Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Phanor.
Hi Samuel, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I didn’t start with a master plan, I started with responsibility.
My path has never been linear. I’ve worn a lot of uniforms in my life: military, law enforcement, founder, operator, and each one taught me something different about pressure, leadership, and what it means to hold the line when things get uncomfortable. Early on, I learned how to operate in chaos, how to make decisions when there’s no perfect answer, and how to carry weight without needing recognition for it.
Creativity came later, not as an escape, but as a tool. I realized that storytelling, branding, and strategy are just different forms of leadership. They shape perception. They move people. They create momentum. That realization led me to build Belēv X — not as a traditional agency, but as a creative system designed to help businesses grow with clarity, intention, and backbone. We don’t chase trends. We build foundations.
Along the way, I stayed close to community — through brewing, mentorship, cause-driven events, and partnerships that actually mean something. I’ve always believed success isn’t about how loud you are, but how steady you can remain when things get heavy. Every chapter — the wins and the setbacks — reinforced the same lesson: real growth happens when you stop trying to be impressive and start trying to be useful.
Today, I’m still building. Still learning. Still refining. The work evolves, but the mission stays the same — create things that last, help people see what’s possible, and leave places better than I found them.
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?
Not at all, and a lot of that friction came from the clients I chose to work with early on.
In the beginning, I said yes to almost everything. Not because I lacked standards, but because I was learning. Some of those early clients taught me what *not* to build — businesses without clarity, leaders chasing shortcuts, brands that wanted attention without accountability. Managing misaligned expectations, scope creep, and underpriced work forced me to mature fast, both as a strategist and as a leader.
On the flip side, landing higher-level clients came with its own pressure. When you’re trusted by established brands or founders who’ve already seen success, the margin for error disappears. You’re not just delivering creative, you’re carrying revenue, reputation, and momentum. That responsibility sharpened how I think, how I communicate, and how I structure systems instead of relying on hustle.
The real struggle was learning discernment, understanding that not every dollar is worth earning and not every win is worth chasing. Once I got clearer about who we serve and *why*, everything changed. The work became deeper. The relationships became longer. The impact became real.
Those client experiences shaped Belēv X into what it is today: selective, intentional, and built to support growth that’s sustainable, not just impressive on paper.
We’ve been impressed with Belēv X, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Belēv X is a boutique creative growth agency built for businesses that are serious about winning locally and doing it with a brand that actually feels like them.
At the core, we specialize in the intersection of creative and conversion. That means we don’t just make things look good, we build systems that attract attention, earn trust, and turn that attention into leads and revenue. Our work lives across local SEO, website strategy + builds, paid ads (Meta + Google), social content, and photo/video production, but what we’re really known for is taking a brand that feels scattered and turning it into something sharp, consistent, and undeniable.
What sets us apart is how we operate. A lot of agencies either lean all creative or all data. We’re both. We lead with storytelling and design, then back it up with structure: messaging frameworks, funnels, content plans, and tracking. We’re hands-on, fast, and honest, and we don’t hide behind jargon. If something isn’t working, we say it. If a business needs fundamentals before ads, we say it. We build for longevity, not vanity metrics.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is that Belēv X has a point of view. We don’t chase trends. We don’t copy-paste templates. Every client gets a custom strategy that matches their market, their voice, and their goals, and we bring a premium feel even to “everyday” local businesses. We help companies look like the leader they’re becoming.
What I want readers to know is simple: Belēv X is for founders who are tired of guessing. If you want a brand that feels elevated and a growth plan that’s actually executable, we’re the team that builds both.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy is building things that matter — and watching people step into who they’re becoming.
I get the most fulfillment from progress you can feel: a client gaining clarity after months of confusion, a brand finally looking like it belongs in the room, a team member realizing they’re capable of more than they thought. Those moments don’t show up on a highlight reel, but they’re real — and they last.
I’m also grounded by simple things. Good conversation. Shared meals. Craft built with intention. Community done right. I’ve spent enough time in high-pressure environments to know that noise fades quickly, but purpose doesn’t. Happiness, for me, isn’t about speed or applause — it’s about alignment. When the work, the people, and the values all point in the same direction, everything feels lighter.
At this stage of my life, happiness looks like momentum without chaos — building steadily, creating with intention, and having the freedom to choose depth over distraction.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://belevx.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belevx.agency/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BelevX
Image Credits
Belēv X
