https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/ (Shawn Walchef) is a restaurant owner, digital entrepreneur and a proud father. Since 2008, Shawn has owned http://www.calicomfortbbq.com/ (Cali Comfort BBQ) in San Diego County. In order to survive, Shawn knew early on to operate his family restaurant and sports bar like a tech company.

Now whether it’s his annual http://www.betonbbq.com/ (#BETonBBQ) “Turf and Surf” tasting event in August or his expanding catering empire in San Diego, Shawn’s many business ventures all incorporate technology, especially the kind you use everyday on your cell phone.

That’s how he discovered podcasting. Since Shawn first started a business and BBQ-themed podcast almost three years ago, he’s watched podcasting grow, with many shows popping up that he’s helped inspire. Shawn has played a big part in getting so many fellow BBQ business owners into podcasting. Listen today to his Behind the Smoke: BBQ War Stories podcast where he guides viewers and listeners through the ever-evolving world of digital marketing and this helps his fellow restaurant and business owners adapt and succeed.

Shawn will begin releasing weekly audio and video episodes in the fall of his new Digital Hospitality podcast. On the show, he and his guests will get personal and truthful about what it takes to truly thrive in business, sharing advice on social media, blogs, and digital tips and tricks. The show will also explore topics that aren’t usually discussed on a business podcast like health and wellness. To find episodes, educational blogs, and behind the scenes content online at CaliBBQ.Media.

“Basically, he wanted me out and he wasn’t going to pay me back. He wasn’t gonna pay me back the money, and he was going to keep the liquor licence. And you know, at that point, I had never been spoken to like that in my life. I had trusted him. My business partner, Corey, my best friend at the time, we had trusted him, we had put all of our hopes and our dreams into this restaurant business. But we did it in a way that we had no control.”

Shawn Walchef

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Worst investment ever Grandfather trusts him to run real estate business Shawn never knew his father, but learned a great deal from his medical doctor grandfather, who raised Shawn with of course the help of his grandmother and mother. From a very early age, his he taught Shawn that hard work is good, but that hard work and education would get you ahead in life. Shawn grandfather also sent him to university in Colorado and Alicante in Spain. During his time abroad, his grandfather asked him to return to San Diego as he had been made the trustee for grandpa’s estate as Shawn was the only person he trusted. After his grandpa retired as a medical doctor, he had started investing in real estate. So he needed help with his real estate business so Shawn transferred to the University of San Diego. This allowed him to spend time with his grandfather, to help him write his memoir, and to just be there to learn from him, about his life and business.

Attempts to enter law schools fail Shawn thought he was going to be an attorney, so he took the L-sat, studied very hard, and applied to law school. He was rejected by all three of San Diego’s law schools, which hurt a great deal. Then his best friend who was with him in Spain moved to San Diego and Shawn suggested Corey help Shawn manage his grandfather’s real estate, which they did around 2006.

Early on invested eatery with liquor license Grandpa had purchased a property in East County, San Diego that had an existing restaurant, which had a liquor license, a type-47 liquor license, which allows you to sell beer, wine, spirits at an existing restaurant space. The license is very valuable in