Tunnel Vision

I recently went one on one with Aaron Golub. Aaron became the first legally blind athlete to play football in a Division I game when he was at Tulane University. He was a captain in his senior year and went on to also become the first legally blind NFL free agent.

Aaron never let his limited vision get in the way of his success. Aaron’s grit, determination and effort enabled him to earn a spot on the Tulane team, and the respect of his teammates, coaches and fans. Aaron began playing football in seventh grade and worked extremely hard to get where he is today. His goal is to show others that it doesn’t matter what they are fighting or what their perceived limitations are: anything is achievable with hard work and tuning out the judgment of others. His planning, passion and perseverance enables him to enjoy success. Aaron has paved the way for others with disabilities in sports and is building a strong reputation as a speaker and in business.

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your journey and best advice.  First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you.  What is something about you that would surprise people?

Aaron: I volunteer to teach people with disabilities how to ski and snowboard. It’s a way that I can give back and pass on the skills that I have developed in my life.

Adam: For readers not familiar with your journey, how did you become the first legally blind student-athlete to play in an NCAA football game? What were the key steps along the way and the experiences most instrumental to your success and growth?

Aaron: The three traits that led me to play Division 1 football at Tulane University were planning, passion and perseverance. Every day I would wake up at 5 am to practice long snapping before school and I lifted weights after school. My goal was to out work everyone I competed against. This discipline and work ethic enabled me to achieve success.

Adam: Can you describe how you overcame the challenges that came with playing football at all levels, from your time as a kid to your time in D1?

Aaron: My mindset is that my lack of vision didn’t happen to me but for me. As soon as you think of yourself as a victim, you’ve already lost.

Adam: What are the best lessons you learned from your experience playing college football?

Aaron: Nothing in this life is given to you. If you want to accomplish a goal you have to work for it, and it won’t be easy. Stay disciplined and working when others have no idea what you are doing, and you will create success.

Adam: You decided to pursue a career in the NFL and tried out for a number of teams.  Can you describe that experience and the best lessons you learned from it?

Aaron: Football was my passion and something I obsessed over for a long time. I’m truly grateful for the opportunities that I have been given and wouldn’t change a thing. Making the transition to the NFL was something I really wanted, and I pushed myself every day to achieve that goal. Although I didn’t make a team, I have no regrets. 

Adam: What advice do you have for others on how to overcome the obstacles they face in their personal and professional lives?

Aaron: Be the hardest working person in the room. One thing people like to say is “work smarter, not harder,” but the truth is the people who achieve the most success eventually work smarter after they have worked harder for long periods of time. Success doesn’t happen overnight and takes a long time to accomplish, but if you work harder than everyone else, you can achieve it.  Work so hard that you aren’t competing with others but are dominating them.

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Aaron: Take action and lead by example. No one ever became a leader by waiting. The time to start the path to your goals is now, not in an hour, not tomorrow, not next week, but now. Show others you can accomplish anything, and they will follow in your footsteps and respect you.

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives and civic leaders?

Aaron: Planning, passion and perseverance. If you have a goal you need to plan for it. Nothing is accomplished by magically waving your hand. Formulate a plan and stick to it. Second, if you aren’t passionate about what you are doing, you will never be successful at it. People who love what they do are the ones who achieve the most success. I’ve been successful because I have a passion for football and what I’m doing in business. My entire life I’ve worked hard, and extremely long hours to reach my goals, but it hasn’t been work. I’ve loved every second of it and that is what has led me to succeed. Last, you need to be able to persevere. If you can’t push yourself beyond belief, then you will never accomplish your goals.  Every day you need to push through any obstacle that is in your way and as soon as you break through that obstacle, you can’t let up. You need to pick up speed and start pushing even harder. I promise you that other people are not doing this, and this will only widen the gap between you and the person closest to you.

Adam: What role has mentorship played in your success?  What advice do you have on finding a great mentor and becoming a great mentor?

Aaron: I was fortunate to find a few great mentors over the years. The most influential mentor that I have had is Steve Burton. He taught me the value of work ethic. Although you may fail hundreds of times, you need to keep getting back up. The most important part of finding a good mentor is finding someone who will push you to limits that you didn’t think you could reach and someone who will tell you what you don’t want to hear. Not only has Steve mentored me in football, but he taught me life lessons and gave me skills that have helped me develop into the person I am today.

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Aaron: My senior year of high school, I received a call from Good Morning America asking me to come on the show and share my story. I didn’t want to do it; my goal was to play football and not draw attention to myself. Fortunately, after speaking with my long snapping coach, Chris Rubio, he told me that I should do it. He said that if getting uncomfortable and putting yourself out there means that you can help impact the lives of others, then I should do it.

Adam: Is there anything else you would like to share?

Aaron: I’m thankful for the opportunity to meet you and do this interview. My journey has been filled with obstacles, challenges and perseverance and I’m thankful that I can share it with others. The reason I got into public speaking is to inspire and motivate others to achieve their goals and dreams no matter how audacious they seem.