We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Erika VanArsdel a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Erika, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
For much of life, I didn’t really think about this question. As children in public education systems, we are often asked “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I never had the same answer. I dabble in a bit of everything: drawing, coding, biological sciences. Some things are consistent: I’ve always loved hiking + travel – thanks to being an air force brat. The call of the wild always gets loud enough to bring me back, year after year. Eventually I found a job as an educator for the DNR, and this lit a spark in me I’d never felt before. Pairing knowledge with my previous array of random interests, I began exploring ecology on the literal + academic level in order to better answer the questions of park guests. In my spare time I started selling drawings, since the DNR job was good but we always need more money – thus I formed DracoVisions LLC to organize the financial and resource flow. Meanwhile, that spark quickly grew into a roaring inferno of concern: how can I meaningfully help these issues? Have a bigger impact? Science ever strives to approach the truth, but how do we know to ask the right questions, to feel a personal connection to the puzzles and problems around us? Eventually this led to the formation of the game Fractal Force (the main DracoVisions project), which happens to combine pretty much everything I have ever done, using every facet of me to the extreme. Fractal Force consolidates into a single purpose: encouraging humanity to seek the truth by way of evidence. It is our only reliable path into a better future.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Fractal Force is a tabletop trading card game developed under DracoVisions LLC, solely by me – with a few outsourced methods for product photography and physical printing.
The game is focused on the natural sciences, with a heavy focus on ecology. Truly, though, the scope of FF is limitless. The player or players connect topic cards by matching thematic shapes and color, and must relate each newly placed card to each connected card. Shapes are visually useful, and also assist the colorblind to be more inclusive. Relationships must be factual: many connections thus lead to surprising leaps in knowledge, relating topics that you’d probably never think to connect otherwise. You really want to connect your card to as many other cards as possible per turn, so this often forces (get it? Fractal FORCE?) spontaneous gains of information.
The cards can be purchased cheaply as a digital asset online, then printed and cut out at home, even colored in if you’d like to save ink. Fancier cards on tougher material can be purchased for a true card-playing feel (much more expensive, sorry! But that’s why FF is also available for at-home printing). Eventually, the game will also go digital, since it does take a lot of real-estate on a flat surface to play properly. But it sure can be nice to unplug now and then, spending time with yourself, friends, and family! That was why I didn’t go digital in the first place.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Quality: Ability to Plan and Adhere to the Plan (Willpower, Endurance) You simply must have a clear goal in mind, and develop major steps to get there. There are countless hurdles and tiny steps in-between these main steps that serve to distract, mislead, and prevent progression – you cannot foresee them all. Keeping your eyes on the summit while also looking back along your main steps helps keep you in line. You will have to sacrifice, there is almost no doubt about that: usually it’s time that is the greatest toll, Time with family and friends set aside seems selfish, but it is within you to make that choice every day if you know you must. Cherish any support you receive.
Area of Knowledge: Business and Law
Research what you need to do. What are you creating? How can this be reported for or against you on taxes: do everything in your power to justify a business expense without pushing against or breaking the law. Is what you are doing allowed or overly complicated in your state/location? Are you protecting yourself – that’s what a solo LLC is for, to take the hit of an angry party instead of your personal assets. Do you follow the advice of established, successful people? Do so, their posts will serve to inspire you when you feel stuck in the doldrums.
Skill: Digital language.
Whatever you’re doing, our world is fast-paced in a digital age. Learn how to type fast, read + write in your primary language well (if not more than one), manipulate images, convert files, use formulas, code. Even if you can’t make it on your own, these are staples for a huge number of resumes that open more doors for you.
Honorable Mention: communication skills.
You need to be able to talk to people. Going it alone sounds great, but we are all connected, and outsourcing saves you time. Being kind and having a network you can rely on helps keep everything together and moving.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Public Outreach.
This is a time and cost investment. Social media publications and advertisements can be free, affordable, or incredibly expensive. They can always be a major loss (for both time and money) if not executed appropriately. Exploring as many options as possible spreads your net further to catch more interest, but there is a saying: “advertising to everyone targets nobody,” so everything is potentially a miss. I am still exploring how to be better in this arena: so far, “sticking to it” is the hardest part, but I attempt each new idea as it appears on my radar: besides the obvious online social media platforms, there are town billboards to post fliers, meetings with small local businesses to host play sessions, and all sorts of niche opportunities. Depending on your product, seek and consider as many avenues as possible while staying specific to your target audience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fractalforce.carrd.co/
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/dracovisions/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/DracoVisionsLLC
Image Credits
All digital aspects are created by Erika V of DracoVisions LLC. Photos are either by Erika V, or taken by close friends + family and used with written permission. Such is released to wiseinterviews.com (Voyage and their projects/series) for usage within article publication, and other non-profit purpose.
