Podcast Summary: The Secret to High Performance with Aaron Salko | Mindset, Habits & Standards #193

Podcast Information:

• Title: Unemployable with Jeff Dudan
• Host: Jeff Dudan, Homefront Brands
• Guest: Aaron Salko
• Episode Title: The Secret to High Performance with Aaron Salko | Mindset, Habits & Standards #193
• Release Date: July 15, 2025
• Description: Aaron Salko, a renowned global sales leader and author, shares his insights on high performance, integrating biology, psychology, and social interaction to build and scale high-performing teams.

1. Introduction and Personal Projects

Duration: 00:00 - 02:45

Jeff Dudan welcomes Aaron Salko, highlighting Aaron's reputation as a global sales leader and author of books like "The Ninth Stratum" and "The Wrong Right Track." Jeff opens with a personal question about Aaron's foray into children's literature.

Notable Quote:

Jeff Dudan (00:00): "If you developed a reputation as a global sales leader who could build high performing teams utilizing the integration of biology, psychology, and social interaction...your name can only be Aaron Salkow."

Aaron shares his collaboration with his daughter on the children's book "Boogers Have Feelings Too," emphasizing the importance of teaching children healthy habits through creative storytelling.

Notable Quote:

Aaron Salko (01:11): "...it was just about teaching kids, like, not to pick their nose because boogers belong in tissues. Tissues are their heaven."

2. The Ninth Stratum and High Performance

Duration: 02:45 - 12:35

Jeff delves into Aaron’s career, particularly focusing on "The Ninth Stratum," which encapsulates Aaron's framework for understanding and enhancing performance. Aaron recounts his journey from a small town in Pennsylvania to becoming a high performer in sales and leadership.

Key Points:

• Personal Development: Aaron's early interest in biology and psychology paved the way for his understanding of performance.
• High Performer Label: Initially, being labeled a high performer was affirming, but it eventually led Aaron to seek a more structured understanding of what constitutes high performance.
• Framework Development: Aaron identified the need to define high performance clearly and develop tools to measure and enhance it systematically.

Notable Quote:

Aaron Salko (07:32): "Standards are the greatest thing that we can give other people... What are your standards when nobody's looking?"

3. Standards and Mindset in High Performance

Duration: 12:35 - 20:47

Jeff discusses the importance of mindset and standards using insights from David Goggins. They explore how high performers maintain their standards regardless of external recognition or immediate goals.

Key Points:

• Intrinsic Motivation: High performers train and work hard not just for external goals but for the sake of maintaining high standards.
• Consistency: Emphasizing routines and disciplined habits, such as meal prepping and structured morning routines, contributes to sustained performance.
• Social Responsibility: The conversation touches on how disciplined routines compare to public recognition, drawing parallels with professional athletes and entrepreneurs.

Notable Quotes:

Jeff Dudan (10:02): "It's insane, the lack of preparation that people approach important things in their life with."

Aaron Salko (16:17): "No social media, no news, no external forces that would create an emotional reaction because that's what these things do."

4. Routines and Daily Wins

Duration: 20:47 - 35:25

Aaron outlines the concept of "Daily Wins," a structured morning routine that sets the tone for a productive day. He shares his experience with tools like the Five Minute Journal and how disciplined morning habits enhance overall performance.

Key Points:

• Structured Mornings: Waking up early, exercising, purposeful nutrition, reading, and minimizing distractions form the core of Aaron's daily routine.
• Impact of Early Habits: By controlling the morning, high performers ensure their day starts with clarity and intention.
• Journaling: Daily journaling helps in self-reflection and maintaining a positive mindset throughout the day.

Notable Quotes:

Aaron Salko (19:08): "When we wake up that alarm and get out of bed, that's the bell, it's the sound of the starting gun, launching you out of bed."

Jeff Dudan (20:47): "...the Five Minute Journal is the first thing I do in the morning. It's the first thing I do, and it sets my mindset."

5. Purposeful Nutrition and Cognitive Performance

Duration: 35:25 - 42:31

Aaron emphasizes the role of nutrition in enhancing cognitive abilities and overall performance. He discusses how meal prepping serves as a tool for eliminating decision fatigue and ensuring consistent, intentional fueling.

Key Points:

• Fuel vs. Food: High performers view their diet as fuel tailored to support mental and physical activities.
• Cognitive Impact: The timing and type of food intake directly affect focus and creativity.
• Eliminating Decisions: Meal prepping reduces the number of daily decisions, conserving mental energy for more critical tasks.

Notable Quote:

Aaron Salko (14:40): "One of the traits of high performers is they don't just eat food, they eat fuel. They eat purposefully because they know what it does for their mind and their body."

6. Overcoming Fear and Embracing Failure

Duration: 39:55 - 45:04

The discussion shifts to the role of fear in performance. Aaron explains how recognizing and managing fear is crucial for making informed decisions and fostering growth through failure.

Key Points:

• Fear as a Tool: Understanding fear helps in mitigating its paralyzing effects and using it to drive positive actions.
• Embracing Failure: High performers use failure as a learning experience rather than a setback.
• Courage and Attitude: Maintaining a courageous attitude despite fear enhances daily performance and overall resilience.

Notable Quotes:

Aaron Salko (40:11): "Fear is one of the emotions that I believe is so important to recognize in yourself but not lean into."

Aaron Salko (42:31): "High performers have a fear of failure, but their love of winning overpowers their fear of failure."

7. Implementing High Performance in Organizations

Duration: 45:04 - 67:08

Aaron discusses practical strategies for leaders to cultivate high-performing teams within organizations. He introduces the concept of the "Nine Strata," a structured pathway for improving individual and team performance.

Key Points:

• Nine Strata Framework: A step-by-step process for individuals to progress from being unaware of a skill to mastering and teaching it.
• High Potential Identification: Leaders should identify and nurture the specific traits of high performers, such as goal focus, knowledge-driven behavior, and disciplined self-evaluation.
• Feeding the Machine: By providing tailored growth opportunities, leaders can enhance team performance and organizational success.

Notable Quotes:

Aaron Salko (51:33): "If we're looking at these skills that we're deficient in, or maybe we're ignoring and we're journaling and we're taking that time to self-assess, we can fix ourselves, we can get better."

Aaron Salko (60:09): "You don’t like accidents because accidents are unintentional. So, hey, entrepreneurs, is it okay that you're moving through life making an accidental impact with your performance? My answer is no, it's not okay."

8. Teaching and Mastery

Duration: 67:08 - 71:42

Aaron underscores the importance of teaching as a means to solidify one's own mastery of skills. By teaching others, high performers reinforce their own understanding and elevate their performance further.

Key Points:

• Teaching as Mastery: Explaining and instructing others on specific skills helps in internalizing those skills.
• Skill Process Breakdown: Deconstructing skills into actionable processes ensures consistency and proficiency.
• Mindset in Teaching: Preparing mentally before taking action is crucial for effective teaching and application.

Notable Quotes:

Aaron Salko (71:16): "Understand the value of kindness, because kindness is one of the most quintessential things we can be and do that move mountains, that move people."

9. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Duration: 71:42 - End

Aaron shares his eagerness to continue conversations about high performance and provides contact information. The episode wraps up with Aaron’s impactful final statement on kindness.

Notable Quote:

Aaron Salko (71:16): "Understand the value of kindness, because kindness is one of the most quintessential things we can be and do that move mountains, that move people."

Key Takeaways:

• Structured Routines: Implementing disciplined morning routines sets the foundation for a high-performance day.
• Purposeful Actions: High performers engage in intentional behaviors, such as meal prepping and focused journaling, to enhance productivity.
• Fear Management: Recognizing and leveraging fear can lead to personal growth and improved performance.
• Nine Strata Framework: A comprehensive pathway for individuals and organizations to develop and master high-performance skills.
• Teaching as Mastery: Sharing knowledge not only helps others but also reinforces and elevates one’s own expertise.
• Value of Kindness: Cultivating kindness can significantly impact personal and professional relationships, fostering a supportive environment for high performance.

Resources Mentioned:

• Books by Aaron Salko:
  • The Ninth Stratum
  • The Wrong Right Track
• Children’s Book: Boogers Have Feelings Too
• Five Minute Journal by Alex Ikonn

Connect with Aaron Salko:

• Instagram: @ninthstratum
• LinkedIn: Aaron Salko

This episode offers deep insights into the mechanics of high performance, emphasizing the integration of mindset, disciplined habits, and structured processes. Aaron Salko provides actionable strategies for individuals and leaders aiming to elevate their performance and cultivate high-performing teams.