Meet Cheyenne Porras

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cheyenne Porras a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Cheyenne, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

My work ethic undoubtedly comes from my mother which, in turn, came from hers. All throughout my life, I can remember countless times my mother has selflessly given herself and her time to various projects and jobs. Looking at it from an employee perspective, she has always given 110% in any job she has taken whether she was paid $5/hr or $500 (wishful thinking) – she gave the same amount of herself. However, I have also witnessed her give so much of her hours to volunteer work. She spends hours helping others where needed, working on church projects and just helping others whenever the moments would arise. She never hesitates to pull up her boot straps and get her hands dirty to get the job done. Others know that if she says she will be there, she will. Her word is golden. Yes, there were times she would grow weary and even mutter a complaint but that never stopped her from getting the job done. When she takes on a task, she doesn’t stop until it reaches fruition. Her determination, strong will and the heart to serve others have passed to her from her mother and has now passed on to me.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Java & Jesus was birthed by a need. See a need; meet a need. People were spending so much money on coffee from local coffee shops, myself included. On social outings, friends would opt for a smaller size or just go without because the cost became a luxury more than a necessity. Therefore, I thought to myself how can I help others become their own barista and how can I use it to empower them? I did my research and finally decided to jump in feet first and create a small online mercantile out of a room in my, then, 900 foot home. It had a meager start, as all businesses do. It didn’t take long for the business to grow. Surprisingly, people were intrigued about how they can make their own specialty coffee at home for a fraction of the price. It soon outgrew my home and we moved to a larger home to accommodate the space I needed for growth.

Not only was I looking at the business aspect, I was also looking to invest in others. My husband and I were in ministry, at the time, and I was known as “Antonio’s Wife”. While endearing, I needed my own identity. I quickly became affectionally known as “Java”. My motto has always been “the least, the last and the lost”. I have helped flood victims, homelessness, toy drives….just to name a few. I have always had a heart for people and that is what I want my business to represent.

For the last 5 years, I have not only created a business but a community. I have gotten to really know my customers and share in their victories and pray for their downfalls. The relationship I have made with my customers is what keeps me thriving.

What I am looking forward to the most this holiday season is small business working together, arm in arm, to create a shopping experience that reminds the community that we are here and we appreciate their patronage.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Some qualities that I feel were the most impactful during my journey are, but not limited to, perseverance, adaptability and creativity.

Perseverance – being able to overcome any situation that arises is a must. Owning a business is HARD. If someone tells you otherwise they are trying to sell you something or are lying. It’s tough. But you have to be tougher. Go in it with the determination that you will not fail.

Adaptability – you have to be able to adapt and overcome. Hardships and adversity are going to come from all corners. You have to accept that not all ideas are good ones. You try them anyway. If they fail, dust yourself off, reevaluate then try a different angle. You can’t be hard pressed about every aspect.

Creativity – with anything you put yourself into, you have to be creative. You always competing with the next best thing. You have to be able to create a market that is different from all the others around you and make yours stand out.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

The most challenging thing I am currently facing is the market has changed drastically post-covid. This is a pattern not isolated to my business but to all small business I have had the pleasure of working with. People are not frequenting small business like they once were. They want in and out and larger corporations are more accommodating to that lifestyle. Smaller businesses offer that personal connection and we do our best to present quality products and yet individuals seem to want to bypass them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://java-jesus.square.site
• Instagram: java.jesus.store
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/858814074528265/
• Other: Tiktok: java.jesus.store