In this episode of The Nickolas Natali Show, Nickolas Natali sits down with Aaron Walker, also known as “Big A,” a veteran entrepreneur, author of View From the Top, and founder of the Iron Sharpens Iron Brotherhood. Aaron shares his remarkable journey from launching his first pawn shop at 18, scaling and selling multiple businesses, to ultimately finding purpose beyond financial success.
The conversation explores Aaron’s early grit, working long hours, marketing door-to-door, and reinvesting every dollar back into his business—as well as the challenges that came with selling young and wrestling with identity and purpose afterward. Aaron opens up about life-changing moments, including a tragic car accident that reshaped his view of legacy, the power of forgiveness in a $41,000 betrayal, and how true freedom comes not from wealth alone but from purposeful impact.
Listeners will gain valuable insights on perseverance, building trust, navigating partnerships, contentment vs. complacency, and the importance of living with honesty and faith. Aaron’s stories—raw, vulnerable, and inspiring, remind us that fulfillment comes not from what we acquire, but from how we serve, love, and lead others.
Takeaways
Grit and perseverance can outweigh formal education in entrepreneurship.
Delayed gratification and reinvesting profits builds long-term wealth.
Marketing creatively—even taping flyers to mailboxes—can spark community growth.
A “no” is often temporary; persistence can turn it into a “yes.”
Selling a business doesn’t guarantee fulfillment; purpose and impact matter more.
Relationships and community provide deeper meaning than financial wins.
Forgiveness frees the one who forgives, even if the offender never asks for it.
Honest friends who “love you enough to tell the truth” are invaluable.
Legacy isn’t about money—it’s about who you help and how you’re remembered.
Partnerships with friends require documented agreements to protect relationships.
Contentment means gratitude in all circumstances; complacency means stagnation.
Fulfillment evolves with life stages: career success, family impact, and legacy.
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Welcome
01:00 Aaron’s First Pawn Shop at 18
03:00 Early Hustle & Door-to-Door Marketing
06:00 Core Values: Creativity & Grit
07:30 Selling at 27 and the Depression After Success
10:00 Rediscovering Purpose Beyond Money
12:00 Building Again & The Power of “No”
15:00 Purpose vs. Pleasure: Why We Can’t Just Retire
18:00 Honest Friends and Brutal Truths
20:30 Life-Changing Accident & Legacy Shift
26:00 Vulnerability, Trust, and Mastermind Groups
28:00 Tragedy, Faith, and Rethinking Life’s Priorities
32:00 Running From vs. Running To in Business Decisions
36:00 The $41,000 Betrayal & Forgiveness Story
45:00 Partnerships, Friendships & Best Practices
50:00 Contentment vs. Complacency
54:00 What a Fulfilling Life Truly Means
56:00 How to Connect with Aaron & Closing Thoughts
Want to work with Nick?:
https://allthingsmediallc.com/
Free Resources Made by Nick:
https://nickolasnatali.gumroad.com/
Nick’s Podcast Equipment, Training Equipment and More (Affiliate):
https://www.amazon.com/shop/nickolasnatali
Support The Nickolas Natali Show on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/nickolasnatali
What We Use For Virtual Interviews (Affiliate):
https://tinyurl.com/42h624wt
DM Nick on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/nickolasnatali
Aaron Walker’s Social Media Link:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronwalkerviewfromthetop/
Aaron Walker’s Website:
https://www.isibrotherhood.com/