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3 Cafes, 5 Years, and One Big Lesson in Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship Simplified

Release Date: 04/02/2025

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Starting a business is never easy—and if we’re being honest, most of us just figure it out as we go. In this episode, I sat down with Joel and Dexter from Hemispheres Cafe, and man, this conversation hit home. These guys opened up about what it’s really like to start something from scratch—not just the Instagram version of entrepreneurship, but the real stuff. Like sitting in a backyard wondering if coffee could be more than just something you drink, and then making a decision that changes everything.

We got into the messy parts—trying to launch in the middle of COVID, pivoting into smoothies and food, chasing growth that ended up costing more than they expected, and realizing that sometimes you’ve gotta cut your losses and protect what really matters—your family, your health, and your peace. They shared how hard it was to let go of their flagship location after pouring everything into it, and how they processed the grief that came with that failure. But what stuck with me most was how they stayed grounded in their friendship through all of it. That right there is rare.

I shared some of my own lessons too—like how failure doesn’t define you, and the freedom to coach your kid’s baseball game means more than chasing another dollar. We talked about numbers, burnout, and what it means to build something that doesn’t just make money, but makes sense for your life.

So if you’re someone who’s thinking about starting a business—or maybe you’re in the thick of it and wondering if it’s supposed to be this hard—this one’s for you. We’ve been there. We’ve had wins, taken losses, and learned to ask for help when we needed it. And if there’s one thing we want you to take from this episode, it’s this: you’re not in it alone.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

00:00 - Introduction

00:27 - How a backyard conversation turned into a café business

03:14 - From idea to launch: Their 12-month journey to opening

04:48 - Before the café: Their backgrounds in real estate and landscaping

08:52 - What past failures taught us about making decisions faster

20:00 - How Joel and Dexter pivoted through uncertainty

29:47 - The dream location that didn’t work out

36:31 - Why Keith starts every business with a spreadsheet

38:48 - How Joel and Dexter evaluate business opportunities today

44:50 - The one thing they wish someone told them before starting

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Dexter Rhines and Joel Torres are the co-owners of Hemispheres Café, a specialty coffee business based in Corpus Christi, Texas. Former colleagues at the Corpus Christi Army Depot, they shared a mutual desire to pursue something more fulfilling, which eventually led them to co-found the café. Drawing from their entrepreneurial backgrounds—Dexter in landscaping and Joel in real estate—they combined their strengths to launch their first location inside the Corpus Christi Athletic Club in 2020. With guidance from the Coastal Bend Business Innovation Center, they later expanded to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Their journey reflects a deep commitment to growth, adaptability, and staying rooted in community values.

CONNECT WITH JOEL TORRES & DEXTER RHINES:

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If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!