Meet josh berendes | Travel & Lifestyle Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with josh berendes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi josh, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
“If you’re comfortable, you’re not growing” Though I don’t remember where I heard this quote, I do remember how hard it hit me. When I look back at my biggest achievements, whether it’s videos that I’m really proud of or projects that were “very successful” aka I got into film festivals, got a lot of views, or they opened the door for many more projects, there has always been one common factor; I stepped out of my comfort zone.

After my first year of breaking a six-figure income, I decided to hire a business coach. Financially I was doing great, but I knew I was missing something. To put it shortly, I knew there were a lot of things I could be doing differently….and that I had the potential to scale even more. It was a very vulnerable experience to talk about my internal struggles and to have someone push me, holding me to a higher standard. As a one-person business, I wasn’t used to someone coming in to give me feedback on what I was doing. It was the best business investment I’ve ever made. I’m so grateful for the uncomfortable, but extremely amazing, calls with my coach. I radically approached my way of thinking and how I approach my business. It was so uncomfortable and challenging at times, but the growth was 100% worth it.

Pushing myself outside of my comfort zone is hands down the most important factor behind my success. It can be something as small as pushing past the fear of rejection to write an email pitching an idea to a brand or talking to a room full of people. Taking small risks gives me the confidence to make bigger moves that may push me out of my comfort zone.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My whole life was laid out for me when I was born. If you’re from the midwest you understand tradition is everything. As a third-generation son whose grandfather passed down the farm to my dad, I was expected to keep the family business alive and follow the footsteps that lay before me. Especially since I was the last and only son.

It wasn’t until I was 24 that I had any interest in anything creative or artistic. I went to an extremely small school (I graduated with 23 kids in my grade), and we didn’t even have an art class in high school. Coming from a town that only had one stop light there weren’t many who valued the arts. It really was just for “weird” people.

I now value and respect “weird”.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A perfect day trip for a friend visiting is taking them on a hike to St. Mary’s glacier followed up going up Guanella Pass for a quick tour and time at the lake. Georgetown is a great pit stop for some beers and pizza while checking out the classic vibe of small mountain towns.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I believe there are a lot of people that deserve credit and recognition for who I am and where I am at today, but there are three that are top-tier. My former boss/friend at my first internship, Zach Everman, deserves huge recognition for introducing me to the power of storytelling. He continues to be a support beam for me when I have questions about running a business built on video production and storytelling.

My brother-in-law, Markus, continues to deepen my understanding of storytelling, content creation, and branding. I hope one day he writes a book on his experiences and knowledge within the industry.

My former business coach/friend Scotty Russell has pushed me more than anyone else has. He has been brutally honest and supportive in ways that no one else has.

Website: www.brende.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brende_films/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshberendes/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/brende_films

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYpzjjiQDZLDAl4BnIsokVg