As originally posted on VoyageHouston.com:
Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Davidson.
Aaron, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey began in 2009 when I worked for a local entrepreneur in Houston. He needed help servicing a local restaurant and their website, and without the time or interest, he passed the responsibility on to me.
Diving into the world of web design was a soul-freeing experience, as I felt I finally found a calling/profession that I was actually passionate about. From there, the world opened wide, and I fell in love with digital design and art.
Fast forward a decade or so, and I’m entering my 7th year operating my own digital design studio, specializing in web and graphic design, feeling good about my journey and experiences with various marketing firms, gaining valuable experience that I can use to better service my clients… and then came covid.
Having gotten married in March of 2020, and the world shutting down during our honeymoon, I found myself with quite a bit of extra time, as many of us did.
With my time, I began to explore the world of 3d modeling, immediately feeling a level of passion and excitement about the craft that was not unlike what I felt in exploring web design at the beginning of my journey. Unreal engine, Blender and Zbrush have been my new best friends and I can’t wait to see what we come up with moving forward.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As an artist and entrepreneur, I can humbly say that it has not been a smooth road in the least. Fulfilling, but bumpy.
One of the main struggles I wrestled with was imposter syndrome, the idea that I was somehow tricking people into believing that I was who I said I was, and could do what I said I could do. Fear is a very tricky companion, and I can honestly say it got the better of me early and often in my career. Luckily for me, when it comes to things I’m truly passionate about, there’s no quit. I’ve always been one to stick to it, even when I’m horrible at it, just because I love it.
Another heavy struggle was the loneliness. Almost every facet of my chosen profession has been relatively alien to most of the people close to me, like my parents or grandparents. Even peers and colleagues of a similar age, unless they were also in the industry, it was difficult to really dig into the craft with them because they couldn’t relate. My best friend was a welcome respite from that solitude, as he was and is a photographer and graphic designer, so I can thankfully say I wasn’t utterly alone in my journey. But from other important figures in my life, like my parents, speaking on my craft always felt like I was just wading in a shallow pool with people who care about me but don’t really care about my craft. That lack of relatability and guidance can weigh one down if their not too careful, and that was something I had to come to grips with early on.
The last struggle I’ll speak on comes in the form of my introverted nature. Due to it, I had a hard time sharing my work because I didn’t believe anyone really cared what I had to show or say. Also, because I wasn’t one to make the most noise in a room, so to speak, a perfect storm of lack of expression and lack of attention really gave way to some troubling mental struggles. With the rise of social media, it’s easy to assume that people you know will support you in your endeavors just like they support big brands or musical artists. For me that wasn’t true, and for an extended period of time, it very much felt like no one cared to show support for my business or artistic endeavors.
Luckily, I grew. I stuck to it and I didn’t stop learning. That was the saving grace… keep going and keep learning. That’s how I was able to cope with feelings of imposter syndrome or loneliness, by learning myself, my craft, and learning more about other and what they go through. Funny how different we all can be, yet experience the same struggles.
Keep going. Everything is going to be ok.
We’ve been impressed with Haeresis, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Ok, well, first thing’s first, the business name is pronounced “Hair-eh-sis”.
Through Haeresis, I offer web design and brand identity services, specializing in digital presence solutions for small business owners who are just starting their journey, or who need an update to their existing presence.
One facet of what makes working with Haeresis unique is that, unlike most web designers, Haeresis offers ancillary services to ensure the smoothest possible journey for the clients, such as product, facility and portrait photography, video editing, secure web hosting with SSL, on-call maintenance, and organic SEO services.
Another facet is the lack of major overhead. Oftentimes, paying for the services of a large marketing firm comes with a cost that incorporates the salary of a large team, as well as costs associated with office leases, benefits and utilities, to name a few. With Haeresis, very real and noticeable savings are realized in the comparison of similar services to that of larger firms.
One of the shining gems I’m proud to shed light on is a curated package called the Jump off. This is a package that is specially made for small business owners to help get them started, and is easily scalable as the business grows. We’re in the final phases of launch, so feel free to stay in touch on socials for up to date info. (As a special bonus, anyone reading this that is interested, use code “bonvoyage2021” when inquiring for a 50% discount on the Jump Off package, good to the end of 2021.)
Haeresis is a boutique experience, so if you want to work with us, be prepared to be valued and listened to and taken care of.
What does success mean to you?
Success is when I have a discovery session with a client and they say “ooo that’s a great question, I hadn’t thought of that…”
Success is hearing my client say “I trust your judgment”.
Success is knowing that my efforts in doing what I love, which is developing a client’s web presence and brand identity, are allowing them to further develop their efforts in what they love to do, which is their business.
Success is far more than wins and losses.
Success is far more than money taken from or left on the table.
Success is happiness.
