The Pursuit of Purpose

Most field problems are not really field problems. They are design problems. In this episode of Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Keefer is joined by Tim Perryman, founder of Perryman Painting & Remodeling and Field Ops Academy. Tim spent 35+ years building Perryman Painting & Remodeling in the Sacramento area into a respected home services company, reaching around $5M in revenue with a team of ab...

In this episode, I sit down with Gary Skinner to talk about the hidden world of healthcare supply chain — the systems, relationships, and decisions that help make sure hospitals have what they need when patients need care. We talk about hospital shortages, inventory strategy, GPOs, COVID’s impact on supply chain, AI in healthcare, and why supply chain work is ultimately about supporting patients,...

In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with Gael Breton from Authority Hacker to talk about what’s actually working with AI in business right now. Gael shares how he moved from the SEO world into AI implementation, why real business problems are the best way to learn AI, and how small businesses can use AI to automate frustrating tasks, improve content workflows, prepare...

What happens when AI becomes part of everyday business and life? In this episode, Brandon Turner breaks down how he uses AI every single day to scale content creation, analyze real estate deals, streamline business operations, and boost productivity across multiple companies. From using ChatGPT and Claude to speed up workflows, uncover patterns in spreadsheets, and improve decision-making, Brandon...

In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with Rocky Cherry to talk about leadership, growth, and what it really takes to build a business that lasts. Rocky shares how he worked his way up through the family business, why starting at the bottom shaped his leadership style, and how he now develops people across a growing, multi-state company. They get into coaching vs. contr...

In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with bestselling author and entrepreneur Marcus Sheridan to explore the deeper philosophy behind his success, and it has nothing to do with marketing tactics. Before building companies, writing They Ask, You Answer, and becoming a global keynote speaker, Marcus spent two years as a missionary in Chile. It was there that he discovere...

In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with Kevin Banks, entrepreneur, real estate consultant, and passionate advocate of the Working Genius framework, to explore how understanding your natural wiring can completely transform the way you work, lead, and collaborate. Kevin shares how a simple 10-minute assessment gave him language for what he had always felt but couldn’t...

In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with Chris Moore, founder of Elite Business Advisors, to break down the real reason most contractors struggle to grow… and it’s not what you think. From running his own painting company to advising businesses doing millions in revenue, Chris shares the hard truths about why so many entrepreneurs are stuck chasing revenue without act...

In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with Jeffrey Atizado, CEO & Co-Founder of SMB Consultants, to break down what most businesses get wrong about software, integration, and scaling. Jeff didn’t just build a company—he helped define an entire category: cloud integration. What started from a broken POS system in 2008 turned into a multi-award-winning consultancy wor...

In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with Mark Deiro, founder of Lasting Impressions, to unpack a remarkable 50-year journey from selling t-shirts out of his mom’s basement to building a multi-million dollar business with Fortune 500 clients and professional sports partnerships. But this conversation goes far beyond business. Mark shares how community involvement, rele...

How AI Is Changing Entrepreneurship (And What Most People Get Wrong) In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with entrepreneur Brandon Vaughn to unpack a powerful journey from working with his dad as a kid to building businesses, facing failure, and now leading in the AI revolution. They dive deep into the real impact of AI on business, creativity, and family life and why...

How do you build a winning business culture that actually scales? In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with entrepreneur John McFarland to break down how he grew a painting company from a high school side job into a $12M powerhouse—without subcontractors. You’ll discover how intentional culture-building, smart systems, and performance-based incentives can transform you...

In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with Tom Heiler, owner of Heiler Painting, who shares his incredible journey of overcoming 7 surgeries to build a thriving business. Tom's story is a powerful testament to motivation and self improvement, highlighting the mindset needed to achieve success. He discusses the crucial success habits that allowed him to not only reco...

In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with Louie Gravance, a customer service training legend who spent more than 25 years at Walt Disney World helping build the gold standard for service culture. Louie shares how he went from being a “singing mortician” outside the Haunted Mansion to helping design Disney’s approach to world-class service. After Disney, he created Bank...

In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with Coen Sa, co-founder of Avenue Solutions, to talk about building a real estate portfolio through creative financing—without needing to quit your job first. At just 22 years old, Coen has helped build a portfolio of ~70 doors and breaks down how he got started through YouTube, imperfect action, and relentless outreach. The conver...

In this episode of The Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with Sean Wilkinson, co-founder of HostShare, to explore the intersection of real estate, tech, and entrepreneurship. Sean shares his journey from buying his first rental property as a teenager to building a 170-unit real estate portfolio—and eventually launching HostShare, a tech platform designed to unlock the massive amount of un...

In this episode, Chris Kiefer sits down with Cal Habayeb, Sales Compensation Design & Strategy at Cloudflare, to unpack how smart compensation plans can drive real growth. They dive into Cal’s journey from finance and consulting into tech, how enterprise sales teams are structured, and why sales comp sits at the crossroads of finance, operations, and human behavior. Cal explains concepts like...

In this episode, Chris Kiefer interviews Patrick Flanagan, the owner of Univium, an automation agency. They discuss the journey of content creation on YouTube, the importance of sharing knowledge in the automation community, and the principles of effective business automation. Patrick shares insights on how AI is transforming automation, the value of simple automations, and the future of citizen d...

In this episode, Chris Kiefer interviews Paul Unger, the founder of Unger Powder Coatings, discussing his journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship in the powder coating industry. Paul shares insights into the unique challenges of powder coating wood, the importance of quality and customer satisfaction, and strategies for scaling a manufacturing business. He emphasizes the need for innova...

From slinging drinks at Chili’s to designing high-end dining experiences for top-tier entrepreneurs, Matthew Francois is redefining hospitality. In this episode, he joins Chris Kiefer to unpack how storytelling, intentionality, and a deep love for people can transform ordinary meals into unforgettable moments. If you’re a foodie, event creator, or just someone who wants to create more meaningful g...

In this episode, Mike Gore-Hickman, Founder of Painter Growth, joins Chris Kiefer to explore how AI tools like ChatGPT-5 are reshaping industries—from software development to customer service and personalized marketing. 💡🚀 Discover how Mike’s team uses AI to build custom apps faster and cheaper, and how tools like Plod.ai are transforming sales by transcribing conversations in real time. They al...

Join me with Tim O’Hearn, author of Framed: A Villain’s Perspective of Social Media. Tim reveals how he built bots to manipulate Instagram’s algorithm, breaks down the chilling “Dead Internet Theory,” and warns about AI’s looming takeover. Discover: How fake accounts and bots dominate social media Why AI could erase human creativity in 2 years Tim’s urgent advice for creators and entrepreneurs🔥 D...

Discover how live video technology is transforming the way service businesses connect with customers—from 911 emergency calls to virtual estimates for painters and plumbers. No app needed, just one tap and you’re live. Join us as James Hatfield shares his journey from painting houses to building billion-dollar tech solutions that are changing the game. Subscribe to Pursuit of Purpose for more insp...

Discover how Matt Kuyper and his wife Maggie balance marriage, family, and running a successful painting business together. In this episode of the Pursuit of Purpose Podcast, we dive into leadership, teamwork, and the challenges of working with your spouse while staying blissfully married. Tune in for actionable insights on building a thriving business and relationship! Book Recommendations: Extre...

Discover how Benson Fechter, CEO of Legacy Paint Holdings, helps painting companies achieve sustainable growth and operational excellence. Learn about the six pillars of success, the benefits of roll-up acquisitions, and how contractors can transition from a local business mindset to a capitalist approach. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation with Chris Kiefer on Pursuit of Purpose! Book Recomme...