Aaron Walker Podcasts

Up next you can hear Aaron Walker sit down with Bob Burg.

Bob Burg is a sought out speaker for company leadership and sale conferences. Bob talks with broadcast personalities and a former President. Bob has been named by the American management association as one of the top 30 most influential thought leaders in business.

We hope you enjoy the podcast. All the highlights, resources, and next steps can be found below. Listen to the full episode HERE and learn more at viewfromthetop.com.

Why another book on leadership?

Bob says that he loves leadership and there is still so much to be learned. Bob talks about influence and how leadership is intertwined with it. The book shares more of a story rather than a how-to book.

Bob believes leadership is changing and there can be an endless amount of books on the topic.

What is a Go-Giver?

Someone understands that they are given an enormous responsibility to bring value to those they lead. Bob describes to move from the “I” to the “other focus” and put the interest of others before their own.

“When we think of traditional leadership we sometimes think of the stereotype that the leader is all about themselves. I do feel that this is changing though.” Bob Burg

With a go-giver leader, they willingly give up their self-interest and understands the more value they bring around them, the more it will benefit the organization.

It takes vision and holding on to that vision to be a successful leader. Doing this helps create unity with the community and see the goal.

Keys to Leadership

1. Hold your vision
2. Getting others to see your vision so they too can become leaders
3.   Everybody Matters
4.     Having people feel good about their work
5.    Stand for something
6.    Who you are is one of the most important aspects of being a leader
7.    “When someone has a high character we trust them because they stand for something” Bob Burg
8.    Practice giving leadership
9.    Handing over leadership to others
10.    Coach those that are in a leadership position
11.     Great leadership can trickle down

Hiring Traits

Bob says he would look for someone that has a history of the “other”. Having the person focused on the team and not the individual self. If you have that as a starting base, then you can look to get to the level 5 leader.

“The level 5 leader will take the blame and assign the credit.” Bob Burg

The level 5 leader will be the leader that is there for you and will run through a wall for you if they have to.

Top 3 Pieces of Advice

1. Understand people do things for their reasons, not our reasons
2. A great leader always asks questions: How do my goals align with their goals?
3. Understand earning trust will be your most valuable asset
4. Understand the prevalence of technology is vast, but it is always about the people

Get in touch with Bob

Website: thegogiver.com

In ISI we help men live lives of success and significance.

Join Iron Sharpens Iron

Apply here to join Aaron’s exclusive Iron Sharpen Iron Mastermind. You’re just one click away from living a life of success and significance.

Thanks for listening to today’s View from the Top podcast. To make sure you don’t miss any of our episodes click subscribe right now and if you enjoyed what you heard today please tell a friend and share on social media.

Learn how to live a life of success and significance at viewfromthetop.com

Read more at http://viewfromthetop.libsyn.com/expert-interview-with-bob-burg#jsqkOXcQu7EqXjQ5.99

Up next you can hear Aaron Walker’s Adult Emergency: He needs help because Robyn hurt his feelings!

We hope you enjoy the podcast. All the highlights, resources, and next steps can be found below. Listen to the full episode HERE and learn more at viewfromthetop.com.

The Story

If you’ve been married for some time, are you laughing like you used to? Is the same sense of intimacy there?  Does your heart skip a beat when your wife walks in the door because you are so excited to see her? If not, why not?  What’s going on?

“I know for me whenever there are relational issues in my marriage I don’t have to look much further then myself to find a culprit. It’s not about who is to blame, but I need to own when I screw up.  My worst sin is getting so engrossed in my work I spend all my energy at work and leave little for my family when I get home.” - Danny Bauer

Adult Emergency

Aaron talks about a time when Robin hurt his feelings by telling him that they don’t laugh like they used too.  When Aaron and Robin have disagreements, they don’t holler and yell or scream and fight, they sit down and talk through it.  Aaron wanted to defend himself but realized what Robin said was the truth.

“We don’t laugh anymore because I’m a knucklehead, because I get so focused on what I am doing and I’m so intense about what I’m doing and I get laser focused.  I forget to laugh sometimes.” - Aaron Walker

The Challenge

Aaron admits that he is guilty of forgetting to laugh sometimes.  He forgets to relax and have fun and let his guard down because he is so busy trying to make money and build the community and create his best life.  Aaron wants to challenge and encourage you today to go home, get your spouse, go out, have fun and laugh. It’s worth it.

“But what is the point in all that if we forget to laugh?” - Aaron Walker

Summary

Sometimes that’s all we need to wake the heck up!

“It was a small point in the story, but I highly recommend that you put artifacts around your house that illustrate and symbolize your ideal relationship and life to the fullest.  We need reminders of our why.” - Danny Bauer

At VFTT we help men live a life of success and significance.  If your priorities are out of whack or if you’re not laughing like you used to with your wife, we can help.

If you could use some help getting your priorities in order, I want to welcome you to Iron Sharpens Iron mastermind. You can read all about it and fill out an application at viewfromthetop.com

In ISI we help men live lives of success and significance.

Join Iron Sharpens Iron

Apply here to join Aaron’s exclusive Iron Sharpen Iron Mastermind. You’re just one click away from living a life of success and significance.

Thanks for listening to today’s View from the Top podcast. To make sure you don’t miss any of our episodes click subscribe right now and if you enjoyed what you heard today please tell a friend and share on social media.

Learn how to live a life of success and significance at viewfromthetop.com

Resources:

Deep Work by Cal Newport

In today’s show Aaron Walker discusses financial trouble and what he did and what you can do too in order to get out of it.

We hope you enjoy the podcast. All the highlights, resources, and next steps can be found below. Listen to the full episode HERE and learn more at viewfromthetop.com.

Stress and Financial Trouble

Aaron shares a story about a father who comes home late from work and he apologizes for being late.  He’s not giving attention to his kids or his wife due to the amount of work he needs to do. He is thinking this because of the bills he needs to pay and thinking that if he works harder he can get out of this vicious cycle.

“I was sitting at our kitchen table paying our bills, we didn’t have any children yet and literally started crying.  Robin asked what was wrong and I told her we can’t pay our bills, we don’t have enough money to pay our bills.” - Aaron Walker

What Do You Do?

When your business is doing well and making money, you start to think that you can handle everything until the business slows down and you can’t.  Aaron and his wife took all of their credit cards that they were using and put them in an envelope, sealed it and took it to the bank and they have been there for over 30 years unopened.  Best decision the Walker’s ever made.

“You always default back to the path of least resistance.” - Aaron Walker

Over-Extended, Lack of Priorities

Sometimes we find ourselves over-extended and our priorities are all messed up.  According to Big A this leads to a vicious cycle of catching up and deciding to pay this or that.  In his younger years there were times when Big A put money in front of his family and that caused incredible stress on him.   That’s reactive living. That’s living outside of your means. Big A got rid of his credit cards, started living within his means, delayed gratification, and began to be proactive with his finances.   Since then, he’s been able to be much more present and connected with his family. In short, he has his priorities in order.

“It will allow you to be more present with your family at home.  You won’t feel the need to do one more email, one more client, I just have to close this deal so I can make that payment.  Be proactive not reactive. Build some boundaries today and take your life to the next level.” - Aaron Walker

If you could use some help getting your priorities in order, I want to welcome you to Iron Sharpens Iron mastermind. You can read all about it and fill out an application at viewfromthetop.com

In ISI we help men live lives of success and significance.

Join Iron Sharpens Iron

Apply here to join Aaron’s exclusive Iron Sharpen Iron Mastermind. You’re just one click away from living a life of success and significance.

Thanks for listening to today’s View from the Top podcast. To make sure you don’t miss any of our episodes click subscribe right now and if you enjoyed what you heard today please tell a friend and share on social media.

Learn how to live a life of success and significance at viewfromthetop.com

Read more at http://viewfromthetop.libsyn.com/im-in-financial-trouble-and-see-no-way-out#0IOjjmThUbfjHyAK.99

It’s never easy to end a relationship, but that’s even harder to do when that relationship is a family member.  In today’s episode Aaron Walker is going to share a story about a domineering mom that was driving her son and daughter-in-law nuts while causing chaos to reign in the family.

If you struggle with some boundaries with family members than this episode is for you.

We hope you enjoy the podcast. All the highlights, resources, and next steps can be found below. Listen to the full episode HERE and learn more at viewfromthetop.com.

Confronting My Mom

Aaron shares a story about a man who is really struggling with his mother and how she is driving the family crazy.  He knows if he goes to her it will cause division in the family and cause stress, but the man just can’t take it anymore.  The mother does help with a number of things making it even more difficult.

“So his mastermind members kind of got around him virtually speaking and said you’ve got to confront her and he didn’t want to do it.  He said he’s been dealing with it for 16 years and she was difficult as a teenager and young man and I just know how my mom is. But you are going to have to deal with her if you want any sense of peace in your own family.” - Aaron Walker

Deal With It

Aaron encourages you to deal with those relationships today that need to be dealt with even if they are family members.  Do not allow them to rule or dictate your life. By allowing this you are affecting generations to come negatively.

“You can’t let somebody steal your joy and you can’t all them to dictate what is going to transpire in your life.” - Aaron Walker

Challenge

Go to that person in prayer, never in anger so you can restore that relationship.  Get people around you that hold you up and encourage you. Find people who are going to tell you the truth and look out for your well-being.  Take the courage to deal with the relationship. Form strong boundaries, even with family members.

“Small minds talk about people, great minds talk about ideas.” - Aaron Walker

Join Iron Sharpens Iron

Apply here to join Aaron’s exclusive Iron Sharpen Iron Mastermind. You’re just one click away from living a life of success and significance.

Thanks for listening to today’s View from the Top podcast. To make sure you don’t miss any of our episodes click subscribe right now and if you enjoyed what you heard today please tell a friend and share on social media.

Learn how to live a life of success and significance at viewfromthetop.com

Read more at http://viewfromthetop.libsyn.com/why-you-should-leave-some-relationships#yuW4DM2s5oYT1IOH.99

Up next you can hear Aaron Walker’s exclusive Iron Sharpens Iron expert interview with Profit First author, Mike Michalowicz as Mike shares how he turned everything around and goes deep teaching from his Profit First system.

We hope you enjoy the podcast. All the highlights, resources, and next steps can be found below. Listen to the full episode HERE and learn more at viewfromthetop.com.

Entrepreneurial Spirit

Mike lost three multi-million dollar companies before his 35th birthday.  He was awarded the New Jersey's Small Business Association, Young Entrepreneur of the Year when he was 26 years old.  He sold his first company, to a private equity company and then his second company to a Fortune 500, so he's working his way up.  Mike is a former small business columnist for the Wall Street Journal. His books have been translated in 10 different languages. He's an active partner in multiple companies including an American manufacturer of business growth consultancy and an augmented reality Tech Firm in a Certification Organization for accountants, bookkeepers and business coaches, and that is just the tip of the iceberg.

“The reality is, behind that was a lot of grand mistakes, horrible errors, almost losing my family, losing all my money, just really horrible stuff.  I actually think that may be some interesting components and I suspect many people listening in have experienced those elements or just challenges.” - Mike Michalowicz

Most Humbling Moment

Mike is married, has three children and currently lives in a beautiful section of New Jersey.  He was very successful and sold his second business for millions and started angel investing. Due to his investment choices, Mike had to share with his family that he had lost everything.  They had to move, sell all of their possessions, no sports, horse riding lessons or after school activities, then his 9 year old daughter offered to support their family.

“She ran to her bedroom, grabbed her piggy bank, and she ran back down to me and said, Daddy, I'll support our family, don't worry.  I'll support our family. And it was the most humbling moment of my life.” - Mike Michalowicz

Full Time Author

Mike went through 2 years of depression, started boozing and found himself in a very dark place before he finally turned it around.  Luckily for Mike he was able to climb out of the gutter. He is now a full time author and owns a few businesses. These days he is definitely living a life of both success and significance.

“I'm really writing books to fix all of my own erroneous ways and hopefully in the process of serving others to address their challenges too.” - Mike Michalowicz

Profit First

Mike explains that we have been taught the formula to profit incorrectly.  We have been taught that profit comes last, that profit is the bottom line.  He suggests that we put profit first and use the formula sales minus profit equals expenses.

“All I care about is the deposit came in your business immediately take a predetermined percentage of that profit, allocate it toward an account called profit.  We hide it from ourselves, we remove our profit. It's the pay yourself first principle apply to our business. And as a result, you start forcing profitability in your business.” - Mike Michalowicz

Join Iron Sharpens Iron

The members of Iron Sharpens Iron are quite spoiled because each month Aaron brings an expert in to speak to us regarding business, leadership, or life.  These expert interviews are just one of the ways there is tremendous value in joining the mastermind.

“I don’t know about you, but Profit First has been a huge benefit to the finances in my business.  It’s paid for some pretty great trips to the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Germany, and Zimbabwe. And my wife always wonders how we can afford it.  I tell her the business! That’s because of profit first.” - Danny Bauer

Apply here to join Aaron’s exclusive Iron Sharpen Iron Mastermind. You’re just one click away from living a life of success and significance.

Thanks for listening to today’s View from the Top podcast. To make sure you don’t miss any of our episodes click subscribe right now and if you enjoyed what you heard today please tell a friend and share on social media.

Learn how to live a life of success and significance at viewfromthetop.com

Resources

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

In today’s show Danny Sunshine Bauer and Aaron Walker discuss how to take your business to the next level of success and build one on the foundation of significance.  This is a long game. There are no shortcuts, but you can do it. Danny and Aaron are here to tell you how.

“According to Seth Godin in This is Marketing business owners can’t be seen until they learn how to see.” - Danny Sunshine Bauer

We hope you enjoy the podcast. All the highlights, resources, and next steps can be found below. Listen to the full episode HERE and learn more at viewfromthetop.com.

See What….See Who?

According to Danny, many business owners have it all wrong. They take a one size fits all approach to marketing.  They first get excited about an idea. Next they create what they think is the next big product or service that everyone will be crazy for. Now that their widget is made, they reach out to the masses of people and use shortcuts, ads, and spam to interrupt people’s attention and hopefully make a sale or two.

“But this approach does not work.  In our Iron Sharpens Iron masterminds, we talk each week how to live a life of success and significance.” - Danny Sunshine Bauer

Cheap and Spammy Marketing

Several business owners resort to cheap and spammy marketing when they start their business.  Danny and Aaron say they are guilty of this but credit Seth Godin with how they view the people they are trying to serve.

“I think that they were just unaware.  They were just trying to make a dollar.  They were trying to create a product that they can mass market.  They tried to interrupt the market and just get people to buy. And I think it's a really bad way and Seth has really brought great clarity to my mind in how to build the tribes and how to make things that matter for people who care and really go after that tribe, that community.” - Aaron Walker

So be bold. Introduce yourself. Tell them you appreciate their work. Give them a specific example. Keep it short. Say goodbye.

MVA

The minimal viable audience really resonated with Danny and was a game changer for him.  In discussing this with Aaron, he shares that he didn’t agree. Aaron had to read it 3 times and reflect before he shifted his mindset.

“I want to have the atmosphere that we really reach out to people that want to be a great dad, a great husband, have a life of success and significance.  People that really want to rally around how to build a life of success simultaneously with significance. And I thought, you know what-there's this many people that need to probably be involved at this time.  Maybe that will change over time. Maybe it will grow. But for right now, this minimum viable audience is this group of people that we have now. We have 14 groups. We're in nine different countries around the world and I'm feeling really good about this minimum viable audience.” - Danny Sunshine Bauer

Thanks for listening to today’s View from the Top podcast. To make sure you don’t miss any of our episodes click subscribe right now and if you enjoyed what you heard today please tell a friend and share on social media.

Learn how to live a life of success and significance at viewfromthetop.com

Read more at http://viewfromthetop.libsyn.com/season-2-episode-29-marketing-insights-from-seth-godin#japTQwwZTJBbbvYT.99

In today’s show Aaron Walker is going to talk about the book The Talent Code. One of the big ideas we will discuss is targeted practice.  Using the example of basketball and shooting the ball is an easy way to look at targeted practice, but what does it look like in business?  

“This book has got to be in the top 10 of the books that I've read over the past 20 years without a question, because it talks about how greatness isn't born.  It's grown.” - Aaron Walker

We hope you enjoy the podcast. All the highlights, resources, and next steps can be found below. Listen to the full episode HERE and learn more at viewfromthetop.com.

Doing Deep Work

Aaron talks about the great talents out there that are naturals but they put in daily work.  Michael Phelps, Drew Brees, Phil Mickelson are among some of the best. They put in regimented daily practice to be the best.  They do the deep work required to get better each and every day.

“And I think about us here at View From The Top and the things that are really important to us. And I think about, you know, we've got to do these Facebook lives.  We blog, you know, we do these podcast interviews is a regimented routine and there's so many times that I do not want to go to the green way and do a video, but I'm like, you know what I said I was going to do them.  They're affective. I don't feel like it necessarily, but it works. That's deep practice.” - Aaron Walker

Targeted Practice

Danny discusses three things when it comes to targeted practice.

1. Be Committed-Commit to the process
2. Find your niche
3. Know your rituals and routines

“I want you to get focused.  I want you to be committed. I want you to be consistent it everything that you set out to do.  I want you to have a plan. Once you implement the deep practice, you too can be hugely successful” - Aaron Walker

Thanks for listening to today’s View from the Top podcast. To make sure you don’t miss any of our episodes click subscribe right now and if you enjoyed what you heard today please tell a friend and share on social media.

Learn how to live a life of success and significance at viewfromthetop.com

Resources

Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

Deep Work by Cal Newport

Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

Read more at http://viewfromthetop.libsyn.com/season-2-episode-28-can-you-learn-to-be-great#2U8zIZJyLJkDDZVR.99

In today’s show Aaron Walker throws a curve to Danny “Sunshine” Bauer by improvising without Danny knowing.  Aaron wants to talk to his listeners from the heart and this was recorded on Valentine’s Day thus the importance of his message.

“Robin and I are celebrating our 41st Valentine together and I’m only 58.  We have had our ups and downs over the course of our marriage and it will be 39 years.” - Aaron Walker

We hope you enjoy the podcast. All the highlights, resources, and next steps can be found below. Listen to the full episode here and learn more at viewfromthetop.com.

What is Love

Aaron says that through his marriage with Robin, they have grown the most over the last 39 years when going through difficult times.  They peel back the onion and figure out what is left. What really matters. Aaron shares a story about a friend that struggles in his marriage from an event that happened many years ago with his wife.  The friend has sort of forgiven his wife but it continues to come up and it’s all about him. Aaron told him to apologize to his wife and tell her that he was setting her free so they could move forward in their lives.  He demonstrated love to his wife during this time.

“Dude, you are a jerk!  Do you realize you have your wife in prison?  She has said she is sorry, she has repented, GOD has forgiven her. ” - Aaron Walker

Unpacking-This is Love

How do you have a significant life and live through these types of events in your life?  Danny challenges listeners by asking if they have are surrounded by a group of men that they can confide in to garner authentic advice.  

“He shared his heart to you, he poured it out for an hour right?  And in that very vulnerable authentic moment because you all have such relational capital built up you're able to not necessarily give him what he wants to hear but what he needs to hear  ” - Danny “Sunshine” Bauer

“You know that is what we all need in our lives.  I’m so glad Sunshine you pointed that out because when we’re alone, I always talk about isolation is the enemy to excellence, it’s so true in every area of our life personally and professionally, we’ve got to have guys around us that when we drop that veil that we have the facade eliminated in our lives and go I’m hurting.”  Aaron Walker

Danny shares with the listeners and with Aaron that something that resonated with him in the story is how this man is going to turn the corner.  The advice Big A gave is not natural and the advice given was on point. How do you help someone open up his hand and let it go.

“I even wrote about that in my book View From The Top and I wrote in their that bitterness is it’s own prison.  I mean really you are holding yourself captive, you are not letting yourself be free.”  Aaron Walker

Listen to this episode to help unpack what it takes to love.  Danny and Aaron take you on a journey to help you lead a life of significance and success.

Live a Life of Success

Aaron encourages you to not lie to yourself and to get people around you to help unpack it.  Be honest and vulnerable and open up. Life is fragile, we are not guaranteed today of tomorrow.  Have not regrets!

“I just want to encourage you guys today, if there is something that you are dealing with, whatever it is whether it be financial, relational, whether it is somebody you need to forgive or somebody you need to let go, whatever that thing is, it is going to cloud your vision.  Everything that you do is going to be ran through that filter if you don’t relinquish it.”  Aaron Walker

Click HERE to listen to the full episode.

In today’s show Aaron Walker’s expert interview is with Rory Vaden.  Rory is the co-founder of Southwestern Consulting, a self-disciplined strategist and internationally renowned speaker. Rory Vaden is the New York Times bestselling author of Take the Stairs. His insights on taking action and overcoming procrastination have been featured in the Wall St. Journal, Forbes, CNN, Entrepreneur, Inc, and several other major media outlets. As a world-renowned speaker, His Tedx talk on "How to Multiply Time" has been viewed nearly 2 million times and he was recently named as one of the top 100 leadership speakers in the world by Inc Magazine.

“His new book Procrastinate on Purpose is the first book ever to focus on emotional side of productivity and it provides five methods to literally multiply your time.” - Aaron Walker

We hope you enjoy the podcast. All the highlights, resources, and next steps can be found below. Listen to the full episode here and learn more at viewfromthetop.com.

Evolution of Procrastinate on Purpose

Rory’s new book evolved as a result of his last book Take the Stairs.  In that book Rory writes about two types of procrastination. 1.) Classic procrastination which is consciously delaying what you know you should be doing.  2.) Creative avoidance which is creating stuff for ourselves to do as a way of doing those things and feeling productive. His new book Procrastinate on Purpose focuses on a third type of procrastination called priority dilution.

“Priority dilution is when the movers and shakers, the do-gooder, the check lister, the leader, the entrepreneur, the person who is making stuff happen; it’s people you wouldn’t think normally struggle with procrastination and yet the have the very same net result which is they leave the officer at the end of the day with their most significant priorities left unchecked, not because they are lazy but because we have allowed our attention to shift less important but perhaps more urgent tasks. ” - Rory Vaden

Game Changer

Time management appears to be logical given all the tools we have to work with but in today’s world time management is emotional.  There are so many things in our emotions that dictate our time. Additionally, everything changes when you add the component of significance.  Rory shared that importance means how much will this matter, urgency is how soon will this matter and significance is how long will this matter.

“Everything you know about time management is wrong. ” - Rory Vaden

Click HERE to listen to the full episode.

Resources

Procrastinate on Purpose by Rory Vaden

LinkedIn

Blog

Live a Life of Success

Aaron encourages you to live a life of success and not worry about what others think. Pay attention to the warning signs and act on them.  Be proactive in your approach.

Read more at http://viewfromthetop.libsyn.com/season-2-episode-24-expert-interview-with-rory-vaden#J6pF0sT2qu9HzKgd.99

In today’s show Aaron Walker offers a short nugget about niching down. . It’s about breaking big tasks into smaller ones.  Danny has had the privilege of working with Aaron in his ISI Mastermind and wanted to make a shift in his life and do something more meaningful and live a life of success.

“Dreaming big then taking big action are often incongruent.” - Danny Bauer

We hope you enjoy the podcast. All the highlights, resources, and next steps can be found below. Listen to the full episode here and learn more at viewfromthetop.com.

One Quarter at a Time

Aaron shares a story about yard work where all the leaves had fallen.  He was a bit overwhelmed and decided to break it up into quarters. He started with one quarter and finished everything in one quarter prior to moving to next quarter and so on.  Aaron looks at business the same way. It’s too difficult to tackle the big picture all at once and his 38 years of experience in business that says you won’t be effective and you won’t last long term.

“I visually said I am going to stay in this quarter and get all the limbs up, get all the leaves up, all the twigs, the debris and anything that was out there and I was gonna stay focused right here.  I’m going to niche down to this one quarter. ” - Aaron Walker

Click HERE to listen to the full episode.

Resources

12 Week Year by Brian Moran

“Brian Moran teaches us how to intentionally focus.  Having an annual goal is sometimes difficult.” - Aaron Walker

Live a Life of Success

Aaron encourages you to live a life of success and not worry about what others think. Pay attention to the warning signs and act on them.  Be proactive in your approach.

Read more at http://viewfromthetop.libsyn.com/season-2-episode-23-how-to-get-things-done#c9MBeLmZmMVtzKF2.99