When Jon Cheney joined me on The Vision with Execution Show, I had a feeling we were in for something different. The moment we connected, it felt like chatting with an old friend. He was relaxed, sitting on his office couch, talking about pianos, Aragorn’s sword, and his rural Utah lifestyle. Not exactly what you expect from a guy who built a tech company that raised $13 million.

He told me about SEEK, the augmented reality company he launched in 2016 that became a leader in immersive SaaS tools. Eventually, it was acquired. But Jon didn’t wait around to cash out. Another company saw what he was building and recruited him to lead a new AI initiative. That led to his current passion project — the General AI Proficiency Institute (Gen AIPI).

Jon explained how Gen AIPI is a platform and training system that helps regular people learn how to use AI to build software and start businesses. Not just theory, either. Two of his students have already created ventures that passed the $100,000 revenue mark. One is in the volleyball coaching space, the other builds AI prototypes for small businesses.

He described how the course works: about nine hours of content, step-by-step guidance, and practical training that teaches people how to think like creators. He built the platform himself for $400 in about 30 hours. Based on his past experience hiring dev teams, he said that same project would have cost $2.8 million a decade ago.

What struck me most was how deeply he believes in empowering people. His 12-year-old took the course. Now his 11-year-old wants to. His wife has used it. He’s not just talking about building businesses. He’s talking about building confidence. He sees creation as a human superpower — whether it’s music, software, gardens, or family memories.

Speaking of music, we had a fun back-and-forth about his piano work. He’s self-taught, released 10 albums, and even puts up a Christmas tree in July to get in the zone for holiday compositions. We geeked out over film scores, jazz solos, and acapella choirs. Turns out, we both have a strong belief in creation not just as a business tool, but as a spiritual calling.

Jon wrapped with a clear call to action: don’t sit on the sidelines. Start learning AI now. Whether you take his course or follow AI creators online, what matters is that you begin. AI will impact every industry, and those who understand it will have a clear advantage. The key is to try, fail, and keep going.

This episode was a reminder that technology is not just about speed or automation. It’s about unlocking the creative spark inside every person — one line of natural language at a time.