Meet Braden Erickson

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Braden Erickson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Braden, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
My optimism comes from my belief in God and the blind confidence which that gives me. As bad as things may get, I feel lucky to be alive every day. Recognizing the beauty in everyday life, objects, and nature is essential. I truly believe that mindset goes a long way. I think that pessimists and people with a “why me” attitude attract so much of the negativity and hardship that they might receive. As high or low as I may get, I just roll with the punches and try to do the best I can.

This optimism goes hand-in-hand with my craft and creative decision-making. Putting work into the world can be scary and revealing at times, but you never know who is going to see or be moved by that same work. I look at every single thing that I create as my big break. My best work is the next one. A lot of the time, the pieces that I feel least confident about get the best reaction from my audience. Being optimistic allows myself the trust to make and take tough creative decisions and risks.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a freelance graphic designer and artist currently open to commissions and collaborations. I’m in a great creative space right now that is experimental and free. I know my strengths and the things that work for me but am also trying to continue exploring and growing my skillset. I’m still deciding who I want to be and where I want to go next as an artist and designer. I’m working on some long-term projects and businesses that you may not hear about for a while. In the meantime, I will continue working and expanding my creative output. I appreciate everyone who is coming along for the ride.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most important qualities that helped me get to where I am today are attentiveness, collaboration, and solitude. My attention to detail is a huge reason I have any amount of success in my craft or life in general. I’ve always been more of a listener than a talker, and I think this has helped me greatly in life. When it comes from a respectable source, I try to act as a sponge and soak up all pieces of advice or information whether it’s right or wrong, or if it’s something I already know. Living in this age of information, the tough task is to decipher between what’s useful or not. A professor can teach an entire class the same lesson, but each student takes away something different from it. Sourcing the information and content that is productive to oneself is key.

Paying attention to like-minded collaborators has been super important to me as well. Heavy hands make light work. Some of my favorite projects or ideas would be nothing without the help of others. You can only do so much alone. Whether it is direct or indirect, my ideas are elevated by the work and products of others. When collaborating directly with another person, I enjoy the challenges and journey required to get to the final product. Everybody works differently and I think it’s good to work with as many types of people as you possibly can. You may not want to work with all of them again, but the process will be beneficial for all parties involved.

On the contrary, solitude has been all the more important on my creative and professional journey. I think I make some of my best work when I’m at my loneliest. There’s something about closing off the rest of the world and all other opinions and just doing exactly what you feel. When you’re alone, for better or worse, you make the rules. There’s no room for criticism or doubt from others; just pure creativity and flow. Sometimes I don’t even know if I like what I’m making or if it’s good at all, but I won’t look for confirmation or gratification from anyone else until I fully see through the idea myself. There’s a time and place for multiple cooks in the kitchen.

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’ve never been the biggest reader outside of things that were assigned to me in academia. I’m trying to change this and get back into reading. For that reason, the books and text that have been most impactful to me are from my younger years. Freak the Mighty is a fictional novel that has really stuck with me. Written by Rodman Philbrick, it is a moving story about friendship. I also love Monster Mama by Liz Rosenberg and Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs by Byron Barton for their message and artistic and design style.

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