Meet Brandon Battlehart

We were lucky to catch up with Brandon Battlehart recently and have shared our conversation below.

Brandon, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I found my purpose through my pain. As I was dealing with my struggles of depression from my time spent in Afghanistan, I fell victim to the darkness of my mind with PTSD and suicide. I rose above that and started the Battlehart Foundation, hoping to save other veterans’ lives and be a voice for those who feel they do not have one.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

To start, I am a father and a husband. After that, I am a military veteran and an entrepreneur. The reason they are listed as such is due to my moral and ethical compass of prioritizing family first, always.

After my time in the U.S. Army, I came home, was a disabled, homeless veteran, struggling to find my way, as I had lost that structure and sense of purpose that is found within the military way of life.

Multiple organizations and individuals played a crucial role in my future success, as I was fortunate to receive the help that many veterans are not so lucky to receive. To name a few, the Wounded Warrior Project played a pivotal role in helping me rise above homelessness, and the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) played a critical role in helping get my claim started through the VA (Veterans Affairs).

Before them, I was lost and felt left behind, as everything I once knew from being enlisted as a warfighter didn’t seem to apply to everyday civilian life.

Enter the creation of the Battlehart Foundation. In doing so, my sense of purpose was reignited, as I began striving to pay forward all the help that was extended to me as a homeless veteran, with the goal of helping others readjust after their time serving our country.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

If I had to pin down three areas of qualities or skills that were most impactful on my journey, it would be persvierance, confidence, and accountability.

Heres why. In the begining you are a nobody to the rest of the world. That is the hard truth in the world of becoming something you have dreamed of being, or even just striving to be the best version of yourself. Bottom line, no one cares, except you. Do not get bogged down with trying to over analyze your failues and successes, as those are just part of the learning curves, as you grow and persevere through the challenges of becoming the best you can be.

Confidence is crucial immediately following perevering the challenges that lie ahead in your journey. If you can’t find belief in yourself when no one else believes in you, well, it will make is unnecessarily hard for you to grow and thrive. You are your own worst critic, DO NOT become your own worst enemy.

Lastley accountabily plays a pivotal role in solidifying your achievements, whilst learning through your failues. If you make a mistake, own it. Learn from it, and improve. If you ace a obsticale, stay humble, learn from it, and also improve upon it. There is always room for improvement, even when you are winning. Respect your failures, as the losses we take on our journey, teach us how to win in the long term.

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?

The most challenging obstacle I am facing right now is, honestly, being a father. While trying to balance everything else in life, having a 2.5-year-old who needs my constant attention and time makes it extraordinarily hard to accomplish some of the goals I have set for myself. My family is a priority, as mentioned before; however, ensuring my son has a better life than I did is the utmost priority.

With that being said, I firmly believe I can obtain everything I am chasing and striving for while raising a child, but it cannot come at the cost of my child being left behind. If he does not have what he needs, I, the foundation, must be set aside until my son has what he needs to thrive. It all comes with delicately balancing everything. It is stressful, but worth it in the end.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

@battlehartfoundation for all image credits

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