Leadership Powered by Common Sense Stop Hiring Wrong: Define High Performance | Ep 464
Feb 17, 2026
Aaron Salco, human performance strategist and author of The Ninth Stratum, explains a framework to measure and build high performance. He outlines nine stratums from learned behaviors to teachable self-mastery. Topics include traits of top performers, coachability, sustainable routines, morning wins, visionary thinking for every role, and tools to manage mindset and negative thoughts.
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From Small-Town Roots To Performance Framework
- Aaron Salco grew up in a hardworking family and learned performance through sports and early work in his parents' restaurant.
- That background led him from sports medicine into sales and eventually to study and define high performance systematically.
High Performance Is A Teachable Process
- High performance is defined as the daily pursuit of excellence that requires consistent improvement in skills, knowledge, and behavior.
- Aaron breaks performance into categories and developed nine stratums to teach, measure, and scale soft skills across life and career.
Nine Levels From Behavior To Self-Mastery
- The Nine Stratums trace learning from learned behavior to self-mastery and teaching others, with Stratum 6 (application) the common sticking point.
- Stratum 9 is ongoing self-mastery where you can teach your process and still pursue constant improvement.
