On this episode of the Growing with Purpose podcast, host Paul Spiegelman speaks with Aaron Montgomery, the CEO of Montgomery Development Group, Co-Founder of CarLotz and author of Suspend Your Disbelief: Short Stories That Are Long On Wisdom.
Aaron grew up in Detroit, raised by his mother, as well as her large family. From them, he learned the value of education and stories, and even got a lifelong, prophecy-filling nickname: Mr. President.
After going to a private high school thanks to a scholarship, and eventually Harvard Business School, Aaron recognizes that he’s benefited from experiences and environments that aren’t available to everybody. But he’s also seized opportunities when they’re available. In high school, he asked a friend’s dad if he could work at the man’s car dealership during his summer holidays. Through this, Aaron was able to learn the ins and outs of car sales, which eventually led to him co-founding CarLotz. He and his co-founders strove to make CarLotz a different kind of dealership, for customers and employees alike. Those changes quickly proved to be beneficial for business; but more than the numbers, Aaron is proud of the culture they created.
“The real impact to me was felt when you saw the difference.”
Now, Aaron’s written a book, structured in stories - an homage to his grandpa - and hopes to reach young people through it so that they can learn from his experiences. He’s also working on himself, practicing patience, and focusing on the journey rather than the destination.
Eric Rieger: Unpacking the Past
Andy Fowler: The Accidental Entrepreneur
Kate McCrea: The Sweet Side of Leadership
Angela Barbash: Empowerment Through Financial Literacy
Mel Gravely: Reframing How We Think and Talk About Race
Conni Reed: From ”Un” to Fun
Drew Patrick: The Company Is Yours Now
Leslie DeMent & Sabrina White: Dodgeball, Friendship, and Shonda Rhimes
Torey Carter-Conneen: Our Work Continues
Colin Quinn: Every Leader Needs a Sounding Board
Bonus Mailbag with Mackey McNeill: How to Thrive, Not Just Survive This Year
Jim Hume: The Harsh Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
Khalilah "KO" Olokunola: From the Block to the Boardroom
Ari Weinzweig: While the World Gets Louder, Humility Can Quietly Help
Jay Wilkinson: Fired as CEO of Your Own Company
Bo Burlingham: What Makes a Company Great?
Delcie Bean: On a Mission to Make I.T. Fun
Elizabeth Glasbrenner: Can a Leader Care Too Much?
Travis Slisher Interviews Paul Spiegelman: Take Care of the Person In Front of You
Lisa Wise: Empathy Is My Engine
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