Aaron Walker Podcasts

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 podcast Aaron talks about two colleagues. One of them Dave was a trusted friend for years. The other Bob -- used to be a competitor and turned a friend. In addition to an abundant versus scarcity mindset, listeners will be reminded of the importance of relationships.

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.

Competitors and Friends

Aaron talks about his business partner David and their competitor Bob.  One might think they would be at odds but over the years, Aaron found Bob to be a very honest man.  Aaron calls him a friend to this day.

Danny discusses the idea of playing a finite game where there are clear winners and losers. Aaron usually calls this game one of scarcity.  When you play a finite game you can’t win unless your opponent loses.  But the real game you need to play is infinite. This is the game of abundance. In an infinite game, everyone can win.

“During an infinite game there is no real start and finish no clear winners and losers.” - Danny Sunshine Bauer

Encourage Others

If you are struggling for ways to encourage and uplift others here are a few ideas:

• If you have a podcast, blog, or vlog -- promote your friends and competitors and what they do
• Share their work generously via social media and or email
• Write a referral on LinkedIn

All these steps will take less than 15 minutes, but the ROI is priceless.

In Summary

In this episode, the point is how Aaron is playing an infinite game.  Danny says that Aaron has taught him that relationships are key to success and to do positive unexpected things for others frequently.

“In some respects there is no direct benefit for Aaron plugging Dave and Bob’s businesses. There are no affiliate deals. He doesn’t get a finder’s fee for someone that does business with them.  So why do it? Because it’s uplifting. It’s encouraging. It’s good for relationships and it’s good for business.” - Danny Sunshine Bauer

Given two people in your community:

• One that selflessly promotes others and shares referrals
• Or the guy who has to “crush” the competition on his way to being #1

Who would you rather work with?

And that’s why Big A has experienced so much success in his life.

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/can-you-maintain-a-sense-of-character-integrity-while-competing#fe65dBXYAs3GKI1j.99

I got the privilege to be a guest in Learning From Others Podcast. It was a blast taking to Damon Burton. What a swell guy!

Click HERE to listen to the full episode.

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 is going to talk about ambition.  Ambition is defined as an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction as power, honor, fame, or wealth in the willingness to strive for it's attainment.  How do you measure your ambition? Are you motivated or complacent?

“I have huge ambitions, maybe too big at times. I struggle with turning it off and also managing my emotions if I don't achieve everything I set out to do.” - 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.

Click HERE to listen to the full episode.

Embrace Tension

Aaron says if you're holding on to the tension or if there's no tension in your life, there's probably something going awry.  Something is not going right because you are not paying attention. Aaron points out that the good news is that it is probably helping you.  But the bad news is that the tension never leaves you.

“I want to encourage you today to embrace the tension.  The tension is what keeps us safe. The tension is something in our lives that creates a thought within us.  Are we doing the right thing ” - Aaron Walker

Keep It In Check

Sometimes we need to keep our ambition in check and some of us need to find ambition.  Aaron will continue to confront you on all fronts while keeping himself in check with his own ambition.

“So we'll go on this journey together.  Right Today. I don't have all the answers for you.  I wished I did. I wished I had figured them out long time ago, but I'm studying. I'm praying.  I give it to God each and every day to learn, to continue to be ambitious, but at the same time, I want to learn to be content.” - 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

What a show!  It was a great show and it is a humbling episode at the same time.

Click HERE to listen to the full episode.

I was humbled (and enjoyed this episode) to be interviewed recently by Jim Beach on the School For Startup Radio. Here is the link to my interview.  Give it a listen.  You can also listen to this episode on iTunes.  

While you're on iTunes subscribe to Jim Beach's page and leave your feedback.

In today’s show Aaron Walker discusses how to get out of your comfort zone.  He had an interesting experience at a conference where someone was literally shaking.  She wanted to meet Big A, but at the same time was quite intimidated.

“But here’s the secret.  Aaron.…He’s just like you and me.  He also puts his shoes on one at a time.  I’ve seen him do it!” - 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.

Click HERE to listen to the full episode.

What The Worst That Can Happen?

Aaron encourages you to get outside of your comfort zone.  His tip-those people want you to approach them.

“Who would those people be without you?  They would be nothing without you, your fanfare, without you buying their products, your dollars, those people would be absolutely nothing.” - Aaron Walker

What is the worst thing that can happen? Probably nothing. We really blow things out of proportion in our heads. And that fear holds us back from experiencing greatness.

What The Best That Can Happen?

We also have to think what is the best thing that can happen?  That is really what should frighten you because it’s about opportunity lost.

“I forget at this point if it was MJ, Kobe or Lebron who said it, but it doesn’t matter.  You miss 100% of the shots you never take. People that are our heroes are just like us.” - Danny Sunshine Bauer

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

Google Get Out of My Comfort Zone

If it seems too risky to be bold then Google how to get out of my comfort zone and try one of the recommended activities:

3 things you can do that are low risk and quite fun:

1. Strike up a conversation with a stranger
2. Ask the next cashier at a retail store for a discount
3. Lie down in a public place …

“Those may seem a little crazy, but I guarantee nothing bad will happen and you just might gain a little more courage.” - 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

Connect with Aaron

Website | Twitter | FB | LinkedIn | Instagram | Email

Check out Aaron Walker’s daily podcast, The Mastermind Blueprint available on your Amazon Echo or iTunes.

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.