Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shauna Haider. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Shauna, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Finding my purpose wasn’t a straight path but I knew it was up to me to uncover it; nobody was going to do the work for me.
I knew from the age of four that I was meant to be an artist and set out on that path. Winning awards and contests made me feel like I was on my way from a young age but then, as it sometimes happens with big dreams, reality set in.
I started asking myself, “If I went to school for fine art, how would I make a living?” And, the more immediate question was, “Can I even afford art school?”
Both questions left me feeling stuck so I took a safer route, out of a combination of practicality and fear kicking in. I went to school for business instead and stuck it out but you can guess what happened on the other side; I was left feeling unfulfilled and again questioning my path.
I still had the burning feeling that art was the answer, but how could I make it work?
As I began to enter the path of self-discovery in my early 20s, I discovered graphic design. And from that moment on, everything clicked.
From my first day of classes on, I knew I’d found my purpose. 17 years later, I still feel aligned and excited to work on new design projects every day, even through the ups and downs, along with the industry shifts.
I’m thankful for the life experience I had before I found my purpose and wouldn’t change anything.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I founded We Are Branch, a boutique branding studio based in Palm Springs that partners with clients worldwide.
We create aligned strategy, branding and websites for ambitious female founders who want to sidestep the sea of same.
Our creative solutions are centered around the unique qualities of our clients, helping them carve out a memorable brand experience that gets them noticed by their perfect-fit audience.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I knew there was always a way forward. I didn’t expect it to be easy but I knew that if I kept showing up and trying, I would get to where I wanted to go. Instead of letting roadblocks along the way defeat me, I took the lessons I learned from each one and filed away the knowledge.
I viewed every freelance job I took on as a learning experience. No matter how it went, I knew it would build to the next project and I would sharpen my skills a little bit more each time.
I had a genuine love for design and this feeling kept me motivated to show up, through the ups and downs. I had a lot of tough moments where I had to reset but I never wanted to give up — I knew I was in alignment with this path and it would somehow work out.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
I listen to mostly audiobooks these days so I can play them in the background while I’m working. Our subconscious mind is so powerful and accounts for something like 95% of our brain power so it’s important to feed it good things.
I focus on mostly personal development and business titles to keep me feeling mentally strong. A few of my favorites I revisit again and again are:
A Happy Pocket Full of Money by David Cameron Gikandi
Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
The Magic of Believing by Claude Bristol
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
There’s an optimistic outlook to each one and plenty of personal anecdotes earned from hard-won life experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wearebranch.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/wearebranch
- Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wearebranch/
Image Credits
Studio 5800
