Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Cogan.
Nicole, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
After my sophomore year of school at Cornell University, and a life full of unexplained illnesses, I was diagnosed with my gluten allergy (amongst others). At the time, I was studying Finance and planning a career at JP Morgan for when I graduated school. I struggled to find tasty gluten-free options at restaurants and recipes to make for myself, so the creative in me started a blog to feature these options.
Honestly, I started NOBREAD selfishly, as a guide for myself. I was constantly getting sick when I was dining out with my clients, so my blog posts were really just reminders to myself of what I could and couldn’t have the next time I went to that restaurant. “Gluten-free” was becoming a thing, and whenever someone had a gluten-free question, they were told to ask that “nobread girl”! One thing led to another and I fell SO In love with my blog. I felt like I had two full-time jobs! One paid me too much, and one paid me nothing but made me the happiest and best version of myself. I took the leap of faith a few months before my 25th birthday… fast forward five years and look at me now!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I always say that the highs I’ve experienced on my own as an entrepreneur are higher than any high I had at my desk job, but the lows are lower than any low. In my first year as “NOBREAD”, I didn’t make a single penny! I truly had to GRIND to not only make NOBREAD become the creative vision I had for it, but also a profitable business. I quickly learned that “no” was a word I was going to hear often, but I could not let “no” defeat me. I had to take “no” as motivation to keep grinding and turn it into a yes… easier said than done! One of the biggest challenges I face day to day is changing with the time and continuing to develop my brand in a way that is relevant. For example, NOBREAD started as a gluten-free dining guide with the goal of converting restaurant menus into gluten-free menus. As the gluten-free industry became more prominent, restaurants started doing this on their own! I had to expand my brand to include recipes, lifestyle elements, products and more to satisfy areas where I and NOBREAD would be needed.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with NOBREAD – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
When I first started NOBREAD, my goal was to change the way restaurants and the hospitality industry catered to people with gluten-allergies and other dietary restrictions. My brand has grown and developed so much over the years, and my gluten-free recommendations went on to include recipes and products. In recent years, the health and wellness industry has totally blown up and is a HUGE part of our culture and the world’s culture. My goal now is not only to showcase the best in gluten-free but the best in innovative health and wellness (for example the benefits of CBD, gut health, practices like cryotherapy) and more! I strive to show people that living a healthy life and L I V I N G their life do NOT have to be incongruent! It’s all about balance!
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am SO excited for my and NOBREAD’s future. Writing has always been my passion it is why I started blogging so I am finally working on my first book! I am also fortunate to know and continue to meet so many interesting people, and I will be launching a podcast that will feature these people and their health and wellness secrets, hacks, favorite trends, and routines!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.nobread.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nobread/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/c/nicolecogan
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