Strong Com w/ Aaron Dunn: Recent Episodes

Strong Com w/ Aaron Dunn

"Com" is the root word for 'together', or 'in common'. Strong Communication builds strong Community which builds strong Company. #StrongCom

“In a world of algorithms, relationships become a competitive advantage.”

— Dr. Ivan Misner

That quote has been stuck in my mind.

We’re living in a time where it’s easier than ever to get your message out to people. AI can write, social media can distribute, and technology allows one person to reach thousands or even millions of people.

But something else is happening at the same time.

As the world becomes increasingly artificial, authenticity becomes increasingly valuable.

Gary Vaynerchuk, the entrepreneur who’s leveraged digital communication to build a business empire generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue and a global brand, is also seeing this shift.

I don’t believe digital communication and analog communication are competing with each other. I believe they’re two tools that are most powerful when they reinforce one another.

That led me to sketch out a simple mental model.

The goal of communication isn’t likes, followers, impressions, or even awareness.

The goal is trust.

Digital communication is incredible at helping us go wide. It creates awareness at a scale that has never been possible before.

Analog communication—conversations over coffee, networking events, church, one-to-one meetings, dinner with friends—is where we go deep. That’s where trust is earned.

But here’s what has fascinated me, and what I’ve experienced and led me to creating the Strong Com framework.

When you meet someone in person, every future piece of digital content carries more weight because it comes from someone they know.

Likewise, when someone has followed your work online for months, the first time you meet in person often feels less like meeting a stranger and more like reconnecting with someone familiar.

Digital reinforces analog.

Analog reinforces digital.

Neither replaces the other.

They compound.

That’s why I continue coming back to the three ideas that have shaped so much of my thinking:

Communication creates awareness.

Community creates trust.

Trust builds stronger companies.

That’s the Strong Com framework.

Whether you’re building a business, leading a team, creating content, or simply trying to become someone others can depend on, I hope this framework gives you another way to think about how trust is built.

I’d love to know what you think about the model I share in the video.

I’m still refining it, and your perspective may help shape where it goes next.

If you think it could help someone out, share it with a friend!

If you like mental models, frameworks, and the connection between communication, community building, and how that builds stronger company, consider subscribing!

You can also watch and subscribe on my YouTube Channel.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.poweracronym.com

What if the purpose of your business wasn't just to make money?

In this conversation with Mitchell Hancock, owner of Kilgore Lawn & Landscape, we explore leadership, mentorship, scouting, stewardship, and why timeless values still matter.

Mitchell shares lessons from Rotary, the Boy Scouts, and over a decade of business ownership. We discuss how young men develop into leaders, why mentorship matters, and how every vocation can be viewed as an opportunity to create order and serve others.

One of the most powerful ideas from this conversation is that great businesses don't just grow revenue—they grow people.

Topics include:

✔ Values

✔ The EDGE teaching framework

✔ Eagle Scouts and leadership development

✔ Mentoring young men through work

✔ Growing a local business through relationships

✔ Stewardship and serving your community

✔ Creating order from chaos

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe and share it with someone who believes leadership starts locally!

You can also watch this conversation on YouTube, and listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.poweracronym.com

A conversation with a homeowner this week got me thinking.

We had agreed on a repair, signed the paperwork, and were ready to get the work done before rain moved in.

Then they wanted to wait.

When I asked why, they shared a bad experience they'd had with another contractor years ago.

It reminded me that a lot of roofing conversations aren't really about roofs.

They're about trust.

If you're a homeowner, I'd encourage you to tell your roofer what you're actually worried about.

The answer you get may tell you everything you need to know.

In this video I share the story and why I think it's a conversation more homeowners should have.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.poweracronym.com

The Story of Every Man | Reflections on Creativity, Calling, and Community

Recently, I had the privilege of being a guest on The Story of Everyman podcast hosted by John Silos. John has built something special here in East Texas—a platform that captures the stories of everyday people and uncovers the wisdom, struggles, and experiences that shape their lives.

In our conversation, we covered everything from growing up in Edgewood, Texas, to creativity, faith, podcasting, ambition, networking, and the work I do through roofing, BNI, Dunn On Purpose, and Power Acronym.

After listening back to the episode, I realized there were a few ideas worth expanding on.

We talked about the challenge every creator faces: the tension between creating and consuming. It's easy to scroll. It's easy to wait. It's easy to let resistance win. Whether you're creating content, building a business, cleaning your truck, or pursuing a dream, fear often disguises itself as procrastination. The work isn't always difficult. Taking the first step usually is.

We also explored what motivates me to continue creating. Dunn On Purpose and Power Acronym have become containers for encouraging words, enriching perspectives, and empowering frameworks. They're ways for me to share what I'm learning while documenting the journey of becoming who God created me to be.

John asked about ambition, and while I answered the question during the interview, I've continued reflecting on it. If I could summarize my ambition in a single sentence, it would be this:

I want to help people through speaking, writing, and coaching.

Whether that's through conversations, content, business, networking, leadership, or faith, that's the thread connecting everything I do.

We also touched on Strong Com—a framework built around the relationship between Communication, Community, and Company. Strong communication helps people understand one another. Strong communities bring people together around shared values. Strong companies emerge when both are present and healthy.

Most of all, this conversation reminded me how much wisdom exists in ordinary people. We live in a time where we can learn from billionaires, celebrities, and world-class experts every day. But some of the most valuable lessons come from the people living and working right beside us.

That's what makes The Story of Every Man worth listening to.

In The Story of Everyman episode:

Growing up in Edgewood, Texas

How I found my way to Longview

Podcasting and creative expression

Overcoming fear and creative resistance

The evolution of Power Acronym

Faith, purpose, and calling

Communication, community, and company

What ambition means to me today

Connect

🎙️ Listen to The Story of Every Man with John Silos

On YouTube

On Spotify

On Apple

✍️ Subscribe to Power Acronym

🤝 Follow @DunnOnPurpose

As always, thank you for listening, reading, sharing, and supporting the work.

Today's the day to live on purpose.

Get it done.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.poweracronym.com

A Q&A on Faith, Failure, Business, Networking, and Living on Purpose

In this episode of the Dunn On Purpose Podcast, I answered questions submitted by people in my Facebook network.

The questions went a lot of different directions.

Some were funny.Some were philosophical.Some were about business, money, mindset, roofing, networking, and project management.

That is part of what made this one fun.

I didn’t prepare a perfectly polished keynote. I just sat down, answered the questions, and tried to share what I actually think based on what I have experienced so far.

A few things I talked about in this episode:

Why I don’t believe life is a simulation, but I do believe we were created by a Creator
How movement, fitness, and intentional inputs help me control my mind
Why my greatest accomplishment may simply be continuing to get back up after failure
The truth about my first $10,000 month and the fact that I have not had a $100,000 year yet
What I would do first if I moved to a new city and needed to build business from scratch
Why relationships are still one of the most important business development strategies
Whether paid ads work and why organic content can help you test what actually connects
What makes Project One Roofing different in a crowded roofing market
The most challenging part of project management
Why a quick phone call today can save hours, days, or headaches later

The answer I probably enjoyed the most was the question about what I would do if I moved to a new city tomorrow and had to generate leads and sales.

Because I’ve actually done that.

When Chelsey and I moved to Longview, I had to learn the community. I had to figure out who the connectors were, where relationships were being built, and how to become an active participant instead of just another person trying to sell something.

That led me into running groups, the Chamber, Leadership Longview, BNI, local business circles, and a deeper understanding of how community actually works.

The more I reflected on it, the more I realized this:

No matter what business you are in, you are in the relationship business.

That does not mean you manipulate relationships for business.

It means you build trust, show up consistently, serve people well, and become the kind of person others are comfortable connecting to opportunities.

This episode is not me pretending to have everything figured out.

It is more of a snapshot of where I am right now, what I’ve learned so far, and how I’m continuing to build a life and business on purpose.

I hope something in this conversation encourages you, enriches your thinking, or empowers you to take your next step.

Today is the day to live on purpose.

— Aaron

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.poweracronym.com

A few weeks ago, I was asked to give the commencement speech for the Kilgore ISD Pathways graduating class of 2026.

The Pathways program serves students whose journey through school looked different than the traditional path. Some faced difficult family situations, setbacks, instability, behavioral struggles, or simply needed a different environment to succeed.

After speaking with Lauren Thrasher, the Principal for Pathways Academy, the virtue of Hope felt important to highlight. Power Acronym 3: G.A.P. immediately came to mind.

Life is a game of closing the gap between who you are and who you’re capable of becoming.

GAP — Goals. Agency. Pathways.

This is the bridge that gets from here to there.

Goals give you direction.Agency reminds you that you control what you do next.Pathways remind you that there is rarely just one road forward in life.

This speech became less about having life figured out and more about learning how to keep moving forward when plans change.

I’m grateful for the opportunity, the experience, and the lessons that came from preparing and delivering it.

“You can get there from here.”

— Aaron

Power Acronym | The Language of Leadership

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.poweracronym.com

In this episode of Dunn On Purpose, I sit down with Luke Nelson, a coach with The Elliott Group, for a grounded conversation about leadership, identity, and what real transformation actually requires.

Rather than breaking down W.A.R.R.I.O.R. as a concept, this episode explores how the framework is lived, coached, and applied—inside business, relationships, faith, fitness, and everyday decision-making.

Luke shares his personal journey, what drew him to the Elliott Group culture, and what he’s learned coaching people who want change but struggle with consistency. Together, we walk through each pillar of the W.A.R.R.I.O.R. framework and discuss where people most often resist growth—and what happens when they stop avoiding ownership.

This conversation isn’t about hype or motivation.It’s about standards, responsibility, and building a whole life that can sustain success.

What We Cover

Luke’s path into coaching and personal development
Why W.A.R.R.I.O.R. is a code, not a checklist
The role of physical discipline in mental and emotional leadership
Awareness as responsibility—not information
Why relationships and proximity accelerate growth
ReCreate as whole-life transformation, not escape
Integration: why most growth fails to stick after events
Ownership as a daily decision, not a personality trait
Reach as meeting people where they are and helping them grow at their pace

Key Takeaways

Frameworks don’t change lives.People do—when they’re willing to live by them.

W.A.R.R.I.O.R. doesn’t promise results.It requires commitment, humility, discipline, and follow-through.

About the Guest

Luke Nelson is a coach with The Elliott Group, working closely with individuals who want to elevate their leadership, sales performance, and personal standards. His approach centers on accountability, identity, and helping people integrate growth across every area of life.

If this episode resonated with you, you may also enjoy the written companion piece:Power Acronym 247: W.A.R.R.I.O.R.

And as always—take what you hear, reflect on it, and act on what matters.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.poweracronym.com

Everyone wants this year to be better than the last—even if they won’t say it out loud.

In this episode, I revisit Power Acronym 24: W.I.N., an idea I originally shared in January 2025 and felt compelled to return to as 2026 begins.

W.I.N. is more than a motivational phrase—it’s an orientation.A way to decide how you show up when things get hard, uncertain, or demanding.

The original version of W.I.N. comes from Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps and asks a simple but demanding question:

What’s Important Now?

In this episode, I expand that idea with a second posture that’s become necessary in this season of life:

Whatever Is Next.

Together, they form a true win–win mindset—one that grounds you in present action while keeping you ready to adapt to what’s coming.

This conversation is about focus, presence, execution, readiness, and calm anticipation—not hype, not prediction, and not spectacle.

It’s about orientation.

In This Episode

Why most people want a better year—even if they reject New Year’s resolutions
What it actually means to “win” day by day
How What’s Important Now sharpens focus, presence, and execution
Why progress is built through process, not just goals
How to reverse-engineer big 2026 goals into daily action
Why staying present is a competitive advantage (especially in endurance and leadership)
How Whatever Is Next builds readiness without anxiety
Adapting early when the year brings unexpected challenges
Why growth requires letting go of what’s comfortable or “normal”
Leadership as proactive orientation, not reaction

Key Ideas & References

The original W.I.N. framework from No Limits by Michael Phelps
Presence and endurance insights from Chadd Wright
Quotes and ideas referenced from Grant Cardone and Andy Elliott
Power Acronyms as tools that only work when action follows belief

Core Takeaway

Keep a steady focus on the action you need to take today.Hold a calm, confident readiness for whatever comes next.

That’s how you W.I.N.

That’s a win–win.

Listen / Subscribe

If this episode resonated with you, subscribe at PowerAcronym.com and join me each week as we explore leadership, discipline, and intentional living through the language of Power Acronyms.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.poweracronym.com

This episode is different.

UNICORN isn’t a personality type or a motivational idea.It’s a leadership standard.

In this episode, I unpack what it means to lead in a moment where standing out is easy—but standing up is rare. UNICORN is an acronym that describes a way of governing yourself when pressure, noise, automation, and low standards make it tempting to drift, conform, or perform.

UNICORN leaders are:

Unleashed — not reckless, but no longer self-censoring

Nonconforming — calm, grounded, and unwilling to live by default norms

Intentional — choosing direction over drift

Creative — shaping meaning and solutions in a changing world

Optimistic — engaging possibility instead of retreating into cynicism

Rare — consistent, dependable, and decent in a low-trust culture

Necessary — because people aren’t starving for content, they’re starving for examples

This episode isn’t about being special.It’s about being responsible.

If you’ve felt the quiet tension of knowing it’s time to stand up—this conversation is for you.

Read the post on my Substack here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.poweracronym.com

This episode continues the Separation Season conversation that began with A.L.O.N.E.Where ALONE focused on internal work, A.P.A.R.T. is about external activation.

Reflection has a shelf life.Eventually, it must turn into action.

Being set apart isn’t about isolation or superiority.It’s about intentionally becoming someone different through the actions you take.

In this episode, I introduce A.P.A.R.T., a five-part framework for turning intention into identity:

Affirm who you’re becoming through action
Picture a clear self-image to guide behavior
Actualize by doing the work, not just thinking about it
Reinforce new habits through structure and repetition
Transform as effort becomes identity over time

We explore why affirmation and visualization matter — but only when paired with action — and how real growth happens when behavior aligns with purpose.

This is about choosing your direction instead of drifting into default patterns.

ALONE prepares you.A.P.A.R.T. reveals you.

If you enjoyed this and are interested in receiving more Power Acronyms to your inbox, consider subscribing!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.poweracronym.com

In this episode, I break down Power Acronym 207: G.R.O.W., a coaching model from BNI that doubles as a powerful year-end reflection tool. December is a reflective season, and scribing, journaling, and answering intentional prompts can accelerate breakthroughs both personally and professionally.

I also share why I believe prompts are power, and why the G.R.O.W. framework is perfect for preparing for 2026—not by accident, but on purpose.

In This Episode:

Why scribing is one of the most transformational habits from S.A.V.E.R.S.
The origin of G.R.O.W. and how it became Power Acronym 207
How prompts accelerate breakthroughs
The breakdown of G.R.O.W.:
G — Goal: Where do you want to go long-term?
R — Reality: What’s true right now?
O — Options: What opportunities open when you explore possibility?
W — Will: Where does your momentum begin?
Why December is the “practice run” for 2026
How these questions apply whether you’re leading yourself, your business, or your chapter

Questions Featured in This Episode:

Goal:

What do you want to achieve long term?
Is that positive, challenging, and attainable?
Will that be of real value to you?

Reality:

What is working well at the moment?
What obstacles are in your way?
What is within your control here?

Options:

What could you do that would help you achieve your goal?
What do you think would happen if you did that?
What do you think would happen if you did nothing?

Will:

What will you do?
What resources or support will you need?
When should we review your progress?

BNI Gilmer Event

If you’re in East Texas, join us for the BNI Gilmer Buckeye Business Network Interest Meeting on Wednesday, December 10th.

Meet founding members, grow your network, and learn how BNI can grow your business through structured referrals.

👉 Register with the link 👉 You can also find the event on Facebook

👉 Or reach out to me directly via his Substack, PowerAcronym.com

Let’s Connect

I’m available for 1:1 conversations (in person or virtual) to walk through your G.R.O.W. reflections or explore deeper coaching questions.

Growth happens in conversation. Let’s talk.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.poweracronym.com

This episode is the live recording of Power Acronym 206: A.L.O.N.E. — my Separation Season playbook for doing the inner work while everyone else is coasting. Instead of reading the post, I made some notes and went through the acronym and shared more stories, context, and questions to help you actually apply it.

If you’re feeling the pull to check out, wait for January 1st, or just “get through” the holidays, my hope is that this conversation gives you a simple framework to separate from your old patterns and quietly become someone new.

In this episode:

What “Separation Season” is and why this time of year quietly pulls us onto autopilot
A = Awareness – why you can’t leave where you won’t admit you are, and 3 journaling prompts to assess your energy, work, and relationships
L = Love – using data as a flashlight, not a hammer, and changing the tone of voice you use with yourself
O = Origin – Joseph Campbell, Frodo, and how to see yourself as an Overcomer (loss, betrayal, failure, trauma, rejection)
N = No – how being a high-I/S “mutual yes-machine” wrecks your boundaries, plus Tim Ferriss’s practical tools for saying no
E = Emerge – performance = knowledge minus leashes, the elephant and the tiny stake, and how to know when you’re quietly becoming someone new

Reflection prompts:

Where am I really—in my energy, work, and love?
How do I usually talk to myself after a mistake—and would a friend stick around if I talked to them that way?
What kind of Overcomer am I right now: loss, betrayal, failure, trauma, or rejection?
What’s the #1 thing I need to start saying No to this season?
What’s one escape hatch I’m willing to feel through instead of use at least once this week?

If this episode resonates, you can read the full Power Acronym 206: A.L.O.N.E. post on Substack and watch for Part Two, A.P.A.R.T., dropping December 17.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.poweracronym.com

In this episode of Dunn On Purpose, host Aaron Dunn dives into the concept of the New Year and how it can serve as a catalyst for personal growth and transformation. As we settle into 2025, Aaron encourages listeners to reflect on their engagement with the New Year and where they fit within his unique "New Year Engagement Matrix."

Join Aaron as he explores four distinct categories:

The Achiever: Thriving on action, growth, and accomplishment.

The Preserver: Finding comfort in routines but needing a spark of enthusiasm.

The Explorer: Energized by new possibilities but often lacking discipline.

The Wanderer: Stuck in a state of inaction and uncertainty.

Throughout the episode, Aaron poses thought-provoking questions tailored to each category, helping you identify your current mindset and encouraging you to take actionable steps toward a more purposeful life.

Whether you're feeling ambitious or apathetic, this episode is packed with insights to help you make the most of 2025. www.dunnonpurpose.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dunnonpurpose.substack.com

In this episode of the Done On Purpose podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Shawn Ingram, the owner of Custom Graphics Texas and the founder of Longview Connections. We delved into Shawn's journey in the custom graphics business, which he acquired in 2019, and how he has expanded its offerings beyond small signs to include a wide range of branding services. Shawn shared his insights on the importance of strong communication and customer service in business, emphasizing that when people buy branded products, they are excited and engaged, which makes the work fulfilling.

We also explored the concept of community through Longview Connections, a grassroots networking organization that Sean started to foster relationships among local businesses. He described how the group has grown from humble beginnings to over 80 active members, creating a supportive environment where members can network, share resources, and collaborate. Sean highlighted the group's motto, "community over competition," which reflects their commitment to uplifting one another and giving back to the community.

A significant highlight of our conversation was Shawn's recent initiative to distribute funds raised through Longview Connections to local non-profits, demonstrating the group's dedication to making a positive impact in the community. We discussed the importance of volunteering and serving others, and how these actions can lead to unexpected rewards in both personal and professional realms.

Throughout the episode, Shawn's passion for his work and his commitment to fostering a sense of community were evident. He shared valuable advice for entrepreneurs, emphasizing the importance of integrity, transparency, and customer service in building a successful business. This episode serves as an inspiring reminder of the power of connection, collaboration, and giving back to the community.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dunnonpurpose.substack.com

I'm thrilled to share the latest episode of the Dunn On Purpose podcast, featuring the incredible Laura Christian from Aspire Mentoring! In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative power of mentorship and the vital role it plays in our communities. Here are three key takeaways that I believe everyone can benefit from:

The Importance of Tailored Communication: One of the most fascinating aspects of Laura's work is the art of communication between mentors, mentees, and their families. Each relationship is unique, and Laura emphasizes the need for respectful and confidential communication. By ensuring that everyone feels heard and valued, we can create a safe space for growth and connection. This approach not only strengthens individual relationships but also fosters a sense of community.
Building Community Through Support: Aspire Mentoring is all about creating connections that matter. Laura shared how their program pairs caring adults with children who need extra support. This matchmaking process is not just about finding a mentor; it's about building a community where kids can thrive. The emphasis on community building through strong communication is a powerful reminder of how we can all contribute to the well-being of those around us.
The Ripple Effect of Mentorship: Mentorship is more than just guidance; it's about creating lasting impacts. Laura shared inspiring success stories of kids who have blossomed through their mentoring relationships. The journey may start with a simple connection, but the effects can be profound, leading to improved self-esteem, better social skills, and a brighter future. This episode serves as a reminder that we all have the potential to make a difference in someone else's life.

I invite you to listen to this episode and reflect on how you can contribute to your community, whether through mentorship or simply by being a supportive presence in someone’s life. Let's continue to build strong, purposeful connections that uplift us all!

Listen on Spotify, Apple

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dunnonpurpose.substack.com

In this episode, I am joined by my good friend Scott Brown, a seasoned leader with a diverse background in sales, business ownership, real estate investment, missionary work, and pastoral leadership. Currently, Scott is an Executive Director with the John Maxwell Organization, where he focuses on coaching, speaking, and training leaders.

Watch the conversation on YouTube here.

We discuss the concept of leading on purpose, inspired by an event Scott is organizing called "Lead on Purpose." This event aims to encourage intentional leadership and personal growth. Scott shares his journey and insights on leadership, including John Maxwell's five levels of leadership: positional, relational, personal development, lending a hand, and pinnacle leadership.

Scott also highlights the significance of small communities having access to leadership events and networking opportunities. He believes that continuous learning and growth are crucial for both individuals and communities to thrive.

We delve into the core values that Scott holds dear, such as integrity, honesty, discipline, and character. He emphasizes the importance of self-discipline and accountability in personal and professional growth.

more!

It was great getting to chat with Scott and capture some of his wisdom in the form of this podcast episode for you. Enjoy!

Connect with Scott on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dunnonpurpose.substack.com

Hello, friends!

I’m thrilled to announce that a new episode of the Dunn on Purpose podcast is live! After a brief hiatus, I’m back in the podcast seat, and I can’t wait to share my thoughts on a topic that’s close to my heart: the purpose of podcasting.

In this episode, I dive deep into why I started this podcast and the reasons behind my passion for this medium. Whether you’re a seasoned podcaster or just curious about the world of audio storytelling, I believe there’s something in this episode for everyone.

Here’s what you can expect:

My Journey: I reflect on my experiences in the podcasting world, from being a guest on various shows, helping others launch others, to co-hosting the Trucking for Millennials podcast for over five years. I share how these experiences have shaped my understanding of podcasting and its potential.
The Power of Purpose: I discuss the importance of having a clear purpose in podcasting and in life. Drawing inspiration from thought leaders like Steve Jobs and Tom Rath, I explore how our commitments can guide us and create meaningful connections.
Community and Connection: I emphasize the role of communication and community building in creating a successful podcast. I’m excited to highlight local leaders and businesses that inspire me and deserve more recognition.
Your Enduring Commitment: I pose a thought-provoking question: What is your enduring commitment? I encourage you to reflect on this and consider how you can make your purpose evident in your daily life.

I truly believe that podcasting is a unique platform that allows us to connect, learn, and grow together. If you’ve ever thought about starting your own podcast or simply want to understand the impact of this medium, this episode is for you!

🎧 Listen now: Dunn on Purpose Podcast on Spotify and Apple

📽️Watch now: On X or YouTube

Thank you for being a part of this journey with me. Your support means the world, and I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this episode!

Until next time, keep pursuing your purpose!

Warm regards,

Aaron DunnHost, Dunn on Purpose Podcast

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dunnonpurpose.substack.com

Wow. 🤯

That’s about all I can say about this episode!

I connected with Dan Kimball through the Heroic community.

He’s a Tuscon, AZ-based counselor and coach that helps his clients commit to actions that improve your life while realizing and accepting what is out of your personal control. Learn more about him at his website, Path4Change.com

He has 20 years of experience helping others through several disciplines and evidenced-based techniques, such as Cognitive Behavioral Theory, Motivational Interviewing and Positive Psychology.

It was an honor to have a conversation with him.

As I do with most guests on the podcast, I framed the conversation with the three C’s of Communication (with ourself, others, and life itself) Community (the virtues and values that bring and hold us together) and how the stronger those are, the stronger our Company (the business we’re building or the company we keep).

COMMUNICATION

We kicked it off with a Power Acronym 4-stage coaching model that Dan created called ARIA, which he walks us through.

Awareness and Acceptance,Resilience and Resistance Inspiration and IntentionAction and Accountability

He’s infused it with deep wisdom and practical application I think you’ll find incredibly helpful on your quest.

He also exemplified one of his signature Via Character strengths (creativity) through his work as an artist and showed the impressive box he created that beautifully showcases the ARIA model, the 24 Character strengths, his experience using Power Animals through his understanding of shamanism, and more.

Watch the video of our conversation on YouTube here.

He also gave me (and you) access to the Optitron, which is essentially the digital, online, interactive version of the art he created.

It's got a cyberpunk style! 😎

Learn more about the Optitron here,

and access the Optitron here!

Like I said… 🤯

COMMUNITY

Then we discussed the Village Question, the question I ask every guest on the show, which lead us to a discussion about pursuing Purpose and how you can discover your own.

THAT brought us to another question:

How do you know when you’re taking the virtuous path, rather than the vicious one, when on the pursuit of your purpose?

His answer (as they all were ) was enlightening.

COMPANY

We wrapped our conversation by talking about how he got involved with Heroic, how it’s impacted each of our lives, and why we stay engaged with the community and use the app each day.

Dan is just one of the many incredible people in the Heroic community.

If you’re interested in checking out Heroic, try it for free here.

You can learn more about the Heroic Coach program here.

Here's the link to Dan's website, YouTube and LinkedIn. His email is dan@path4change.com.

And as always, if you’d like any support on your quest to live on purpose, it would be an honor to speak with you as well!

Feel free to email me at aaron@strongmy.com.

Have a wonderful week!

Aaron

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dunnonpurpose.substack.com

This is the second coaching conversation I’ve had with my friend Kevin Leath around how he’s putting the work in to make his 35th year around the sun the best one yet!

In this episode you’ll hear about what he’s focused on in May.

We cover quite a bit of ground but the main focus is on Self Mastery and Energy.

We discuss three aspects of Self Mastery: Structural, Reactive, and Expansive. We also talk about how Energy influences how we show up to other aspects in life.

When we have our energy dialed in (how we eat, move, sleep, and breathe) it gives us the proper foundation and practices to bring our best to other areas of our life, like our Work and our Love.

You'll also hear how we are using the Heroic app to install and delete habits, learn new things, and more!

If you're interested in learning more about Heroic or working with me as a Heroic Performance Coach, let me know!

Aaron@strongmy.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localleadership.substack.com

Earlier this month I drove down to Katy TX to spend some time with my brother and his family before we woke up the next morning for the Spartan Sprint!

5k trail run + 20 obstacles later, R.J. completed his first ever Spartan (and 5k race!) and I completing my first ever Sprint!

It was super fun to complete the race with him and it seems we may have stated a new brotherly tradition. We're already thinking about when the next one might be!

We also recorded a podcast which I finally got around to editing.

In this episode you'll hear us start with a wrap up of the Spartan race before I lead the conversation through the Strong Com 3 C's.

Strong Communication

What is R.J.'s go to Power Acronym?
Leading a sales team
Building a S.M.A.R.T. culture
Community Building
The Village Question

= Strong Company

Enjoy!

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localleadership.substack.com

Very special episode today!

This episode is a coaching conversation with myself and Kevin Leath.

Kevin recently approached me about his desire to make 2023 the year he starts doing the work to become his strongest self. Which, as someone focused on learning and doing what it takes to do the same, fires me up! 🔥

It is an honor to be a part of his journey and to have an open, honest, and intentional conversation about what it means to close the gap between who he’s capable of being and who he’s actually being.

As Abraham Maslow has said:

“What one can be, one must be”

If you’ve heard previous episodes / read some of my posts, you may remember that I’m about to complete a 300-day coaching program from Heroic Coach.

When Kevin expressed his interest in having a conversation with me about leveling up, I immediately shared Heroic with him because of the way it’s helped me learn new things as well as start and stop certain behaviors.

I decided to utilize a Power Acronym called C.A.L.L. T.O. ACTION that I recently learned from the program to provide structure to this episode.

This episode is a new format which was an exciting challenge for me, and I really appreciate and applaud Kevin for his courage to bring himself to this endeavor and idea to share his journey in this way. I believe it won’t be the last.

As I share with Kevin on the show, it reminds me of this Heroic +1, inspired by George Leonard.

“It’s instructive to watch the immediate surge of clarity and energy during training that comes from the simplest act of writing one’s name on a notice.”

-George Leonard

Kevin has put his name on a notice! And I’m grateful to be in his corner.

Voice, Volition, Victory. 📢💪🏁

Strong Com!

-Aaron

Get in conversation:

Thanks for reading Local Leadership Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localleadership.substack.com

I’ve been filled with thoughts about Leadership the past week.

It began with our PDQ America lunch & learn where we hosted Scott Brown, an executive director with John Maxwell.

In this episode, I share some of the notes that I got from that one-hour talk. Powerful stuff! I invite you to reflect on the question that was asked of us:

“How well do I DO that?” - listen to the show to understand where to apply this!

Then I share some takeaways from the PDQ America Leadership team meeting we had this weekend. It was extremely productive and inspired many thoughts!

I close this episode with a Power Acronym: L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P.

This one was originally published by the Methodist church I grew up in and it’s full of wisdom!

Then, after some short ideas about sports and crafting a championship mindset about whatever it is that you do, I cap it off with Letters of Leadership: L, which I’ll share more in-depth later this week.

They are: Love. Logic. Lyricism.

Leader yourself first!

Let me know what you think of these topics in a comment!

If you’d like to further the conversation via audio, let me know!

Thanks for reading Local Leadership Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localleadership.substack.com

Started this episode with a thank you to those who answered the random question about a dream job, that goes like this:

“What’s your dream job if money didn’t matter?”

Which led to two comments about “I don’t dream of labor”.

I don’t get into this very far on the episode, but apparently, this idea has gained popularity on TikTok.

After a quick Google it seems to be a quote from James Baldwin, who debated William F Buckley about the question: “Is the American Dream at the expense of the American Negro”?

This is not at all what I intended to write or record a podcast about, but I do appreciate answers that further deeper discussion.

I share my perspective about the idea of “not dreaming of labor” without much consideration for its contextual history, then get into part two of my personal philosophy.

If you listened to my last episode, you’ll know I shared the first 5 ideas of a personal philosophy I’ve been drafting. So this episode is about the remaining 5, which are:

Strong Com x3

Day 1

D.R.I.V.E. (n) PRO

Context + Control

Hometown Heroism

I share more about what each mean to me right now, and will continue to develop them over time in more detail as I continue to practice this personal philosophy and discover new ways it manifests throughout life.

Your support is felt and appreciated! Thank you.

Stay strong,

Aaron

Thanks for reading Local Leadership Newsletter! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Have thoughts? Think out loud!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localleadership.substack.com

After I recorded Preach Practice last week I knew I’d follow it up with an episode about the work I’m doing to craft my personal philosophy.

As I mentioned in that episode and reference multiple times in this one, I joined Heroic Coach Class XI in May of last year. It is a 300-day certification program that covers a TON of content, but as someone who loves to learn, it’s right up my alley.

I’m just a few weeks from completing the certification and one of the recommended practices was to start drafting my own personal philosophy.

After spending a few hours over the course of a week in my journal and thinking about what works for me, and how I would put my own spin on all that I’ve learned and am putting into practice in my own life, I thought it would be fun to share a working draft with you!

This exercise is sort of like refining the 33 Life Lessons from 33 Years of Life down to 10.

I intended on sharing all 10 ideas when I started, but as I got through the first 5 I decided to turn this into a two-parter. I’ll come back next week with the next 5 ideas.

Do you have a personal philosophy? What is it?

As I encourage you to do in the audio, if any of these ideas resonate with you or if you have any thoughts of your own, please share!

Here are the first 5 with some additional notes I reference in the episode:

Heart Mind and Soul

Virtue: Zest

Body Temple

Sweat More Often- Eat Move Sleep Breath Focus Celebrate Prosper

Inner Citadel

Tool: MeditationPhilosopher Note - The Inner Citadel

“Most people are not alive, because they do not live in the present, but are always outside of themselves, alienated, and dragged backwards and forwards by the past and by the present. They do not know that the present is the only point at which they are truly themselves and free. The present is the only point which, thanks to our action and our consciousness, gives us access to the totality of the world.” - Pierre Hadot

SanctuaryTime & Man (Georgios I. Mantzaridis)Being (Werner Erhard, Martin Heidegger)

Roots & Wings

Virtues: Gratitude & HopeRootsWings

Philosophers Note: Gratitude Works!

Science of Hope: Goals + Agency + Pathways

Veritas

Virtue: Curiosity

Complete AcceptanceHammer vs. Flashlight”In Spirit and in Truth”Self CompassionCollecting Turnarounds

Trust Thyself

Virtue: Confidence

“And truly it demands something godlike in him who has cast off the common motives of humanity, and has ventured to trust himself for a taskmaster. High be his heart, faithful his will, clear his sight, that he may in good earnest be doctrine, society, law, to himself, that a simple purpose may be to him as strong as iron necessity is to others!” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

The “Jonah Complex” from Future Visions

Tool: WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan)

Warrior Poetry

Virtue: Self Mastery

Creative ActionAncient Wisdom + Modern ScienceMasteryIdentity in Big 3: Energy, Work, and LoveOptimal Deployment of limited resources

“Aim Start Flow Learn Repeat”

Thanks again for reading/listening!

If this draft is any indication, there’s much more work to be done! I’m excited to dive deeper into these concepts and most importantly continue practicing them in my own life.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localleadership.substack.com

Hey!

How’s your 2023 so far?

I hope it has been full of victories! 💪🏁

While keeping in mind what Rumi said:

“The lion who breaks the enemy’s ranks is a minor hero compared to the lion who overcomes himself.”

― Rumi

Thank you for receiving this email!

(If you’re not subscribed and would like to be, hit the button below 👇)

I took a bit of a break from publishing since the whole 33 Life Lessons for 33 Years of Life sprint and I thought I’d say hello.

In fact, I decided to record a podcast episode as well, my first since August of ‘22. 😐

I’ve got plenty to share, but I kept this session to 24 minutes.

If you listen. Thanks. 🙏 I hope it provokes some thought and conversation!

I decided to call it “Preach Practice” after recording this yesterday for two reasons:

Getting back into the practice of podcasting
Reminding myself to always practice before preaching

Ok, enough for today.

Stay strong!

Aaron

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localleadership.substack.com

In this episode you’ll hear my conversation with Adriana Reid, founder and CEO of Be2Be Coaching.

Her area of expertise focuses on public and human relations. Due to her integrative career path, she has acquired a great social sensitivity and spirit of service, allowing her to expand her capacity for action, synthesis, and analysis in political, economic, and social integration processes coming to one conclusion: There is a GAP between our personal development (who we are being) and our roles/functions as humans (what do we do & what we have).

Our conversation covers a wide range of topics including the “Doing in-order-to-have” paradigm, her coaching methodology, Beingness, values, emotional self-sufficiency and much more.

Adriana also answers The Village Question and brings her own “Com” word to the conversation, which is super powerful!

You’ll also hear a practice you can implement immediatelly.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localleadership.substack.com

It was a privilege to have Amy Pechacek on the podcast to discuss how she helps individuals and teams reach their goals through her company Alpstra. This conversation made the hour breeze by and we only scratched the surface of her expertise!

In this episode you’ll hear us talk about…

Communication -

Amy the schoolteacher to Amy the entrepreneur

The subject of Identity

READ Personality types

Community -

Emotional Intelligence

Balancing Personalities

Question about values

Company

The next generation of leadership

How can employers attract/retain great talent?

What/who fuels Amy?

and more!

Don’t miss the Local Leadership Newsletter! Publishing every 1st of the Month. Subscribe below or click here.

Enjoy!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localleadership.substack.com

I’m excited to share my hour + conversation with Aaron Aguirre, most commonly known as the former radio personality of Brain’s Morning Madhouse on 95.3-102.3 The Breeze.

In this conversation, we discuss a wide range of topics as I get to know who Aaron is now in relation to his past work as a much-loved radio talent, DJ, producer, and more.

Life took a dramatic turn when he was arrested in 2016 for drug possession and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Fast forward to today, he’s out and is the owner of Brain’s Smoke and Vape with locations in Tyler Texas and Longview Texas.

As always the show is guided by the “Three C’s” of the show:

Communication:

We talk about the identity of “Brain”, his work at The Breeze, overcoming his darkest moments in prison, perceptions, and how the experience changed him.

Community:

He answers The Village Question and we discuss building relationships with others in and out of the prison system and how his values inform who he is today.

Company:

We speak about his journey into entrepreneurship, the perception of the smoke & vape industry, professionalism, leadership principles, and the origin of his work ethic

Much, much more!

I really enjoyed this conversation and found it enlightening, encouraging, and thought-provoking for a wide variety of reasons. This episode could have been hours longer!

I also encourage him to begin sharing his voice on a podcast of his own…which may or may not be on the horizon…

Do you think Brain should start a podcast of his own? Leave a comment here or let him know via social media or tell him in person at his shop!

Be sure to follow/subscribe to the Strong Com Podcast on your favorite platform!

And if you haven’t already, sign up for the Local Leadership Newsletter!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localleadership.substack.com

Ayo Uno is a music artist, clothing designer, and entrepreneur based in Longview TX who has recently opened up his store, The Emotional Club - a clothing brand and storefront that curates apparel lines with a positive message centered around a movement of creative self-expression and self-acceptance.

In this interview, I had the opportunity to sit down with him and discuss how the store got started, his vision for it, and what it all means for himself, the artists and creators in the area, and the world.

I think Uno’s story is inspiring because 1. He’s created a brand that merges streetwear with a positive message (strong communication 2. He has a heart for developing and highlighting local talent (strong community) 3. He’s just getting started. (strong company)

Let me know what you think of this episode and don’t forget to subscribe to the Local Leadership Newsletter if you haven’t already as there will be many more stories to come.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit localleadership.substack.com

Nicole Garvey is a LPC-A working with Next Step Community Solutions to provide counseling to local community youth so that they have the tools they need to navigate life's troubles.

It was wonderful to discuss the importance of counseling with her, and learn more about the somatic approach, the impact of trauma on our lives, the challenge of counseling youth in the modern era of social media, and much much more.

She also answers the village question! I hope you enjoy this conversation! Be sure to connect with her on Instagram @soma.counseling

Jeremy Jones aka DJ Juice is the night show host of 102.7/106.9 The Blaze, founder of JUICE (Join Us in Creating Excellence) for Kids, a nonprofit to uplift youth, and Owner of Shakras Media Vault, a studio and media center in Tyler TX.

In this conversation we discuss all of what he is up to and lit up by, he answers the Village Quesetion, we talk a little about modern music, and much more!

The words we speak inside ourselves greatly determine whether we have a life of joy, peace, and purpose, or a life of chaos, pain, and dysfunction. Using proven methods, we help you learn to overcome limiting beliefs keeping you from having the life, relationships, or career you desire. Whether it be past trauma, painful experiences, mental/emotional struggles, or relationship issues, you can discover your best self and enjoy life to your fullest potential.

Visit Travis's website at travismwhite.com.

Buy Travis' new book, We Are All Fireflies on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/We-Are-All-Fireflies-Darkness/dp/1647469651

I had an excellent conversation with Rachel K Hudson, a coach for empaths and highly sensitive people as well as host of her own podcast, Empath Insights.

We discuss coaching, facts vs feelings, controlling our thoughts, the stories we tell oursevles, "the river of misery", self awareness, and much much more!

Plus she answers the Village Question, in which she communicates what values she would use to bring her community together.

Check out her podcast and give her a follow on Instagram @rachelkhudson

In this episode I'm talking about a reintroduction and reimagining about how we view ourselves and the work we do.

Have you ever used a life metaphor for yourself? Do you know the origin of your name? I was reminded and felt inspired by mine recently so I'm inviting you to explore your own.

I also share a poem from the collection I'm writing during National Poetry Month called "Tomorrow Again".

Tomorrow Again

When tomorrow is

just another yesterday

we pace around the truth

buried beneath our feet

instead of digging under

the walled garden and

breaking new ground

on the other side of struggle

we hold ourselves stuck

with the story that bears repeating

we cuddle burdens to stay comfortable

repeat the words that cudgel us

into a seed on broken ground

when we place ourselves

at the source of fertility

we regenerate ourselves

rooted in the domain of a new season

leave yesterday

lean into tomorrow

long live today

Here's an example of Strong Com - ihatereidpierson.com. This simple and bold statement on yard signs throughout a small city drew people to a website that draws people to greater awareness of a local business.

This episode is inspired by a Facebook post that asked the question "What is the best time of day to post on Facebook so local people see it?"

Listen to learn what my 4 Rules of Engagement are, especially the 5th one, which is possibly most important.

I hope this helps! Feel free to reach out to me @aarondunnworks on all socials.

Is video content the new website? This strong opinion is brought to you by Mark Behm - additional thoughts by me

Just keep creating

Coming off a great holiday weekend where I got to connect with a few clients all on different missions but share a common thread: Local Leaders Living their Story and Sharing it for the Greater Good of Others

In this episode I share the outcome of a coaching call I was recently on with Hank Norman and Lauren Pringle of 2 Market Media.

I asked the question "Why do you not post on social media more often" to my facebook network and the post yielded over 60 comments in a matter of hours.

So I decided to record some thoughts based on the responses and common threads through them.

Thanks for listening!

In this episode, I reflect on Easter Sunday (context) and work through the three C's of the podcast (Communication, Community Building, and Company) through a story of personal exploration that I have underwent over the last 48 hours.

It is influenced and inspired by today's Easter Sunday, my reading of the first 30 pages of Robert Greene's book Mastery, and the development of my own work within Strong Com Consulting, specifically Generating Awareness.

Poetic stuff.

10X Growth Conference 2021 Day 2: Today was STACKED with some excellent speakers including Elena Cardone, David Grutman, Swan Sit, Pete Vargas, Cindy Eckert, Tyrese Gibson, Brandon Dawson, Daymond & Heather John, and Tommy Hilfiger.

One word reflections for each speaker: Elena Cardone - Badass David Grutman - Personal Swan Sit - Impact Pete Vargas - Connection Cindy Eckert - Power Tyrese Gibson - Audacity Brandon Dawson - Clarity Daymond and Heather John - Charge Tommy Hilfiger - Icon

Watch this as a video or leave your thoughts in the comments on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppQR8enkbwE&t=9s

In this video I'm sharing my thoughts about Grant Cardone's First day of 10X Growth Conference 2021. I'm sharing my top takeaways from the event itself and the speakers for today including Jesse Itzler, Bethenny Frankel, Kevin O'Leary, Glenn Stearns, Mike Rowe, and Pitbull.

Watch the video or leave a comment on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tWlmjyR9qmI

It's a joy to share this conversation I had with Casey Muze Williams of Avenue Speak! Native of Longview TX, Casey founded the nonprofit known as Starr Avenue Co in 2016, an organization which celebrates harmonius participation in the art. Casey holds 20 years of training as a performance percussionist for numerous rhythm instruments. He also has training as a sound engineer from Dallas Sound Lab. He is a dedicated social and community partisan with a peaceful and influential presence. He uses music and movement as holistic treatment of substance abuse disorders.

Keith O'brien (@extexascoach) is a former HIgh School coach that put in the work to become part of the top 1% of earners in network marketing. In this episode I talk to him about his experiences, his values, misconceptions, and more.

This was a super fun conversation with Kayla Lyons (@the_kaylalyons), Digital News Anchor/Host for @KLTV7.

Enjoy!

My friend and annual guest of the show Chris Patton aka @CiceroMode joins me for a great conversation about our favorite music of the year.

I also ask him 3 questions regarding the 3 C's of the Podcast, Communication, Community, and Company.

We talk about the creator economy, building a brand, and more!

This conversation with DPhill Good was such a fun one to have! We had a great conversation about his art, his inspirations, the mind body connection, his vision, East Texas, self expression, listening to his heart, and much, much more. Follow him @Dphillgood

This podcast features especially Strong guest, Brandon Davidson. He is a comedian and Director of Next Step Community Solutions, a non profit in Tyler Texas that provides mental health counseling and substance abuse support for middle schools and high schools.

Gemini is a local graffiti artist who's been working with local business owners in Tyler Texas.

We talk about the act of graffiti itself, his work within the community, and how it builds business.

Check out his instagram @inimeg_ and @awallnearyou

I had a great time speaking with Uriah Johnson, who recently made the front page of the Tyler Paper for the weekly "zoom forums" on race relations nationally and in our local community.

In this episode you'll hear us discuss how we got here, what actions we can take to move forward, the NFL fans booing "unity" stand, Uriah's new project LitTyler, and black owned businesses in East Texas.

In this episode I 3 "A's" to increase your sales in the new normal. I also ask questions being asked on the live stream.

Sign up for my live event happening in Tyler on August 19th, 7 Top Sales Secrets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/7-top-sales-secrets-tickets-114829468030

In this epiosde I share some tips on how to think about and grow engagement on social media

Had a great time speaking with my friend Trent Spradlin, Chief Marketing Officer for Stonewater Roofing, an East Texas success story of a small business that has now grown to a top 100 roofing company in the United States.

We chat about social media marketing tactics, the power of events for brand activations, being truly connected with local community, and much more!

A few weeks ago my friend Tony Sanders, an excellent content creator and podcaster, creator of 60 second stories, go follow him @tonyrsanders interviewed me about Resume Best Practices.

Really happy with how it turned out, go check out the show on his podcast and instagram.

But before we got into that he asked me about this show, Strong Com Podcast and this whole Strong Com movement and asked me a question I hadn't spent a lot of time on, to be honest

He asked me why strength?

Which is a great question.

So today I'm diving into that question a bit.

We're going to color in those lines a bit

Get clear on what strength is

Then I want to share a few things

One is our media landscape and why it's important for you to have STRENGTH in your Comms now

And the other is our cultural landscape and how we can have Stronger Communities during trying times

And the last is how you can move from weakness to strength through what I call STRONGVISION

In this episode I share how the D.R.I.V.E. acronym can help you stay driven while the world shuts down.

Cune Pena @cunepenafitness brought the STRENGTH in this episode! An entrepreneur, motivator, and fitness / lifestyle coach for 30 years, Cune recently launched Rise RX Fitness (@RiseRXFitness) with his wife and business partners in Tyler Tx.

I've been impressed by their branding, smart use of social media, and up-to-date messaging that showcases the deep level of understanding Cune and the team he's put together have about getting fit today.

In this episode you'll hear about the launch process, the purpose behind the name, his answer to the village question, and how they've rolled with the punches of Coronavirus.

Be sure to give Cune and RiseRX a follow and visit their gym in Tyler!

My friend Dan is an English teacher for Tyler Independent School District and brilliant thinker. He always has an interesting point of view on what's happening in the world and this conversation is no different! We chat about whether the traditional school structure is still important, digital citizenship, the role of the parent and teacher during remote learning, and much more! Enjoy.

Strong Com Podcast is back!

A LOT has happened since I last uploaded and I felt it is more important than ever to help you move from weakness to greater strength in your career and communication.

I start this episode sharing my heart and mind about how the world has been shaken by COVID-19 and share what I'm doing and what I believe others should do to come out the other side stronger than ever before.

I also share a page out of Think and Grow Rich entitled "How to get the job you desire" which I felt was pretty apt for this time.

In an effort to help those left without a job during this time or for those who'd like to take this opportunity to make a job change, I'm offering resume reviews for free! Just send me your resume to my email, aaron@strongmy.com.

For those who'd like a bit more help than a review, I'm also offering to write you a new Strong Resume. I've done this before for friends and family and they've either scored interviews or the job they wanted. You can do that by scheduling a call with my on this page: www.strongmy.com/strong-my-resume

For the rest of the episode I talk with the founder of www.MedicalRecruiting.com and experienced professional recruiter, Blake Moser.

Blake helps professionals find fulfilling careers and employers hire top talent every single day.

He also looks at a lot of resumes.

In this conversation he shares his unique perspective and insight on the healthcare system right now, the silver lining after the worst is over, resume tips, job search tips, and much much more.

Share this with a friend you think could benefit!

Don't forget to subscribe: www.strongmy.com/subscribe

I knew I wanted to have a conversation with Kim Beckham the first time I saw him speak at Tyler Young Professionals Network (TYPN) Lunch & Learn. He's been preaching for 43 years and is a published author and John Maxwell Certified Coach. You can...

Adrian Watkins is a real estate investor and entrepreneur who has built a successful real estate business, A W Home Buyers, and hosts a podcast called About Winning.We got connected through a Facebook group and thought it'd be fun to swap podcast...

In this episode you'll learn how to make your brand cutting edge

In this episode you'll learn about the power of poetry

In this episode you'll learn about LinkedIn and starting a 2020

In this episode you'll learn about building a personal and professional brand

In this episode you'll hear Chris Patton's favorite hip hop albums of 2019

In this episode you'll hear about Blaise Foret's personal and professional development as well as his perspective on faith, politics, and business

My friend Carlos Cuadros and I have a conversation about sparking interest in every story.

In this episode you'll learn about the podcast and what it can do for you in 2020.

What an honor it was to have journalist, host, and news anchor Tashara Parker as a guest!

After 3 years of serving the East Texas community at CBS19, she recently announced that she has joined the team at WFAA in Dallas as their newest morning anchor and traffic reporter.

Our conversation starts with her current thoughts and feelings after receiving the news that October 28th will henceforth be known as Tashara Parker Day.

We also dive into the roots of her career and the skills and experiences that have shaped the person she is today.

Then we jump into the pillars of the podcast; communication, community and company.

We talk about the power of 1 on 1 connection, building meaningful relationship, sharing on social media, her favorite thing about East Texas, her motivations and influences, connecting with others, networking, and much, much more!

There's a bunch of info to tease out of this episode for anyone interested in strengthening their communication and community building skills, and especially for those considering a career in the news.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did and decide to follow Tashara on social media as she continues to impact the community she serves so passionately.

This podcast was largely made possible by the East Texas Leadership Summit 2020 that Tashara and I will be Co chairing.

Stay connected to find out more about this excellent event and come hang out with us by clicking here!

Get on the email list at strongcom.substack.com

The podcast is back with an awesome conversation with my friend Yaziri Orrostieta, or “Yo” for short.

She’s the CEO of WorkHub, a co-working space in Tyler as well as a former VP of Marketing for Heritage Land Bank and if that wasn’t enough, she also manages an expanding real estate portfolio with properties around East Texas.

In this episode, we chat about her professional background before diving into her perspective of the “COM” (Communication, Community, & Company) in her day to day work.

Her career success and wide-ranging experience will benefit any marketing professional or business owner looking to infuse a greater sense of hospitality and heart into their operations.

She also answers “The Village Question”, a question I will be asking every guest from here on out:

“If you were building a village, and only had 4 signs to point in 4 directions to attract people to your village, what 4 values or principles would you put on them?”

I encourage you to check out WorkHub if you’re in the area and give her a follow at @yotheceo

Don’t miss an episode of the Strong Com Podcast!

Get on the email list at strongcom.substack.com

This past Thursday I had the honor of being a returning speaker at the annual UT Tyler Career Success Conference.

Dozens of local leaders and UT Tyler alumni spend a day networking with students and sharing personal experience that could help students experience similar career success.

This year I had the goal of connecting specifically with the next ( generation of marketers to help equip them with the skills necessary to become a valuable asset to the companies they apply to, the communities they hope to lead, and the profession as a whole.

This podcast is the full audio from my session of the day with all my “ums” edited out. :)

This talk covers a lot of ground so I’m probably going to follow this episode up with deeper dives into each of the power point slides in later episodes.

If this is your first visit to the “Strong Com” experience, welcome!

I’m here to help businesses get creative and creatives get business.

If you have any specific questions about anything in this talk or would like my input on something you’re working on, don’t hesitate to reach out via email or social @aarondunnworks.

One of my goals is to get 1,000 subscribers on YouTube before the end of the year.

If you want to help, check out my channel by clicking here.

If you haven’t subscribed the the Newsletter yet, you can do that here:

For those interested, here are the slides from my presentation:

Thanks for reading, listening, and sharing!

Have an excellent weekend!

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After the El Paso and Dayton shootings, I felt inspired to write a poem about the intersection between kill counts, political talking points, viral messages, and being at a loss in between all the words.

The audio is available via the podcast.

You can watch the video below:

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It’s been a while since I’ve had the opportunity to record something and I felt like making something happen while I had the chance!

This is a Q&A episode that I recorded while going live on my Instagram. (@aarondunnworks)

I had a lot of fun doing this type of episode and might bring it back sometime!

Here are the questions I answer:

What are you doing when you feel the most present?

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome lately?

What made you start the podcast, what made you want to start?

What have you been reading lately?

What music are you listening to these days? (Electronic music recommends and my thoughts on NF & Chance the Rapper)

What adjectives do you hope describe you when you’re 75?

What is the next poetry slam or open mic you are doing?

Do you believe that giving makes you rich?

What inspires you?

What’s been your favorite part of the writing poetry/podcast journey?

What is your next big goal?

What’s your family tradition?

Announced a slight shift to how podcast episodes will be produced and shared

What are your favorite podcasts to listen to?

Do you have any tips on how to facilitate a good interview?

How to keep a guest on topic?

What kind of software/equipment do you use for recording the podcast?

If you could have any view from your bedroom window, what would it be?

This was a lot of fun and I hope you enjoy getting to know me a bit more through this episode.

If you enjoy the Strong Com Podcast I would greatly appreciate if you shared it with someone!

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Had a great time getting to know Brian Hays, founder of Patriot Food Delivery.

Brian started Patriot Food Delivery in 2013 as a side hustle when the food restaurant delivery business model was just getting started. Today he’s helping local and large restaurants in East Texas deliver their food full time.

I really enjoyed hearing his story of how he started the business and how it’s grown (5:20), the value of social media and partnering with delivery services in general (21:00), how Patriot stands out from the crowd (48:30), investing in the human and hyper localized touch to build trust (55:00) and listening to his take on the latest controversy in the world of the Food Delivery (1:07:30) and the future of the industry.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did and give Patriot a try!

Patriot is also super active on every social platform, so give them a follow!

You can find all that information via their website: https://www.patriotfooddelivery.com/

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Start building your brand by entering your email:

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Creative work is easier to create and more effective with a process.

Businesses find success through efficient systems.

Because of this, over the past few weeks I’ve been recording and sharing podcasts on a regular schedule in a relatively structured format.

But there’s only so much rule following I can tolerate before I decide to deviate and experiment to see what could come from it.

This podcast is one such example.

My wife and I recently took a quick camping trip to Tyler State Park. It was our first time there and only second time camping, and we had a lot of fun. I’ve never considered myself an “outdoors man” as I am a guy who typically eats pizza with a fork but now that most of my days consist of temperature controlled office and knowledge work, I welcome any reason to get outside of my head and into my body.

We (eventually) set up the tent, hiked, weathered some light rain, got vandalized by raccoons, unplugged, napped, took a dip in the lake and enjoyed our time away from the city.

Inspired, I took some time to record the experience with a poem, which you can find below

I also recorded a reading of it and included it in this episode.

This podcast is different because I attempted to break away from the typical way I record and get a bit more creative with the audio experience I’m working to create for you. The audio quality varies a bit because of this, but it is still 100% listenable.

I also included two quick conversations (both 15 minutes each) with Fallen Outdoors and Prodigal Lures. These are two “outdoorsy” brands that I met at a recent East Texas Locals event at Gander Outdoors.

The Fallen Outdoors is a Veteran 501(c)(3) all volunteer organization established to facilitate hunting and fishing trips for veterans. We aim to connect Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines, with a network that will serve them locally and nationally.

If you’re a Veteran and would like to become a part of our community, please click here.

Prodigal Lures is is a Christian based lure company focused on spreading the word of God through a unique line of fishing lures. Our lures are designed to help maximize your time in the water giving you an increased chance of catching fish.

Visit them online at their website or Facebook Page.

These conversations enhanced my appreciation for our planet and especially our region. Chelsey and I can’t wait to go camping again because of how beneficial it was to remove ourselves from our screens and information overload to simply soak in God’s green Earth.

I hope you find value in this podcast and discover a way to get outdoors and discover how mentally refreshing and beneficial it can be.

Email Subscriber Question:

Do you consider yourself “outdoorsy”?

What is one “rule” you could break that could get you outside the box?

Thanks for reading,

Aaron

P.S.

I’m working on some great stuff for the month of July! (Scheduling podcast conversations, an article on personal branding, an article on creative work, 2 videos)

Subscribe so you don’t miss it!

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Originally streamed in the Hip Hop Heads Facebook Group on June 17th, my friend Chris Patton (DJ Cicero) and I had a chat about what’s been going on in hip hop for 2019 thus far.

We start the conversation with the impact of Nipsey Hussle’s life and untimely death, DJ Khaled & Tyler the Creator drama, and Kanye West’s Sunday Service.

Then we break into our top albums of the year so far at the time we recorded.

Albums that made our lists and our conversation:

2 Chainz - Rap or Go to the League

Yelawolf - Trunk Muzik 3

Bun B & Statik Selektah - TrillStatik

Denzel Curry - ZUU

Your Old Droog - It Wasn’t Even Close

Little Simz - Grey Area

Skepta - Ignorance is Bliss

Tee Grizzley - Scriptures

Tyler the Creator - IGOR

If you’re a hip hop fan, I hope you decide to join the Hip Hop Heads group! It’s pretty active and there is definitely someone there who has a similar taste as yourself.

Cicero and I will be back toward the end of the year to recap the year and cover our favorite albums that dropped after this episode, the XXL/DJ Booth Freshman list, our album of the year picks, Grammy nominations and any other breaking news that hits before 2020.

Be sure to check out Cicero’s newest EP on Spotify, Lumens by clicking here

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This podcast covers a lot of ground in a short 60 minutes!

Scott Austin Martin is a husband and father with a masters in clinical mental health counseling and specializes in stress reduction, trauma, with a focus in relationship transformation.

You can learn more about him and his work through East Texas Stress Reduction Clinic and ScottAustinMartin.com.

Some highlights:

What is stress?

The story we tell ourselves

How there’s no suffering in the now

How the body carries stress

Pain as a guide

Masculine & feminine energy

The numerous tools and techniques for managing stress and pursuing wholeness

Would love to hear your thoughts about this episode. I think it is a great introduction to what’s possible and Scott is a valuable resource for the East Texas area and online.

You can leave a comment below below this post or just reach out to me on Twitter/Instagram @aarondunnworks or through the Facebook page, Strong Com w/ Aaron Dunn

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I really enjoyed today’s conversation with J Michael Smith (@JMichael_Smith on Twitter). It was a wide ranging conversation that dives deep into the wisdom he’s collected from his 68 years of experience on this Earth.

A true entrepreneur, lifelong learner and digital nomad, Mike has operational and investing experience in several restaurants and spends most of his time now coaching the team he’s built across the planet in direct sales.

Some highlights:

Effective cross-generational communication

Building a “global village”

Moving forward through failure as an individual and with a team

Advice for anyone looking to start a restaurant or succeed in network marketing

Let me know what you think of this episode via social @aarondunnworks, on the Strong Com Facebook Page, or as a comment on the Substack which can be found at strongmy.com.

Don’t forget to subscribe and review!

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Went a different route and shared some thoughts whilst half naked. What would get you out of your comfort zone? @aarondunnworks

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Today’s podcast is the last in the DRIVE series of episodes where I talk about the 5 words I use to cultivate and maintain a strong mindset. I’ll repeat the 5 soon but in this episode I simply articulate my thoughts on Enthusiasm in general, how it fits within DRIVE and share a snippet from an article on how to build a Katana sword and how the Katana forging process serves as an apt metaphor for a driven mindset as it has been the recurring theme for these first 5 of this series. What are you enthusiastic about?

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Brad Young is the CEO of Landmark Credit Repair, which helps people improve their credit and Gamers4Christ, a eSports organization and local ministry. In this episode we talk about the creative ways he markets the services he provides, engages with the local community and at the end he answers many questions about credit from a recent post I made on Facebook!

Follow Brad on Instagram @landmarkcreditrepair and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfOe8fLVwUyR59xKKzRKDxw/featured

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In this episode I talk about volition, or willpower. I share some thoughts on the definition of volition, why it's in DRIVE, why it's important and share a story I wrote 3 years ago about the subject. Enjoy!

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I'm very excited to share this conversation I had with Jared Chacon, director of marketing for True Vine Brewing. True Vine has an incredible story of growth as the first craft brewery in Tyler, Texas and has recently celebrated their 5th year in business at their larger location.

Jared joined the team as a volunteer and has taken on additional responsibility as the business has grown to become the popular hub for excellent beer and local events as it has today.

In this episode we talk about how the team at True Vine thinks through beer naming, the importance of events, how they engage new communities of people, the True Vine brand voice, the new location coming downtown soon and much more!

Follow True Vine Brewing: @truevinebrewing

Follow Jared: @jchacon1

Follow Aaron: @aarondunnworks

Like the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/strongcomshow

Subscribe to the YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKNWG8WbQELe3sSr8aKiwIw/featured

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The D.R.I.V.E. principles are 5 ingredients to a stronger mindset, and inbetween Strong Com Conversations I dedicate an episode to exploring each principles. This one, Integrity, went a little longer than the previous two but I felt it was good to keep! I talk through defining integrity, where I've experienced it's fruits in my own life, how it relates to the katana sword forging process and I share a bit from a book on my shelf, Aristotle for Everybody.

Ken is a father, writer, musician, and blogger who's writing has been featured on RelevantMagazine.com. He is a contributing editor for Lightworkers.com and is the founder of HonestChristian.org. We had an excellent chat about the business of blogging, how he got started and has found success 2 years in, the church today and how it is marketed, and much more!

Follow him on Instagram @hikennetheugene or on Twitter @honestchristian

Visit his website www.honestchristian.org

Like the Strong Com Podcast on Facebook: fb.me/strongcomshow

And don't forget to subscribe!

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In this episode I share some thoughts around the "R" in DRIVE, the 5 part acronym for a stronger mindset. I share some real world examples of relationship building and break down how the Katana sword making process relates to relationships.

Please subscribe/follow the podcast, share it with someone you think would like it, and give a like to the facebook page if you haven't already. www.fb.me/StrongComShow

Thank you for listening!

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James Bowen aka JBSPECIAL is a DJ, producer, and sales and marketing consultant for the speaker company BASSBOSS. We had a great conversation about how he approaches shows, making music, trying new things, pushing himself through self-imposed limits, what he's learned since recently moving to LA, and more.

Check out his music on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/06MUaaQHzBa1c1CMxYOeCf

Follow him @JBSPECIAL

And don't forget to follow/subscribe to this podcast!

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This episode is a solo effort, the first in a series of episodes where I will cycle through each principle in D.R.I.V.E. to help you cultivate and maintain a strong mindset.

D.R.I.V.E. is a 5 part framework that has guided my life and career and in a variety of ways. The purpose of this series is to share my thoughts on each principle and give practical ways to apply it to your own life and career.

Let me know what you think of this episode via IG or Twitter, would love to hear from you. : @aarondunnworks
Join the Living with DRIVE group via my Facebook page: www.fb.me/StrongComShow

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My friend Carlos and I have a great conversation about work life balance, communicating to different people in different ways, modern communication methods, what every community has in common and much more.

Enjoy!

The Twitter Marketing account @TwitterMktg posed this question: "Your Marketing Philosophy in One Word" so I thought I'd play.

This podcast is me exploring my answer for the first time. Let me know what you think!

IG and Twitter: @AaronDunnWorks

Strong Com Newsletter: StrongCom.Substack.com

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Hyperbole is the new black.

In this episode I talk about two figures of speech, and share my thoughts on hyperbole today.

If you enjoy this podcast, please support it by subscribing or following it in your app of choice!

It would be great if we could connect on social @AaronDunnWorks or become pen pals through the Strong Com Newsletter. Founding members get a shoutout on an upcoming podcast. Strongcom.Substack.com.

I've been a fan and follower of photographer Anne Brookshire's Instagram account, @AmongThePinesTexas for a few months now and immediately wanted to learn more about what she was up to upon checking out her account. She's created an incredibly special coffee table book that captures the unique quality of East Texas and in this podcast we dive into what makes East Texas great, her ambitions, why she decided on a book, and much more. Follow her @AmongThePinesTexas Follow me @AaronDunnWorks Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast! Want a shout out on an upcoming podcast? Sign up for the Strong Com Newsletter at www.strongcom.substack.com

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Skyler Hefley is a marketing specialist currently working with Stonewater Roofing in Tyler, Texas. He's a driven individual with an inspiring story and we had a great conversation ranging from investing in yourself, learning by doing, focusing on your strengths, long term thinking, personality and storytelling on for businesses, marketing, community focused brands and more. There's a lot to learn from this conversation, I hope you enjoy.

Follow me @aarondunnworks and Skyler @skylerhefley

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You have the power to influence public perception with your own will, it's just a matter of making the right moves in real space long enough to pierce that consciousness. Perception is reality....until reality checks!

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This is a conversation that could have easily continued for another 2 hours. Daniel Poe is an accomplished freelance independent photographer and videographer, world traveler, one member of the Lightbox Collective, lover of film and bringer of light. He shares how he tells stories through still images and how to keep an eye out for the less obvious shot to capture something meaningful. If you're interested in freelancing, photography, travel, or story telling, this is definitely an episode for you! Follow Daniel @dannyp323 or check out his site at http://www.danielpoephoto.com/

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In this episode I go back to what started the podcast, exploring ideas and concepts in a short amount of time. Usually I share these on Instagram first, so I'll share some from there and do more as they come. This episode also features a new music bed, produced by yours truly. This concept is called "Make Waves and Wave when they Gaze". Let me know what you think!

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In this episode I share what I learned from a recent dive into the history of soapbox speaking, provide some examples of where I see the essence of soapbox still alive today, and end it with three models for structuring a soapbox speech and 3 things to keep in mind when creating and continually engaging a community.

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This podcast starts with the inspiring story of King C. Gillette and his DRIVE to succeed then shifts into Gillette's new viral ad campaign "The Best a Man can Be". I talk about why they've taken this approach and share my thoughts on how the ad is intended to communicate to the culture and build community.

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Happy to share this conversation I had with Addie Moore, a talented illustrator, high school art teacher, and creative individual who is building a community called ETX Creatives. We chat about how artists communicate, the art world in general, museums, and how she is building a stronger community of creatives in East Texas.

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I noticed that my shorter episodes were getting more plays so I decided to create a segment around it and do more of them. This is the first of a batch of 4 to start the New Year with with DRIVE!

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In the last episode of 2018 I share the results of a recent poll I took about new year's resolutions, my thoughts on a crappy article about how New Years Resolutions don't work, and my perspective and thoughts on the year ahead. Happy New Year!

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Here's my newest poem that was written specifically for a holiday event called the Chanu-Klezmer Concert. My friend Neal Katz organizes this event every year and was kind enough to ask me to participate. I hope you enjoy! Have a Merry Christmas!

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When I think of Strong Communication, hip hop definitely comes to mind. I'm a big fan of hip hop music, and was happy to have a great conversation with my friend Chris Patton aka DJ Cicero (@ciceromode) about some of our favorite albums that dropped in 2018. We talk our personal top 5, a large list of honorable mentions, the Grammy nominations for Best Rap Album, what Cicero is doing in our local hip hop community and much more. This is my first "interview" in a while, but have many more lined up! Give a subscribe and a review!

Follow Cicero @ciceromode and on SoundCloud.com/cicero4patpro
Follow Aaron @aarondunnworks
Join the Hip Hop Heads group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/510997825958847/

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Felt inspired today! This episode is a return to this podcasts' roots of exploring different ideas and how they apply to our life of progress. Also give a hint at the next episode. Here's a bit of what this podcast is about:

Being overly ambitious has brought me plenty of opportunity but it has also brought me to high water.

It may be that I'm trying to compensate for the resistance that comes with each opportunity.
It also could also be pride. Or ego. A mix of all of this.

Facebook's early value "move fast and break things" comes to mind. With speed comes growth, "breaking things" requires creativity and propels innovation. But this does not permit recklessness. Breaking things "within reason" doesnt have quite the same ring to it.

I had the thought while working out but this applies in other arenas. I'm learning that the technique and strategy we use when making moves in business is equally important as the ones we use when moving heavy weight with our limbs.

Acheiving a new "personal record" in each arena takes special technique.

I'm working on taking the time to be coached. To breathe correctly, get the right form and make the proper technique applied at the right time the way to maximize the effectiveness of myself and others.

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Here's the poem I wrote based on the idea that was explored in my previous podcast episode. To me, the poem presents the idea better than the actual explanation, which is part of why I enjoy the medium.

Here's the poem:

Not sure if you follow hip hop,
But lately there's been talk about
The rules of rap beef and
How far is too far...

At what level of fame
Is it ok to hate
on another person's spouse,
or dying best friend?

If the game being played
Is a cat and mouse charade
Of the mouth,
Mindless entertainment
Character assassination via
Oratory acme bricks,
When does the harm come in?

When the hustle never ends
The show never quits

Not sure if you follow politics
But lately there's been
A lot of talk about the
Elevated rhetoric
And who's responsible
For the violence

In what shape of space
Is it ok to hate?

Home studio,
Writers room,
Or Oval office?

If attention is the name of the game,
Why not cry wolf?
And when nobody comes running,
Assume the role yourself?

Not sure if you follow me or not
But the other day I got a lot of comments
About a decision I can't undo

I voted.

Yeah I got the sticker for social proof
But please hold your "yeah"'s and "woo"'s because
I voted for Ted Cruz

And while you carefully select your preferred dialect of boo
Let me say I voted for Trump too.

Decisions I can't undo.

I'm not here to explain why
Or to debate the issues
Just to share my point of view

Cause the moment I tell you WHO I voted for

is the moment of "truth or fake news,

The "I Voted" sticker turns into a face tattoo

Not sure if you follow the youth,
But they are more than willing to
Tattoo their face,
dye their hair red or blue
Have scandals with women and
Talk about opioid addiction
until you do

Now does that sound like a rapper or a politician to you?

I have a scarlet letter
Across my cheek
A symbol of free speech
Ideas I believe
With my own set of
shadows behind me

My face tat says I voted

And as much as I condemn
Inciting violence, aggressive speech, misogyny, and money making policies,
From MAGA Hats to Wu Tang's CREAM
It seems that's what's running the country

Why does the beat of our own drum always sounds the catchiest

Not sure if you catch my drift,
But I'm trying to make sense of whether

Life imitates art
Or if
Rap imitates politics

Do I listen to my conscious
Or whatever the trending topic is?

Play one party track
Or listen to both sides of the media spin?

Sign with a label
Or stay independent?

Now, that's what I call an entertaining argument!

Time for a definition:

A Potemkin Village
In politics and economics is
Any Construction built solely
To deceive others into thinking that a situation is
Better than it really is

In rap, that's called capping
In politics, that's called a campaign

Regardless of if you wear a
Power tie or icy chains,

The number for the money phone
Stays the same

Rappers went from being the dealer to the fiend
Politicians went from diplomatic to obscene

And we all live inbetween the web of clicks and streams

And just like Lincoln,
We will watch the theater play out until
It's too late to avoid becoming the victim

While everybody keeps pressing play
On a release date
Or election day

Those who have ears to hear will listen

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This is a late upload from the first week of early voting. I thought about splitting it into two parts and had some other ideas but I think it's good enough to upload on it's own because it is an early exploration of an idea that has now become a poem. If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you may have heard it, but I will upload audio of the poem soon. What do you think of the concept? Let me know!

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Had some fun with this episode because sometimes I can get self-conscious of how I sound or noise in the background, or how I occasionally fumble over my words and left it all in anyway. This episode is a collection of 3 thoughts I had over the past few weeks that I decided to explore in a recording.
Here they are:

Run with a pack

Keep building. "if you build it they will come" is really "keep building and you will reach them"

Self-improvement is a continual edit of the actions you author.

Let me know what you think!

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In this episode, I talk about Trump and Kanye in the Oval office, the Beto campaign, Patrick Mahomes, Soundcloud rappers and what they all have in common. If you have thoughts, please share them with me and I might include them in the next podcast. You can do that via the Anchor app or by sending me a message on one of my socials. @aarondunnworks. Thanks for subscribing!

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WWhat are they thinkin'? My take on the recent rebrand of Dunkin' Donuts and WeightWatchers.

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Thoughts from my wife and I's recent trip to Mexico. Lessons on empathy, action, and focus.

Check out the blog: aarondunn.works/blog

Social: @aarondunnworks

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Break down the F filter, a four point formula to strengthen your message!

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My thoughts on Anchor 3.0

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Here is the audio from my latest Facebook live stream. In it I describe three things you should do to get people to care about what you do. Also explain why peoples passion project may be a pet rock.

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Watched the movie Lady Bird recently and was inspired by the strong dialogue throughout the film. Here is a takeaway from one of the scenes.

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Introducing the Strong Com Podcast, the podcast formerly known as DRIVE Journal.

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Currently brainstorming the anatomy, purpose, and practice of the Elevator Pitch.

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Today I'm breaking down what I mean when I say "Warrior Poet in business". A bit of history about myself and my approach to doing what I do.

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Use Your Words is a concept I've adopted to develop D.R.I.V.E. and vision cast over every year.

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Keeping up with the Jones keeps you from creating a life of your own.

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Powerful bit about Volition, your ability to act and how you should move out of the planning phase.

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DRIVE Journal Four

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DRIVE Journal Three

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Surround yourself with people who believe in where you're headed.

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DRIVE Journal One

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