“Make your life a story worth telling.”
Today I’ve got my good friend Adam Braun on the show, and I’m excited because I’ve been able to be a part of his story over the last 5 years of building his charity, Pencils of Promise. I met Adam through a mutual friend, Reid, and after a couple beers, we set off to what has become a synchronous business partnership. As we talk about later in the podcast, one thing I saw in him when we met was a mixture that is rare: a bleeding heart for the cause, and the amazing mind to build a business. He invited me to come to Laos to shoot and build branding imagery for the organization when he had built one school. Now fast forward 5 years and we just got back from Ghana together and celebrated the ground breaking of the 200th school. I feel so grateful to have been able to be a part of the movement.
Adam’s new book called “The Promise of a Pencil” comes out this week. I’m excited about the release as it’s going to be an amazing one about finding your purpose, with 30 lessons and stories on how to do that. Not only is his story great, but if you find yourself in a place where you are searching for your purpose, it will be a great read. Adam really discovered his purpose after he was on the Semester at Sea boat that was hit by a 60 foot wave and they barely made it out alive. Now he sees living life with purpose as the most fulfilling way to live.
I always describe Adam as the guy you talk to for 5 minutes and you want to go change the world. He’s a highly inspiring individual and is on a mission to create a new space at the intersect of the non-profit and for profit space he calls “For Purpose,” which we talk a little bit about in the podcast.
Get pumped to want to get off your butt and change the world!
“The longer time that you spend being content, satisfied, and comfortable, the less exposure you have to self-discovery.”
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/adam-braun” title=”Adam Braun – How to Find Your Purpose” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/11_AdamBraun_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”de4b9b” ]
“Make your life a story worth telling.”
Today I’ve got my good friend Adam Braun on the show, and I’m excited because I’ve been able to be a part of his story over the last 5 years of building his charity, Pencils of Promise. I met Adam through a mutual friend, Reid, and after a couple beers, we set off to what has become a synchronous business partnership. As we talk about later in the podcast, one thing I saw in him when we met was a mixture that is rare: a bleeding heart for the cause, and the amazing mind to build a business. He invited me to come to Laos to shoot and build branding imagery for the organization when he had built one school. Now fast forward 5 years and we just got back from Ghana together and celebrated the ground breaking of the 200th school. I feel so grateful to have been able to be a part of the movement.
Adam’s new book called “The Promise of a Pencil” comes out this week. I’m excited about the release as it’s going to be an amazing one about finding your purpose, with 30 lessons and stories on how to do that. Not only is his story great, but if you find yourself in a place where you are searching for your purpose, it will be a great read. Adam really discovered his purpose after he was on the Semester at Sea boat that was hit by a 60 foot wave and they barely made it out alive. Now he sees living life with purpose as the most fulfilling way to live.
I always describe Adam as the guy you talk to for 5 minutes and you want to go change the world. He’s a highly inspiring individual and is on a mission to create a new space at the intersect of the non-profit and for profit space he calls “For Purpose,” which we talk a little bit about in the podcast.
Get pumped to want to get off your butt and change the world!
“The longer time that you spend being content, satisfied, and comfortable, the less exposure you have to self-discovery.”
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/adam-braun” title=”Adam Braun – How to Find Your Purpose” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/11_AdamBraun_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”de4b9b” ]







“Make your life a story worth telling.”
Today I’ve got my good friend Adam Braun on the show, and I’m excited because I’ve been able to be a part of his story over the last 5 years of building his charity, Pencils of Promise. I met Adam through a mutual friend, Reid, and after a couple beers, we set off to what has become a synchronous business partnership. As we talk about later in the podcast, one thing I saw in him when we met was a mixture that is rare: a bleeding heart for the cause, and the amazing mind to build a business. He invited me to come to Laos to shoot and build branding imagery for the organization when he had built one school. Now fast forward 5 years and we just got back from Ghana together and celebrated the ground breaking of the 200th school. I feel so grateful to have been able to be a part of the movement.
Adam’s new book called “The Promise of a Pencil” comes out this week. I’m excited about the release as it’s going to be an amazing one about finding your purpose, with 30 lessons and stories on how to do that. Not only is his story great, but if you find yourself in a place where you are searching for your purpose, it will be a great read. Adam really discovered his purpose after he was on the Semester at Sea boat that was hit by a 60 foot wave and they barely made it out alive. Now he sees living life with purpose as the most fulfilling way to live.
I always describe Adam as the guy you talk to for 5 minutes and you want to go change the world. He’s a highly inspiring individual and is on a mission to create a new space at the intersect of the non-profit and for profit space he calls “For Purpose,” which we talk a little bit about in the podcast.
Get pumped to want to get off your butt and change the world!
“The longer time that you spend being content, satisfied, and comfortable, the less exposure you have to self-discovery.”
[smart_track_player url=”https://soundcloud.com/nickonken/adam-braun” title=”Adam Braun – How to Find Your Purpose” image=”https://nionlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/11_AdamBraun_NIONradio_02.jpg” color=”de4b9b” ]

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TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post AI Isn’t Optional Anymore If you’re running a business in 2026 and not using AI, you’re already behind. That’s not hype. It’s just the reality of how fast things are moving. Whether you’re a coach, creative, consultant, or brand builder — AI is how you stay lean, […]

Because this isn’t just a photoshoot. It’s a portal. If you’re here, you already know this isn’t about taking “pictures.” It’s about capturing essence. Crafting identity. Transmitting the frequency of who you are becoming. This is more than a brand refresh. It’s a visual rite of passage. And it begins with a simple, sacred step: […]

TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post Your Brand Lives in a Specific Universe A personal brand isn’t just what you offer — it’s the world you create around your work.That universe gets defined through imagery. Not only your presence, but the environments you inhabit. The textures that surround you. The quality of light […]

You’ve probably seen both. You might even think they’re the same thing. But there’s a fundamental difference between headshots and brand photography that changes everything about how your audience perceives you. One simply shows your face. The other tells your story. What Headshots Are Actually For A headshot has one job: identification. Think of it […]

TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post You Are the Brand If you’re still hiding behind your offer… If you’re still using a cropped wedding photo for your headshot… If you’re still telling yourself you need to “figure it all out first”… Let this be your permission slip: You are the face of your […]

TLDR | What You’ll Learn in This Post This Wasn’t Just a Tattoo I’ve wanted a tattoo from Balazs for years. Not because he’s popular, but because I knew this guy was channeling something real. When the time finally aligned, I didn’t just walk into a session. I stepped into a portal. The Intention: A […]

If you’re an entrepreneur, your personal brand isn’t just a logo — it’s your face, your energy, and the story you’re telling in every scroll. So when it comes to choosing a personal brand photographer, you don’t need someone who just “takes nice pictures.” You need someone who knows how to translate your identity into […]

TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post Your Location Isn’t Background — It’s Identity Where you shoot isn’t just about what looks cool. It’s about resonance. It’s about embodiment. It’s about visually designing a space that holds your energy. “Your brand visuals don’t just show who you are — they show the world you […]

A personal brand is not your logo. It’s not your colors. It’s not just your website. Your personal brand is the perception people have of you when you’re not in the room — shaped by your presence, your visuals, your voice, and how consistently you embody your values. It’s who you are and who you’re […]

TL;DR – What You’ll Learn in This Post Your Brand Isn’t a Feed — It’s a Frequency We’ve all seen it: the influencer with polished photos but no soul. The brand that feels like a mask. That’s not personal branding — that’s performance. A real personal brand? It’s how you live. It’s what you do […]

A Brand Isn’t Just a Logo — It’s a Mirror Your personal brand isn’t a website, a color palette, or a polished grid. It’s an evolving expression of who you are — and who you’re becoming. More than that, it’s a container. A space that calls you to rise. To embody your message. To stay […]

Let’s put it this way: If you want stiff headshots in a gray suit against a beige wall — probably not. If you want a photoshoot that feels like an editorial spread, emotional breakthrough, and creative awakening all in one — then yes. Nick Onken is very good at what he does. What Makes Nick […]

Most First-Time Brand Shoots Miss the Mark — Here’s Why If you’re preparing for your first brand photoshoot, you’re likely focused on the obvious: outfits, lighting, maybe even the perfect smile. But what actually makes a photoshoot land is much deeper — and most people don’t know what to look for. And unfortunately, that’s why most first-time […]
I was born in a low middle class conservative religious family in the suburbs of Seattle. Art was and always has been my passion, and more than that a way of life. Starting as a graphic designer, I taught myself photography, built a commercial/editorial business shooting for the worlds biggest brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Adidas and more. I've also had the opportunity to photograph the world's biggest celebrities like Justin Bieber, Usher, Jessica Alba and more. I've curated a lifestyle around creativity and have learned a lot along the way which I get to share here.
I was born in a low middle class conservative religious family in the suburbs of Seattle. Art was and always has been my passion, and more than that a way of life. Starting as a graphic designer, I taught myself photography, built a commercial/editorial business shooting for the worlds biggest brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Adidas and more. I've also had the opportunity to photograph the world's biggest celebrities like Justin Bieber, Usher, Jessica Alba and more. I've curated a lifestyle around creativity and have learned a lot along the way which I get to share here.