What Is NonKempet...

I remember, during my time in college at Virginia Tech how frustrated I got when people asked me what my major was. I wasn’t one of those kids that went to school with a clear cut vision of what they wanted to do in life. That uncertainty was very stressful at times but pretty early on I noticed it was not self inflicted stress. It was actually stress from outside sources. That stress heightened once I graduated from college and began to see my peers and close friends get entry level career jobs and subsequently new cars, houses, take trips etc. At that point the stress became self inflicted as well. I was not where I wanted to be, nor was I doing what I wanted to do with myself. I was rushing my journey. I was getting caught up trying to keep up. In 2009 I tried to buy a Chrysler 300 without a job. They let me take the car for about a week while they shopped my profile around for financing. Ultimately every bank said no, and they took the car back. Mentally I was scrambling. I wasn’t where I thought I should be because I was basing it on what my peers were doing. I was still living at home and I had a job with tough hours that put my stomach in knots before EVERY shift. After about a year though, I decided enough was enough and I remember the exact moment I started making very specific and very intentional decisions for my life. I switched to night shift and that immediately took the stomach knots away. During night shift I had to keep myself awake so I started studying for IT certifications to pass the time. I landed my first IT role shortly after and never looked back. Sometime while working those late nights my coworker was working on a brand of his own. I secretly challenged myself to create something true and authentic to me and that’s when NonKempet was born. Although I was in a much better space I remembered those feelings of inadequacy, feeling lesser than. I know a lot of people have had and still have similar thoughts. I still have them today. But I’ve equipped my self with this mantra and at times when I find myself feeling some type of way I literally say it in my head to myself and it like resets my brain. It reminds me that my journey is uniquely my own. Your journey is uniquely your own. Try your very best to be conscious of not letting outside influences negatively impact your decision making or mental health.

Everything I do is rooted in a simple belief: real growth comes from competing only with yourself. That philosophy is the foundation of NonKempet, a brand and mindset I created to represent progression without comparison.

NonKempet began as a personal mantra, something I carry with me  n my own life. Over time, it has evolved into a message I want to share with those that need it.  Whether documenting my journey, collaborating with brands, or developing products, the focus is on building with intention — creating pieces and stories that reflect the life I live while inspiring others to pursue their own path forward.

NonKempet is about mindset, movement, and is designed to remind you that your only competition is who you were yesterday.