We had the good fortune of connecting with Aren Avaness and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Aren, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve never been interested in working for someone else. I grew up in a family of business owners and saw the benefits it had to offer. So for me, opening up my own law firm was a no brainer. Of course, opening up your own business is a major risk. And it’s human nature to want to avoid those risks. However, as my father would always tell me “If you don’t take risks, you’ll always work for someone who does.”
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Being your own boss opens up a world of almost unlimited possibilities each day.
One of the biggest challenges of being your own boss is having the dedication and motivation to make the right choices when the going gets tough.
You get to design what you do and how you’ll do it. It’s up to you how, when, and where you choose to work. And, with no one “above” you to hold you accountable, it can be tempting to slack off.
For me, holding onto my passion has really been the key motivator. What sets me apart is my passion for seeking justice and holding other’s accountable for their wrongdoings.
You see, I was born and raised in Iran—a country where those values are unheard of. I grew up in a country that’s justice system was driven by money, religion, or nationality. For example, a judge was permitted to find one’s testimony more credible merely based on their religion.
Coming to America as a refugee was an eye-opening experience. I got to learn about our country’s deeply rooted traditions of freedom of speech and enjoyment of life. In this great country, the norm is to strive for justice, equality, and accountability—no matter a person’s wealth, nationality, or religion. I learned to hold individuals accountable for their actions and fell in love with the idea of Justice. It is something that is ingrained in the American culture, and I take great pride in adopting such a view.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My week long itinerary would be filled with adventures of hiking, restaurants, and dancing. There is a hiking place near Sherman oaks called Fryman Canyon, that within about 10-15 minutes you get to have a beautiful view of Los Angeles. Its a nice short hike that doesnt get too crowded like some other more popular hikes.
One of my favorite restaurants/ dancing joints in LA would have to be a little place in Hollywood called Harlowe, Its a young hip business with a French inspired set menu. This place turns into a dancing bar after 10pm, and let me tell you their music will make you want to dance.
I think it would not be a complete trip without visiting the Grand Central market in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. It features many types of restaurants and hold historic buildings nearby it where you can spend the entire day exploring.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
As a small business owner it is absolutely essential to surround yourself with the right mentors and support groups. My number one mentor is, and has always been, my father. He has proved himself to be a successful entrepreneur. I think of one lesson that I’ve learned from him is that ‘you can achieve anything you set your mind to.’ The go-getter, black mamba, type of mentality.
I remember he would always encourage me as a child to take risks and try new things. He would tell me “the best way for a someone to learn to swim, is to just jump in the water.” Of course, I took that with a grain of salt. But the root principal applied. In that, sometimes the best of learning is by just doing it.
It is equally been important for me to surround myself with other attorneys who have gone down the same path as I am now. There are many individuals out there, but notably one of them has been Christopher Montes De Oca. He is an amazing trial attorney who has one of the biggest hearts in this game. And that shows through his work and high verdicts he’s been able to obtain for his clients over the years.
Website: Avanesslaw.com
Instagram: @injury.attorney
Facebook: Avaness Law