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

Alright, Aron thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

When I was 18 all of my friends from high school were filling out college applications, working on their college essays, I spent most of my senior year going to the recruiting station for the Marines. I woke up for school around 6am , had school, and then wrestling practice from 5-7 and then after school until 8pm. And on days I wasn’t at wresting practice, I was at the recruiting station from 5pm to 7pm. Most days were long and I understood the risk of going to the military. But in my eyes there really wasn’t a risk, I realized through this process that risk is an external fear, not really internal. As long as you’re confident about the decision you’re making for your own life, and make calculated risks, meaning risks you take while evaluating the pros and cons and having a backup plan in case you fail, you will be okay. At the time I didn’t fully understand why I so deeply wanted to go to the military instead of college, but I did know I felt a feeling strongly in my gut to go. When my mom was killed in our apartment home while I was in boot camp, it all started to make sense. I realized that the risk I took ended up being what saved my life. I left to the military to travel, get out of the South Bronx, and be able to support my mom financially back home. I had no idea it would turn out to be the very thing that I had to do, to support myself. What I would say to anyone reading is to follow your dreams and never let anyone tell you otherwise. There is a smart way to do everything if you take the time to think of a viable solution.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Looking back, fitness was always an integral part of my life. From dancing in elementary school, to Brazilian Jui-Jutsu in middle school, to wrestling in high school and eventually the Marine Corps after high school, without realizing it, I really enjoyed gritting my teeth and pushing through physical activity to create the mental image I saw in my mind. Whether that was winning a dance competition, a Brazilian jui jutsu tournament, a wrestling match, or graduating from boot camp I always saw the image before I performed it. As I’ve gotten older I have transitioned into a weight lifting space and general calisthenics and fitness. I realized that mental health is as important as ever in 2023 and too often we seek external validation without working on our inner. And by resolving some insecurities and how you view your physical self, you can resolve some of the inner self talk you have. But also, it’s important to not that no amount of physical work will make you feel better, if you already don’t believe you are. You can have the best body and still believe you’re the worst self. So that’s why when I workout and make my content, I always attach a message about self. For now, i focus on working out, creating content, working out clients, and building my social media presence. If you want to follow me and check out some of my content, please follow my instagram @airanthinksalot !

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Consistency. At first, when you start making content no on will believe in you. You have to make so much content that it leaves no doubt that you are passionate about your field and craft. And mental health breaks are okay, just make sure you get back on that saddle and fight the good fight.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn is that men don’t cry. I remember being curled up in a fetal position in my barracks while in the military at 4am crying my eyes out before formation. After my mom was killed I never really took a break, It happened during boot camp so I left boot camp for 3 days to go to the funeral and then I went back to boot camp and then to Military Occupational school. I was shattered and in an environment where emotions don’t really matter. So i stuffed them down deeper and deeper until there I laid. Alone, broken, and feeling like nobody cared. In that moment I either had to reject myself, believing that men don’t cry and therefore I am not a man. Or accept myself and realize that it takes a stronger person to admit their weaknesses then to hide them only to appear strong. Nowadays, I find myself being a lot more emotionally transparent and available to myself. Currently, I am learning how to be more kind to myself.      

Contact Info:

• Instagram: airanthinksalot
• Youtube: airan taylor
• TikTok: airanthinksalot