Bräin, my nickname, originated from the Puerto Vallarta 📝Awesomeness Fest in 2014.

For reasons unknown, my nametag was printed as “Brain” and—seeing the offered replacement looking way less cool—I opted to add an umlah* over the “a” to roll with the 📝Happy Accident. What I didn’t expect was that the intimacy of the event, 250 people sharing space for a week of talks and activities, would lead to more people knowing me as Bräin than Brian… and such perpetuating beyond the conference as new friends made introductions to others after such concluded.

Contexts

• 🏷️#brian-swichkow (See: 📝Brian Swichkow)