Getting your butt kicked can teach you more than getting praised, but only if you’re willing to embrace the pain and learn from it.

In this episode of The Premier Standard, Bo Davis sits down with Aaron Kirkman, President of Flynn Arby’s, to kick off the Flynn Competency series with Consistent Achiever.

Aaron breaks down what consistent performance actually looks like when the business gets messy: disciplined execution, honest self-assessment, resilience, preparation, and the willingness to hold a high standard even when it would be easier to look away.

We talk about lessons Aaron learned in restaurant kitchens, why mise en place still shapes how he thinks about leadership, the warning signs that show up before performance slips, and how strong operators avoid getting trapped by excuses, scorecards, or “paralysis by analysis.”

Aaron also shares the story behind the nickname “Soul Crusher,” what it taught him about radical candor and declaring intent, and why calibration has to come before accountability.

Most importantly, this conversation is a reminder that Consistent Achievers don’t avoid setbacks. They learn from them.

Your challenge this week: Send us an email and let us know, "What’s one setback, tough piece of feedback, or disappointing result you need to stop fighting and start learning from?"

Embrace the pain. Define reality. Make the adjustment. And keep moving.

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