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!

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**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**