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/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/killen_outdoor_adventures/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KillenOutdoorAdventures/

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.

• 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.

• 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

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.

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/

On the Hunt for Success podcast, the host interviews Will Bamber of WNUI Safaris in New Zealand, discussing the property’s multi-generation history (including earlier AU Trading roots and WNUI Safaris emerging in the early 1980s) and the family-run culture led by Will’s father Paul. Will shares his multifaceted life: professional racing (including Lamborghini Super Trofeo and other North American series), time living and racing in Asia, and software development focused on ERP/CRM automation for the safari business.

They emphasize that people and relationships drive repeat bookings, and describe using technology and AI to streamline proposals, invoicing, accounting, and data insights while keeping a lean team. They also cover trade-show marketing, continuous lodge improvements (new cabin, upgrades, potential jacuzzi area), work-life balance for staff, and New Zealand possum control and possum wool.

00:53 Ranch Name History

02:07 Racing Career Path

02:56 Racing Meets Hunting

03:27 Work You Love

05:13 Guides and Giving Back

07:34 Why Clients Return

10:17 Culture and Systems

11:10 People First Growth

13:27 Red Carpet Service

14:49 Software for Outfitters

18:26 AI and Automation

21:49 Competition and Networking

24:12 Booth Hospitality Strategy

25:46 Trade Show Networking Mindset

26:55 Client Relationships Like Family

27:47 Races And Friend Trips

28:47 Guide Work Life Balance

30:44 Team Culture And Care

33:23 Lodge Upgrades And Amenities

34:30 Feedback Driven Improvements

35:48 Racing Confidence And Balance

38:40 Possums And Trade Show Curiosity

42:05 Overwhelmed At The Expo

Will Bamber is part of the family leadership team behind Wanganui Safaris, a premier New Zealand hunting lodge with a multi-generational legacy led by the Bamber family. Beyond the safari business, Will brings a unique blend of expertise in professional motorsports, business systems, and software automation, helping modernize operations through ERP, CRM, AI, and workflow automation while maintaining a strong people-first culture.

He is also an accomplished race car driver who has competed in Lamborghini Super Trofeo and other North American racing series.

Guest Resource:

Wanganui Safaris Website: https://www.wsafaris.com/

Will Bamber Website: https://www.willbamber.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willbamber/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willbambermotorsport/

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

Dr. Sam McGough interviews Ryan Seekatz, an Alaska native and entrepreneur who transitioned from years of W2 work on Alaska’s North Slope oil fields to running businesses, then pursuing business acquisitions that led him to buy a Florida pool construction company.

Ryan describes the toll of long hitches away from family, the moment he decided to quit, and how he spent years searching for the right acquisition before launching a successful renovation branch while building about 100 pools per year in affluent East Coast Florida communities. The conversation also covers Ryan’s early hunting and fishing memories in Fairbanks, the challenges of big-game processing in Alaska, Sam’s perspective on sustained “grinding,” purpose, and creating family experiences, plus a discussion of private aviation and Ryan’s emphasis that mentorship has been a key driver of his progress.

01:08 Ryan Background

01:49 Pool Business Growth

02:31 Leaving W2 Life

05:51 Oil Rig Breaking Point

07:24 Alaska Hunting Roots

08:55 Florida Transition Grind

10:54 Work Life Discipline

14:45 Defining Success Freedom

17:41 Family Memories Hunting

18:35 Caribou Moose Plans

19:07 New Zealand Hunt Costs

19:36 Why New Zealand Is Easy

20:46 Red Stag Surprise

21:32 Lazy Hunter Confession

22:50 Alaska Moose Reality

24:11 Caribou Processing Tips

26:44 Planning Alaska Together

27:32 Private Planes For Hunts

28:32 Timeshares And Tax Plays

32:46 Mentorship And Entrepreneurship

About the Guest:

Ryan Seekatz is an Alaska native, entrepreneur, and business owner who transitioned from years of W2 work on Alaska’s North Slope oil fields into entrepreneurship through business acquisitions. After leaving the demanding oilfield lifestyle, Ryan spent years searching for the right opportunity before acquiring a Florida-based pool construction company, where he now oversees a thriving business building and renovating pools across affluent East Coast communities. In this episode, he shares his journey from corporate grind to freedom, along with insights on mentorship, family, hunting roots in Alaska, and building a purpose-driven life.

Guest Resources:

Website: https://www.sfcpools.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-seekatz-0a3791292/

On the Hunt for Success podcast, host Sam interviews Cookeville, Tennessee, real estate broker and avid hunter Lynn Jared, who runs a brokerage founded in 2022 that grew from about 500 transactions in its first year to over 800 in 2025 and is currently pacing 57% ahead year over year, despite broader market concerns.

Lynn attributes the growth to a strong culture, daily morning huddles, hands-on training, tiered team leaders, and feedback-driven problem-solving to reduce fall-throughs from contract to close. He discusses common early-agent mistakes, especially underestimating the time and cash needed to survive the first few years, and explains how a profitable lead-gen team helps new agents.

Lynn connects business and hunting through relationships, shares land-and-farm expertise tied to hunting, recounts his two-year turkey grand slam highlight in South Dakota near Mount Rushmore, and closes with advice to “get out there,” follow the golden rule, and take new hunters afield.

00:42 Cookeville Real Estate Growth

01:57 Growing Up Hunting

03:00 Culture and Training Strategy

04:51 Morning Huddles and Deal Follow Through

07:09 New Agent Mistakes and Money Reality

09:36 Lead Gen Team Turnaround

11:44 Mentors and Car Business Lessons

14:14 Why Land and Farm Real Estate

16:12 Turkey Grand Slam Best Hunt

19:32 World Slam and Mexico Safety Talk

21:11 Marriage Tradeoffs and Hobby Balance

23:38 Purpose After Retirement and Dad Story

25:49 Farm Clients Hunting Success Stories

27:30 Letting Friends Hunt Your Property

28:22 Gear Talk And Bows

28:42 Why Bowhunting Wins

29:37 Matthews Lift Setup

30:34 Bowhunting Turkeys Challenge

31:20 Turkey Hunting Lessons

32:20 First Gobbler Breakthrough

34:36 Surprise Bird Stories

36:50 Run And Gun Strategy

40:47 Hardest Eastern Birds

44:35 Wild Turkey On The Table

45:53 Business And Hunting Parallels

49:21 Finding Trusted Mentors

About the Guest:

Lynn Jared is a Cookeville, Tennessee, real estate broker and passionate hunter who founded a fast-growing brokerage in 2022. Known for his strong leadership, hands-on agent training, and expertise in land and farm real estate, Lynn shares how culture, mentorship, and discipline have driven his team’s success. In this episode, he also connects the lessons of business and hunting through relationships, resilience, and personal growth.

Guest Resources:

Website: https://www.letsgoreco.com/lynn-jared

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynn.jared/