We were lucky to catch up with BRANDON MICHAEL recently and have shared our conversation below.
BRANDON, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
BALHR was born out of a moment that felt sacred.
After the loss of my grandfather, I found myself reflecting on legacy—what we leave behind, what actually matters. One evening, my wife surprised me with a curated date: cigars, chocolates, cheeses, and conversation. That night became more than a date—it became a space. A space to breathe. A space to process grief, to slow down, to think and contemplate to trajectory of my life, to plan the next moves forward. It was in that pause that something clicked. For the first time, cigars were paired with a purpose.
I didn’t want to just blend and sell cigars. I wanted to create a brand that meant something—one that carried weight, told a story, and made people feel seen in their struggle. BALHR stands for “Been A Long Hard Road.” This phrase is look back at how far one has come, overcame and climbed and looks forward to who you want to become, the growth, the possibilities, and the climb ahead that makes them become a reality. BALHR is a symbol representing the Courage to embark on the journey, Grit to hold the line, Perseverance to do the hard things again and again, Resilience for the comeback after setbacks and failure, Character that is forged and refined through life and the Real money that makes the grind worthwhile, which ultimately results in Legacy, that which outlives you. The foundation your children build on. The standard your children pass down. A ripple of virtue set in motion by a life of substance, that echoes for generations.
As I researched cigars and the industry as I enjoyed them, I saw a gap. Most cigar brands talk flavor and blend. Few talk meaning and purpose. Nobody is speaking to the internal war—the daily pressure, the spiritual grit, the unspoken battles. I knew there had to be others like me—those who use that quiet moment with a cigar not just to relax, but to recalibrate. To reflect. To rise again.
That’s why BALHR isn’t just about cigars. It’s a mindset. A battle cry. Every product we make—from cigars to beard balm—is crafted with intention, tied to ritual, and forged with character in mind. Because in a world obsessed with image, we’re here to remind people that the true reward isn’t attention—it’s character.
That’s the currency of legacy. And that’s where BALHR began.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Brandon Michael, and I created BALHR Enterprise for the ones who carry weight—the ones who show up every day with grit, discipline, and scars that tell a story.
The heart behind starting this cigar company is to create more than just a product—it’s about crafting cigars with purpose, passion, and meaning. Cigars, for me, are a personal ritual for reflection, planning, and growth, but most brands today lack a deeper story or message beyond taste and pairings. This brand aims to blend premium cigars intentionally tied to core values, principles, and life lessons, offering a connection for those who value growth, resilience, and character.
The mission is to speak to life’s struggles, challenges, and obstacles, providing a brand that understands and walks alongside its audience. It’s about building an authentic connection, sharing stories, telling the Truth, and being a comrade in the journey of life—one that locks arms with you through the trenches and celebrates with you in even the smallest victories.
BALHR Enterprise represents a bold and intentional pursuit of character.
The term Enterprise embodies the commitment to undertaking significant, challenging endeavors with perseverance and readiness.
A common question I’m asked is, “Why BALHR?”
BALHR stands for “Been A Long Hard Road,” my personal philosophy forged in the relentless pursuit of who you’re meant to be—who you could become, if you’re willing to be. It’s about the courage to take the hard road on purpose—to reject comfort, kill complacency, and rise through the struggle. It’s rooted in the unshakable belief that nothing is impossible with God, and that even the hardest road can become holy ground. For growth isn’t given. Character is earned. And legacy is built by those willing to carry the weight and bear their cross.
Looking back, BALHR is a recognition of how far you have come—the scars, the setbacks, and the strength it took to keep moving. It honors the battles fought and the grit it took to overcome.
Looking forward, it’s a call to rise higher—a reminder that there’s still more to build, more to become, and a responsibility to fully steward the gifts, trials, and opportunities life has placed in your path. Because the climb doesn’t end with survival, it continues until your life echoes beyond you.
BALHR is about surrendering to the refiner’s fire—trusting that struggle shapes, purifies, and prepares you.
And character is the currency of legacy—the one thing the world can’t give or take.
BALHR Enterprise is driven by the motto, “Paired with Purpose,” emphasized by living a life of meaningful pursuit and connecting it with the simple things in life. Taking one thing, a cigar session and combining it with something that’s worth wrestling with, has the potential to change everything.
BALHR is not just a name or a brand—it’s a reality, a symbol, a reminder, a moment to recalibrate in the middle of the grind.
I got into this space not because I loved cigars, but because I needed one. I needed some time in my life for what a cigar, paired with purpose, could offer during a season in life when everything felt heavy.
After the death of my grandfather, I found peace and perspective in a beautiful moment with my wife, a cigar, and the clarity that comes from reflection and stillness.
That moment became the foundation for BALHR. Every product we’ve created since—from our signature cigar to our essential oil-based grooming items like beard oil, hand salve and spray-on deodorizers—has been designed with meaning in mind.
We create tools for reflection. Rituals of resilience. Essentials for the embered.
What sets BALHR apart isn’t just creating quality products—it’s what we are building in the culture and who we are when no one is looking . Our brand is built on values that not only build up, but build upon the other–courage, grit, perseverance, resilience, character, and legacy.
The cigars are premium and bold, but equally so is the message.
The grooming products don’t just clean up your look, they remind you who you are–worth the investment.
We’re proud to serve a growing tribe of men and women who aren’t afraid of the fight—who know that strength is forged through struggle, and that character is where the real money is. That’s the BALHR way!
Whether you’re putting some smoke in the air after a win, before you are on to the next challenge or contemplating in the quiet between battles, BALHR is the reminder—You Are not Alone.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
BALHR started as a personal motto—a reminder I created for myself around 2017 during one of the hardest seasons of my life. I looked back on everything I had survived, fought for, lived through, and laid my life down to protect—and the words just came: “Been A Long Hard Road.”
In that moment, I needed those words.
I was hurting. Life was heavy. But from that ash, I rose stronger than I ever imagined possible. That realization revived me. It spoke life into the deepest parts of my soul. I was blown away by what had been built in me: resilience.
And then I had a crazy thought—that it was going to continue to be a long, hard road. Because I wasn’t done. There was more to do, more to become. I could look back and see how far I’d come, but I could also look forward and see I was nowhere near finished.
That was the moment I made a decision: I wasn’t going to let my situations, circumstances, or failures define me. I would learn. I would grow. I would trust God through the fire. I believed—even then—that there were no ceilings I couldn’t break through, no limits to the man I could become if I let Him heal me, if I faced the pain, and if I did the inner work to build something real.
It hasn’t been win after win. I’ve had countless failures since. But every setback, every shortfall, every time I got knocked down—I stood up again. And again. And again.
A lot of those moments happened alone. I built in the dark, battled in silence, and celebrated small victories with no audience—just a smile, a deep breath, and the resolve to climb the next mountain.
Because life doesn’t get easier when you win. Victory doesn’t cancel the challenge—it becomes the base camp for the next summit. And that’s what makes this journey so fascinating.
This year—Fall 2025—I’m launching my first unique cigar blend. I’m turning a concept, a truth, a story into a brand. And like before, it’s happening during another difficult season of life. BALHR Enterprise wasn’t built in ideal conditions—it was born in real life. I launched it while leading a family, building another business, growing, healing, and carrying a vision that felt bigger than my current capacity. But that’s where resilience lives—not in the spotlight, but in the quiet, unseen moments where you choose to keep going.
I’ve been in the trades. I run a construction and handyman business. And this past year, I faced the worst burnout I’ve ever experienced. I’d build the company up—and it would fall apart. I’d rebuild it better—and something else would break. Key team members would leave. Subcontractors ran off with thousands. Mistake after mistake, failure after failure, I’d be left picking up the pieces, making it right, finishing every project, keeping my word—alone.
I wanted to give up.
I read every book I could on business, discipline, systems, and burnout. None of it was a perfect fix. All I could do was take the next step—own my stuff, take responsibility, and grow.
So I slowed down. I gave myself permission to rebuild at a slower pace. And in the midst of that, I put some energy into something I’m passionate about—something that brings life to me, and maybe could bring hope to others.
BALHR Enterprise was born from that season of adversity, burnout, and pain.
It was lived out before it was branded. And that’s why it’s more than a business—it’s a banner for those still in the climb. And I’m still in that climb right there with you.
The vision was clear, but the path wasn’t. I didn’t have industry connections or much cigar knowledge. No roadmap for how to blend legacy, storytelling, and product into one unified voice. What I did have was conviction—and a fire that wouldn’t go out.
There were moments I questioned everything—and still do. Whether I’m qualified. Whether the story will land where it needs to–right in the chest. Whether I can even keep up. But that’s when the philosophy behind BALHR became more than branding. What was once my reality became my accountability. I had to walk the long, hard road before I could lead others on it. And I’ve walked it. I’m walking it. And I will keep walking it.
From researching tobacco to hand-formulating grooming products, to designing logos late at night after tucking my kids in—I kept showing up. Not because it was easy. Because it mattered. I needed the message. And I wanted others to know they weren’t alone in the battle either.
Grit and perseverance aren’t loud. They aren’t flashy. They’re consistent—day in and day out, in the background, building the resilience to bounce back after setbacks and stand back up after failure. They fortify the quiet decision to keep climbing when no one sees you.
BALHR was forged in that silence. And that’s why it’s more than a product or a brand—it’s a reflection of the resilience in men and women who are doing the same: carrying weight, facing fire, and rising from the ash—stronger, wiser, and ready for what’s next.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
I’ve read many of the books you’d expect—mainstream titles on entrepreneurship, business systems, self-improvement. And I’ve learned a lot from them. Most offer solid frameworks, but they tend to be cookie-cutter solutions. They still require you to wrestle with your own circumstances and adapt their wisdom to your life.
That’s not a knock. I still read those books—and will continue to read them. Growth is a discipline.
But what’s shaped me the most are the resources that focus on who you are—not just what you do. Books that help build character, deepen faith, and call out something truer in how you lead, love, and live. In my experience, any book or podcast that makes you a better husband, father, and man will also make you a better entrepreneur, leader, and builder. If it strengthens your character, your faith, your wisdom—it strengthens every part of your life.
For example, I recently started reading Blue Ocean Strategy, and I realized I’ve been unintentionally walking that path for years—especially in how I approach the cigar and personal grooming industries. I’ve been carving out a space I felt called to, doing things differently, even before I knew there was a name for it.
But for me, there’s one source that stands above the rest: the Bible. It’s the only inexhaustible collection of truth I’ve found that speaks to every area of life—faith, family, business, purpose, relationships, identity, healing, resilience. I read it every day. And there’s no limit to how deeply it can shape and transform a life.
Some of the most impactful books I’ve read on authenticity and character are by John Lynch and the Trueface team—titles like TrueFaced, The Cure, The Path, Bo’s Café, and On My Worst Day. I return to them regularly. They’ve taught me the power of trusting God and others with who you really are—not the version you present, but the one you often hide. That honesty has changed how I live and how I lead.
Right now, I’m reading Eyes Wide Open: Learning to Suffer by Jason L. Sharp—a cigar lounge owner here in Kansas City, Army Ranger, cancer survivor, coach, and family man. It’s raw and real. It explores how suffering shapes us if we allow it—and that message speaks directly to my story.
I’ve also found timeless value in thinkers like Jim Rohn and Napoleon Hill—books that focus on discipline, character, and business from a principled foundation. Jordan Raynor has helped me see my work as a calling. William J. Bennett brings practical virtue and moral clarity to everyday life.
I also love old poetry, fables, and classic short stories—from Longfellow and Rudyard Kipling to Aesop. There’s something grounding in those timeless truths.
I’m drawn to neuroscience and brain-based leadership too—authors like Jim Wilder, Michael Hendricks, and Marcus Warner offer fascinating insights on emotional health, spiritual maturity, and how the mind works under pressure.
And I regularly turn to voices like Jordan Peterson, Dallas Willard, C.S. Lewis, Meg Meeker, and even Robert Greene—writers who challenge me to think deeply, act intentionally, and stay rooted in who I am.
And when it comes to cigars specifically, one of my favorite resources is The Ultimate Cigar Book by Richard Carleton Hacker. The history, tradition, and cultural depth of cigars is something I deeply respect. It’s more than a product—it’s a ritual, a conversation, a connection point. The impact cigars have had on the world is rich, consistent, and, in many ways, quietly positive. That book helped me see how deeply this culture runs, and how much meaning it carries.
At the end of the day, I don’t read just to gain knowledge—I read to become someone worth following. And the right words, at the right time, can sharpen you for the next mountain.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://WWW.BALHRCIGARS.COM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balhrenterprise/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?viewas=100000686899395&id=61566490053077
- Twitter: https://x.com/BALHRCIGARS
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BALHRENTERPRISE
