The Startup Story

Zack Swire, founder of Good Grains

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About this episode

This week I welcome Zack Swire, founder and CEO of Good Grains to the show. Good Grains delivers better cereal, better coffee, and better gear for a happier and healthier day. As you’ve heard in this podcast from numerous founders, there are some aspects of their journey that are similar. And yet, there are others unique to their story. For Zack, his entrepreneurial mindset started at a young age. In fact, by the time he was 16, he already had his second business. Zack’s story is one underlined by familial motivations and aspirations.

In today’s episode, you will hear how early childhood can pave the way for what is to come. You will also learn, firsthand from Zack, the importance of choosing your own path despite the hardships and obstacles you may face. Finally, you will understand how the impact of those that surround you, family, friends, and associates can help make or break your journey. This is Zack Swire’s startup story.

In this episode you’ll hear
  • How early childhood laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey and why it was so important to him to forge a different path than that of his family
  • How his brother made a huge impact on his life
  • About his college years, his love for marketing, and what he wanted to do after he graduated
  • His experience as a sales and marketing manager for a new startup, right out of college
  • Realizing when you are not fitting in and knowing when it’s time to pivot
  • About his first agency, Swire, and how with one ultrasound his entire world shifted
  • His hopes, dreams, and motivations as a father first and an entrepreneur second
  • The importance of not putting all your eggs into one basket
  • The spawn of his next business, which had some very highs and some very low in terms of his business life
  • How Good Grains was born, taking it from an idea to an actual company, how the original focus shifted to what it is today and Zack’s hope for the future

    • “In the startup life you never know if it’s ‘going to happen’ until it does; it’s so volatile.”

    —Zack Swire, GoodGrains.com

    Resources from this episode

    Connect with Zack on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/swire/

    Good Grains website: https://goodgrains.com/

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    Full Episode Transcript

    Special Guest: Zack Swire.

    Sponsored By:

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    The Startup StoryBy James McKinney