Daniel Aaron

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Truthfully, I’ve written several books, though this new one–The Art of Spiritual Leadership: 40 Laws to Transform Your Life (and the World)–is the first that I’ve gotten published.

Here’s my official bio: Spiritual teacher, author, entrepreneur, yogi, investor, and father–Daniel Aaron has devoted his life to understanding the human patterns that create suffering and how to change them. Through trainings, transformational events, and private coaching, he has led thousands of people to live brighter, more fulfilled lives. He teaches at Omega and Esalen Institutes and founded the internationally recognized Radiantly Alive Center in Bali.
In 1995 Daniel experienced a spiritual awakening, which compelled his dedication to human potential. He became obsessed with learning, growth, and transformation; and committed to creating a new paradigm of vibrant living for all beings. He’s hardcore about awakening and helping all of us to greater freedom, love, and happiness.

His experience includes decades of training with the modern masters; ruthless personal and spiritual development; radical therapies, courses, and mentorships with enlightened teachers; his own constant self-inquiry, most commonly derived from the ordinary human challenges of his own commitment to kindness, authenticity, and masterful service; parenting; and founding, running and selling businesses.
His reputation­–that he gets powerful results for students and clients–comes from the depth of his own relentless evolution into his potential, uncanny perception into others, and a massive love for all beings. He teaches and shares in a way that brings people to feeling deeply understood, accepted, inspired, and transformed. His speeches, workshops, and events guarantee participants raucous fun and meaningful breakthroughs in multiple aspects of their lives according to their own definitions of success and happiness. Daniel creates environments where people shine.
In short, Daniel’s mission and obsession is helping people turn their lives into art–into the masterpiece that’s a shining reflection of the unique glory that is their essence. He resides in Maui, Hawaii.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Art of Spiritual Leadership: 40 Laws to Transform Your Life (and the World) started as my desire to reach and support more people. For years I lead world renowned transformational events on Bali where I lived. Repeatedly people pointed out to me that the participants drew much of their success, transformation and elevated consciousness from the stories I told on stage. So, increasingly it became obvious that attempting to translate that storytelling from the stage to a book format would be important. In doing so, I also realized that it’s a thin line between personal and spiritual development, between putting one’s own house in order, so to speak, and then one’s desire to influence others. In short, I was inspired to help more people live to their potential, to create more happiness, abundance and love according to their own definition of those things. Of course, the more people that live into greater and greater levels of joy, the. better off is our entire world.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Alas, I have nothing extraordinary to report here. That said, while so many writers talk about the importance of writing longhand, on paper, I love writing all drafts via the computer. My finger’s type better than they write and the closer I can get to original thoughts, the better.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
Good golly, so many. I discovered reading from a young age and it was my best solace amidst a lot of chaos and violence around me. In high school one particular teacher helped draw writing from me and to my surprise it appeared I had something of a gift. So, years later when I finally gave in to that, started attempting to nurture it, I read a ton of books on writing. My teacher at the time, Pat Schneider, and her book Writing Alone and with Others, was important and influential for me. I loved Natalie Goldberg’s writing on writing and spirituality. Of course Bird by Bird by Annie Lamott was profound too. When I was studying writing at University and working with Pat, I took to heart something Hemingway said: “If you want to write, you must read the best.” I’ve always read fiction regularly with that advice in mind.

What are you working on now?
When I started with The Art of Spiritual Leadership: 40 Laws to Transform Your Life (and the World), I didn’t realize it was going to end up as part manifesto, part manual, nor that it would really be about Spiritual Leadership. My whole adult life has been with one foot in the world of business and entrepreneurship while the other was squarely planted in spiritual studies and practices. As I’m now beginning a podcast for Spiritual Entrepreneurs and Leaders, I’m developing a book that goes deeper into these two worlds and how they integrate, including wisdom from some of the other leaders and thinkers in this space today. As well I’ll soon release a book that’s the story of my own unexpected, spontaneous and challenging “spiritual awakening.”

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far it seems to be word of mouth, including and especially the people that I’ve worked with or whom have studied with me in the past. That said, I’m a fan of optimalism… that we do anything and everything in our power (so long as it’s not hurting anyone) to get what we want in life. So, I am exploring and testing many methods.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Shocking as it is, the best advice I know is write. It seems stupid, I know, yet so many times every day I hear from people “I want to write.” Well, the truth of the words “I want” is “I don’t have”. The thing is, writing IS something that we have control over. You can do it. You can have it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Ironically it was in a book about writing, though the author also stipulated that not only were these two rules essential for a good writing, they were also likely keys to living a good life.
1. Only do what you really want to do
2. Be honest

Of course, if you think about it, if we’re really honest, we are always only doing what we want to do. So, better we’re honest about that!

What are you reading now?
I always have a novel underway and five or so non-fiction books.
Novel: Hawaii by Michener (I moved full time to Hawaii 3 years ago and there’s so much to learn about this amazing place and its history).
Non Fiction: Ikigai, Thick Face, Black Heart, On Writing, Eloquence, Effortless

What’s next for you as a writer?
Service. It’s all about service. Everyday I pray that I may find how I can be of most service in the world and that I may have the courage to act upon that. For me at the present that means writing, broadcasting (Podcast, emails, blog) and through serving my clients in the Six Figure Spiritual Entrepreneur Program™.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
One by John Irving (maybe Twisted River)
As a Man Thinketh, by James Allen
A Rumi or Hafiz collection

Author Websites and Profiles
Daniel Aaron Website
Daniel Aaron Amazon Profile

Daniel Aaron’s Social Media Links
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