

ISI Brotherhood Podcast
Aaron Walker
A podcast for growth-minded Christian businessmen who desire momentum and accountability in their business, family, finances, faith, and personal wellness. Each week, Aaron Walker, also known as Big A, shares authentically from decades of business ownership, marriage, and raising a family. He takes on listener questions and deep-dive into FORGE episodes with tried and tested co-hosts. Subscribe and visit our website https://www.isibrotherhood.com/podcast
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 25, 2023 • 54min
42. Putting Your "Priorities" to Death and How to Master Your Major Stress Zones
“We need to decide what’s first, and make sure that gets done.” The word "priorities" is misconstrued in our day and age. Big A and Wally discuss what priority pillars are and how to utilize them in your life. If we were to block time out, it would probably show us that we all value work "more" than your wife or kids. But does value always equal time spent? Stress often comes from 4 different zones of our life, and prioritizing correctly goes hand in hand to having a more balanced, peaceful existence. Relationships are the lifeblood of our existence but they can also be a significant source of stress. We open up about our own journey of building healthy relationships, managing conflicts and the stress they can generate. We also highlight the immense benefits of joining a peer advisory group and share insights on managing the challenges of partnerships. Key Takeaways:Zones of stress and what to do about themWhy the word "priorities" should not exist in your lifeDealing with finances the right way for your family and your businessIs your marriage a priority? How does it show in your life?Stress management and personal growth, we believe, walk hand in hand. As we share our own struggles with stress and offer tips for reduction, we hope you'll find the inspiration to take accountability for your relationships and your life. We're in this together on a journey towards a successful and significant life. If you want to hear more speakers like this every month and be with the guys on the call, join the Iron Sharpens Iron Community today: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/isi-communityConnect with Big A:View From The Top Website: https://isibrotherhood.comThe ISI Newsletter: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/newsletterBig A’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/

Jul 18, 2023 • 44min
41. Shipwrecks of Business: How to Chart the Course for Visionaries, Navigate Chaos, and Fight Flexibility
“As business owners we’re going to find ourselves in 'the crunch' sometimes, and that’s okay, let’s just not be there too long.” Balancing family and a flexible job, new ideas of how to run your business flying at you from all directions, feeling stressed the minute you wake up–these major obstacles lead to shipwrecks in business all the time. Big A and Wally throw you a lifeline today as they open up about their own battles with the tumultuous sea of business. They've seen the highs, weathered the lows, and miraculously, found hidden opportunities amidst all the chaos. Have you ever felt like your business partner (or maybe it's you!) always has a new idea about once every team meeting? Kevin dives deep into the "how-to" of working with a visionary and the chaos it can create when it's not kept in check.Key Takeaways:How to work with a visionary that has new ideas all the timeThe great balancing act business owners face: flexibility in their jobLearn ways to time block, delegate and reduce chaosZone of competence vs. zone of geniusThere are no shortcuts to success, but with a bit of guidance, you can navigate the chaos and emerge triumphantly. If you want to hear more speakers like this every month and be with the guys on the call, join the Iron Sharpens Iron Community today: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/isi-communityConnect with Big A:View From The Top Website: https://isibrotherhood.comThe ISI Newsletter: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/newsletterBig A’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/

Jul 11, 2023 • 52min
40. The Dangers of Running Your Business on Autopilot with Blue Angel Pilot John Foley
Blue Angel Pilot John Foley shares the dangers of complacency and the importance of owning the outcome in business. He discusses the power of debriefing, the mindset of 'Glad to Be Here', and the impact of humility and gratitude on leadership.

Jul 4, 2023 • 40min
39. How to Overcome the Lonely Life of Building a Business By Yourself
“When you’re alone, the gravity, the weightiness, the consequence of the choices that you make... they usually go really deep.” Every entrepreneur feels lonely at times in his business. There are unique challenges that are exclusive to building your own business and seeking success when everything is riding on you. Today Big A and Wally get personal about the experiences they've had feeling isolated and alone in their business success and failures. Big A drops some amazing truth bombs about isolation that are based off his own story and the stories of hundreds of men that he's heard time and time again. Wally shares about a man who couldn't get out of his own way enough to change his circumstances... sound like anybody you know? Key Takeaways: What makes entrepreneurs feel so alone while building their businessesThe damage your ego can have on building a significant lifeWhat causes feelings of aloneness and how to minimize them for goodIf you want to hear more speakers like this every month and be with the guys on the call, join the Iron Sharpens Iron Community today: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/isi-communityConnect with Big A:View From The Top Website: https://isibrotherhood.comThe ISI Newsletter: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/newsletterBig A’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/

Jun 27, 2023 • 57min
38. Secrets to Successful Team Building with Mike Michalowicz
"Good leaders make people believe in them, great leaders make people believe in themselves." Building a great team that exceeds expectations starts with building trust between you and your employees. Mike Michalowicz, a leader in developing unstoppable teams and author of "Profit First: Transform Your Business From a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine," shares his insights on building great teams and the unique challenges small businesses face in finding, retaining, and raising up exceptional team members.Big A and Wally discuss how Mike uses the FASO team model to build his teams, how crucial it is to identify potential skill and ability in people you'd want on your team, and what leadership looks like in the post-COVID work environment. Key Takeaways:How to build an unstoppable team of employeesWhat to do in the post-COVID work environment as a leader The importance of one-on-one conversations, personal goal alignment, and socialization for employee well-being. Connect with Mike Michalowicz:Read Mike's book: Profit First Mike Michalowicz website: https://mikemichalowicz.com/About Mike:Mike Michalowicz is ranked as one of the most engaging and informative active business speakers as well as a celebrity business author of multiple books, including Profit First. By his 35th birthday had founded and sold two multi-million dollar companies. Confident that he had the formula to success, he became a small business angel investor… and proceeded to lose his entire fortune. Then he started all over again, driven to find better ways to grow healthy, strong companies. Mike has devoted his life to the research and delivery of innovative, impactful entrepreneurial strategies to you. Check out his website for more info. If you want to hear more speakers like this every month and be with the guys on the call, join the Iron Sharpens Iron Community today: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/isi-communityConnect with Big A:View From The Top Website: https://isibrotherhood.comThe ISI Newsletter: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/newsletterBig A’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/

Jun 20, 2023 • 37min
37. How to Scale Your Business When You've Hit a Plateau
Ever feel like no matter what you do, you keep hitting the ceiling and can't grow or scale your business? How do you beat the challenges that come with breaking through business plateaus? Big A and Wally share their own experiences with not knowing how to scale and the importance of realizing that what brought their success in the past may not be the key to future growth. Today they explore the concept of being 'out of season' as a leader and the effects of feeling plateaued. They examine how this can impact not only our businesses, but also our personal relationships. As they navigate the challenges of innovation and staying competitive, they emphasize the crucial role of understanding and developing your team's potential to prevent stagnation.Key Takeaways:How to scale your business fasterWhat to do when you've hit a plateau in business and aren't growingWhere our identity lies and what that has to do with businessThe main reasons businesses plateau and what to do about itThe importance of having a network of supportive businessmenIf you want to hear more speakers like this every month and be with the guys on the call, join the Iron Sharpens Iron Community today: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/isi-communityConnect with Big A:View From The Top Website: https://isibrotherhood.comThe ISI Newsletter: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/newsletterBig A’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/

Jun 13, 2023 • 43min
36. The Dire Dilemma of Delegating for Every Business Owner
We've all fallen into the trap of "I can do it better myself," haven't we? It's probably true–you probably CAN do it better yourself! But Big A and Wally discuss not only how it creates a huge gap between your employees and yourself, it also leaves very little room for you to scale your business. If you're ready to arrive at your view from the top, you'll want to listen in to hear the steps on delegating well and the dangers of believing you can do it better than anyone else. Key Takeaways: The dangers of believing you can and should just do it yourselfWhy men struggle with celebrating wins + why it's crucial for wellbeingHow to create confidence in yourself and your employeesWhat time management and delegation have in commonIf you want to hear more speakers like this every month and be with the guys on the call, join the Iron Sharpens Iron Community today: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/isi-communityConnect with Big A:View From The Top Website: https://isibrotherhood.comThe ISI Newsletter: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/newsletterBig A’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/

Jun 6, 2023 • 58min
35. Achieve The Elusive Work-Life Balance & Break the Mold of What Everyone Else is Doing
“I have to actually spend time getting to know the person–the wounds as well as the superpowers… so that I can become more connected. Because ultimately, that’s what I want… what we really want is connection.” Big A and Wally interview Anthony Witt, licensed counselor and business owner, about how to design the elusive work-life balance in your own life. Entrepreneurs live hard lifestyles, and Witt dives deep into what it takes to have a healthy marriage and healthy children while running a business. Ranging from the most inevitable stressors in relationships to what it looks like to take risks in your business with a hesitant spouse, this episode hits a wide scope of issues that business owners face daily. What does it look like to make it work? Key Takeaways:The large scope of issues that may be hindering your marriage as an entrepreneurWhere is our safe space and how can we recognize it?How to live the life we want to live using our innate creativityAbout Anthony Witt:Anthony Witt is a professional licensed counselor and a business owner with a deep understanding of how entrepreneurship impacts personal health and those around them. Having bought, sold, and started multiple businesses, he has gained valuableexperience at the intersection of personal health and business. His belief that "a healthy business owner creates a healthy business" underscores his approach to helping entrepreneurs thrive.Connect with Anthony Witt: witthouse.com or anthonywitt.comIf you want to hear more speakers like this every month and be with the guys on the call, join the Iron Sharpens Iron Community today: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/isi-communityConnect with Big A:View From The Top Website: https://isibrotherhood.comThe ISI Newsletter: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/newsletterBig A’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/

May 30, 2023 • 52min
34. Get the Results You Want with Radical Resilience
“When I’m not seeing the progress that I’d like to see... instead of passively waiting for something to happen, go out and be the change.” In this episode, we had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Andy Garrett, a clinical psychologist who preaches Radical Resilience to men across the country. We deep dive into how resilience is the key to getting the results we want to see in life. How do we make it happen? Garrett argues that because 70% of men have not fostered real friendships, most men are lacking in real resilience. Big A and Wally give Dr. Garrett the go-around with questions from how to be a more resilient man to what to do about post-Covid work related issues and how to be resilient enough to stand against whatever comes. Key Takeaways:What identifying your feelings has to do with becoming resilientWhat do we do when our close friends are going through hard seasons of life?How Covid killed people's motivation to work and what to do about itIf you want good results, you have to be willing to become a resilient businessIf you want to hear more speakers like this every month and be with the guys on the call, join the Iron Sharpens Iron Community today: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/isi-communityConnect with Big A:View From The Top Website: https://isibrotherhood.comThe ISI Newsletter: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/newsletterBig A’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/Connect with Andy Garrett: ag-thrive.com

May 23, 2023 • 52min
33. Tell It Like It Is and Still Build a Booming Business with Chick-Fil-A Franchisee Mark Nichols
"If we can make our young people successful, then we’re successful." Let's tackle burnout as a business owner, having the best employee relationships, and building an amazing leadership system with Mark Nichols, Chick-Fil-A Franchisee. This episode is chock-full of amazing wisdom on employee systems from the best in the business.Join Big A and Wally as they interview Nichols about his transition from working the day-to-day operations when he realized he was getting sucked into this never-ending cycle. He goes deep into what it looks like to be a leader and drive the future of the business forward, giving hot tips on how to expect much of your team while balancing real friendships with them. Key Takeaways:When is it time to stop working IN the business and instead work ON the business? How to have the best working and personal relationships with your employees and those under you in positions of leadership. Why trust is ESSENTIAL to have a leadership system that works both for you and for your workers. How do we maintain a level of accountability with those employees that you build friendships with? If you want to hear more speakers like this every month and be with the guys on the call, join the Iron Sharpens Iron Community today: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/isi-communityConnect with Big A:View From The Top Website: https://isibrotherhood.comThe ISI Newsletter: https://www.isibrotherhood.com/newsletterBig A’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/More about Mark:"My wife, Jennifer and I have been married for 37 years and have three boys, Brad (Holly), Wes (Karla) and Trey as well as 4 wonderful grandchildren. I am a born-again Jesus-follower who enjoys my spending time with grandkids, fishing, the mountains, friends and playing tournament poker. I am a Franchise Owner with Chick-fil-A, operating two free-standing locations as well as owning commercial and residential rental real estate. I started working at Chick-fil-A as a team member for $3.50 an hour as a teenager."


