Recently I spoke with Arvid Eriksson, an award-winning director, film maker, and digital creative, currently working in New Zealand. On a multinational journey originating in Sweden, Arvid speaks to the universality of a need for community, as well as the importance of living authentically for the advancement of a better world. He emphasizes the importance of believing in your own stories and growing into an understanding that ‘if you can stay confident in your more sensitive, vulnerable areas that is where the really good stuff happens’. Join us as we take a deep dive into the importance of following your unique path and the different opportunities large and small economies present.
The Interview
Griffin Connolly: Welcome Arvid, let’s dive right in. You have a strong background in creative film, television, and web design. Let’s start by getting a glimpse into your entrepreneurial journey. Can you share a bit about how you ventured into the business world and what motivated you to become self-employed?
Arvid Eriksson: Ah, great question. I’ve been thinking about that myself lately, looking at where it all began to get some new perspective on what drives me. For me, it started really early on, when I was eight or nine. I started to get bicycle parts out of skips and bins in my neighborhood—bits and bobs that people had been throwing away. I dragged it all back to my dad’s garage and assembled new bikes from it. At that stage, I just learned to put bikes together. But then, as I got older, I started to sell them to family members and others in my community. I guess that was the place where my entrepreneurial journey began.
Later, I got interested in electronics, lights, and music. I started building my own mixers with my brother’s help and built my own lights. Those lights gained a bit of a reputation in the little village where I grew up in Sweden, so that led to doing the lights for some local DJs. Relationships in the music industry developed from there and I started DJing myself. That became a company that’s still running today—one of the bigger ones in Sweden doing stage technology, speakers, and lights.
What drove me was the creativity in building and creating, but also the experience, the music, and the good times that go with it. Then that segued into film.
Griffin Connolly: You have a very interesting international background. I’ve started focusing on the community aspect of entrepreneurship lately, with my blog building a community through storytelling. Can you talk to me a little bit about the importance of community in your entrepreneurial journey and how community differs in the different places you’ve worked, like Sweden, England, and New Zealand?
Arvid Eriksson: Yeah, amazing question. The idea of community and entrepreneurship, and creative output—be it music, film, poetry, painting, or any aspect of it—they all belong together in my mind.
To first speak to your question about geography and how community or sense of belonging has changed for me, I think what unites the three places I’ve lived in—Sweden, London, and New Zealand—is that each place has a strong sense of community. I think community is a universal need across the world. Having a community and a sense of belonging is important for everyone.
Moving to new parts of the world, I’ve noticed it has taken me a few years to truly connect with the local communities and find where I belong. It takes a few years to start being in the right place and probably another couple of years to really get settled in and feel like the rubber is hitting the road in the right kind of way.
For me, entrepreneurship and creating or telling stories are one and the same. I’ve learned as I get older to accept that I need to share and exchange stories to be part of the community. If I don’t, I get mentally unhealthy. I’m very lucky that I’ve managed to turn that into something I can earn a living from.
It’s an incredibly complex thing, and I don’t think anyone has ever asked me that question framed quite like that. But my films, particularly my short films, which are my most personal work, deal thematically with having a purpose within a community. Feeling like you have a role and are needed and doing something good not just for yourself but for everyone—that’s essential.
Griffin Connolly: Definitely. It’s interesting talking to different entrepreneurs because everyone has their unique sense of purpose. Do you think your international experience has played a large role in your success?
Arvid Eriksson: Another interesting question. It’s almost too close to me for me to answer with any objectivity. I do believe my dedication to staying true to myself as a creative and an entrepreneur has taken me to these places and led to an international life and perspective. I’ve been able to stick to very personal choices, which is the definition of success in a way. So, my answer is yes, indirectly. The world would be a better place if more people could pursue their true passions and be authentic to themselves and their communities.
I’m homesick for London and Sweden when I’m in New Zealand, but I’m sure I’d be homesick for New Zealand if I were there. I’m spoiled with all these wonderful places I’ve lived in, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Griffin Connolly: The idea of communities improving through people being authentic and following their passion resonates with me. I think this is one of the most powerful aspects of entrepreneurship.
Can you speak to a few of the struggles you’ve dealt with and how you overcame them?
Arvid Eriksson: Absolutely. Running your own business is challenging. But it’s also challenging not to, depending on who you are. I’ve been self-employed my entire career. The stakes increased as I got older due to higher costs like housing and having kids. In the early days, my wife and I had a conversation when I wanted to go freelance. She had a full-time job and provided stability. Her support was imperative. We were lucky it worked out without major financial issues. Having a partner or a business partner to spread the load is crucial.
Keeping on top of your budgets and financial landscape is another challenge. Over 20 years I’ve refined a system to keep current jobs on track and look ahead to know what costs are coming up. Finding a system that works for you involves a balance between being specific and detailed so you can maintain control, but not burdensome and overwhelming. It helps me sleep at night knowing I have these systems in place.
Griffin Connolly: It’s interesting how you mentioned that it can be challenging to not run your own business. It’s about picking which challenge you want.
Arvid Eriksson: Absolutely. Running your own business can be daunting before you’ve done it because it sounds big and it’s your own money at stake. For me, having systems in place gave me the confidence to go out on my own. And at the heart of it, I wouldn’t have been as authentic to myself if I hadn’t done it. The entrepreneurial space has allowed me to find fulfillment.
Griffin Connolly: It’s interesting to see how different entrepreneurs face similar challenges but also unique ones. The mental barrier is often the first and biggest challenge. Once you start, things tend to fall into place.
Arvid Eriksson: Absolutely. Conquering the mental challenge of taking on risk is crucial. Once you’ve made that leap, things start to fall into place. I encourage anyone interested in going out on their own to find a way to try it. The reward is definitely worth the risk. You can always go back or find a middle ground, like working part-time while running your own business.
Griffin Connolly: With some of those challenges in mind, looking back over your career, is there anything you would have done differently?
Arvid Eriksson: Big picture, I do not regret moving from Sweden to London and then to New Zealand. These moves have created so much growth for me as a person and really informed who I am today.
But looking back, in London, I denied myself from exploring certain skills because I thought I had to stay specialized. London is a big place with vast pools of talent and a place like that tends to silo people into deep and narrow expert positions. Whereas in New Zealand the economy is much smaller and it’s a place that celebrates multi-skilled cross-pollinations. When I moved there, I started exploring different creative areas like 3D animation and shooting films, which I had always wanted to do.
So, I guess the lesson is if you want to expand your creative or professional exploration, don’t deny yourself. Go and do it. I believe you can’t be too broad because exploring different areas can bring back skills that help you evolve in other ways.
Another piece of advice I would give my younger self is to stick to your guns and believe in your own stories. It’s always a hard balance to make money and follow your passions, but try to stay confident in your more sensitive, vulnerable areas. As you grow older you realize that’s the really good stuff. Believe in yourself and explore your unique path.
Griffin Connolly: Your observation about feeling limited in London with its silos of expertise is interesting. It goes back to just starting and putting yourself out there.
Arvid Eriksson: Yes, exactly. The saying “Jack of all trades, master of none” doesn’t resonate with me. That’s a fixed mindset and a narrow view of the potential of life. Life is a constant flux and unraveling mystery. It’s better to be open and explore. Accept the fact that you journey will not be a straight line and almost certainly will not be exactly what you expected or planned.
No one is just one thing; experts in one field often have multiple interests. Embrace that diversity and let yourself grow in various ways. You are your professional self and your personal self, and it’s okay to be a whole person. Life is a mystery, and we should explore it in a way that feels authentic to us.
Griffin Connolly: I run a Student Launch Club at school. If you could give us all one piece of advice, what would it be?
Arvid Eriksson: Remember that there’s great power in just taking one step at a time. Ask yourself, what can I do today to move in the direction I want to go? Lots of small steps break it down. Those steps might not even be in a straight line. They might snake forwards. But commit to keep going.
For example, I have a busy friend who’s writing a feature film. He’s committing to writing for 10 minutes a day. The idea of 10 minutes a day to write a feature film, that’s incredibly powerful.
Griffin Connolly: This reminds me ofa speaker who talked to my basketball team recently. He had a similar philosophy. He said ‘just be somebody’ which seems so simple, but he was speaking to the same idea of putting one foot in front of the other every day and being the best version of yourself in each moment. And you will keep moving forward.
Arvid Eriksson: Exactly. Just be yourself with compassion; compassion to yourself, and compassion to the people around you. Not everyday will be your best day but it’s just one day. Entrepreneurship certainly has its highs and lows. But step-by-step and day-by-day you get there.
Griffin Connolly: So, tell me, what has been the most fulfilling aspect of your journey with self-employment?
Arvid Eriksson: The most fulfilling aspect has been the autonomy it provides. Being able to make decisions about my own life has given me a different perspective and enriched how I see the world. It has made me grow as a person. This autonomy enables a perspective that can be applied to all aspects of life.
For me, it’s incredibly empowering to know that anyone out there could be a potential client. I can approach someone and offer to solve their problem, and if I can help, it can lead to a business transaction. This world is full of opportunities, and having the freedom to act on them gives me a real sense of agency. I love being able to make things happen, and that excitement is what I find most fulfilling about self-employment.
Griffin Connolly: That excitement in creating something from nothing, Peter Thiel’s idea of ‘Zero to One’, is something I hear a lot from the entrepreneurs I interview. As is the underlying theme of using that creative energy to benefit the people you’re in community with.
Thanks for sharing your journey and insights, Arvid. It’s been a really philosophical and inspiring conversation with a lot of great takeaways. I appreciate your time.
Arvid Eriksson: Thank you, Griffin. It’s been great talking with you. Best of luck in all your ventures.
Read my review of Peter Thiel’s book ‘Zero to One’ here.