014. Leaving Your Legacy with Martha Brannon
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Every guest I’ve had on this season so far has an incredible story that confirms just how important it is to surround yourself with people who inspire you to follow through on those big scary dreams! Community is really what launches our calling!
Today I get to share the person who continually inspires me to pursue my passions, fill my cup, and bless others along the way. She’s an entrepreneur herself and is such a beautiful example of leaving a strong legacy behind with your business. That’s right, today I’d like to introduce you to my MOM, Martha Brannon!
Her heart is so beautiful and to hear how she approaches her business is so refreshing. Today Martha shares her story about how a simple afternoon with a friend revealed the passion she’d been searching for. We discuss her progression from quilting hobbyist to contractor, and finally to the business owner. We talk about the power of community and what business-to-business support should really look like. And she helps us tackle burnout, and shares why serving is where the real fulfillment is with owning a business.
My mom is such an inspiration to me and everyone around her and I just can’t wait for you to hear her story! Her legacy lives through every stitch and pattern, and the passion in her voice when she talks about quilting is infectious! I left this interview so deeply proud of her, but also really motivated to look back at my business and see what areas spark the most excitement and joy.
What’s fueling me? What part of my work gets me up in the morning? And how can I incorporate more of that into my day-to-day? I know you’re going to love her just as much as I do!
Meet Martha.
Born and raised in Coldwater, Ohio, Martha Brannon is an experienced longarm machine quilter of 20+ years, business owner of 15+ years, and helped to co-found the Ohio One Stop Shop Hop. As a small-town farm girl from a large family, Martha's strong work ethic and a deep love for God, family and country was instilled at a young age. After high school, she joined the United States Air Force, met her husband, and they started a family of their own. She opted to leave the Air Force to raise their children as a full time domestic engineer! Quickly realizing that to keep her full sanity, she needed a creative outlet that was hers. A friend introduced her to quilting and she was hooked!
Overflowing with joy, Martha brought her first quilt to a local long-arm machine quilter, but the woman was so busy that Martha asked "Do you need help? I would love to learn!" Today, Martha is the proud owner of Coldwater Quilting. She continues to treat each quilt as if it is her own and refine her super power of "reading" a quilt to know what will make it come alive!
“Every quilt has a story. It’s a reminder that part of getting to know what a customer wants is listening to their story.”
The heart behind her business.
Martha’s goal when partnering with a client is to see the full potential of a quilt, elevate the piecing with complimentary quilting, and make the absolute most out of all their hard work. Her voice rings with passion throughout this episode as she explains the stories behind some of her most meaningful work. When it comes to heart, it’s literally woven into every piece! I really loved hearing how she processes the reactions to her legacy quilts or the t-shirt quilts in particular. She knows when she sends those to a client, it will be a piece of their past, heart, and soul. She recognizes the deeper work behind quilting and what it can mean to a customer, from honoring death to celebrating a life. It’s such a beautiful business and Martha does it with so much passion and joy!
See a need, fill a need.
When Martha felt that yearning for a creative outlet, she didn’t just excuse it or dismiss it away. She looked at what she had to offer - time, finances, skill - and found something that not only built her community but revealed her heart. It all started with a simple afternoon with a friend, but because she was open to learning something new and taking a risk or two, doors began to swing wide.
In her words, ”They always say, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” So I began to ask, ‘what is the need and how can I fill it?’” Because she was willing and available, her work became a magnet. Opportunities started to present themselves and eventually, she grew from hobbyist, to contractor, to business owner!
It’s all about perspective.
When it comes to business building, Martha is all about starting and ending with a legacy. Make your work meaningful by always coming back to your WHY and using that motivation to help others. When you lead with that kind of love and passion, it only produces good things! “Go find someone else you can help,” says Martha.
“Helping someone else always makes you feel like a better person. If you can take what you need and put it on the back shelf for a minute, your needs will feel so much smaller because you’re thinking beyond YOU. When we get stuck thinking about ourselves, we start nitpicking and doubting ourselves. Go fill someone else’s needs and you’ll discover life is all about perspective.”
Best Advice to your younger self.
“Be happy with where you’re at and find satisfaction in the process. Stay in a place where you can serve wholeheartedly and do everything out of that heart. Make sure to take some time to slow down, look where you’re at and be proud of where you’re at! Reflect and be grateful, and most importantly, ENJOY IT. Enjoy what you’re doing and if you're not, then find out why you’re not enjoying it. Life is short and we have to take every minute and be grateful.”
“You can’t be grateful and anxious at the same time.”
Connect with Martha.
So how did Martha build a successful quilting business from scratch? How does she work through burnout and build a supportive community in her industry? I know you’re going to learn so much from my beautiful mom this week! Press play to listen to the full interview and hear more about leaving your legacy with Martha Brannon!
Connect and check out the links mentioned in the episode below!
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