How a Black Entrepreneur Opened a Coffee Shop Against All Odds!

In this episode, I sit down with Byron McSwain owner of Greater Grounds Coffee & Co, a Black-owned coffee shop in Wichita built through persistence, community support, and countless lessons learned. He opens up about rejection, overcoming fear, balancing family and entrepreneurship, and the realities of running a business. Byron also reflects on marriage, relationships, and the creative ways he and his wife keep love alive. This is a story of resilience, faith, and building something bigger than yourself! Tap in now to watch the full episode! GET CONNECTED WITH CHRIS TODAY! https://linktr.ee/fullyconnected  FullyConnectedCounseling.com  GET CONNECTED WITH THE GUEST! https://www.instagram.com/greatergroundscoffeeict/ https://www.instagram.com/byronmcswain/ **0:00 – Coming Up!** **1:29 – Show Starts!** ### **Chapter 1: Career & Coffee Shop Journey** **3:16 – Byron’s Career Background** **6:52 – Early Stages of Starting His Coffee Shop** **8:14 – “I Took a Lot of No’s and Rejection”** **10:42 – Insider Tips to Start a Business** ### **Chapter 2: Family, Inspiration & The Grind** **13:50 – Balancing Family and Work** **14:51 – “Every Wednesday Night Is Date Night”** **17:08 – Why Mom Inspired Him to Start the Coffee Shop** **20:16 – “I Quit the Business. I Felt Defeated” (Location Issues)** ### **Chapter 3: Entrepreneurship Lessons** **26:22 – Advice for Entrepreneurs: “Plan for Worst Case Scenarios”** **28:48 – The Pros & Cons of Running Your Own Business** **31:25 – Special Drinks at Greater Grounds Coffee** **32:02 – Designing the Interior of Greater Grounds Coffee** **35:01 – How Expensive Is It to Start a Coffee Shop?** **40:02 – How to Get Over the Fear of Starting a Business** **42:18 – Support From Other Coffee Shops in Wichita** **43:20 – The Book That Helped Him Overcome Fear & Run His Business** ### **Chapter 4: Surprises, Labels & Life Lessons** **48:45 – The Homeless Guy Story** **52:57 – People Surprised He’s the Owner Because He’s Black** **54:32 – Perks & Disadvantages of the “Black-Owned” Label** **56:30 – How Refereeing Taught Him to Handle Criticism** **59:35 – Best Advice for Kids From a Former Referee** ### **Chapter 5: Marriage, Love & Relationships** **1:03:00 – How He Met His Wife Carrie** **1:04:11 – “This Is My 3rd Marriage” (Lessons on Making Marriage Work)** **1:06:00 – “Don’t Go to Bed Mad”** **1:08:44 – Date Nights Pt. 2** **1:11:01 – Marriage, Divorce & Healthy Relationships** **1:14:23 – Date Nights Pt. 3 (Getting Creative With Date Nights)** ### **Chapter 6: Fun & Closing Moments** **1:18:00 – “Byrrrroonnn!” From the Tyler Perry Movie** **1:19:00 – Outro**