culture fan to embrace the best that resides in you. When you wear The Nerd Culture name, you are not just someone who purchased an awesome product.You are The Standard and we have our own stamp to prove it!

Starting my own business as it turns out is the easy part. Why did I start it? I'm just a nerdy girl that simply just loves t-shirts and awesome socks and the people that will one day love them as much as I do!The Nerd Culture is about you as much as it is about me.  I told you that keeping it simple was a challenge, but I hope you had a good time anyway!


Much love from...The Nerd Culture