NIC KAUFMANN, IS WINNING HEARTS ACROSS THE GLOBE. ORIGINALLY FROM SUNNY SINGAPORE AND NOW CALLING GERMANY HOME, NIC HAS GATHERED A WHOPPING 20 MILLION FOLLOWERS ON VARIOUS PLATFORMS.
JOIN NIC IN A HEARTFELT CONVERSATION AS HE REFLECTS ON CHILDHOOD INFLUENCES, FAMILY VALUES, AND THE TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES THAT HAVE SHAPED HIS PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE. GAIN INSIGHTS INTO HOW HE MANAGES THE CHALLENGES OF FAME WHILE MAINTAINING A DEEP CONNECTION WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS ACROSS THE GLOBE.
• FRONT COVER // BACK COVER •
PHOTOGRAPHY BY • TOPPER KOMM • @TOPPERKOMM.DE
TALENT • NIC KAUFMANN • @NIC.KAUFMANN
STYLING • RIDVAN CAVUS • @MAISON.CAVUS
GROOMING • ASENA AYSAL • @ASENAAYS_
SPECIAL THANKS TO
• BETH MORRIS • @BETHMORRISINTL
NIC WEARS • LUDOVIC DE SAINT SERNIN • GUESS • BALMAIN • DOLCE & GABBANA • REBAR AZIZ • KENZO • VERSACE • BOSS • FILLIPPA K • LARUICCI• 8IGB • ICEBERG • PARIS TEXAS •
PEARL OCTOPUSSY • 6900HAUS •
GROOMING • FENTY BEAUTY • E.L.F. COSMETICS • AWvi • PERS SKINCARE • WELEDA
• NIC KAUFMANN •
GROWING UP, WHO WERE YOUR ROLE MODELS, AND HOW HAVE THEY INFLUENCED THE
PERSON YOU ARE TODAY, BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY?
GROWING UP I ALWAYS HAD MANY DIFFERENT ROLE MODELS BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS CHANGING MY HOBBIES! SOME HOBBIES THAT REMAINED CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT MY CHILDHOOD WERE PLAYING TENNIS AND LISTENING/DISCOVERING MUSIC. I WAS A VERY BIG ROGER FEDERER FAN BECAUSE OF HIS DEDICATION, SPORTSMANSHIP AND CLASS. I WAS ALSO A VERY BIG QUEEN FAN, AND ESPECIALLY A FREDDIE MERCURY FAN. HIS CREATIVITY AND THE NONCHALANT WAY IN WHICH HE CHALLENGED MANY SOCIAL NORMS WERE AND ALWAYS WILL BE INSPIRATIONAL!
BEYOND THE ONLINE PERSONA, WHAT ARE SOME VALUES INSTILLED IN YOU BY YOUR FAMILY THAT YOU CARRY INTO YOUR INFLUENCER CAREER?
MY FATHER ALWAYS PUSHED FOR ME TO BUILD HABITS THAT FOCUS ON CONSISTENCY, RELIABILITY AND SELF IMPROVEMENT. HE WANTED ME TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF AND ALWAYS PUSHED ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. I ONLY RECOGNISED WHERE HE WAS COMING FROM AS AN ADULT, BUT ONCE THAT MINDSET CLICKED IN MY HEAD, IT HAS REMAINED UNTIL TODAY.
MY MOTHER ALWAYS INSTILLED VALUES OF HUMILITY, OPEN-MINDEDNESS, AND ALTRUISM. THESE TEACHINGS HAVE HAD A LONG LASTING IMPACT ON THE WAY I VIEW MYSELF AND INTERACT WITH OTHERS ONLINE. I DEFINITELY STRIVE TO BE INCLUSIVE, USE MY PLATFORM TO HELP THOSE IN NEED AND ALWAYS SPREAD POSITIVITY AND SELF-ACCEPTANCE.
AS YOU NAVIGATE THE DEMANDS OF BEING IN THE PUBLIC EYE, HOW DO YOU
MAINTAIN A SENSE OF PRIVACY AND KEEP A BALANCE BETWEEN YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE AND PERSONAL LIFE?
I TEND TO JUST TAKE TIME OFF WHENEVER I FEEL IT NECESSARY OR APPROPRIATE IN MY LIFE. WHILE I LOVE TO SHARE MY LIFE ONLINE, AND I PICKED THIS CAREER KNOWING I WOULD BE IN THE PUBLIC EYE, SOME THINGS JUST DON’T BELONG ON THE INTERNET. I THINK MY COMMUNITY KNOWS THIS, AND IS ALWAYS VERY ACCEPTING AND CARING OF ME TAKING TIME OF FOR MORE PRIVATE ASPECTS OF MY LIFE. IN A WAY, THIS HAS LEAD TO ME MOTIVATING OTHERS TO TAKE MORE TIME TO DISCONNECT FROM THE INTERNET AND CONNECT WITH THEIR LOVED ONES, WHICH IS SOMETHING I AM VERY PROUD OF.
IN THE WHIRLWIND OF LIFE, HOW DO YOU STAY CONNECTED WITH FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES? WHAT TRADITIONS OR RITUALS DO YOU CHERISH TO NURTURE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS?
I FIND IT EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT TO ALWAYS STAY CONNECTED WITH ALL MY FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY SPAN OVER THE WHOLE WORLD. IN MY INNER FAMILY, EVERY MEMBER IS GENERALLY IN DIFFERENT TIMEZONES AND HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF
KILOMETRES APART. I TRY TO VIDEO CALL AS OFTEN AS I CAN AND I FIND JOY IN MY LOVES ONES SHARING THEIR LIFE WITH ME, PRIVATELY.
ONE TRADITION I HAVE ADOPTED IS TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES WITH MY 9 YEAR OLD SISTER. IT TENDS TO BE DIFFICULT TO TALK TO HER ON THE PHONE BECAUSE SHE IS SO YOUNG, BUT BY PLAYING GAMES SUCH AS ROBLOX TOGETHER WE CAN SPEND HOURS OF QUALITY TIME TOGETHER, WHICH I REALLY CHERISH.
THE GERMAN SIDE OF MY FAMILY HAS A FAMILY DINNER ONCE A YEAR, WHICH THE ENTIRE EXTENDED FAMILY ATTENDS. I MAKE IT A HIGH PRIORITY TO NEVER MISS THIS DINNER, BECAUSE IT IS THE ONE TIME I GET TO SEE EVERYONE IN PERSON. THOSE NIGHTS ARE ALWAYS A TON OF FUN!
WE OFTEN SEE YOUR POSITIVE AND ENERGETIC SIDE IN YOUR CONTENT. HOW DO YOU
NAVIGATE AND HANDLE MOMENTS OF SELF-DOUBT OR CHALLENGES IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE?
I HAVE ACTUALLY FOUND A LOT OF COMFORT IN SHARING THE MORE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF MY LIFE ONLINE TOO! I AM EXTREMELY THANKFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY I HAVE CREATED AND THE WAY WE HAVE NORMALISED BEING OPEN ABOUT OUR PERSONAL STRUGGLES. WHEN SHARING THESE ASPECTS OF MY LIFE, I TEND TO BE MET BY ACCEPTANCE AND EMPATHY INSTEAD OF JUDGEMENT. I HAVE ACTUALLY LEARNT SO MUCH FROM MY COMMUNITY, I DON’T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE WITHOUT THEM.
WE OFTEN SEE THE HIGHLIGHTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT CAN YOU SHARE A MOMENT OF VULNERABILITY OR A LIFE LESSON THAT HAS SIGNIFICANTLY SHAPED YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT TRULY MATTERS IN LIFE?
MY FATHER PASSING AWAY IN 2022 TAUGHT ME A LOT ABOUT MORTALITY, AND USING THE TIME WE HAVE TO THE BEST THAT WE CAN. SINCE THEN, I AM ACTIVELY MORE AWARE ABOUT SPENDING TIME WITH LOVED ONES, LEARNING AND EDUCATING MYSELF, PUTTING MYSELF OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE AND WORKING HARD TO TURN MY PASSIONS INTO A CAREER.
• NIC KAUFMANN •
“ MY FATHER ALWAYS PUSHED FOR ME TO BUILD HABITS THAT FOCUS ON CONSISTENCY, RELIABILITY AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT.”
• NIC KAUFMANN •
OUTSIDE OF WORK, WHAT'S A PASSION PROJECT OR CAUSE THAT HOLDS A SPECIAL
PLACE IN YOUR HEART, AND WHY IS IT MEANINGFUL TO YOU?
I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO FOUND A CHARITY WHICH FOCUSES ON PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATING IN LESS PRIVILEGED AREAS OF THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN INDIA. IN THE TIME I HAVE SPENT IN INDIA, I HAVE MET SO MANY EXCEPTIONALLY BRIGHT AND INTELLIGENT CHILDREN, WHO SPENT THEIR TIME WORKING DAY JOBS TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY. THE THOUGHT OF MANY OF THEM NEVER KNOWING THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL, NEVER BEING AWARE OF HOW SPECIAL THEY ARE, AND BEING UNABLE TO BREAK OUT OF THE POVERTY CYCLE IS A HAUNTING THOUGHT TO ME.
THE FIRST TIME THIS REALISATION CAME TO ME, I HAD A VERY STRONG MOMENT OF SELF- REFLECTION, AND LEARNT TO REALLY BE GRATEFUL THAT MY PARENTS WERE ABLE TO GRANT ME THE PRIVILEGE OF A STRONG EDUCATION. IN THAT MOMENT, I RECOGNISED THAT IT WOULD BE AN HONOUR TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE QUALITY EDUCATION.
WE ALL HAVE DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS. WHAT'S A PERSONAL GOAL, COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM YOUR CAREER, THAT YOU'RE ACTIVELY WORKING TOWARDS OR HOPING TO ACHIEVE IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
ROUGHLY 6 MONTHS AFTER MY DAD PASSED AWAY I, ACCIDENTALLY, REALLY GOT INTO SKIING. MY DAD WAS AN FREAK OF NATURE, AND ALWAYS PUSHED HIS LIMITS. HE WAS VERY TALENTED WHEN IT CAME TO EXTREME SPORTS, AND WAS VERY SKILLED AT SKIING, SNOWBOARDING AND WINDSURFING, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
I NEVER REALLY GOT THE CHANCE TO SKI WITH MY DAD, WITH THE ONE TIME BEING THE FIRST TIME I WENT SKIING, AT 19 YEARS OLD. I WAS LEARNING FROM MY GRANDPA AND MY DAD WAS TAKING CARE OF MY LITTLE SISTER SOPHIA. WE DIDN’T SEE EACH OTHER MUCH THAT DAY AND JUST ASSUMED WE WOULD HAVE MANY MORE SKI DAYS TO COME.
SOMEHOW, BY PUSHING MYSELF TO BECOME BETTER AT THE SPORTS HE LOVED, I FEEL LIKE I AM MAKING HIM PROUD. I LEARNT HOW TO SKI 1 YEAR AGO, AND I AM SET ON DOING A SKI TOUR IN THE NEXT 2 OR 3 YEARS, WHICH MEANS I REALLY HAVE TO PUSH MYSELF TO IMPROVE QUICKLY, IN ORDER TO COMPLETE MY GOAL SAFELY. MY CURRENT TIME GOAL IS AT THE END OF 2024/BEGINNING OF 2025, WHICH MEANS I HAVE ROUGHLY 2 YEARS TIME. I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO BE IN A POSITION IN MY LIFE WHERE I HAVE THE ABILITY TO TRAVEL AS MUCH AS I CAN, WHICH ALLOWS ME TO MAKE ACTIVELY WORK INTO TURNING MY GOAL INTO A REALITY.
AS YOU CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY, WHAT PERSONAL LEGACY DO YOU HOPE TO LEAVE
BEHIND? HOW DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER NIC KAUFFMAN, THE PERSON, NOT JUST THE INFLUENCER?
IT WAS NEVER A LARGE GOAL OF MINE TO BE REMEMBERED IN THE FIRST PLACE. I DON’T PLACE A PUBLIC LEGACY VERY HIGHLY ON MY LIST OF PRIORITIES.
BUT IF I WERE TO HAVE ONE, I WOULD LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED AS SOMEONE WHO INSPIRED OTHERS TO LIVE A MORE FULFILLING LIFE. TO BUILD MORE FULFILLING CONNECTIONS, DISCOVER AND CULTIVATE LOVE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL AS STRANGERS. I WOULD LIKE TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE THAN WHEN THEY CAME INTO IT, WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN A TOP PRIORITY PERSONAL GOAL OF MINE. LASTLY, I WOULD LOVE TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO PUSH THEIR BOUNDARIES, TO EXPLORE THE WORLD AND ALL OF ITS RICH AND UNIQUE CULTURE, TO LEARN THAT SKILL OR LANGUAGE THEY THINK THEY NEVER COULD, AND TO FIND A PURPOSE IN THE WAY THEY ENTERTAIN THEMSELVES IN.
IN MOMENTS OF SELF-REFLECTION, WHAT ACHIEVEMENT OR PERSONAL GROWTH ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF THAT MIGHT NOT BE APPARENT TO YOUR AUDIENCE?
THAT’S A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION! I HAVE HAD THE MISFORTUNE OF EXPERIENCING MANY UNCONVENTIONAL TIMES OF STRONG TRAUMA. I AM EXTREMELY PROUD OF MYSELF FOR ALWAYS COMING BACK STRONGER, CUTTING OUT BAD HABITS I HAD DEVELOPED, AND RE-FOCUSING ON FINDING PERSONAL AND DEEP PURPOSE IN LIFE. I AM ALSO EXTREMELY PROUD TO HAVE LEARNT TO NOT BE TOO HARD ON MYSELF, AND TO LET MYSELF SLIP WHEN IT IS NECESSARY, KNOWING THAT I NEED TIME TO PROCESS AND HEAL.
IF YOU COULD SPEND A DAY WITH ANYONE, LIVING OR DECEASED, WHO WOULD IT BE
AND WHY? WHAT CONVERSATIONS OR ACTIVITIES WOULD YOU ENGAGE IN DURING THAT DAY?
I THINK I WOULD SPEND THE DAY WITH MY FATHER, WHO HAS PASSED AWAY. I DON’T EVEN KNOW IF I WOULD WANT TO RUIN THE MOMENT BY ASKING THE QUESTIONS I HAVE BEEN DYING TO HEAR THE ANSWERS TOO. SOMETIMES I THINK THAT MAYBE THE WAY THINGS HAPPEN ARE THE WAY THEY ARE MEANT TO BE. I THINK I’D PROBABLY DO SOME KIND OF ARTS AND CRAFTS PROJECT WITH HIM, MAYBE BUILD AN ELECTRIC AIRPLANE/GLIDER TO PLAY AROUND WITH, AND JUST HAVE FUN ENGINEERING IT TO PERFECTION BEFORE THE DAY ENDS. I WOULD ALSO LOVE TO COOK HIS LEGENDARY LASAGNA RECIPE TOGETHER SO THAT I CAN RECREATE IT PERFECTLY FOR MY FAMILY.
• NIC KAUFMANN •
IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO HAVE A HEART-TO-HEART CONVERSATION WITH YOUR YOUNGER SELF, WHAT ADVICE OR INSIGHTS WOULD YOU SHARE, KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW?
I THINK I WOULD TELL YOUNGER ME THAT IT WILL ALL TURN OUT OK. I TEND TO REPEAT THAT SENTENCE TO MYSELF FREQUENTLY AND YOUNGER ME WAS INCREDIBLY STRESSED, OFTEN ABOUT THINGS OUTSIDE OF HIS CONTROL. I’D SIT DOWN TOGETHER WITH A YOUNGER ME AND JUST TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND DE-STRESS.
AS YOU'VE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS, HOW HAS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS
CHANGED, AND WHAT METRICS DO YOU USE TO MEASURE PERSONAL FULFILLMENT IN YOUR LIFE?
THE ONLY METRIC I USE TO MEASURE MY PERSONAL FULFILMENT IN LIFE IS BY MY MENTAL HEALTH. MY MENTAL HEALTH SITS AT THE VERY TOP OF MY PRIORITIES, ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE. WITHOUT A STRONG MIND, I CAN’T FOCUS ON THE OTHER BITS OF LIFE THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO ME. IF MY MENTAL HEALTH IS TELLING ME I NEED A BREAK OR I NEED TO RUN DOWN AN ADHD RABBIT HOLE OF RANDOM EDUCATION OR A NEW HOBBY, THEN THAT IS THE WAY IT IS.
WHAT'S A BOOK, MOVIE, OR PIECE OF ART THAT HAS PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED YOUR
PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE, AND HOW DID IT RESONATE WITH YOU ON A PERSONAL LEVEL?
THE MOVIE GOOD WILL HUNTING CHANGED MY PERCEPTION OF HAPPINESS AND FULFILMENT IN LIFE. I THINK THERE IS SOME VERY STRONG TWISTED POETIC ASPECT TO ROBIN WILLIAMS’ ROLE AND HIS TEACHINGS ON HOW TO TRAVERSE LIFE IN CHARACTER, ESPECIALLY GIVEN HIS UNFORTUNATE PASSING AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF IT YEARS AFTER HE HAD ACTED THE ROLE. SOMEHOW, THAT REALLY STUCK WITH ME, AND I THINK ABOUT IT A LOT.
BEYOND THE DIGITAL REALM, WHAT'S A PLACE ON EARTH THAT HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN YOUR HEART, AND WHAT ABOUT IT RESONATES WITH YOU?
ASIDE FROM FAMILY RESIDENCES (E.G. GRANDPARENTS PLACE), I THINK NATURE REALLY CALLS TO ME. WHILE I LOVE BEACHES AND THE OCEAN, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT CALLS ME TO MOUNTAINS. THE FEELING OF BEING ON TOP OF THE WORLD, EXPERIENCING TRUE SILENCE, BREATHING THE BEST AIR IN THE WORLD AND DRINKING WATER WHICH COMES DIRECTLY FROM MOUNTAIN RESERVOIRS OR GLACIERS GIVES ME IMMENSE ENERGY AND PEACE.
WATCHING THE SUN RISE OVER SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAINS AND ILLUMINATING VALLEYS OF BEAUTIFUL GREENERY IS SOMETHING I COULD NEVER GET BORED OF. THERE IS A VERY STRONG BEAUTY IN THE WAY MOUNTAINOUS AREAS OF OUR WORLD HAVE BEEN SHAPED OVER MILLENNIA THROUGH THE NATURAL FLOW OF WATER, THE CONSISTENCY OF WEATHER AND THE MINOR CHANGES IN THE EARTHS CRUST.
• NIC KAUFMANN •
ON A QUIET SUNDAY MORNING, WITH NO COMMITMENTS, HOW WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO SPEND THE DAY IN A WAY THAT BRINGS YOU THE UTMOST JOY AND CONTENTMENT?
THIS IS A TOUGH QUESTION, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS I LOVE TO DO ON FREE DAYS! I THINK THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT WAY FOR ME TO SPEND A SUNDAY IS TO USE THE TIME I HAVE TO REGATHER MY THOUGHTS AND STRUCTURE MY LIFE AGAIN. CLEAN UP MY APARTMENT, WATER THE PLANTS, DO SOME SKINCARE, MAYBE EVEN WORK ON THINGS THAT I FIND FUN, THAT
WOULD NORMALLY PRIORITISE LOWER THAN WORK WHICH PAYS THE BILLS. I THINK KEEPING THE MOMENTUM YOU HAVE IN LIFE IS VERY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU TEND TO LIVE IN A LIFESTYLE WHICH OPPOSES ROUTINES AND CONSISTENCY. IF YOU LET YOURSELF SLIP YOU HAVE TO CATCH YOURSELF AND CLIMB BACK UP THE NEXT DAY, WHICH IS OFTEN MORE EXHAUSTING THAN PEACEFULLY MAINTAINING YOUR MOMENTUM IN AN ENJOYABLE AND RELAXING WAY.
WHEN FACED WITH TOUGH DECISIONS, HOW DO YOU TAP INTO YOUR INTUITION OR GUT
FEELING? CAN YOU SHARE A TIME WHEN FOLLOWING YOUR INSTINCTS LED TO A POSITIVE OUTCOME?
I HAVE LEARNED OVER TIME TO REALLY RELY ON MY GUT INSTINCT. DOING WHAT YOU FEEL IS THE RIGHT DECISION WILL OFTEN LEAD TO YOU HANDLING SITUATIONS THAT EMERGE FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR DECISION DIFFERENTLY. THERE IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF CONFIDENCE AND DETERMINATION IN EVERYTHING YOU DO AFTERWARDS. I ALWAYS TRUST MY GUT INSTINCT WHEN IT COMES TO CONNECTING WITH OTHERS AND I HAVE MADE LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS, WITH MEMORIES FULL OF INTENSE AFFECTION AND EMPATHY BY TRUSTING MY GUT FEELING.
I VERY RARELY HAVE POSITIVE EXPERIENCES WHICH COME FROM NOT TRUSTING MY GUT FEELING WITH OTHER PEOPLE. THIS MAY BE DUE TO ME INTERACTING DIFFERENTLY WITH THEM, BECAUSE THE GUT FEELING IS STILL THERE MAKING ME QUESTION MY ACTIONS. THIS GOES BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING ABOUT YOUR GUT FEELING SUBCONSCIOUSLY INFLUENCING THE WAY YOU INTERACT WITH THE WORLD AROUND YOU.
• NIC KAUFMANN •
IN MOMENTS OF SELF-REFLECTION, WHAT ACHIEVEMENT OR PERSONAL GROWTH ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF THAT MIGHT NOT BE APPARENT TO YOUR AUDIENCE?
I FEEL LIKE I MATURED MUCH LATER THAN MANY OF MY PEERS, BUT ONCE THE PROCESS BEGAN IT WAS EXTREMELY RAPID. ONE OF MY BIGGEST PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENTS IS THAT I HAVE REMAINED THE SAME PERSON, WITH A GOOD HEART, REGARDLESS OF WHERE MY CAREER HAS TAKEN ME AND WHAT OPPORTUNITIES I HAD. IT’S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO REMEMBER YOUR ROOTS WHEN LIFE IS MOVING SO FAST AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. WHEN I REFLECT ON EVERYTHING I HAVE BEEN THROUGH (BOTH POSITIVELY AND NEGATIVELY), I TRULY AM PROUD OF MYSELF.
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE THE ESSENCE OF WHO YOU ARE, WHAT
WOULD IT BE, AND WHY DOES THAT PARTICULAR WORD HOLD SIGNIFICANT MEANING FOR YOU?
ITS NEVER AN EASY TASK TO DESCRIBE ANYTHING IN ONE WORD, MUCH LESS SOMETHING AS COMPLEX AS A PERSONALITY. I THINK IF I HAD TO PICK ONE WORD I WOULD CHOOSE THE WORD ‘CREATIVE’. I STILL DON’T REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW MY BRAIN WORKS BUT I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE KIND OF PERSON WHO’S MIND WANDERS OFF UNCONTROLLABLY, OFTEN IMAGINING SCENARIOS OR IDEAS THAT I HAVE NOT BEEN PROMPTED TO THINK ABOUT. AS A CHILD, I WOULD SPEND HOURS WANDERING AROUND THE HOUSE MAKING SOUND EFFECTS AND ACTIONS ACCORDING TO WHATEVER FANTASY STORYLINE I HAD IN MY HEAD. THE ADULTS IN MY LIFE WERE VERY CONCERNED FOR ME FOR A LONG TIME, BUT I WAS JUST A CHILD WHO HAD MOVIES IN HIS HEAD. I THINK THIS ASPECT OF MY BRAIN NEVER FULLY LEFT ME, IT JUST MATURED TOGETHER WITH ME.
LOOKING AHEAD, WHAT DO YOU ENVISION AS NIC KAUFFMAN'S IDEAL DAY, BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY? HOW WOULD YOU STRIKE THAT PERFECT BALANCE THAT BRINGS YOU FULFILLMENT IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE?
I DON’T THINK I REALLY COULD DESCRIBE AN IDEAL DAY IN DETAIL. SOMETHING THAT I EXTREMELY ENJOY IS LEARNING, EXPERIENCING OR TRYING SOMETHING NEW FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND THAT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN ONLY DO ONCE IN YOUR LIFE. I THINK MY IDEAL DAY WOULD BE AN ADVENTURE WITH MY LOVED ONES, A DAY WHICH PUSHES US OUTSIDE OF OUR COMFORT ZONE AND TO GROW AS PEOPLE. GROWING TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE YOU LOVE IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL. I DON’T THINK MY IDEAL DAY WOULD HAVE MUCH PROFESSIONALISM OR WORK IN IT, BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD SUBTRACT FROM THE RAW, TRUE, QUALITY TIME I WOULD BE HAVING.
• NIC KAUFMANN •
“ I HAVE
ACTUALLY LEARNT SO MUCH FROM MY COMMUNITY, I DON’T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE WITHOUT THEM.”
