Building Wealth and Freedom with Chris Udall

Building Wealth and Freedom with Chris Udall

In this episode of the Hunt for Success podcast, Dr. Sam McGough sits down with Chris Udall, a venture capitalist and ecosystem builder working at the intersection of startups, capital formation, and regional innovation. The conversation explores venture capital, founder development, and innovation ecosystem building, shaped by Chris’ experience creating educational pathways for refugees in Jordan, managing early-stage investment funds in Alabama, and supporting technology transfer initiatives tied to Huntsville’s engineering base. Throughout the discussion, Chris breaks down how venture capital evaluates early-stage, high-risk, scalable startups, including how founder traits like grit, coachability, and adaptability often determine long-term outcomes more than initial ideas. He also connects these principles to hunting, drawing parallels between decision-making under pressure, preparation, resource allocation, and learning through failure. Key Takeaways [Grit Over Ideas]: Startup success is driven more by founder resilience and adaptability than the originality of the initial concept. [Capital as Ecosystem Fuel]: Strategic funds can keep talent and intellectual property local while attracting outside investment. [Pressure Decision-Making]: Both hunting and entrepreneurship require clear thinking under uncertainty and fatigue. [Failure as Feedback]: Burnout, setbacks, and missed opportunities become critical inputs for better future decisions. 00:00 – Podcast Intro and Guest Introduction 00:52 – Understanding Venture Capital in Practice 02:18 – Chris’ Unconventional Career Path 04:52 – Launching Alabama’s Capital Access Fund 08:27 – First Experiences in Hunting 14:05 – Parallels Between Hunting and Entrepreneurship 18:42 – Why Startups Fail Early 23:43 – Lessons from an Elk Hunt 32:03 – What VCs Look for in Founders 36:28 – Risk, Burnout, and Decision Pressure 42:57 – Community, Networking, and Ecosystem Growth 50:16 – International Hunting and Expansion Goals Thanks for listening, and please share this episode with someone who's building more than a business, someone who's building a life worth living. It helps us grow the show and bring these honest conversations, practical insights, and life design strategies to more founders, operators, and builders pursuing both success and freedom. Have a great day. Dr. Sam McGough "Success should fund a life you actually want, not a self-created prison." CONNECT WITH DR. SAM MCGOUGH & EXPLORE HUNT FOR SUCCESS Discover conversations with founders, operators, and builders who have earned success and intentionally designed the freedom to enjoy it. Access real stories, practical lessons, and authentic perspectives on leadership, discipline, business growth, systems, and life by design. Join a community of entrepreneurs and leaders committed to building businesses that create opportunity without sacrificing the life they're working for. Join FREE at: HuntforSuccess.com [HuntforSuccess.com] Follow Hunt for Success: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/huntforsuccesspodcast/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/huntforsuccesspodcast] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-mcgough-674675135] | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@huntforsuccesspodcast] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@HuntForSuccessPodcast] About the Guest Chris is a venture capitalist and innovation ecosystem leader focused on early-stage startup growth and regional capital development. They are recognized for building and managing investment initiatives that support high-potential founders and strengthen local innovation pipelines in Alabama. Their background includes experience in education initiatives for refugees, venture funding, and technology transfer programs connected to Huntsville’s engineering ecosystem. They are focused on expanding access to capital and strengthening founder success through structured investment and support systems. Guest Resources Chris Udall Website: https://innovatealabama.org/programs/ [https://innovatealabama.org/programs/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-udall [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-udall]

Designing a Life of Adventure with Eric Killen

In this episode of the Hunt for Success podcast, Dr. Sam McGough welcomes his friend Eric Killen, owner of Killen Outdoor Adventures in Killen, Alabama, to discuss how Eric built an 11-year hunting and fishing travel business while continuing a 26-year corporate sales career. Eric explains his client-first model, where outfitters pay his fee, clients receive vetted options across roughly 48 global locations, and every trip is personally verified by him or his team before anyone is sent. He also breaks down the end-to-end support system that covers airport pickup, outfitter coordination, paperwork, taxidermy, trophy importation, and global delivery through his logistics company, while outsourcing air travel. Throughout the conversation, Eric shares how early bad booking experiences shaped his standards, how he scaled operations by hiring help, and how he designs trips that include post-hunt travel experiences to make them spouse-friendly and more accessible. This episode highlights how disciplined systems, trust-based service, and lifestyle design come together to build both a business and a life built around freedom, and why traits like patience, persistence, and a driven mindset show up in both successful entrepreneurs and hunters. Key Takeaways [Vetting creates trust at scale]: Every location is personally verified before clients are sent, ensuring consistent and reliable experiences. [Service design beats marketing]: Word of mouth and client experience drive growth more than promotion or advertising. [Discipline shows up in both business and hunting]: Patience, persistence, and emotional control directly influence success in the field and in entrepreneurship. [Lifestyle is built, not stumbled into]: Freedom comes from intentional choices around work, time, and long-term priorities. 00:00 – Designing Freedom Life 00:22 – Podcast Welcome Setup 01:17 – Meet Eric Killen 02:35 – From Sales to Outfitting 04:10 – Business Model Client First 08:35 – Luxury Trips Africa Australia 11:16 – Trust Stories Proof 12:52 – Traits of High Performers 16:41 – Scaling Logistics Systems 17:51 – Guns Paperwork Trophies 19:35 – Partners Delivery Service 20:21 – Trophy Wall Negotiations 21:35 – Getting Mary Into Hunting 23:33 – Designing a Travel Life 25:35 – Europe and Spain Hunting 27:02 – Scouting and Client Fit 29:21 – Success Keys No Debt 32:32 – Hunting and Business Traits 34:38 – Field Essentials and Gear 37:09 – Closing and Sign Off About the Guest Eric Killen is a hunting outfitter and entrepreneur who built Killen Outdoor Adventures into a global service business focused on hunting, travel, and logistics. He is recognized for creating a highly vetted, service-first model that prioritizes client experience, safety, and reliability across international destinations. His background includes long-term experience in corporate sales and business development, alongside building a multi-location outdoor adventure company serving clients worldwide. He is the founder of Killen Outdoor Adventures, focused on delivering fully managed hunting and travel experiences from booking through trophy delivery. Guest Resources Eric Killen Website: https://www.killenoutdoor.com/ [https://www.killenoutdoor.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/killen_outdoor_adventures/ [https://www.instagram.com/killen_outdoor_adventures/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KillenOutdoorAdventures/ [https://www.facebook.com/KillenOutdoorAdventures/]

How to Master the Intrapreneur Mindset with Theron Leany

In this episode of The Hunt for Success, host Sam McGough sits down with Theron Leany, an owner and operator at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air and Electric. Operating across four states, Theron shares his journey from hands-on appliance repair to executing multi-state corporate acquisitions and high-level consulting. The conversation focuses on the "intrapreneur" mindset, transforming company culture by hiring for character over industry experience, and how structural clarity in business emerges naturally when you anchor yourself to your original "Why." Theron also discusses how bow hunting serves as a high-stress decompression tool and a powerful training ground for teaching youth resilience, problem-solving, and patience. KEY TAKEAWAYS * The Intrapreneurial Leap: Moving from an employee to an equity partner requires treating the business as your own from day one. Taking "extreme ownership" and intentionally making yourself invaluable creates opportunities where owners are eager to share equity. * Anchoring Structure to the "Why": Business chaos and lack of structure usually happen because owners lose sight of their original mission. When you re-focus purely on why you started (e.g., to help employees hit six figures or provide elite service), the tactical steps and organizational blueprint become instantly clear. * Hiring Heart Over History: In the trades, poaching experienced workers can often mean inheriting toxic, short-term habits. Pivoting to hire high-character individuals from outside the industry and training them from scratch builds an elite, loyal culture centered on genuine customer care. * Actionable Steps vs. "Rah-Rah" Fluff: Real business growth doesn't happen through motivational hype or emotional cheerleading. Long-term scalability requires hyper-specific, repeatable, and tactical steps. EPISODE TIMELINE * 00:00 – Editorial: Staying Tethered to Your Original Business "Why" * 01:15 – Introducing Theron Laney of Action Plumbing, Heating, Air and Electric * 02:00 – From Appliance Repair to Inside Sales: Overcoming a Pivot-Point Injury * 03:10 – The Pay Cut Shortcut: Making Yourself Invaluable to Earn Business Equity * 05:00 – The Power of the Ask: Why Entrepreneurs Can't Wait Around for Opportunities * 06:15 – Childhood Foundations: How Raising Chickens and Small Side Hustles Taught Pride of Ownership * 08:15 – The Myth of Formal Schooling for High-Performance Founders * 09:20 – Sweat Equity & Iteration: Adapting Operational Identity Every $5 Million * 11:15 – Reindeer for Christmas: Theron’s Early Introduction to Hunting Traditions * 12:50 – Bow Hunting as Active Meditation and Unplugging from 4-State Operational Stress * 14:40 – Hunting New Mexico and Utah: The Differences in Elk and Mule Deer Behavior * 16:20 – Surviving a 8-Man Team Walkout: Transitioning from Toxic Culture to Care-Driven Scale * 18:50 – Why the Technicians Who Care the Most Out-Sell the Competition * 21:00 – Elevating the Industry: The Choice to Consult and Coach Competitors * 22:15 – Skin in the Game: Why People Only Pay Attention to What They Pay For * 24:30 – Fleet Presentation: How Clean, Organized Trucks Decompress Techs and Drive Sales * 26:15 – Changing Family Trees: Moving a Temp-Agency Worker to Multiple Six Figures * 29:00 – Managing Skyrocketing Inflation and Changing Public Price Expectations * 31:15 – Building a Whitetail Legacy in Kansas: Passing Problem-Solving and Wilderness Parables to Youth * 35:00 – Actionable Consulting: Where to Find Theron and Ben Jordan Online ABOUT THE GUEST Theron Leany is a seasoned intrapreneur, partner, and executive leader at Action Plumbing, Heating, Air and Electric, a dominant home services provider operating across four states. Alongside his business partner Ben Jordan, Theron runs The Action Group, a tactical consulting firm designed to help home service owners build tight operational structures and adapt their leadership systems for major revenue milestones. > Connect with the Guest: * Website: https://actionplumbing.net/ [https://actionplumbing.net/]

How to Effectively Mitigate Business Risk with Mark Baker

In this episode of The Hunt for Success, host Sam McGough connects with Mark Baker, President and Owner of ACRE Development Corporation. Recording from Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, Mark shares his transition from a second-generation operator in the high-volume retail gasoline and convenience sector to a successful commercial real estate land developer. The conversation focuses on the strategic shift from daily business operations to the long-term, high-stakes process of ground-up commercial development, drawing parallels between the deep preparation required for real estate and the patience of the outdoor lifestyle. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Quantifying and Mitigating Risk: True entrepreneurs aren't recklessly risk-tolerant; instead, they immerse themselves in their niche, utilizing knowledge and experience to reduce vague risks to a highly finite, quantified number. * The Power of Execution over Capital: Success in real estate development relies on three factors: capital, knowledge, and the ability to execute. If a developer possesses the knowledge and execution strategy, the necessary capital can always be sourced from outside investors. * The "Hunt" of Development: There is a distinct psychological difference between business operation and business development. While daily operations can invite complacency, the complex 18-to-24-month horizon of land development—securing tenants, analyzing traffic patterns, and legal forecasting—mirrors the thrill and patience of a long-term hunt. * The Future of the Trades: Despite the rise of AI data collection in market analysis, human intuition, local physical site assessment, and hands-on skilled trades (like plumbing and HVAC) remain fully insulated from automation. EPISODE TIMELINE * 00:00 – Defining and Quantifying Risk in Commercial Real Estate * 01:10 – Meet Mark Baker: President of ACRE Development Corporation * 02:00 – Legacy in the Gas Station Business: Rebuilding from the Ground Up * 03:15 – The Pivot to Land Development and Second-Gen Commercial Real Estate * 04:10 – Identifying Market Criteria and International Brand Partnerships * 05:40 – Tax Incentives: Comparing the US IRS Code to Canadian Structures * 06:50 – Mitigating Risk by Staying in Your Lane and Avoiding "Flipping" * 08:15 – The Three Pillars of Real Estate: Capital, Knowledge, and Execution * 09:40 – An Overview of Prince Edward Island’s World-Class Bluefin Tuna & Shellfish Fisheries * 11:20 – The Parallel Between the Prep-Work of Development and the Outdoor Hunt * 13:40 – Navigating the Complexities of 100-Page Commercial Leases * 15:00 – Scalability Decisions: When to Expand Operations vs. When to Exit and Pivot * 16:45 – Time Management Benefits: Shifting from High-Volume Staffing to Lean Operations * 18:15 – The Longevity and Bright Future of Hands-On Blue-Collar Trades * 19:30 – AI in Real Estate: Accelerating Data Analytics vs. Irreplaceable Physical Site Intuition * 21:30 – Local Angling: The Emergence of Striped Bass and Atlantic Salmon on PEI ABOUT THE GUEST Mark Baker is a Canadian entrepreneur and the President and Owner of ACRE Development Corporation based in Prince Edward Island. After a successful decade running and leasing a high-volume regional retail gasoline operation and coffee franchise, Mark transitioned his focus entirely to commercial land development, securing premium locations for national and international corporate brands. > Connect with the Show: For more episodes, resources, and insights on building wealth and designing freedom, visit thehuntforsuccess.com [https://www.thehuntforsuccess.com].

Marketing for Chiropractors: Build It, Scale It, Sell It with Dr. Kendall Price

Dr. Kendall Price went from chiropractic school to 200 patient visits a week in just 90 days, not by accident, but by applying "boots-on-the-ground" marketing systems before he even opened his doors. Now, as founder of Elevate Marketing, he helps chiropractors build consistent patient acquisition through repeatable, scalable systems. In this episode of Hunt for Success, Dr. Sam McGough sits down with Dr. Price to break down how understanding numbers like lifetime value and patient acquisition cost changes every business decision — how process and people create businesses that can actually be sold — and how a move to central Illinois, a bird dog, and a bow opened up a second life built around family, faith, and the outdoors. What You'll Learn: – How Dr. Price launched to 200 visits/week in 90 days using repeatable marketing – Why knowing your patient LTV changes how you spend, hire, and grow – How systems and people create a business you can eventually sell – What it looks like to walk away at the right time — and why he has no regrets – How hunting, faith, and family keep his mind sharp and his business focused 01:27 Learning Marketing In School 02:25 Scaling A Practice Fast 03:53 Systems, People, and LTV 06:30 Mentors, Numbers, and Delegation 10:20 Selling Practice & Buying Out Partner 13:30 Move To Illinois & Outdoors Life 14:23 How He Started Hunting 15:21 Bird Dog and Bowhunting 17:22 Canada Fishing Trips 21:06 Kids, Family, and Outdoors Lessons 24:24 Farm Work as Therapy 25:43 Faithful Tree Stand Routine 27:06 Food Plots & Big Bucks 28:30 Trophy Standards Debate 32:34 Business Numbers Non-Negotiables 37:06 Pricing & Value Communication 38:04 Bow Setup & Gear Talk 39:00 First Big Splurge — The Boat 41:48 Land Ownership & Family Hunts 42:54 Brotherhood, Mastermind & Tribe 47:26 Systems Create Freedom About the Guest Dr. Kendall Price is a former chiropractor and founder of Elevate Marketing, where he helps chiropractors scale their businesses through effective marketing systems and operational strategy. Known for his strong focus on processes, leadership, and long-term business growth, Kendall also shares his passion for hunting, fishing, and family life throughout the episode.  Guest Resources: Elevate Marketing: https://goelevatemarketing.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkendallprice/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drkendallprice/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendall-price-5681b189/