Still Standing. Still Writing. Still Becoming Branch Brand!

By: Damien J Branch | January 9th, 2026 | 9:48 pm EST

So, after a nice break from the madness, it's time to shift the gears back to the craft. We've all been focused on a lot. Let's bring it in, here's more on what's been going on, and what's to come.

2025 was a hell of a year—twists I didn’t ask for, family storms I didn’t see coming, money thunderstorms followed by long droughts of motivation. A constant tug-of-war between being a father, a provider, and a man living in real, unrelenting pain.

Back surgery number five. A one-year-old. A wife working full-time and going to school.

No backup. No relief. Sanity stretched thin.

That’s just part of it.

So yeah—I tried my hardest to keep the momentum alive while content burnout slowly burned the wick down. My marriage went through it. Eight years deep—the infinity year— yet somehow we lost sight of each other for a while. Love felt uneven. Effort felt one-sided. Ya boy was running on fumes.

I didn’t have energy for anything… except one thing.

Writing.

Journaling became my lifeline. Page by page, it turned into a path back to myself. Because there’s a kind of exhaustion that hits when you’re always showing up for everyone else, and you quietly start asking:

“I have everyone… but who has me?”

That question forced me to lock in—not online, not with noise—but with myself. And to do that, I had to lock in with God even more.

While the world stayed loud, I stepped back.

From 2020 through 2024, I lost family, friends, and almost myself. But I also built systems. I set things in order. I learned to push past the nonsense, the unnecessary opinions, and the one-handed claps from people I thought would support me—but never really showed up.

At the same time, I met new people. People who expanded my vision. People who reminded me that this work isn’t for nothing.

Let’s be real—2025 was a full-blown shit show, but here I am in 2026.

Still standing, Still lit with fire, Still believing enough to pour into others—and finally let their success remind me that this is working.

I matter, My craft matters, and it matters to the people who need someone to get up every day and refuse to quit. No—we never do this for nothing.

We do this for everything we’re owed in life.

In 2026, Branch Brand turns five years old.

Five years of L’s that turned into lessons.

Five years of pressure that built definition.

Keeping what works. Trashing the rest.

Late-night talks with other entrepreneurs.

Hard conversations. Real wisdom.

Coffee, a jay, and my MacBook locked in “don’t give up” mode.

I own the finesse.

I could let AI do everything—like a lot of people do—until the machine replaces their voice. Or I can use the tools without losing myself. Stay grounded. Stay sharp. Rediscover my talents. Let the light hit the work I can do, because no—we’re not lazy like they say we’ll become.

In short: I don’t hope Branch Brand becomes something real. I know it will grow into a nexus that real ones can respect. No more quitting on yourself. Go all in on you.

Stay focused on why you started.

And keep going.

Happy New Year Gang... 🍾

Before You Close This Page…

• When was the last time you checked in with yourself—not your roles, not your responsibilities, but you?

• Are you burnt out because you’re failing… or because you’ve been carrying more than anyone sees?

• Who are you showing up for every day—and who’s showing up for you?

• Are you using tools and systems to support your growth—or to replace your effort and avoid the work?

• If quitting was never an option, how differently would you move starting tomorrow?

• Five years from now, will you be proud you stayed comfortable—or grateful you stayed consistent?

Growth doesn’t start with motivation.

It starts with honesty.