Meet Brad Trevethan

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

Hi Brad, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance is a subject that I am passionate about. I spent 19 years building a small business and for the majority of those 19 years my work life balance was about 95% work and 5% life and I thought that it was necessary to spend 60-85 hours a week at the office in order to be successful and that my business would fail if I changed my schedule or cut my hours down. The grind of the long hours slowly started to wear on me over the years and I found myself becoming burnt out but I did not know any other way of living by that point so I pushed on and the thought of more work life balance was never even an option in my mind but everything changed in an instant when I became a father for the first time in 2019 (my second child was born two years after my first was born) . I suddenly found myself making the time to take weekends off and get home every night before my kids went to sleep and this went well for a few years but the business grew and required more of my time so I decided to keep taking the weekends off but put more time in at work during the week and I would go 3-4 days without even seeing my kids because I would leave at 4:30am to go to work and get home at 8:00 or 9:00 pm. I did this for over a year and finally said to myself that something has to change, this is not sustainable. My wife and I went through all of the viable options and ultimately we decided to take the “big risk” and sell our home, sell the business and move to Arizona and start a new business that we would run from our property and create the work life balance that we have always dreamed of. So far, everything is working out as planned, even though I am putting in the work and the hours to start Coyote Color Custom Stickers and Decals I am still able to spend quality time with my family and have a much better work life balance. I think work life balance is crucial for any person and any family in order to thrive. I find that I am more productive at work now that I ever was because I am so much less stressed and I am much more well rested.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Coyote Color is a full service custom sticker and decal company that launched in August of 2024 and is located in Queen Creek, AZ.

We offer free shipping, easy online ordering and are also happy to take orders by phone, email or text. Customer service is our number one priority, we are always available to assist our clients whether it be helping them choose the best sticker or decal for their needs and budget, meeting a tight deadline, or just chatting about their day.

We bring over 19 years of sticker making experience to the table and have created stickers and decals for almost any surface you can imagine in any environment you can imagine. A sticker is not just a sticker, there are different material and adhesive combinations that can be paired together to fit specific applications and our vast knowledge of these combinations through real working experience is what sets apart from the competition.

After being in business for 19 years and selling my previous company I took the time to reflect and ask myself what I was going to different this time around and the answer came to me within seconds; work smarter, not harder. Building a business is far from easy and takes a lot of hours and hard work but I have learned that you can greatly reduce the amount of time a task takes by employing the proper available technology, equipment or software for that task.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
•Pick them up from the Airport •Head straight to Creekside Taco Shack in Queen Creek for some great food and drinks that we can enjoy while the kids play in the sand.
•Head back to the house for an afternoon of swimming
•Wake up in the morning head over to the Olive Mill for breakfast.
•Take the kids to frontier park to play for an hour or two.
•Head over to Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers in Gilbert for Lunch
•Head back to the house for an afternoon of swimming
•Wake up and go for a walk in San Tan Regional Park
• Grab breakfast at San Tan Cafe
• Take the kids to the splash pad and park at Mansel Carter Oasis Park
•Head back to the house for an afternoon of swimming
•Head over to Pecan lake for dinner at Caldwell County BBQ, Ice Cream and fun activities

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents have been instrumental in my career from the start of my first business 19 years ag0. Mom worked for free for years doing the accounting and Dad would run deliveries and help out in the shop and the most valuable thing they have given me is their guidance and wisdom.

My wife Stephanie has been my anchor, always encouraging me to follow my dreams all while working at her own career, taking care of the kids and taking care of our home. She is superwoman and I cannot thank her enough for everything that she does for our family and our business.

Website: coyotecolor.com

Instagram: @coyotecolorco

Twitter: coyotecolorco

Facebook: Coyote Color

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