AI is becoming a skill every business needs to learn — but not everyone inside your company needs to use it the same way.
In this episode of Pursuit of Purpose, Chris Kiefer sits down with Michael Murray, founder of Textbook Painting, to talk about how AI is showing up inside a real painting business.
Michael shares how Textbook Painting is thinking about AI across different roles — from painters and field managers to sales reps, accounting, HR, and leadership. The conversation explores why AI is similar to the early internet or Microsoft Excel era: some people adopt it early, while others risk getting left behind.
Chris and Michael also talk through practical ways AI can help painting companies, including estimating support, project planning, paint quantities, work order review, photos, field operations, and internal knowledge sharing.
They also discuss why AI is still a work in progress, why companies need to keep testing and learning, and why leaders should help their teams build the skill instead of assuming everyone will figure it out on their own.
In this episode, they discuss:
* Why AI is a skill every employee should understand
* Why different roles will use AI in different ways
* How AI can support estimating and project planning
* How tools like Claude can help synthesize photos, work orders, and job details
* Why AI adoption feels similar to the early internet and Excel era
* How painting companies can start experimenting with AI without overcomplicating it
* Why leaders need to create space for learning, testing, and practical use cases
If you run a painting or home services company, this conversation will help you think more clearly about where AI fits inside your business and how to start building AI capability across your team.
Books mentioned in this episode:
1. QBQ! The Question Behind the Question by John G. Miller
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/QBQ-Question-Behind-Practicing-Accountability/dp/0399152334
2. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322
Movie/Show recommendations:
1. The West Wing
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0200276/

In this episode, Chris sits down with Jason Paris to talk about the real shift happening in AI — from simple prompts and chat conversations to agentic workflows that can actually support business operations, coaching, software development, and team performance.
Jason shares how AI is being used inside Paris Painting and Alif Holdings to reduce custom software backlogs, support field coaching, score sales conversations, improve rep performance, and give leaders better visibility into what is happening across the business.
They also discuss why AI is not a magic fix for messy companies. If your systems, data, roles, and processes are unclear, AI will only expose or amplify that chaos. But for companies that are already professionalized and have strong foundations, AI can become a massive productivity layer on top of the business.
Chris and Jason also talk about ultra running, discipline, parenting, video games, custom software, open-source AI models, Jevons Paradox, and what painting business owners should be paying attention to over the next six months.
In this episode, they discuss:
* Why AI is moving beyond chatbots
* What agentic AI means for business operations
* How AI can support sales coaching and field coaching
* Why clean systems and data matter before adopting AI
* How AI can help reduce custom software bottlenecks
* Why strong processes make AI more valuable
* How painting companies can prepare for the next wave of AI
* Why the future may create a bigger gap between professionalized and unprepared companies
If you run a painting or home services company, this conversation will help you think more clearly about what is hype, what is real, and what you should do next with AI.

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 about 40 people. Now, through Field Ops Academy, he helps painting and home service business owners build the field operations systems that allow them to step out of the day-to-day chaos.
Chris and Tim talk about why many painting companies get stuck even after hiring project managers, adding new software, or creating checklists. Tim explains why most problems in production are usually connected to unclear workflows, undefined roles, weak handoffs, and missing systems upstream.
They also discuss why automation should come after the business has mapped, simplified, tested, and refined its process — because without that foundation, software can simply automate chaos.
Books mentioned in this episode:
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Traction-Get-Grip-Your-Business/dp/1936661837
Get A Grip: An Entrepreneurial Fable by Gino Wickman and Mike Paton
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Get-Grip-Entrepreneurial-Journey-Results/dp/1937856089
Leadership and the One Minute Manager: Increasing Effectiveness Through Situational Leadership II by Ken Blanchard, Patricia Zigarmi, and Drea Zigarmi
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Minute-Manager-Updated-Effectiveness/dp/0062309447
Hiring Talent: Decoding Levels of Work in the Behavioral Interview by Tom Foster
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hiring-Talent-Decoding-Behavioral-Interview/dp/0988916517
Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Conversations-Tools-Talking-Stakes/dp/1260474186
Movie recommendations:
August Rush
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0426931/
Contact
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118884/

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, clinicians, nurses, surgeons, and staff.Books Mentioned:Good to Great by Jim Collinshttps://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Coveyhttps://www.amazon.com/7-Habits-Highly-Effective-People/dp/1982137274Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babinhttps://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250183863Movies / Shows Mentioned:Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Groguhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt30825738/John Wick: Chapter 4https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10366206/Connect with Gary Skinner:Discover S3https://discovers3.com/Email[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/garryskinnerPower Supply Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/power-supply/id1560877506

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 for sales calls, build better systems, and make teams more productive.They also talk about why most AI-generated content fails, why “humanizing” AI content is not enough, and why the real problem is often weak ideas, weak hooks, and weak visuals.If you’re a business owner, marketer, or operator trying to use AI beyond basic prompting, this episode will give you a more practical way to think about AI systems, content, automation, and implementation.Books MentionedInfluence by Robert Cialdini: Click hereCashvertising by Drew Eric Whitman: Click hereAlso mentioned: $100M Leads by Alex Hormozi: Click hereTV Show MentionedA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: Click hereConnect with Gael Breton: Authority Hacker: Click hereFree Claude Code Lesson: Click here AI Accelerator: Click here

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 shares practical ways AI is already changing how entrepreneurs operate.

He also dives into why he believes AI will reshape real estate, small businesses, and the future of work over the next decade—and what that means for investors, creators, and business owners.

We also explore how AI impacts automation, investing, parenting, education, and everyday life as this technology becomes impossible to ignore.

If you're interested in AI, business automation, entrepreneurship, real estate investing, or the future of technology, this conversation is packed with practical insights and honest perspectives.

🔥 Topics Covered:

• AI tools for business

• ChatGPT and Claude workflows

• Real estate investing with AI

• Content creation and automation

• The future of work

• Entrepreneurship and productivity systems

📚 Books Mentioned:

• Rich Dad Poor Dad: Click here

• Cashflow Quadrant: Click here

• The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy: Click here

📺 TV Show Mentioned:

• Sons of Anarchy: Click here

🔗 Connect with Brandon:

• YouTube: Click here

• Instagram: Click here

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. controlling, learning through failure, and simple communication shifts that can completely change how you lead and build trust. Rocky also shares a moment early in his career where emotion almost cost him a key relationship and the lesson that stuck with him.If you’re building a team, scaling a company, or trying to become a better leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about control, coaching, and long-term success.👉 Watch until the end to hear Rocky’s biggest leadership mistake that almost cost a major relationship and the lesson that changed how he communicates forever.📚 Books mentioned:= Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss: Click here= Atomic Habits by James Clear: Click here= Essentialism by Greg McKeown: Click here🔗 Connect with Rocky Cherry:LinkedIn: Click hereWebsite: Click here

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 discovered a skill that would shape his entire career, learning how to ask better questions.

This conversation goes beyond business into communication, parenting, leadership, and the mindset shifts that drive real connection and growth.

🚀 What you’ll learn in this video:

= The powerful story that shaped Marcus Sheridan’s communication philosophy

= Why asking the right question matters more than having the right answer

= The “3 P’s” of a perfect question and how to use them in real life

= How great communicators guide others instead of telling them what to do

= The difference between instructors, dictators, lawyers, and pathfinders

= A simple framework to handle resistance, objections, and tough conversations

= How Marcus teaches his kids confidence, communication, and independence

= Why traditional education may be broken and what actually matters today

This episode is about more than marketing. It is about influence, self-discovery, and learning how to truly connect with people in a way that creates lasting impact.

👉 Watch until the end to hear Marcus share how one simple question can transform relationships, uncover truth, and unlock breakthroughs in seconds.

📚 Book recommendations from Marcus:

= How to Win Friends and Influence People: https://a.co/d/0iKT5Kkv

= Good to Great: https://a.co/d/0bZi9adh

= 10x Is Easier Than 2x: https://a.co/d/03OPpHw3🎬

Movie recommendation:

= Braveheart: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112573/

🔗 Connect with Marcus Sheridan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcussheridan/

Website: https://www.marcussheridan.com

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 explain, and how that clarity reshaped not only his work, but the teams he leads and serves.

But this conversation goes deeper than productivity.From building businesses and navigating slow seasons, to marriage, purpose, and even how technology like AI is reshaping our lives, this episode is about alignment, fulfillment, and doing the work you were actually designed to do.

🚀 What you’ll learn in this episode:

-What the Working Genius framework is (and why it’s NOT a personality test)

-The 6 types of work that every successful team needs

-Why most teams struggle with execution (and don’t know why)

-How to identify your natural strengths—and avoid burnout

-The power of “language” in improving communication and leadership

-A real story of how one opportunity changed everything

-How to think about AI, technology, and staying human in your work

If you have ever felt stuck, drained, or misaligned in your work, or if you lead a team and want better results without burnout, this episode will give you a completely new lens on productivity and purpose.

👉 Watch, Listen until the end, and FOLLOW for a powerful reflection on marriage, presence, and a story that might just change how you show up in your own life.

📚 Book recommendation:

• The Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni: ⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠
• The Life We’re Looking For by Andy Crouch: ⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠
• Live No Lies by John Mark Comer: ⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠

🔗 Connect with Kevin Banks:

• Instagram: ⁠⁠Click here⁠⁠

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 actually making money.This conversation dives deep into the gap between craftsmanship and business—and why understanding your numbers might be the most important skill you’re ignoring.But it doesn’t stop there.They unpack the mindset traps, pricing psychology, and leadership shifts that separate overwhelmed business owners from those who build companies that actually run without them.🚀 What you’ll learn in this episode:= Why contractors can hit $2M+ and still have no idea if they’re profitable= The “North Star Metric” every business owner should know (but most don’t)= The real reason customers pay premium prices (hint: it’s not quality)= When a high close rate is actually hurting your business= Why most entrepreneurs stay stuck in the “operator” role= The simple shift from doing the work → leading a teamIf you’re a contractor, entrepreneur, or business owner trying to scale without chaos, this episode will completely change how you think about growth, profitability, and leadership.👉 Watch until the end to hear Chris’s take on why most business owners sabotage themselves—and how to finally get out of your own way.📚 Book Recommendations:= The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster by Darren Hardy: Click here= Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell: Click here= The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell: Click here🎬 Show Recommendation:= Suits: Click here🔗 Connect with Chris Moore:Email: [email protected]: Click hereLinkedIn: Click here