Shownotes
The primary focus of this episode underscores the importance of resilience and adaptability in the pursuit of entrepreneurial success, as articulated by Shawn Walchef. He emphasizes the necessity of embracing failure as a catalyst for learning and growth, positing that one must cultivate a comfort with discomfort in order to thrive within the competitive landscape of the restaurant and barbecue industries. The dialogue further explores the evolution of Shawn's business ventures, illustrating a transformative journey from a breakfast brand to a multifaceted barbecue media company. Throughout our discussion, we reflect on the significance of mentorship and the influence of historical figures, such as P.T. Barnum, in shaping our understanding of promotion and business strategy. Ultimately, this episode serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of innovation and the continual quest for improvement that characterizes successful entrepreneurs.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Painted Hills Natural Beef
- Cali BBQ
- 17th Street Barbecue
- AC/DC
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
Transcripts
Welcome to Barbecue Nation with JT's After Hours conversation that took place after the broadcast ended.
Speaker A:Hey, everybody, it's jt.
Speaker A:And this is a special version of Barbecue Nation.
Speaker A:It is brought to you in part by Painted Hills Natural Beef.
Speaker A:Beef you can be proud to serve your family and friends.
Speaker A:That's Painted Hills Natural Beef.
Speaker A:Welcome to after hours here on Barbecue Nation.
Speaker A:I know Sean's got a time constraint coming up, so we'll, we won't drag on like we do with Meathead, which burns up half the volume of the Internet when we do that, so turns into three shows.
Speaker B:It's all good.
Speaker B:Love some Meathead.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah, it's all good.
Speaker A:I guess the.
Speaker A:I'm going to reform this question, Sean, really quickly.
Speaker A:And normally we talk about a particular dish or a protein or something, but I would say, what was your success to failure ratio when you were creating new business opportunities for yourself and for the restaurant or people that actually, you know, listen, listen to your shows or listen to when you're a keynote or whatever.
Speaker C:Our motto is to fail fast and to get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Speaker C:And the more that we've leaned into trying things that other people are unwilling to do, the more success that we found because we're willing to come back every single day and try a little bit more.
Speaker C:I'm lucky to be a dad.
Speaker C:I have a five year old son and three year old daughter and I teach them what Batman teaches me, which is why do we fall?
Speaker C:We fall so we can learn how to get back up.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker C:And that's what I teach them.
Speaker C:And the more that we fall in business, that's why we started as a breakfast brand, became a sports bar, became an entertainment and event company, and then now we're a barbecue media company.
Speaker C:I mean, a lot has changed in 15 years and it certainly wasn't for doing the same thing over and over again.
Speaker A:I.
Speaker A:Well, I've got a very terse not response to that, but a limerick, but I want, I'm not going to use it on the air today, but it has to do with repetition and getting the same results.
Speaker A:Okay, here's one of our abstract questions.
Speaker A:If you could cook four and then dine with a historical figure, who would it be?
Speaker A:They can be alive or gone.
Speaker A:And what would the menu be?
Speaker A:Sean?
Speaker C:I could cook for or dine with a historical figure, probably would be P.T.
Speaker C:Barnum.
Speaker A:You're the first person that's ever said that.
Speaker C:That's not surprising.
Speaker C:I always, I, I tend to take the path, the path least traveled.
Speaker C:P.T.
Speaker C:Barnum would be the person that I would dine with.
Speaker C:I would cook him barbecue.
Speaker C:I would cook him.
Speaker C:What we cook at Cali Barbecue would be a.
Speaker C:A tailgater, which is our slow smoke brisket, our tri tip, our chicken, our rib tips, St. Louis pork ribs, wedding beans, Mac and cheese, jalapeno cheddar cornbread.
Speaker C:Full.
Speaker C:The full spread for PT Barnum.
Speaker C:And I would talk to him about the art of promotion.
Speaker A:That would be an interesting conversation.
Speaker C:I would love.
Speaker C:I would love to.
Speaker C:To have done that.
Speaker C:It would either be P.T.
Speaker C:Barnum or Kobe Bryant.
Speaker A:Oh, that's a good one.
Speaker A:There you go.
Speaker A:If you could work with one of your barbecue heroes, providing you have such a person, who would it be?
Speaker C:They have to be alive.
Speaker A:Nope.
Speaker A:Nope.
Speaker C:It would be Mike Mills.
Speaker C:I have such.
Speaker C:Such incredible respect for Mike Mills and amy Mills and 17th Street Barbecue.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker C: I'll never forget, in: Speaker C:And his humility, his ability to answer questions, to be curious, to ask me questions, like, he.
Speaker C:He was just.
Speaker C:It left.
Speaker C:It left an impression on me for the rest of my life.
Speaker A:Oh, sure.
Speaker A:Absolutely.
Speaker A:So if Leanne declared you supreme ruler of barbecue for one week, what would you, as supreme ruler, decree?
Speaker C:I would decree that.
Speaker C:No matter where you are on Earth, you would have to find a buddy in a different country and share recipes.
Speaker A:There you go.
Speaker A:There you go.
Speaker A:Here's for a couple of fun ones.
Speaker A:Sean, if we put your skills to music, what would the music be?
Speaker C:Eminem, till I collapse.
Speaker A:Okay, if you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?
Speaker C:I would be a wolf.
Speaker C:My family.
Speaker C:My last name, Walchef, means wolf and Bulgarian, and my wife is Bulgarian.
Speaker C:My son and daughter are now more Bulgarian than I am, and we are the Walchef wolf pack.
Speaker A:So definitely for you.
Speaker A:That's awesome.
Speaker A:Good for you.
Speaker A:What's the absolute hardest thing?
Speaker A:We kind of touched on this in the regular show, but what's the hardest thing about owning your own business?
Speaker C:H. The hardest thing.
Speaker C:The hardest thing is the number one thing, and that's to stay in business.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker C:That's the most important rule to business, which is the hardest thing for business, is to stay in business today.
Speaker A:It's very, very tough today.
Speaker A:I mean, you live in California.
Speaker A:I used to live in California.
Speaker C:We make it.
Speaker C:I like hard things.
Speaker A:Yeah, Yeah.
Speaker A:I was gonna say, man, it's.
Speaker B:You like challenges?
Speaker A:Since I lived there a long Time ago.
Speaker A:It's changed a lot.
Speaker A:I'll just put it that way.
Speaker A:So it doesn't seem to be receptive or conducive at times to entrepreneurial stuff.
Speaker A:They.
Speaker C:Yeah, you know, that's the overview you get for us.
Speaker C:We.
Speaker C:I'm a person that never looks at external factors.
Speaker C:I always look internal.
Speaker C:So focus on the things that I can control.
Speaker C:So if I can control me being a better dad, me being a better husband, me being a better leader, then hopefully I can build a better business no matter where on earth that business is.
Speaker A:There you go.
Speaker A:Sweatshirts or formal wear?
Speaker C:I see you got a sweatshirt that's not even.
Speaker A:I'm.
Speaker C:I'm a guy that wears hoodies and hats all the time, so.
Speaker B:Okay, I feel like we need to take that question out since we're usually on the barbecue thing.
Speaker B:How many barbecue people wear formal wear?
Speaker B:I don't know.
Speaker C:I don't know.
Speaker B:Maybe they don't deserve to be on the show.
Speaker B:So I don't know.
Speaker B:I think we should take that out.
Speaker A:I think Myron does when he likes to walk up and get a trophy, but other than that, I'm not sure.
Speaker A:Anything.
Speaker A:Dire Straits, AC dc, Billy Ray Cyrus or Captain and Tenille.
Speaker C:Give me the list again.
Speaker A:Dire Straits, AC dc, Billy Ray Cyrus or Captain and Tenel.
Speaker C:Acdc.
Speaker C:Oh, yeah.
Speaker A:That's like.
Speaker A:Most people that have their act together will say AC dc.
Speaker C:I'll just put it that way.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker C:My.
Speaker C:My.
Speaker C:My daughter, one of her favorite songs is Thunderstruck.
Speaker C:She's a huge.
Speaker C:Were huge Charger fans.
Speaker C:And there you go, one of the first stadium songs that she really enjoyed.
Speaker A:Sean, what's one thing you miss about your 20s?
Speaker A:One thing.
Speaker C:I don't miss anything about my 20s.
Speaker C:I'm a. I'm a. I'm a person that tries not to live in the past and not to live in the future.
Speaker C:Try to just.
Speaker C:Just be happy and grateful that you guys have me on the show right now.
Speaker A:Oh, well, that's.
Speaker B:Love that.
Speaker A:What's.
Speaker A:What's your best day of activities away from business?
Speaker A:That.
Speaker A:What does that contain?
Speaker C:It's being with the wolf pack.
Speaker C:Being with my wife, my son, my daughter.
Speaker C:Every year for a month we go to the village in Bulgaria where my wife is from.
Speaker C:So my mother in law, father in law, and we get to spend time taking it slow, you know, whether it's in the garden or going out into the mountains or to the Black Sea.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker C:It's a different change of pace, different perspective.
Speaker A:I bet you that is a big Change of pace from Southern California.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:It makes.
Speaker C:Makes you very grateful for all the things that we have.
Speaker C:And it also, you know, makes me realize that the Internet is everywhere.
Speaker C:You know, the problems that we talk about in San Diego as business owners, they're the same challenges that a restaurant owner has in Bulgaria, so.
Speaker A:Sure.
Speaker A:So people can get to know you a little better.
Speaker A:What's your favorite movie?
Speaker C:My favorite movie maybe Gladiator.
Speaker A:That's a good choice.
Speaker A:That's a very good choice.
Speaker C:Win the crowd, win your freedom.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Why not?
Speaker A:No, that's very, very true.
Speaker A:Here's one of my favorites.
Speaker A:What would your last meal be on death row?
Speaker C:Last meal on death row?
Speaker C:It would probably be bratwurst from a German restaurant that I went to.
Speaker C:Used to go to all the time with my grandfather.
Speaker C:My grandfather raised me.
Speaker C:I never met my father, so I would have bratwurst, and then I would also have, most likely, yakisoba noodles.
Speaker C:My grandmother was Japanese, so comfort Japanese food and.
Speaker C:And German food.
Speaker C:And then I'd probably throw in some Bulgarian, too.
Speaker C:Some Bulgarian burgers.
Speaker A:God, a feast.
Speaker B:Wait, I have a question.
Speaker B:What makes a Bulgarian burger different than an American burger?
Speaker C:50% Ground pork.
Speaker C:50%?
Speaker C:Actually, it's more like.
Speaker C:It's more like 70.
Speaker C:30.
Speaker C:So 70% ground pork, 30% ground beef.
Speaker B:Wow.
Speaker C:Chopped onions.
Speaker B:Yeah, I made that because I didn't have enough pork or beef, so that was actually.
Speaker C:It.
Speaker C:It's absolutely incredible.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Wow, that's.
Speaker A:That is cool.
Speaker A:I would have thought they maybe would have mixed some lamb in that, too.
Speaker C:They do lamb?
Speaker C:Absolutely.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:Not a big.
Speaker C:Not a big beef country, but a big pork country, for sure.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:Okay, Sean, last question.
Speaker A:What do you want to do when and if you ever retire?
Speaker C:I'm like my grandfather.
Speaker C:I actually just had a conversation with a close friend this morning.
Speaker C:I do a sunrise gratitude walk.
Speaker C:But we were talking about retirement.
Speaker C:And for me, retirement is just.
Speaker C:The concept doesn't make any sense because that means my brain turns off.
Speaker C:So I will always be.
Speaker C:You know, my grandfather taught me, stay curious, get involved, ask for help.
Speaker C:As long as every single day, I'm curious.
Speaker C:And I'm applying the knowledge that I learn, and I'm seeking out other people that can help me with whatever I'm trying to do.
Speaker C:I don't think that I'll.
Speaker C:I'll ever really retire.
Speaker A:I know that some people have accused me of turning my brain off from time to time, but that just happens.
Speaker A:It comes with the microphone, I think.
Speaker A:Sean Walshef, I really appreciate you taking the time.
Speaker A:It's been a long time.
Speaker B:How can we find him?
Speaker C:Yes, you can find me on any social media platform at Sean P. Walcheff.
Speaker C:S H A W N P W A L C H E F that's on Instagram, that's Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok, any of the.
Speaker C:Any of the platforms and.
Speaker C:Or you can follow our restaurant, Cali BBQ at Cali bbq or our podcasts at Cali BBQ Media.
Speaker A:That's a bunch.
Speaker C:It's a lot.
Speaker C:A lot of platforms, a lot of content, a lot of storytelling.
Speaker A:You almost have as much as your media.
Speaker B:No, that's why he's media.
Speaker A:He's good.
Speaker A:Sean, thank you again, my friend.
Speaker A:And, yeah, thank you.
Speaker B:You're very busy.
Speaker A:When we.
Speaker C:Grateful.
Speaker A:I think I speak for Leanne.
Speaker A:We really enjoyed having you on the show.
Speaker A:I mean, really, truly.
Speaker C:I wish.
Speaker C:I wish I could explain in words how honored I am to be on the show.
Speaker C:This is a legend, legendary show.
Speaker C:Leanne, the work that you've done and Jeff, it's.
Speaker C:It's.
Speaker C:It's really cool.
Speaker C:I'm honored.
Speaker C:I'm honored on the west coast to be on the show.
Speaker C:So thank you.
Speaker A:Not a problem.
Speaker A:Very welcome.
Speaker A:We're gonna get out of here.
Speaker A:Sean's got something else he's got to go jump in front of a camera and a microphone for.
Speaker A:And that's very cool.
Speaker A:And Leanne and I will be back next week with another edition of After Hours.
Speaker A:Remember our motto, turn it, don't burn it.
Speaker A:Take care, everybody.
