The corporate work experience is notorious for the Sunday blues and dreadful Monday mornings. Each day runs into the next, marked by toxic office culture and unnecessary competition against your peers.
Now imagine a work culture that is built to go against everything the corporate world stands for. Exciting and playful yet professional Monday pitch meetings, laughing with your coworkers about their weekend drama, and uplifting each other with every single article that comes to life. Sounds like a fairytale work culture, right?
Just N Life has just entered the chat.
The Just N Life Origin Story
According to Nekia Nichelle, business owner and mastermind behind the publication, the online platform was initially born from both frustration and inspiration.
“I noticed that a lot of media outlets weren’t telling stories the way I would—especially from a lens that uplifted women, particularly black women,” Nichelle remembers.
Nichelle had previously worked in mainstream media and traditional work environments. Due to the toxic work environments she experienced, lacking flexibility and empathy, Nichelle was called to create something that broke free from all of that.
Despite facing burnout and health challenges, Nichelle says she felt the desire to create a platform that felt both empowering and human. Using the rock-solid support from her fiancé as her initial foundation, Nichelle hit the ground running.
“Just N Life became a space to showcase real stories, real people, and real joy–without the toxicity that can come with mainstream media,” Nichelle says. “We laugh, we celebrate wins, big and small, and we get things done. There’s a rhythm and vibe here that doesn’t feel transactional—it feels intentional.”
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Despite the conventional, corporate way of thinking, there truly is no “I” in team. And the N Crew team could move mountains with their positivity, kindness, and pack-like mentality.
Our beauty trendsetter and newest Senior writer, Vanessa Sweis, was initially hesitant towards the remote aspect of JNL, but easily transitioned in no time.
“After joining the Just N Life team, my perspective of online work culture changed for the better. I feel as if we do connect more remotely compared to in-person jobs,” Sweiss says. “Our community offers a creative space where writers can express themselves freely, bounce ideas off one another, and because of that, I think we have a strong foundation as a team.”
Monday Morning Motivation
One of our newer N Crew writers and certified fashionista like no other, Kayla Blasingame, couldn’t agree more, especially when it comes to our infamous Monday pitch meetings!
“I love, love, love the connection and the behind-the-scenes energy we get during Monday meetings. Writing can sometimes feel like a solo experience, but those meetings bring us all together. Our weekly check-ins, especially the Sweet and Sours, really help ground me, Blasingame commented. “It’s a beautifully diverse group, and I love how that shows up in our writing and conversations.”
Pause. If you’re confused about the Sweet & Sours, sorry to our JNL readers! That’s sacred N Crew information, and we can’t elaborate! No hard feelings…
Another newer writer with striking creativity and red hair to match, Ally Stratis, appreciates that JNL is nothing like her previous job experiences.
“I definitely have had bad experiences with jobs before, but a lot of it came from others not being fully open to hear what everyone else had to say,” Stratis recalls. Since coming on board with the JNL team, it’s been a breath of fresh air for her.
“It feels as though everyone’s voice is heard and everyone’s creative ideas are encouraged. Everyone always seems happy to hear ideas,” Stratis said.
Uplifting Support
Our superstar, Spider-Verse-loving Copy Editor, Gabriel Cruz, never feels like he can’t ask for help from his peers.
“Everyone always keeps an open line of communication! I’m never afraid to reach out to anyone individually in fear of judgement or anything, Cruz explained. “Just N Life has shown me that an online work culture can definitely be much more! There’s a great blend of friendly conversations and productive work time.”
There’s Room for Everyone
Taylor Duff, our outgoing Junior writer with a superpower for pitch ideas, is no stranger to toxic writing environments.
“I have been caught in a turf war with several writers at my school’s newspaper. It was drama upon drama, and I was unaware for a long time,” Duff remembers. Despite past grievances, she’s had a completely different experience with JNL.
“The best part of the Just N Life community is its versatility and diversity. We are spread across the US and come together each week to create amazing articles, social media posts, and connections. It’s truly amazing,” Duff exclaims.
Kayla Lane, one of our publishing editors who makes magic out of any draft, had similar toxic encounters working as a cashier.
“I felt like it was difficult connecting with coworkers who had already formed relationships with each other. I feel like at JNL, we’re all very open and want people to feel included, and aren’t super standoffish and always offer help to each other when needed,” Lane reassured.
Encouraging Confidence
Kayla Britton-Dockery, another champion Copy Editor who could edit in her sleep, credits JNL with helping her come out of her shell, even though we’re a remote community.
“The meetings and engagement activities are my favorite because they make the environment feel less strict, less stressful, and way more laid-back and fun. Even though I’m naturally shy, I’ve been able to come out of my shell a bit and be more extroverted in our virtual space,” Britton-Dockery remarked.
Rory Smith, our Junior Writer with confirmed “Tall King Energy” as we say, doesn’t need an in-person work environment to feel connected to his team.
“The fact that everyone pitches things related to their interests makes it feel like I know some things about everyone here, which makes things feel more personal even if communication is primarily digital. Having profile pictures and being friendly in text messages also helps,” Smith confides.
Coming Back for Seconds
Derek Moreno, our returning Senior Writer who is a master in the kitchen, loved the JNL culture so much that he came back for more!
“There is a reason I came back to Just N Life. I’ve had a lot of jobs since I was sixteen, and only a few I found myself returning,” Moreno says, “But with Just N Life, I didn’t have to—I wanted to. Writing for Just N Life has to be in the top three jobs, if not the number one job, I’ve ever had. It brings me joy, and I think that’s a reflection on the Just N Life community.”
On a personal note to both Nichelle and readers, let this serve as an official love letter to JNL. The very first vision Nichelle set out for this publication has been brought to life and amplified with each published article. This publication is making waves in the digital work world, proving that remote work environments can still create beautiful connections behind a screen. The work culture we have here is like nothing else, and it couldn’t be achieved without the constant dedication from the writers, editors, social media team, and managers.
With love,
The N Crew.
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