Aaron Bare is an innovation strategist and the best-selling author of “Exponential Theory: The Power of Thinking Big.” “This book coins a new business term, Exponential Theory. This theory states that when leaders focus on solving big problems, they become more conscious.” Learn about Aaron Bare…
Hometown: Ft. Wayne, Indiana
First job: My first job was a stock trader. Since then, I take a lot of pride in managing my own assets, even though my career has since taken a different turn. I was an early adopter in crypto and a huge advocate of investing in the stock over buying the brand. Lesson learned: I bought a Tesla in 2014 and if I would have used that same money to invest in the stock, I would have over $1 million in returns from this one investment.
Favorite ways to spend your free time in AZ: I love being outside (most of the year) in my free time. I often run obstacle course races and enjoy hiking peaks (it’s on my bucket list to climb all the peaks in Arizona).
Your biggest accomplishment and why: Bali and Maverick. My children never cease to amaze me with their talents and their character.
The biggest obstacle you overcame: Believing I was good enough. I constantly chased credentials for most of my career, either in work or in academics. When I finally found that I was enough, and stopped chasing external validation, I realized all the tools I needed I already had, and I started executing on a higher level.
Someone who inspires you and why: Elon Musk inspires me because he is the embodiment of thinking big, the major theme in my book. Some of the best entrepreneurs take moonshots, but Musk takes Mars-shots, as Musk has a goal to colonize Mars by 2040. Even if Musk fails, he has already pushed his vision and others’ visions of what is possible beyond the current limitations.
Advice to someone pursuing a career path in what you do: Live in the moment. Too many entrepreneurs get caught looking into the future of what could be or in the past in what could have been, and that’s why they fail. If you live in the moment and make the best of each moment, life gets pretty easy.
Favorite quote: “No problem can stand the assault of sustained thinking.” -Voltaire
Something someone would be surprised to learn about you: I meditate every day; I take time to slow down and bring myself to the present. Even though I have so much energy, I quiet my mind. This allows me to keep my energy up and to lead many different businesses and to make decisions throughout the day.
What makes someone fabulous: Smiling. In a world that has so many frowns, your smile makes everybody around you better. I met Mother Teresa in India during college. one of my classmates asked what she could do to make the world a better place, Mother Teresa simply said, “Smile.”
