We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aaron Means a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Aaron, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you ever had an amazing boss? What did you learn from them? Maybe you can share a story that illustrates the kind of boss they were or maybe you can share your thoughts on what you think made them an awesome person to work for?

The best boss I ever had was back when I worked for Capital One Auto Finance. His name was Frede Heidemann. It was 2009 and I had been through a pretty traumatic year to say the least. In addition, relationships in my family were having a moment, and I found myself battling with depression. But I ALWAYS took work seriously. Work has always been my outlet. So I performed well on my job….but Frede was able to see through the facade I was wearing while on the clock. He pulled me to the side one day and told me how much he believed in me and how much potential I had. (I can still remember his German accent today). He poured into me, the confidence I needed to propel my professional career. He made me leader over projects and also helped me get into Capital One’s Leadership in Training Program. He gave me a chance, during a time where I wasn’t maximizing my full potential. As a result, I ended up completing the ALPS training program, and also getting promoted twice within the company. I then continued to grow my professional career in the years to follow. Frede was always a willing reference for those moments.

Frede was an amazing leader because he truly cared about the well being and betterment of the people that he managed. He was human. He listened to understand and not always respond. And he didn’t take things personal. He was an accomplished corporate guy and a business owner of multiple businesses overseas. So he wasn’t at Capital One to climb a corporate ladder or to impress anyone. He was literally there by choice, to cultivate others. I learned just last month that Frede died. And my heart has heavy and I was extremely emotional. Now, I keep the little ceramic figure that he gave to us (his team) almost 12 years ago. He truly made a mark on my life. And I will never forget him. Theres this quote that says “When you are lazy, you are letting down the people that truly believe in you.” He is one of those people for me. Rest his soul.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For those who haven’t crossed paths with me yet, I’m Aaron Anthony Means IV, but most folks just call me Aaron or Aaron Anthony. I wear many hats—I’m a business owner, a brand designer, a certified digital marketer, and candle maker. But if I had to sum it all up in one word, I’d say I’m a creator!

My journey into entrepreneur started in 2019, right before the COVID-19 chaos hit. I’d just accepted a job offer and given notice to my previous employer, Verizon Wireless. But fate had other plans; The job offer was rescinded due to the pandemic, leaving me in a pretty uncomfortable spot. It was in that moment that I realized the I wasn’t in control of my destiny as I thought; I didn’t want to be just another cog in the corporate machine—I wanted more.

Rather than succumb to the uncertainty of the times, I seized the opportunity to chart my own course, That’s when I stumbled upon Robert Kiyosaki’s “Rich Dad, Poor Dad.” Talk about a game-changer! It solidified my belief that entrepreneurship was my calling. With a background in reselling sneakers, I initially toyed with the idea of launching my own sneaker brand/store.. But the more I dug into it, the more I realized the complexities involved. So, I made a pivot—towards luxury candles and home fragrance, with an end goal of launching my own cologne/perfume. So, The Aaron Anthony Collection was born.

Today, The Aaron Anthony Collection is more than just a brand; it’s a testament to music, culture, and nostalgia. I am currently rebranding and relaunching with a new music inspired esthetic that takes inspiration from the sounds of the ’80s and ’90s. With this collection, I’m able to infuse fragrances with the essence of music. My upcoming collection pays homage to not only the iconic sounds of the ’80s and ’90s, but today’s hits as well; with fragrance offerings like “Strawberry Letter”, “Bittersweet Symphony”, “Smooth Operator” and “Pink Dream”, each inspired by popular tracks of the same name. The purpose of my brand is to share my passion for music, my first love. With this collection, I want to leave an indelible mark on generations past and present, celebrating the cultural influences that have shaped our world. (I want to resonate with the 80’s babies and 90’s lovers!)

Aside from my own brand, through my expertise, I help breathe new life into other brand identities, fueling their growth and success! I have done work with The Black Candle Makers Club, while serving as their Creative Director in 2021. Ive also created brand elements for “Luxurious Luminaries/Pour Your Heart Out Newport” and many other small brands. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about helping transform a brand’s presence and watching it grow.

What sets me apart is my hands-on approach to design and production. From packaging to digital content, I craft every aspect of my brand’s aesthetic, even sometimes leveraging the power of AI to bring vision to life. I have always had a great design eye and vision for what I want to accomplish. But because I couldn’t draw, I felt limited. And never really considered myself a graphic designer because I wasn’t physically drawing. AI has changed this for me and helped re-spark my creative passion.

What sets my brand apart, is my brands nostalgia, and unique fragrance offerings. You aren’t buying a candle from me. You’re buying an experience. And it’s nothing short of luxury! I take immense pride in being previously honored as the recipient of the Makesy “Top Maker” award. Makesy stands out as a premier destination among candle suppliers, and after a thorough review of my work, they bestowed upon me the esteemed Top Maker Award. It’s a testament to the dedication and craftsmanship I pour into every creation. (You can learn more about Makesy at www.makesy.com.)

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Narcolepsy has been a significant part of my journey, shaping my experiences in unexpected ways. Living with narcolepsy, I face unique challenges that demand constant adaptation and resilience. Balancing a full-time job, pursuing education, and even starting a business while managing narcolepsy has been an uphill battle, to say the least.

For those that may not be familiar with Narcolepsy (NT1) it is a neurological brain disease that causes a person to experience sudden and uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep during the day, even if they’ve had enough sleep at night. These episodes can happen at any time and can interfere with daily activities. Imagine trying to maintain focus in a meeting or lecture, only to be interrupted by an overwhelming urge to sleep. Or striving to meet deadlines while contending with sudden bouts of extreme fatigue or daytime sleepiness. These are just some of the daily hurdles I confront.

To complicate things more, I have the most extreme version of the condition (NT1), that is paired with “Cataplexy.” Cataplexy is a sudden loss of muscle tone triggered by strong emotions such as laughter, surprise, or anger. In severe cases, cataplexy can cause complete muscle paralysis, leading to falling or collapsing. However, instead of letting narcolepsy define my limitations, I’ve chosen to define my own capabilities.

It’s been a journey filled with moments of frustration and setbacks, but through sheer determination and resilience, I’ve persevered. I’ve learned to prioritize tasks, manage my energy levels effectively, and seek support when needed. Every day, I wake up with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to tackle whatever challenges come my way.

Starting a business under such circumstances may seem like a daunting endeavor to some, and truth be told, there have been moments when the weight of it all threatened to crush me. But in those moments of doubt and uncertainty, I’ve found solace in the unyielding belief that resilience is not just a trait, but a way of life.

Narcolepsy has taught me invaluable lessons about perseverance, adaptability, and the power of resilience. It’s not about avoiding obstacles but rather about facing them head-on and emerging stronger on the other side. My journey with narcolepsy is a constant reminder that with determination and resilience, anything…literally…..anything… is possible.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

This is going to sound a little weird but hear me out. The lesson I had to unlearn, especially as someone who believes in God, was the idea that “God is going to take care of everything.” Growing up with a strong faith, I was taught to trust in God’s providence and believe that He would always intervene and provide for me in every situation.

However, as I journeyed through life, I realized that while God is undoubtedly capable of taking care of everything, His blessings often come hand in hand with our efforts and actions. It was a realization that shook me to the core because it challenged a deeply ingrained belief system. I literally at one point thought all I really had to do was just exist and things would just fall into place because….God has a plan right? He’s running the show! (Talk about full on faith and entitlement. lol)

I had to confront the fact that sitting back and waiting for miracles to happen wasn’t enough. I had to unlearn the passive mindset that ‘God will handle it’ and embrace the truth that nothing worthwhile comes without effort and perseverance.

This realization was particularly significant because it taught me the importance of personal responsibility and proactive action. Trusting in God’s plan doesn’t equate to idleness or complacency. In fact, sometimes, clinging too tightly to the belief that ‘God will take care of it’ can inadvertently breed laziness and procrastination, leading to missed opportunities and unfulfilled potential.

So, I embarked on a journey of unlearning this misconception and embracing a more balanced perspective. I learned to trust in God’s guidance while also understanding the necessity of rolling up my sleeves and putting in the work. It’s a delicate dance between faith and action, where I’ve come to realize that God’s blessings often manifest through the steps we take and the efforts we make.

Secondarily, I had to learn that I was absolutely worth every blessing that may come my way. Have you ever been in a space in life where so many good things happen that you get nervous? Like “this is just too good to be true!” I truly believe thats how God wants us to feel all the time. Except, he wants us to embrace it and not be in fear of the good, because of trauma from the past.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.aaronanthony.net
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/shopaaronanthony
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronmeansiv
• Other: Please note that I am currently rebranding and relaunching. I encourage visitors to please follow on instagram and also sign up for updates via email at www.aaronanthony.net. Those that signup now will be entered into a raffle for a special giveaway!

Image Credits
All images created by Aaron Anthony