Artificial intelligence seems like it appeared overnight.

One day, most people had never heard of ChatGPT. The next day, businesses everywhere were talking about automation, AI assistants, and digital transformation.

But for some entrepreneurs, AI has been a decades-long journey.

In a recent episode of What's Kenner French Thinking?, Kenner French shared his personal story—from a sports-focused childhood to becoming an advocate for artificial intelligence and helping thousands of business owners leverage technology to grow their businesses.

His journey offers an important lesson:

The future belongs to those who are willing to learn before everyone else catches on.

Growing Up Without Any Interest in Technology 🏀

Many people assume technology experts spent their childhood taking apart computers or learning how to code.

That wasn't Kenner French.

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, his focus was simple:

🏈 Sports
🏀 Basketball
⚾ Competition
🤝 Friends

School wasn't his favorite place.

In fact, he openly admits he found it boring.

Rather than spending hours studying, he preferred being outside playing sports with friends and teammates.

Looking back, it's almost ironic.

The same person who now teaches business owners how to use artificial intelligence once had very little interest in technology at all.

Yet those years taught him something that would become critical later in life.

The Biggest Lesson Sports Ever Taught Him 🤝

Most people think sports are about winning.

But the most valuable lesson often has nothing to do with the scoreboard.

For Kenner, sports taught the importance of teamwork.

No athlete succeeds alone.

Even the most talented player depends on coaches, teammates, trainers, and support systems.

The same principle applies to business.

Today, Kenner credits much of his success to the people around him:

✅ Tax professionals
✅ Attorneys
✅ Bookkeepers
✅ Administrative teams
✅ Business partners

Without the right people, growth becomes extremely difficult.

This perspective shaped how he built his businesses and eventually how he viewed artificial intelligence.

Because AI isn't about replacing people.

It's about helping great teams become even more effective.

The Career Pivot That Changed Everything 📈

After graduate school in Boston, Kenner originally considered a very different path.

Politics.

His goal was simple:

Help people.

He believed public service could create positive change and improve people's lives.

But during that time, he discovered another way to make a meaningful impact.

Finance.

The more he learned about retirement planning and financial strategies, the more he realized that helping people build wealth could dramatically improve their lives.

His view of retirement became surprisingly simple:

Retirement is the longest vacation most people will ever take.

Helping people prepare for that future became his mission.

That realization led him away from politics and toward the financial industry.

And eventually, toward technology.

Learning Business From His Father 💼

Kenner also credits much of his entrepreneurial mindset to his father.

His father was intensely focused on business.

Long hours.

Constant work.

Relentless dedication.

Sometimes working 18-hour days.

Watching that work ethic taught Kenner valuable lessons about entrepreneurship and commitment.

But it also taught him something else.

The importance of balance.

While he admired his father's dedication, he realized he wanted a different lifestyle for himself and his family.

Why Work-Life Balance Matters More Than Ever ❤️

Many entrepreneurs believe success means working nonstop.

But over time, Kenner discovered another form of wealth.

Time.

Time with family.

Time with children.

Time with loved ones.

At one point, he spent nearly a decade in what he describes as a semi-retired lifestyle, focusing heavily on raising his family and enjoying experiences that money alone can't replace.

Financially, it may not have been the most aggressive strategy.

Personally, it was one of the most rewarding.

Today's entrepreneurs are increasingly recognizing that true wealth isn't just about money in the bank.

It's about:

👨‍👩‍👦 Family relationships
🏡 Freedom
⏰ Time ownership
😊 Happiness
🌎 Life experiences

And this is where AI enters the picture.

How AI Helps Create More Freedom 🤖

Most business owners face the same challenge:

There simply aren't enough hours in the day.

As businesses grow, demands increase.

More customers.

More emails.

More paperwork.

More systems.

More stress.

Kenner shared that his organization now handles thousands of clients and brings in roughly 80 new clients every month.

Without automation and artificial intelligence, managing that level of growth would be extremely difficult.

AI helps businesses:

✅ Automate repetitive tasks
✅ Improve customer communication
✅ Reduce administrative workloads
✅ Increase operational efficiency
✅ Scale without proportional increases in staff

The result?

Business owners gain back their most valuable resource:

Time.

The Early Days of AI: Before It Was Popular 🚀

Today, AI is everywhere.

But that wasn't always the case.

Kenner recalls becoming interested in artificial intelligence as far back as the early 2000s after seeing discussions about AI on television.

At the time, very few people were paying attention.

Most viewed AI as something futuristic.

Interesting, perhaps.

Useful? Not yet.

But Kenner saw potential.

By 2010, he believed AI would eventually become a major force in finance and small business.

That year, he hosted a seminar focused on artificial intelligence and finance.

Only about 20 people attended.

Many people still viewed AI as strange or unrealistic.

Fast forward to today.

Millions of businesses are actively using AI tools every day.

What once seemed unusual has become mainstream.

The Launch of Einstein AI 🧠

In 2018, Kenner and his team launched their own AI platform called Einstein.

The goal was simple:

Help business owners lower tax liability and improve financial decision-making.

Early versions weren't perfect.

Like many new technologies, there were challenges and limitations.

But the foundation was there.

The team continued improving the system, integrating AI into customer interactions, business processes, and tax-related services.

Then came November 2022.

The public release of modern generative AI tools dramatically accelerated adoption worldwide.

Suddenly, everyone was talking about artificial intelligence.

The technology had reached the mainstream.

Why Small Business Owners Cannot Ignore AI Anymore ⚡

One of the strongest messages from the discussion was clear:

Businesses that embrace AI will likely outperform businesses that ignore it.

Think about it.

Would you rather be:

Business A

• Automates repetitive work

• Responds faster to customers

• Operates more efficiently

• Saves time every day

Or:

Business B

• Does everything manually

• Takes longer to complete tasks

• Creates more administrative burden

• Falls behind competitors

The answer is obvious.

AI isn't replacing business owners.

It's helping them operate smarter.

AI Doesn't Require Technical Expertise 💡

Many people still hesitate because they believe AI is too complicated.

But that simply isn't true.

One of the stories shared during the conversation involved someone in his 50s who initially resisted AI because of privacy concerns.

Eventually, he decided to try ChatGPT.

Within a short period of time, he began using it professionally.

His company adopted it.

Workflows improved.

Processes became faster.

Productivity increased.

The lesson?

You don't need to be a programmer.

You don't need a technology degree.

You simply need curiosity.

Start Before Everyone Else Does 🏁

One of the most important ideas discussed was the concept of being an early adopter.

Many successful YouTubers started uploading videos years before becoming famous.

Many successful businesses embraced new technologies before competitors recognized their value.

AI is no different.

The businesses that start learning today may be the ones leading their industries tomorrow.

You don't need to become an expert overnight.

You simply need to begin.

Ask questions.

Experiment.

Learn.

Practice.

Explore.

Every small step compounds over time.

The Future of AI Is Just Beginning 🌎

Artificial intelligence is still in its early stages.

Many experts believe the next decade will bring advancements far beyond what we see today.

Combined with emerging technologies like quantum computing, AI could transform:

🏥 Healthcare
🏛 Government
🏢 Business Operations
🎓 Education
🚗 Transportation
💰 Finance

While challenges certainly exist, the opportunities are enormous.

The future won't belong to the businesses that fear technology.

It will belong to the businesses that learn how to use it responsibly and effectively.

Final Thoughts 🎯

Kenner French's journey proves that you don't need a technology background to benefit from artificial intelligence.

A sports-focused kid who once disliked school became an entrepreneur helping businesses leverage some of the most powerful technology ever created.

The lesson isn't about AI.

The lesson is about adaptation.

The people who continue learning, evolving, and embracing change are often the ones who create the biggest opportunities for themselves and others.

Artificial intelligence isn't something coming in the future.

It's already here.

And the best time to start learning how to use it is today. 🚀


Book Your Free Strategy Call Today!

📚 Don’t miss Modern Millions by R. Kenner French – the #1 BEST SELLING Amazon book (Entrepreneurship category)👉ModernMillions.ai

📚 Amazon Top Selling Author→https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHBS32LG