We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aaron Smalls. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aaron below.

Hi Aaron , thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

It all started in 2019 when I served as a General Manager in the Hospitality industry. Leading a team of 70 employees, including 7 managers, our weekly manager meetings followed the company’s standard structure – discussing staff, numbers, processes, and upcoming events. However, I desired to add a unique layer to focus on personal growth and development, introducing a “word” for the week. This segment of our meeting was only 15 minutes long and I called it “Mission Growth”.

What began as a means to develop my team quickly evolved into a phenomenon where individuals outside our direct team eagerly joined our weekly manager meetings solely for the personal development “word.” People patiently sat through the regular discussions just to reach the insightful word shared at the meeting’s end. Initially designed for eight participants, our meeting grew to accommodate 15 to 20 individuals on a weekly basis, unintentionally forming a vibrant growth community.

Realizing that the small boardroom couldn’t sustainably accommodate our growing community, I transitioned to hosting monthly meetings. These sessions continued to impart lessons on personal and professional growth. Fast forward to the present, my vision remains focused on cultivating a community driven by the shared goal of self-improvement. While times may have changed, my commitment to this pursuit endures. Every journey is unique, yet collectively, we can support each other in crafting lives we thrive in, not just escape from.

Aaron , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born in Anchorage, Alaska to a musical family. My journey through life has been filled with diverse experiences that have shaped my passion for teaching and training. I began playing the piano at the tender age of four, sparking my early curiosity and love for learning. At the age of nine, my family and I moved from the pristine landscapes of Alaska to the vibrant city of Atlanta, Georgia, where I currently reside. Little did I know, this move would set the stage for a remarkable journey of personal and professional growth.

Upon graduating high school, my aspiration was to study abroad in Australia, a dream that would ultimately lead me on an unexpected path. I began my college journey with the intent of completing core classes in preparation for my move down under. However, fate had different plans for me.

At the age of 21, I ventured into the world of hospitality, starting as a server with the sole purpose of saving up for my Australian adventure. Over time, I immersed myself in every facet of the industry, from working as a dishwasher to eventually becoming a General Manager. It was during this time that I discovered my true calling.

Although I hadn’t initially planned on a career in the Hospitality Industry, it was here that my passion for teaching, training, and fostering personal development began to flourish. As I steadily climbed the ranks, I eventually assumed the role of Director of Training for one of Atlanta’s top hospitality groups.

While serving as a Director of Training, I initiated “Mission Growth” sessions, aimed at empowering individuals through personal development. What began as one-on-one and manager coaching evolved into a series of inspiring classrooms and ultimately transformed into a movement to empower anyone seeking growth and self-improvement.

Fast forward to now, Mission Growth, our Online Education company, is dedicated to empowering individuals to live fulfilled lives through straightforward education. We believe that growth is a collaborative effort, with untapped greatness within every individual. Our mission is to help you unlock your full potential and inspire a life of fulfillment. We offer free weekly content on YouTube, free resources and digital courses for purchase on our website. We also have The Mission Growth Podcast that is set to launch in 2024. Everything we do is geared towards personal and professional growth.

Our Mission
We are committed to empowering people to lead fulfilling lives through straightforward education.

Our Vision
At The Mission Growth Co., we envision a dynamic ecosystem of learning, starting with digital courses and podcasts and evolving into tailored leadership and operational curriculum for businesses. Our vision extends to hosting annual conferences, fostering an immersive environment for personal and professional growth.

We Value
* Authenticity: Prioritizing honesty in all dealings, both internally and externally. Upholding commitments is paramount, ensuring consistent alignment between our actions and words.
* Simplicity: Believing that complexity hinders execution. This approach helps us focus on what truly matters and deliver our best work.
* Community: Cultivating a community dedicated to personal growth while championing the development of others. Our collective goal is to foster an environment where individual advancement is coupled with a spirit of mutual support and growth.

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

Mission Growth Co. started as a side project, with the initial plan of developing it alongside my role as the Director of Training at a company I had dedicated 12 years to. However, everything changed just 10 days before Christmas. The company, facing severe budget cuts, made the difficult decision to lay off not only my team but also me.

As Myron Golden, the renowned Business Growth Consultant, wisely puts it, disruption often follows intention. This means that when you intentionally pursue actions to improve your life, challenges may arise. Many people tend to give up when faced with such challenges, viewing them as signs of failure. Yet, Myron’s perspective is refreshing – disruption can be a confirmation that you’re on the right path.

Rather than throwing in the towel, I chose to double down on Mission Growth Co. For anyone feeling the urge to give up, my words of encouragement would be: Don’t quit! Keep pursuing your intentions. A life beyond your wildest imagination might be just around the corner.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I once heard someone say that every issue is a leadership issue. In any instance, “your team won’t” is because you haven’t led them to. When we really think about it, only two things happen: what you’ve trained your team to do or what you’ve allowed them to do. When it comes to managing a team, I would advise having a clear vision, hiring right, training right, and empowering your people.

A clear vision is important because your people can’t hit a target they don’t know exists. Everyone must know this is where we’re going and what we will accomplish.

Hiring right is important because most of our issues come from not being clear on our vision and hiring people who aren’t correctly aligned with the vision. Attitude is the most important thing. A good practice is to hire for attitude and train for skills. Finding someone with both is the ultimate. I would also say to be diverse in your hiring decisions. If everyone you’re hiring thinks and looks like you, you are doing yourself a massive disservice as a leader. Diversity brings different perspectives, allowing you to be well-rounded as a team.

Training right is important because we sabotage enthusiasm when we expect our team to do a job they haven’t been adequately trained for. It’s essential to teach not only the task but also the why behind the tasks.

Last but certainly not least is empowerment. Many leaders hire talented people but refuse to let them do the work. You can be the type of leader who gets the power of the team or takes power away from the team. With a well-articulated vision, clear boundaries will surround what’s expected. After that is clear, allow your team to work within the boundaries of freedom. This will not only allow your team to be developed, but it will free you as a leader up to do what only you can do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.missiongrowth.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missiongrowth.co/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@missiongrowthco

Image Credits
Esty Luxe Photography