Pathways of Purpose
written by Erin De Mille, Founder + CEO
Here is my story, the pathways of purpose – a glimpse into the many ambitious paths that molded and shaped me into an intuitive, resilient, self-assured woman. Learn how the culmination of my experiences, careers and passions inspired me to my nurture my wildest dreams and create my life’s passion project– Erin Nicole Home & Co.
All smiles with my daughter on move-in day at our studio in Downtown San Juan Capistrano, CA.
We all travel on individual and unique life journeys. Some of us walk seemingly predictable and straight forward paths, while others wander and explore down many paths. I consider myself a wanderer– set to explore and experience the vast opportunities the universe presents. Inclined to daydream, and likely to dive wholeheartedly into every endeavor that sparks joy; my life as such a curious and passionate individual continues to mold and shape me. My varied array of life experiences provides me invaluable insights into what motivates me, what garners my highest contribution, and ultimately what brings me the most fulfillment. My trodden path also illuminates all my talents, interests and successes beautifully. As my life culminates, family grows, self exploration deepens and core values engrain, I find the many paths I walked seem to converge and culminate, here.
T H E B E G I N N I N G
Once a young aspiring architect and interior designer, my mother acknowledged my passions and let me explore my creative and artistic ambitions. She surrendered rooms in the home to redecorate, and sponsored every opportunity to develop my skills as an artist, from childhood art classes, to contests and pre-collegiate portfolio development classes at the Laguna College of Art and Design. However, as I pondered a pursuit as an art major, my insecurities as an artist (driven by unhealthy comparison and adolescent immaturity) quelled my ambitions to become an artist.
N E W D I R E C T I O N
In hopes to somehow use my creativity, I settled for a major in the world of public relations and marketing. Surprisingly, I loved this unforeseen career path. With every client and campaign I honed my passions for creativity through captivating visuals and language. I worked in marketing and advertising for various boutique agencies, and even freelance still to this day. However, the stifled creativity and long hours of the start up agency life left much to be desired. My life felt entirely out of balance, with little fulfillment in my work, and hardly time for a life outside of work I desperately clung to the moments that provided calm, peace and simple pleasure. When stress ramped up at work, I found myself going to more Yoga classes. The individualistic aspect, the creative movements and simultaneous consciousness and unconsciousness Yoga provides soothes my soul. One particularly stressful day, I found myself in an evening Yoga class, and one hour later, I signed up for a Yoga teacher training program. That week I quit my job, and started on an entirely new adventure.
D O I N G M Y “ O M ” T H I N G
To this day, I don’t exactly know where the courage and bravery came from to unabashedly abandon my rising marketing career. Maybe it was an escape from feeling overwhelmed, a chance to unload the burden of expectations I placed on myself, or maybe it was the allure of something completely new. No matter the reason, I am forever grateful for that surprising act of impulsivity. My journey to become a yoga teacher, provoked self discovery and healing that forever changed me. I started teaching in the studios right away and quickly found myself teaching Yoga full-time. My servant’s heart satisfied every day with the sweat glistened and peaceful faces of the students I taught. Yet, my ambitions extended beyond the studio environment. I felt a true calling to embark on my own, inspired to change the modern yoga landscape and bring yoga into the workplace. I embraced my entrepreneurial dreams, started a mobile yoga business and employed a team of yoga teachers to follow me on my karmic mission to destress employees like my former self. With the success of my business also came a deep sense of fulfillment as everyday I witnessed the healing power of intention, breath, movement.
I N T E R R U P T E D P A T H S
Content in my simple life with my husband, Stephen, and proud of my humble Yoga business, I remember wondering, “What will come next?” Excited for the unknown possibilities ahead, I quickly found my path redirected. In 2019, we proudly welcomed our first daughter, Alivia. When she arrived I slowed down considerably to enjoy her at home. And for the first time in my life I shifted my focus from career and selfish ambitions to my family entirely. I continued to teach Yoga, but prioritized family time over teaching more or scaling my business. Then… 2020. The effects of the pandemic greatly impacted my corporate yoga business. With in-office yoga off the table, and many of my clients unable to maintain wellness budgets amidst layoffs and furloughs. We were unable to compete with big studios offering free virtual classes. Dejectedly, I paused and temporarily closed the doors to my beloved Yoga business. (Update: July 2021 – Now thankfully we are fully back in operation and offering private sessions in our studio)
B E A U T Y I N T H E U N E X P E C T E D
Locked down with a broken ambitious spirit, I focused on enriching life at home. I “Marie Kondo’d,” decluttered, organized and brought a flexible structure to our days. I played and crafted with my daughter. I spent real quality time with my husband during our many Hygge inspired candlelit at-home date nights. I took on pro bono creative marketing projects to help friend’s businesses hurting during the lockdown. I redecorated little corners of the home and completed abandoned projects. I read, cried, cooked, ate, laughed, loved, danced, journaled and more. I brought my home and spirit to life with simple pleasures and small changes. I allowed myself time and a safe place to once again heal. One day, I allowed myself to step into deep thought and ask the daring question… “What is next?” In this paradoxical place of vulnerability and hope I saw all the paths converge.
I once before used my creative talents to build a marketing career and later the fortitude to market and build my own business. Yoga taught me the power of intention, balance and calm. My introverted homebody personality, obsessed with home decor, design and organization reinvigorated my childhood passion and talent for interior design. And so, where talents and passions collide came the idea for Erin Nicole Home & Co. In August 2021, we signed the lease on our very own studio space in the heart of Downtown San Juan Capistrano, and welcome you to book an appointment to come visit us.
O N T H E P A T H
Erin Nicole Home & Co. is a dream in motion. I hope this will become a collective space to share creative design, organization and inspiration for the modern homemaker. This is also a platform to offer others a home organization service centered on the premise of living intentionally. I plan to support niche and local makers, by selling their products here for you– with each product thoughtfully curated to help bring warmth, simplicity, and purpose into your home. I truly aspire to grow and uplift a community of local and alike homemakers and small business owners, so that together we may reinvigorate the beautiful art of being a homemaker.
My eclectic journey as an artist, marketer, business owner, yoga teacher, mom, wife, and homemaker brings me here. I hope you will enjoy this life-long passion project come to life and continue to support my family and I on our path of purpose.