Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aaron Velky. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Aaron , thanks for joining us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

One of the biggest trends I’m seeing (and feeling the weight of) right now is what I call “vision without gravity.” It sounds silly, but it’s really important for a leader to pay attention to.

More and more CEOs are building their vision around only themselves—their house on the lake, their freedom, their revenue goals, their exit. And listen, I’m not knocking financial goals or ambition. But when your entire vision is a selfish bucket list objective, you’re missing the point. Vision isn’t a Pinterest board for your ego! No way! If your team doesn’t see themselves in the vision, they won’t fight for it – and you can ask me how I know this (hint: the hard way). They won’t own it. And they sure won’t sacrifice for it. Think about MAJOR companies….people are CLAWING to work for them because of vision, progress, and the way it integrates into their values.

We had a founder come to us who had built an eight-figure business—but when we dug into his vision doc, every word was “I want…” or “I will…” Nothing about the company, the people, or the impact. He couldn’t figure out why his leadership team was checked out. Turns out they were quietly building exit strategies of their own. When we reworked his vision to include his team, his clients, and a broader mission, the fire came back—and his company started moving again. The wrong people left, the right people joined. He had to rebuild his entire model of leadership in his head and in communciation, but we got there.

The second trend? CEOs stuck in the trenches of their own machine… Trapped by their own devices.

These are brilliant, talented leaders who’ve built something great—but they’re still the operator, the firefighter, the decision bottleneck. They’ll say they’re just “in a busy season,” or “It’s just another low season” but the truth is they haven’t redesigned the business to run without them. And deep down, many of them are scared to. And again – I’ve been here. I was scared of letting go. Scared of change. Scared that if they stop grinding, the business will fall apart—or worse, that they will have no value. It’s fascinating to do this work with deep psychology behind it – and incredibly meaningful to watch someone see their pattern finally.

What we help them realize is that by clinging to the past, they’re slowing everyone down. They’re not just exhausted—they’re exhausting their team. One of our clients said it best: “I didn’t know I was the problem until I saw how fast everyone moved once I got out of the way.” That took work—new org charts, new systems, delegation, mindset shifts—but it changed everything.

We’re going to create the third trend.

CEOs who are willing to do the work—real vision work, real org design, real leadership evolution—who want to pull ahead fast. They’re building companies people want to work for, building lives they actually love, and creating impact beyond just their own bank account.

If your vision only motivates you—or if your company can’t move unless you’re in the room—it’s time to get some help.

This is the kind of work we do every day.

And if this hits close to home… it’s probably time we talk.

It’s time to get out of your own way, as we say. ; )

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Aaron Velky, founder of Get Out of Your Own Way, and creator of the Living Vision program—a punch-in-the-gut kind of experience that helps high-level entrepreneurs and CEOs get crystal clear on the life and business they actually want to build… not just the one they’ve ended up in.

I got into this work the hardest and most honest way: by burning myself out trying to win the game of business, only to realize I didn’t like the prize. I had built success without a real vision—and that’s exactly what I help others fix now. I remember failing at all of the things we now help entrepreneurs learn, and I think knowing the darkness and depth of running companies the wrong way is important; we know how to guide you out of the hole and won’t judge you for it. It’s good to have a guide through the hard stuff, because everyone and their mother shows up when it’s good. Not the same when it’s difficult.

We work with founders, executives, and leaders who are wildly capable but stuck in their own maze. They’re running fast, scaling companies, but often without a clear direction, or they’re building a vision that only serves them—and not the team, culture, or legacy they actually care about. They might be chaotic, or be whiplashing their team all over the place, or worse, so frustrated with it all they are one bad day from quitting.

Through our Living Vision methodology, we guide them to create one holistic vision for their life and business. Not a mood board or ego board. Not a list of goals. But a framework that drives decision-making, delegation, alignment, clarity, and serious traction.

We help them:
– Reclaim time (and actually use it the way they dream of when they talk about financial freedom)
– Build a team that doesn’t rely on them to breathe (joking, but there’s a need to recruit A-players)
– Step out of the weeds and into true leadership
– Create a company people want to follow—not just work for

What sets us apart? We’re not life coaching. We’re not business consulting. We’re a strategic clarity accelerator with a soul. Let’s go! We combine high-performance frameworks, emotional intelligence, fierce truth-telling, and deep integration work into a coaching experience that’s as raw as it is transformational.

What I’m most proud of is this: our clients don’t just scale businesses—they scale themselves. They become the version of themselves that the original dream required. They earn more, sure, the companies grow, sure. But we’ve also helped leaders launch successful non profits adjacent to their business, spend more time with their kids, change their health, learn to play and adventure and laugh and shine….all while doing business. We see clients through to an incredible design. And I love this work.

If you’re in a season where the external success no longer matches the internal experience… It’s time to get out of your own way.

We’d appreciate any insights you can share with us about selling a business.

Yes—I sold an Airbnb business.

But the lesson wasn’t about the sale… it was what happened after.

I thought selling would feel like a finish line. In reality, it felt like hitting reset and had to ask some deep questions…questions I struggled with. I had more resources, sure—but I was right back at the start. Same questions, same blank page, same fire in my chest.

That’s when it hit me: I wasn’t building businesses to get out of business altogether—I was building because I love playing the game. I’m an athlete, duh!

And if that’s the case, then the game isn’t exit… the game is to build something you’re proud to stay inside of. Something aligned. Something built for your lifestyle—not in conflict with it. I love this game…just like I loved playing soccer every day, and then coaching it. And if you find what you love, then you win – but only if you keep doing it and fall in love with the process.

That’s what I teach now. I help high-level entrepreneurs stop chasing vague freedom, and actually design a life and business worth living for. If you can’t say what you want, then you aren’t clear, and most CEOs say they want freedom but can’t define it. If you need to build or sell your bsuiness to get to the freedom you can define, great. All good…we can help you do that to get there. Either way, you’re going to have a reason for the hustle and work and drive.

Because behind every startup, scale-up, or system is one universal truth:

We all got into business to build a better lifestyle.

And most of us forgot that somewhere along the way. Hahah, I sure did!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

It’s going to sound lame.

I built my reputation by doing more work, more free work, and having more real conversations with people who may never become clients than anyone else in my space. I believe generosity, consistency, and service build trust—and trust builds reputation.

Oh, and when I first moved to Arizona, I spent a CRAZY amount of time and money on networking – to the tune of about 152 meetings in 10 weeks, 1-1, with people who I never knew if we would align. Sometimes, it just takes the little things like that. It was exhausting, and worth every minute. Go get out there!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.living.vision
• Instagram: aaronvelky
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asvelky
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronvelky/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@aaronvelky
• Other: Podcast: The Living Vision Show