Moses Aufderhar

Why this persona fits the audience

He has been learning electric guitar for about 9 months, practices after work from YouTube lessons and free tab sites, and keeps a simple spreadsheet of chord shapes and song keys for weekly jam sessions with friends.

• Age: 34
• Location: Austin, Texas, USA
• Occupation: IT support engineer
• Income: $88k
• Education: Bachelor's degree
• Company size: Mid-sized tech company (approx. 300 employees)
• Years in role: 5

“I figure if I can understand how the circuits work in my computer, I can probably figure out how these notes connect on a fretboard, it's just a different kind of logic.”

Moses Aufderhar, 34, has always been drawn to understanding how things work, a trait that led him to a career in IT support engineering after earning a Bachelor's degree. He's spent the last five years at a mid-sized tech firm in Austin, Texas, where he's become known for his methodical approach to troubleshooting and system optimization. His income of $88k affords him a comfortable, independent lifestyle, living alone in a rented apartment. While his professional life is structured and technically demanding, Moses has recently dedicated significant personal time to learning the electric guitar. This pursuit began about nine months ago, fueled by a desire for a creative outlet and the challenge of mastering a new complex system. He approaches guitar learning with the same analytical mindset he applies to his IT work, diligently following YouTube tutorials and utilizing free online tablature sites. He meticulously maintains a spreadsheet documenting chord shapes, keys, and song structures to aid his progress. His practice sessions, typically an hour each evening after work, are focused and efficient, driven by his value of steady progress. He's particularly interested in blues rock, drawn to its expressive nature and improvisational elements. While he enjoys the solitude of learning, he actively participates in weekly jam sessions with a small group of friends, which provides him with practical application and social interaction around his hobby. He also harbors a nascent interest in home recording, occasionally experimenting with basic setups to capture his playing, and has contemplated attending open mic nights, though performance anxiety remains a hurdle. His financial habits are conservative, prioritizing saving while still allowing for occasional purchases of guitar strings or music-related software when he identifies a clear need. He's not driven by status but by a quiet satisfaction in accumulating knowledge and skills, whether they are professional or personal.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

Moses's weekday starts around 7:00 AM with coffee and a quick scan of tech news while he gets ready. He commutes to work by 8:30 AM, often listening to a podcast. His workday is a cycle of responding to IT tickets, managing user accounts, and occasional team meetings, usually breaking for lunch around noon. He leaves work around 5:00 PM, heading home to decompress for an hour before his guitar practice. He typically dedicates 60-90 minutes to YouTube lessons, tab practice, and experimenting with new chord voicings or scales. Dinner follows, often a simple meal prepared at home. The rest of his evening might involve some light reading, planning his next practice session, or working on his chord spreadsheet. He aims to be in bed by 10:30 PM.

Lifestyle

Moses lives a fairly routine life, centered around his work and his developing passion for guitar. He rents a modest apartment in South Austin, enjoying the city's vibrant music scene from a slight distance, often preferring to practice at home. His evenings and weekends are structured around learning guitar, tinkering with his small home studio setup, and occasionally meeting up with friends for casual hangouts or jam sessions. He's financially responsible, saving a good portion of his income but also allowing for splurges on gear or experiences like trying new breweries. He values his independence and the quiet satisfaction of mastering a new skill.

Work life

As an IT support engineer, Moses spends his days troubleshooting hardware and software issues for employees across his company. He's adept at navigating complex systems and finds satisfaction in resolving technical problems, often developing custom scripts or guides to streamline common fixes. His work involves a mix of reactive support calls and proactive system maintenance. Coworkers describe him as reliable and knowledgeable, though somewhat reserved. The pressure comes from tight deadlines on critical system issues and the constant need to stay updated on evolving technology. He often listens to music podcasts or tech news during his commute to decompress.

Relationships

Moses is close with his parents, who live in a different state, and they communicate weekly via phone. His core social group consists of a few long-time college friends, some of whom he now jams with. He has a friendly but not deeply personal rapport with most of his coworkers. He doesn't have a romantic partner currently, prioritizing his personal development and independence. His guitar friends offer encouragement and a shared hobby, influencing his song choices and practice goals.

How they decide

Moses is a methodical researcher. When considering anything from a new piece of software to a guitar pedal, he'll spend time reading reviews, watching comparison videos, and weighing pros and cons against his specific needs and budget. He trusts practical demonstrations and clear explanations of functionality over marketing hype. He’s not impulsive but will make a decisive purchase once he feels he’s done his due diligence and found a good fit for his current project or problem.

How they sound

Speaks in a clear, measured tone, often with a slight, thoughtful pause before answering questions. Uses precise language, especially when discussing technical topics. Avoids excessive slang or overly casual expressions, but might use mild contractions like 'wanna' or 'gonna' in informal settings. His sentences are generally well-structured, reflecting his analytical mindset. He can sound slightly reserved or hesitant when discussing personal feelings but is direct about facts and processes.