Ep. 119 | From Secret Service to Self-Made: Shawn Honer on Betting on Yourself

After a career that spanned the U.S. Navy and the Secret Service, Shawn Honer knew a day would come when he didn’t want to clock in anymore. So he built a life where he wouldn’t have to.

In Episode 119, Dustin sits down with Shawn to talk about his journey from government service to entrepreneurship. Shawn shares how he learned the business by talking to people and finding mentors who took him under their wing. He also explains how he built confidence through small wins, like convincing a seller to finance his first rental property instead of going to the bank. From there, the conversation covers his weight loss and bodybuilding journey, starting Sugar Bear Coffee in Colombia, the role of therapy and mental health in his success, and why the skills he learned in uniform still drive how he operates today. If you’re thinking about making a leap of your own, this one will give you the push.

🔑 What You Will Learn

-How Shawn made the leap from government service to business owner

-Why mentors and conversations taught him more than books or seminars

-How he negotiated owner financing on his first rental property

-How small wins build the confidence to take bigger swings

-Which military and Secret Service skills carry over into business

-How he balances health, fitness, family, and entrepreneurship

-Why asking for help early is a strength, not a weakness

-The daily routines that keep him focused

🕐 Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Shawn’s Background

02:39 Deciding to Leave Government Service

04:50 First Steps into Entrepreneurship and Learning

06:40 Building Confidence Through Small Wins

09:55 Transferable Skills from Military and Government

12:33 Family, Leadership, and Personal Growth

14:33 Weight Loss Journey and Bodybuilding

17:48 Starting Sugar Bear Coffee in Colombia

20:42 The Importance of Community and Asking for Help

23:36 Daily Routines and Time Management

27:56 Retirement Plans Versus Reality

30:52 Dreams and Future Plans

33:44 Final Thoughts and Parting Words

🔗 Connect with Shawn Honer LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawn-honer-90544315b/

🎙️ About Tools, Talents, and Techniques Hosted by Dustin Sutton, Tools, Talents, and Techniques is a podcast for founders, operators, and professionals who want to go deeper than surface-level success stories. Every episode unpacks how high performers think, decide, and build things that last.

📲 Subscribe and leave a review if this episode brought you value.

🌐 Podcast Homepage: toolstalentstechniques.com

💼 Sutton Growth Partners | Strategy. Systems. Execution. suttongrowthpartners.com