Manufacturing Mentorship Weekly

Aron discusses the challenges leaders face when they isolate themselves during tough times, leading to tunnel vision and emotional overreactions. He emphasizes the importance of seeking external perspectives from mentors and colleagues to gain clarity and avoid misreading situations. He shares personal experiences, such as being passed over for a plant manager role, and how conversations with ment...

Aron discusses the concept of "drifting" in life, where people set goals but fail to make meaningful changes. He emphasizes the importance of intentionality and becoming a different person to achieve desired outcomes. He shares personal experiences, such as his struggle with weight and alcohol consumption, to illustrate the need for discipline and sacrifice. He stresses the importance of setting c...

Aron discusses the importance of honest self-reflection, using personal anecdotes and examples to illustrate the consequences of avoiding it. He suggests setting aside an hour to assess various aspects of life, including work performance, physical health, relationships, and finances. He argues that clarity about your current state is crucial for making effective decisions and achieving goals. He a...

Aron discusses the importance of balancing work and personal life during the holiday season. He emphasizes the need to share your faith authentically, even in the workplace, and to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, which is about humility, hope, and surrender, not hustle or perfection. He encourages you to take time for rest, reflection, and family traditions, suggesting activities like jo...

Aron discusses the importance of vision and focus in transforming businesses and personal lives. He emphasizes that while vision is crucial, it's the execution of specific, actionable steps within the next 30 days that drives real change. He shares his experiences from various companies, highlighting issues like poor safety records, high costs, and operational disruptions. He stresses the need for...

Aron shares a personal story from nine and a half years ago as a plant manager in Phoenix, where he faced an unsatisfactory rating in a corporate quality audit. This rating jeopardized his career advancement and caused significant stress. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to new cultural expectations, seeking support from mentors and faith, and maintaining clarity and honesty. He outlines f...

Aron discusses the challenges faced by plant managers due to the shift from decentralized to centralized control in manufacturing. He highlights the loss of control over functions like procurement and transportation, which has led to frustration and inefficiency. He emphasizes the need for plant managers to adapt by developing new skills such as influencing without authority, understanding upstrea...

Aron discusses the challenges leaders face in disconnecting from work during holidays, emphasizing the concept of cognitive overload. He shares personal experiences of being mentally preoccupied with work even during family time, leading to exhaustion and frustration. He highlights strategies to manage cognitive overload, such as closing open loops, reducing unnecessary notifications, establishing...

Aron discusses the importance of mentorship in manufacturing leadership, sharing personal experiences with mentors Dixon Pratt and Bruce. As a new plant manager, Dixon provided critical guidance on political dynamics and communication. Bruce, an operational excellence expert, offered third-party credibility and feedback. Both mentors supported Aron during a significant quality incident, flying out...

Aron discusses the importance of persistence and not giving up on personal and professional goals. He shares his brother Adam's experience of failing to finish a 52-mile race and the emotional weight of unmet goals. He emphasizes the need to push through challenges, citing his own journey in career advancement and content creation. He highlights a recent LinkedIn post that received significant eng...

Aron discusses overcoming personal and professional challenges. He shares his struggles with business failure, financial strain, and feelings of inadequacy, drawing parallels to his college experiences. He emphasizes the importance of identity shifts and competition in driving personal growth. He recounts significant moments in his life, such as securing an internship, running an ultra-marathon, a...

Aron discusses career advice he received from former Procter & Gamble CEO AG Lafley in 2009. Lafley's six tips include being genuine, passionate, and fully engaged; trusting your boss, being open to career diversions, putting your people first, using others rather than abusing them, being a low-maintenance employee, and managing your career like a business. Aron emphasizes the importance of th...

Aron discusses the detrimental impact of "checking the box" in your career, emphasizing that it leads to career stagnation and loss of influence. He shares personal experiences from his time as a department manager, where he initially resisted leading an operational excellence program but later embraced it after trusting his mentor. He highlights the importance of genuine commitment and curiosity...

Aron discusses the importance of resilience and influence in overcoming challenges. He shares his experience with a city meeting in Germantown, Ohio, where he sought four variances for building multiple homes. He emphasizes the principles of "Win-Win" and "Seek First to Understand" from Stephen Covey. He recounts a past project where he faced resistance but persisted, ultimately achieving signific...

Aron discusses the importance of the Stephen Covey principle "beginning with the end in mind" for leaders. He emphasizes the need to focus on impact rather than just being busy, using metrics like productivity and safety results. He shares his experience in operations, where he benchmarked against top performers to set ambitious goals. He highlights the balance between daily execution and long-ter...

Aron discusses the concept of obsession as a key trait in leadership. He shares his personal journey of becoming obsessed with becoming a plant manager, which led him to take additional courses and ultimately join Procter & Gamble. He emphasizes that obsession can be both positive and negative, driving transformation and momentum but also potentially consuming your life. He advises choosing he...

Aron discusses the importance of courage in career success. He shares his experience as a team manager facing resistance to eliminate an inefficient test that cost the company significant resources. Despite initial rejection, he persisted, challenging the R&D section head and eventually winning support. He emphasizes that courage leads to progress, trust, and followership, while apathy leads t...

Aron discusses the importance of building a career and financial life that fuels freedom rather than one that owns you. He emphasizes the need to step back and assess progress, avoid justifying actions, and continuously invest in personal growth. He highlights the significance of understanding personal finances, including expenses, earnings, and a personal balance sheet. He advises reading a book...

Aron discusses the importance of balancing work and family life. He shares his personal experience of being promoted to Vice President at Procter & Gamble, which required moving to Switzerland during COVID-19, straining his relationship with his wife, Ayla. He emphasizes the need for presence, communication, and vulnerability in family relationships. He advises scheduling regular date nights,...

Aron discusses the importance of understanding "who you are being." He emphasizes that our identity goes beyond titles and roles, affecting our impact, relationships, and overall well-being. He highlights the negative effects of hustle culture, such as lack of reflection and consistency. He recommends practices like meditation, journaling, and self-reflection to achieve clarity and self-awareness....

Aron discusses the importance of physical health, citing LinkedIn surveys where 75% of respondents admitted to neglecting it. He emphasizes that high achievers prioritize sleep, nutrition, and physical activity. He suggests setting a consistent wake-up time, aiming for 90-minute sleep cycles, drinking 16 ounces of water upon waking, waiting an hour before caffeine, consuming a green smoothie, and...

Aron discusses the importance of acknowledging and voicing fear in leadership and personal life. He shares personal experiences, such as moving his family to Cincinnati in 2016 and facing job insecurity after an unsatisfactory audit, and his struggle with isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic while working in Geneva. He emphasizes that fear is not a sign of weakness but an opportunity for growth...

Aron discusses the challenges and responsibilities of plant managers, emphasizing the need for control and effective leadership. He introduces the Plant Manager Accelerator program, a six-month one-on-one coaching initiative aimed at helping plant managers balance work and personal life, improve leadership skills, and manage corporate pressures. He highlights the importance of nurturing employees,...

Aron discusses the importance of personal growth and preparation for career advancement. He shares his experience of moving to Switzerland in 2012, expecting a promotion to plant manager, but facing setbacks. He emphasizes the need for self-improvement, including physical health, mental clarity, and relationship building. He advises you to be clear on your goals, work on yourself, and trust in div...

Aron discusses the importance of personal transformation and the catalysts that drive change. He shares his own experiences, including a painful event involving his brother and a dissatisfying period in Switzerland, to illustrate how life events can spark significant change. He emphasizes the need for self-reflection and awareness, urging you to proactively seek opportunities for growth rather tha...