In 2006, my wife bought me a video camera as a gift, and because I simply didn’t know what to do with it, that exact video camera sat in the box for over a year. A few years prior, I owed $400,000 in business loans and credit because my fitness center was failing. I was bankrupt, and I was left not knowing where to turn.
I dreamed of owning my own gym. Discovering fitness at a young age was life changing for me; it became an escape to navigate through challenges I was faced with. The day I got the keys to my own gym felt amazing because my dream was turning in to a reality… but within a few years, that dream turned into a nightmare. I was 32, bankrupt, driving a beer cart to make some money to pay back debt. My life was bleak. I felt like a failure, I was embarrassed, and I had let my wife and family down. I had $57.25 in my account. I had to try something different…
After offering image consultancy for some people I knew, I went on VH1’s reality show with Vivica Fox called ‘Glam God’. I got kicked off the first day which encouraged me to go home and learn how to use that video camera still sitting in the box. I’d been on YouTube a few times before and decided to start making and uploading videos to the platform
In 2008, I published my first video offering men’s style advice, not knowing where this journey would take me. The first comment I received asking a question about what to wear excited me; it gave me validation because this was something I could continue. I posted videos weekly for free, continuing to offer image consultancy for local clients, until a few years later I started to make some income from the YouTube partnership alongside sponsorships.
That was when my first Shark Tank appearance happened…
Not happy with the styling aids I was using, I sought advice from a world-renowned stylist about starting a hair care line. After a year of development, Pete & Pedro was launched. From storing and sending stock to customers from my bedroom, Pete & Pedro has evolved into a multimillion dollar business.
I bought into their vision of creating high quality men’s skincare to rival other brands without breaking the bank.
Tiege Hanley is a simplified skincare system that takes all the guesswork out of looking amazing, forever. In December 2020, Tiege Hanley shipped it’s 1 millionth box to a customer, and today, the business continues to grow.
In 2019 I launched a sunglasses brand called ENEMY, and even though it became a brand I couldn’t invest my time into, I’ve continued to build and launch businesses. More recently, I developed and opened a high-end salon in my home town and continue to keep an eye on new business opportunities.
My story, up until now, consists of more failures, successes, lessons, and opportunities that I continue to embrace. Bottom line is that I’m here to help you feel more confident whether that’s through the content I share or the brands I build.
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Aaron Marino (alpha m.) is the number 1 men’s lifestyle influencer with over 8 million followers combined across multiple social media channels.
On this website you’ll find all of alpha m’s content alongside more information about his businesses.
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