Meet Aaron Thomason | Leadership Coach & Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aaron Thomason and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aaron, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When I played basketball in college, it was always my idea to go overseas, play and come back and start my own business. When my playing career didn’t go the way I wanted it to, I thought it was be easier to just be a 9-5 dude (and there is nothing wrong with that) but it wasn’t.

So I kept trying after college to find the right fit for me allowing me to take advantage of my enterprise mindset. I love white space and depending on the organization corporately, its more about executing that creating.

I knew to find fulfillment, I needed to start my own business. The first few times I didn’t get it right with being a financial advisor and having music production company. Good thoughts but they didn’t work. Not until I got into leadership development and coaching did I start to see the picture come together.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I started LVL Three, LLC back in 2015. It was founded on the principles of the the 3 Ls, Locate, Leverage and Launch. What we believe is if you can help any individual or organization first diagnose where they are (Locate), then that information can be used to accentuate their strengths and protect their blindspots (Leverage), where finally you can put together a customize plan allowing for momentum to be created and sustained for success. This systematic approach, allows with each building block or NEXT step as we say to create the clarity breeding confidence, in turn breaking the cycle of self doubt and frustration.

We have had the honor of working with the everyday person, entrepreneurs, NBA draft picks, as well as non-profits, community organizations. Fortune 50 -100 companies like UAW/Ford have partnered with us to help create a sweet spot in their culture where production and performance go hand and hand.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I moved to Nashville, TN just before the pandemic, so I’m still figuring out the city. But as a kid from Detroit, with a long weekend, we would first, go downtown Detroit and walk the Riverwalk. The Riverwalk is right off the Detroit river which looks directly at Canada, great views and a place to think and clear your head. Next we would grab something to eat from one of the local spots in Greektown, Pizza Papalis or stop by Joe Muer’s. Needing to walk off the meal, we would go to Belle Isle, to take in the view of the water.

One spot that is a must is the Motown Museum. To walk through the tiny house where all the music, hits and stars were made is an inspiring experience.

After going back and getting cleaned up, we would then go to Baker’s for music and more food, right in the heart of the westside of the city. Baker’s was featured in the movie “Sparkle”.

The next day, we would take a little bit of a road trip and head north west to Traverse City, to spend time in the sand dunes, beaches and indulge in the local cherries. If you haven’t been to Traverse City, you think all cherries are the same, NO they are not, Traverse cherries are one of a kind, so good.

Later that day, we would take a trip to the winery on one of the peninsulas for wine tasting and a good meal.

This is a nice long weekend in Michigan, one of the most underrated and beautiful places in the country.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Wow this is a great question. I am a reflection of a lot of time people have spent with me. If I had to pick a few, I would say one is my Uncle Milt. He had a barque restaurant on the Eastside of Detroit when I was growing up. I watched him from selling meals on the corner, dragging his pit home at the end of the day to having multiple locations in metro Detroit. He always talked about its about creating legacy and passing the restaurant down to his children’s children. When he was murdered by one of his workers trying to save one of his other workers, it was hard breaking seeing how much he cared and gave and the same people he gave to had him killed.

Another influence would be my Uncle Rex. He is more like an older brother. He always pushed me at a very young age to look at the bigger picture and to ask why. I believe my skill set of strategy from a macro and micro level comes from the countless conversations and car rides growing up.

Last would be Walter Rushing. He is my best friend’s dad. When my dad left and my parents got divorced, Mr. Rushing was an example of what a man is and needs to be. He was dedicated to his wife and two kids but also found ways to love on, and mentor young men like myself. His sacrifice of taking my home after practice, when I lived on the other side of town, was selflessness in action.

Those three men I owe A LOT to.

Website: www.lvlthree.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askaaronvictor/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-thomason-5740b57/

Youtube: https://youtu.be/NbanfSyTD0Q