Daily Inspiration: Meet Brandon Couch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Couch.

Hi Brandon, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
Where do I start? So I was born and raised in a small town called Gaines, Michigan which is 45 minutes north of Detroit, you blink you will miss it. Growing up I was the youngest of 2 older brothers who were much older than me, so I always ended up either playing with myself outside in the fields or with my neighbor friend. I always had a love for all things creative and music but never thought I would start my own business as I always would say I’m not smart, however, I realize we need to be careful with our words as they carry so much weight even if we joke. When I was 18 years old I really was struggling in life and what was next, most people in my High School growing up stayed local and just didn’t do anything in life or they hit rock bottom, so I had to get out of Michigan somehow. That lead me to join the US Army as a Military Police officer and that is when my life changed. After basic training and AIT school, I got stationed at Fort Lewis Army base in Tacoma, WA. I never thought I would have loved it as much as I did, but I did. That was the season of my life where I met my wife (whom I have now been married to for going on 15 years this March 2023). Shortly after meeting my wife, my unit goes sent to Iraq where we served for 16 months.

They even wrote a book about our deployment being as bad as it was. I saw a lot of things and endured a lot of things, but looking back I wouldn’t have changed it and would do it again. After my deployment, I came home in 2008 from deployment and married my wife Chalee. Shortly after our wedding that year I had the option to keep going in the Army or to just get out, and I felt like it was the season to get out and pursue my dreams.

After getting out of the Army it was rough, I mean rough. Nobody would hire me because of the field of work I was in with the Army so my wife worked 3 jobs while I pursued my creative business and music. She will tell you it was the best season ever for her haha. So I dove into music full time, traveled leading worship for churches, etc., then finally settled in at some churches for the next of many years in the role of creative and worship pastor. In a small nutshell that is what drove me to do my own business full-time. Working for local churches in the PNW they don’t pay you for ALL you can do and at times took advantage of that. After getting tired of that, I would literally work my branding/creative business on the side to the point it was making more money than the actual job I was doing for the church! It took years to get me there and still to this day I’m growing it. But wow it was life-changing to really step out and go, “Brandon you are created for more and are so worth it.” To really believe it took some time, but the fact I did what I do churches making them not only musically amazing but from marketing, graphics, structure, etc. that everyone would see, making that amazing I was like, “That is ALL me so why can’t I just step-out and do this forever!?!” That’s when I did.

Fast forward to 2022, I was helping a church in Gig Harbor, WA get on its feet and grow, was only expecting to be there for 3-6 months tops, but it ended up being 2 years and 17 days haha. We literally made it amazing for the church and community and I was still doing my branding and design business on the side for other businesses and loving life. Then on July 11, 2022, I woke up and literally felt God tell me, “Brandon it’s time to move on”. Nobody had a clue and was shocked but they also knew they wouldn’t have me forever. So we said our goodbyes to everyone throughout July and August and made our way down here to Nashville, TN on September 15, 2022.

Since being here in Tennessee for the last 4 months (yes I feel so new haha), it has been a challenging time for my business in the sense of literally having to start my business from the ground up almost since nobody knows who I am here and everybody does what I do. I hear it A LOT “Oh so and so does that too and so does so so there etc.” I was really discouraged a couple of months back and remember just feeling like this was a horrible idea to move my family and business to Nashville, TN, but then it occurred to me again. “Brandon, what you offer is something that most don’t.” I can do IT ALL and I pride myself in my business as being a One-Stop-Shop for any brand needing anything from content creation, photography, videography, branding help, web design, etc. I can do it all and I AM GREAT AT IT! I AM WORTH IT!

So I just encourage anyone out there feeling like you’re starting over, it’s okay! You kinda are but just remember your why, remember that fire you have for what you do. Will it be a little more work? Yes! Will it make you want to quit? Yes! But just remember you’re further than you were yesterday or the day before. That each new day is a new day to really hit the road and do what you love and are passionate about. I always love this quote from my mentor I had years ago Sarah Petty, “Not everyone is your ideal client.” So remember that when people reject you or say no, or your pricing is too high, that’s freaking okay!!! They aren’t your ideal client. When I made that clear in my heart and my head, life changed. Literally yesterday I had to remind myself of that with a client I was going to be working with back in Seattle, WA. Gave them a price, and they said they would go with me 90+% sure, then radio silence for days and weekends. I then reached out and they said the price was too high and they wanted to spend “X” amount with this other thing added etc. I felt defeated cause I NEED these clients, but then again my heart reminded my brain, “Brandon you are worth what you charge, they aren’t your ideal client let them go.” So I did. Said thanks and now have no clients right now but I know I will get some soon! Working your own business in a new state with nobody, not even family around it’s hard, but it’s so worth it because you get to choose to be you and nobody else can be you. YOU ARE WORTH IT!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Heck no! If I would have seen how life would be right now for my business financially I KNOW I wouldn’t have moved here haha. But it’s all growing pains.

Being in a saturated area like Nashville, TN where again “everybody does the same thing” can be discouraging but as I said in my story, I AM WORTH IT and I have MUCH to offer anyone with what I do and again not many can do what I do and do it all with excellence. Trust me I’ve seen it since being here and some stuff people think is cool or hip and current are SO 5 years ago haha. But struggles are real it’s just how we deal with them. I deal with them by asking for help from people when needed but also by surrounding myself with others who do what I do in some way, where I can help, and then in turn it helps my business grow.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I first and foremost and a singer and musician. I was a Worship Leader/Worship pastor for 14 years for some very large churches in the PNW. So that is what I’m mainly known for but the second would be design. I love creating a brand from someone’s dreams and making it a reality and giving them something that is timeless and creating a great avenue for their brand online etc.

The thing that sets me apart from others is I literally CAN do it all and have for 14 years and always learning and staying on trends that are timeless not a “fad”. Fads change daily as we see with social media, so you don’t ever want to be a fad haha. You will fade haha. But I am proud to be a “one-stop-shop” for all my client’s needs for their brand, then when not working on the design I’m producing music and releasing my own songs which have been amazing.

What does success mean to you?
Failing. Haha, you can’t have success without failing. When we fail we learn and that will always lead to success. Also, success is balance in your life too.

If we are constantly busy and are family people, your family suffers and mine did at the time even though I was “successful” back in the PNW with what I did, family life was not successful cause I was gone so much. So success should always have balance in ALL areas of your life.

Pricing:

• Branding options for my business’s full package start at $2,000.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @brandon.couch
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/album/07ClCHA0ZS9Txf5F1EZGoW