Meet Ben Holmes

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ben Holmes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ben, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

My PTSD from time spent deployed overseas in the Marine Corps no longer defines me, instead it drives me. It drives me to the best version of myself both for me personally, but more importantly for my family. I want my children to know that you can overcome challenges and experiences in life that may try to pull you down or drag you into a negative space. It’s how you react to those scenarios that define us, not the scenarios themselves.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

A few years ago, I went thru a program called Heroes and Horses for Veterans with PTSD. We learned how to work/train horses to travel thru the back country focusing on finding a new purpose for ourselves. With that experience came a new love for Cowboy Coffee. Every morning before starting the day, we would share in campfire brewed coffee. There wasn’t always a lot to be said, just a good quiet time for reflection. Everyone knew their job for the day and would use that time to prep for the rest of the day. With this experience came a new hobby for my wife, Amanda, and I. My experience in Montana led me to a career change and started our family on a new journey. This journey has led us to where we are now, utilizing a hobby/newfound love of coffee as an avenue to not only meet amazing new people, but also to give back to organizations much like the one that saved my life. Every quarter we give back to non-profits whose sole purpose is to save other Veterans.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I truly believe our journey has just started. My Wife and I have been able to accomplish a lot in the short amount of time that our family has started this company. God has clearly been present! I would say that qualities aren’t always as important as the desire. We desire a life set apart from the word that is promoted throughout our childhood. We, as a family, want to share life with others through time and fellowship. It is more important to make ourselves available to others by service. At the end of the day, our desire to change a small part of the world through Veterans’ health and wellbeing is what has led us here. It’s not always the words said that are impactful as much as being present, and coffee has a great way of bringing people and thoughts together.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

As of right now, our hands are relying on the One who has brought us this far. As the world is rushing by and cost of living is increasing, so is the cost to build out our first coffee shop. We are currently in a huge financial chapter of our business in trying to adapt and create ways to build our coffee shop/office space. So while we are being taught patience during this process, we are doing the best we can to grow our brand locally via shows and pop-up markets in Texas, while also continuing to grow our online presence as we ship our freshly roasted coffee across the Nation. Just like my experience in the Marine Corps, challenges just provide you with opportunities to grow and my Wife and I are growing in faith and perseverance every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: @ETXLegendsCoffee
• Facebook: ETX Legends Coffee Co.

Image Credits

Personal Photo is credited to Bradley Lanphear or Bradley Lanphear Films.