Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Batch.
Brian, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
About 12 years ago, I started working at a coffee shop called Thunderbird coffee. I spent a decade working my way from barista to GM and along the way built a really great relationship with the owner of Thunderbird whose name is Ryan Mcelroy. From that relationship building process, Ryan and I became great friends and about 10 years into working at Thunderbird, he asked me if I would like to go into business with him and start something together. I couldn’t think of a better way to start a business then with a great friend and so I was all about it.
From there, we traveled around the US for about six months seeing different concepts and what was working and resonating in other areas. From this process, we distilled Bird Bird Biscuit. Our mantra was simplicity. We wanted to bring something unique to Austin and with simplicity at the heart, do our best to execute to the highest standard possible. Another important aspect of why Ryan and I started a business together was to grow an organization with a vision so that as it grew we could create opportunities for the amazing people that worked alongside us.
At the heart of our business are a few court tenants. We strive to blow people’s minds with the quality and with the care we put into what we do, and we value relationships. I’ll leave you with the quote we use as our mantra. It’s by Ram Dass. He says, “we’re all just walking each other home”.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My father once told me when I was a young man and if you love what you do that is not work. I have come to realize that that statement is not true. If you love what you do, it is still work, you just get to love the work you do. I can honestly say that I don’t think I’ve ever worked as hard at anything as I did starting Bird Bird Biscuit. It took pretty much everything I had to keep my body able to wake up day-to-day and keep it moving. I was very blessed to have my brother and Ryan along my side at the beginning to help build the organization with me. Our struggles have been balanced by our blessings. We have been so very blessed along our journey to have been able to traverse the storms with Grace.
For example, the pandemic obviously brought with it a unique set of challenges for all businesses. For us, the challenges also offered us an opportunity to unlock the next level of potential of what Bird Bird Biscuit is capable of. Through the pandemic, and through choosing to view the challenges as opportunities, Bird Bird expanded its revenue by about 50-60%. I can’t help but be continually grateful for all of the good fortune that has come our way. I make sure and remind myself of it daily so that when challenges arise, I will stand in remembrance of the wonderful things that have guided us to where we are and allow that hope to see us into whatever is next.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
One question that I often get asked is whether or not I always wanted to open a restaurant like Bird Bird Biscuit. This question I have thought a lot about. It seems to arise from a thought in youth that is implanted in many young minds which is, “what do you want to do when you grow up?” I have come to feel that this question causes many issues in early adulthood. I feel a better question that we should all ask early in life is, “who do I want to become?”. Anything that we do stems directly out of the source of who we are as a person. I say all of this to bring up the point that one thing I have found so valuable in my life is the practice of meditation. The practice of spending time dwelling on what is within and letting that manifest what is created without.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
To be honest, I do not remember a great deal about my childhood. We had many struggles as youth and I think there are certain parts of it that have been shut out of my conscious mind. My best guess is that I was like my kids are now which is mischievous, fun-loving, and quite rowdy. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: birdbirdbiscuit.com
- Instagram: @birdbirdbiscuit
