An Inspired Chat with Deric of Phoenix

Deric shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Deric, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Good afternoon everyone!

Deric with 7th Vizion Digital Creations here! I am going to speak on behalf of the business. I would say the most important aspect of our business for 2025 is going to be integrity. The reason I say this, is simply because we believe people want to know who is truthful, intentional, and authentic these days. People are becoming more distrusting of what they see in media and what is being marketed to them. As artificial intelligence grows in every industry we, as professional artist, must continue to adapt to the technology available without compromising the unique eye that we offer our customers. We are committed to bringing the trust back into artists supporting creatives and businesses! The only way we, as an industry leader, can make that happen is to provide amazing service through honesty!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
What makes 7th Vizion Digital Creations so unique is that it is a one-stop shop for individuals, businesses, and creators. We create your media and your merchandise at an affordable price so that you don’t have to shop around! Also, we have some future initiatives that will allow for more versatility and creativity for businesses and content creators!

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
I have learned the most about work ethic from my mother and father. My upbringing was good; however, I have witnessed my mother and father both work as hard as they possibly could to give the best they could have. This included working on weekends, holidays, being tired but mustering the strength to make the most of the moments for me and my brother. Moments like my mother dressing up as the Easter Bunny after working a 14 hour day so that we can enjoy simple joys that were luxuries in their time of growing up or my father working 3 jobs at one point and time to keep Christmas lights on at the sacrifice of spending time on Christmas Eve with his wife and children. This type of drive and pursuit of betterment, to give the most for the ones you love the most, set a standard for me to go the distance even if I do not have the capacity to. It is the discipline to create better that separates “tryers” from “doers”.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Some would call the entreprenurial journey the epitomy of realizing the American Dream. Many would quote, “Pulling yourself up by your boot straps and clawing your way to the top”. Though it is an honorable and respectable path, it does not guarantee that the American dream will work out for you. In fact, you are likely to fail at some aspects of your business idea that may require reworking your initial concept and intentions entirely. This process is, for lack of better terms, disheartening. However, what suffering through your hero’s journey, that is entrepreneurship, teaches is this. No one, absolutely no one, can tell you what to do with your business or how to walk the path of your business better than you. You have to put one foot in front of the other in the dark, metaphorically speaking without a flash light, because you will understand your foundational values, who you are serving, and how to optimize your business operations through your hardships. That comes with spectacular failures, peanut butter sandwiches for dinner, an extra job, hard discussions or misunderstandings with loved ones. Building your business through strife is, without a doubt, not easy; but, suffering gives you two simple options – find the grit or quit. Which one you choose is completely up to you.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That likes, shares, and comments on Social Media validate your ability to create amazing artwork. This may be more of my opinion than fact, but social media’s intentions did not surround the notion of campaigning business initiatives or gauging target marketing success through media post reach initially. It was purely to form connection by sharing your day, captioning a funny thing your dog did, or catching up with a long lost friend. Overtime, decades even, it grew from being a landscape of expression and experience to becoming a rat race of clout chasing and follower base. To date, artists and businesses from all over the globe utilize Social Media as a necessity to get themselves out there rather than a place to form connection. Social platform leaders have also perpetuated this behavior with additions like paying usage premiums and advertisment services. In recent years, following the pandemic, that line of personal life and personality has blurred. In a sense, it is not as simple as having one social account for business and one for pleasure. It has transformed into commoditizing your image. Now, your potential customer base may only consider investing into your brand if you made them laugh once or if they adore your cat-fixation. This can be considered a blessing for generations that use social media with a sense of security and comfort; however, to millennials and earlier that need a clear delineation of service and privacy, this would be the equivalent of an ego-death sentence. But here is the truth! The numbers game is just that – numbers. We say, revel in you ability as an artist to put pen to paper, brush to canvas, photo to film, music to ears, and create realities! Believe in what you do and share the way you feel best projects your position in the digital and virtual world! Your value will forever be tied to you and your unique creativity! So take pride in your identity no matter how many likes it gets!

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely! As we mentioned earlier business integrity is what we want to exemplify in this industry. What this means to us, as a company, is hammering down on our committment to provide excellent service and embody high ethical standards for our customers and supporters; regardless of overwhelming praise or negative criticism. It is important to acknowledge that our creative art practices and customer base may not be something that everyone agrees with. Therefore, I want to solidify our conviction and make it clear that 7VDC does not seek the praise of the majority, the endorsement of elite groups, or celebrities. Instead, we want to continue to grow the unwavering trust in our service from small businesses, our staff, and communities. To us, that is what it means to give your best to the people you serve and being the best at what you do without praise!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.7thvizion.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/7thvizionboudoir
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/7thvizion
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/7thvizionboudoir
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/7th-vizion-digital-creations-phoenix
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@7vdc

Image Credits
All photos presented are the property of 7th Vizion Digital Creations.