— MY STORY
EVERY CHAPTER
SHAPED THE MAN STANDING HERE
From a small-town field to a national championship locker room. Through a cancer diagnosis that tested everything. To the stages and pages where Aaron shares it all. This is the full story—one chapter at a time.
EARLY YEARS
WHERE IT STARTED
SMALL TOWN. BIG DREAMS.
I grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, where faith, family, and hard work were not just values, they
were a way of life. My parents taught me that your circumstances never have the final say, your
attitude does. Long before I won a national championship, stepped onto a stage, or heard the
words you have cancer, those early lessons were shaping the man I would become and
preparing me for battles I did not yet know were coming.
1994
CHAMPION
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP - NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
One of the defining moments came long before we held the championship trophy. After falling just short in the 1993 Orange Bowl against Florida State, our team made a decision that would change everything. We could make excuses, blame circumstances, or allow disappointment to define us. Instead, we chose “Unfinished Business.” Every workout, every practice, every meeting, and every rep carried a different level of purpose because we knew what it felt like to come within one play of our dream.
Coach Tom Osborne constantly reminded us that champions are built in the ordinary moments no one sees. Friday walkthroughs were just as important as Saturday games. The scout team mattered. The backup who pushed the starter mattered. The small details mattered because everyone understood that excellence is never an accident.
Those lessons never left me. Whether I’m leading a team, coaching executives, speaking to thousands, or navigating life’s greatest challenges, I still carry the mindset that Nebraska instilled in me: your greatest success will never come from chasing personal glory. It comes from committing yourself to a purpose bigger than yourself, doing the little things consistently, and bringing your best attitude every single day.
SURVIVOR
MY JOURNEY WITH CANCER
FROM FEAR TO FORTITUDE
Yet what I discovered in that season was something I never expected. Cancer did not simply test my body. It tested my attitude, my faith, and the foundation of everything I believed. Every doctor's appointment, every sleepless night, every difficult conversation forced me to decide whether fear or faith would have the louder voice.
On June 15, 2021, I underwent surgery to remove an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Recovery was humbling. It reminded me that strength is not always measured by how much you can lift or accomplish. Sometimes strength is found in simply getting out of bed, trusting the process, and taking the next step when you cannot see the entire path ahead.
Cancer taught me that life is both fragile and incredibly valuable. It reminded me that tomorrow is never guaranteed, which is exactly why today matters so much. I stopped waiting for the right time to pursue purpose, to tell people I loved them, to forgive, to dream bigger, and to become more intentional about how I spent my time.
Most importantly, my journey deepened my faith in God. I learned that courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is choosing to move forward while trusting that God is walking with you through the uncertainty. My greatest healing was not just physical. It was spiritual, emotional, and relational.
Today, I don't see cancer as the end of my story. I see it as one of the chapters God used to prepare me for a greater purpose. It gave me a deeper compassion for people who are hurting, a greater appreciation for every ordinary day, and an unshakable conviction that our attitude does not change our diagnosis, but it can absolutely change how we walk through it.
That is why I live with such urgency today. Every stage I stand on, every person I coach, every message I share is driven by one simple belief: Life is a gift. Your attitude is a choice. And every single day is another opportunity to make it matter.
A look back — moments from Aaron’s treatment and recovery
KEY TAKEAWAYS - WHAT CANCER TAUGHT ME ABOUT LIFE
LESSON 1
RESILIENCE IS BUILT, NOT BORN
Cancer thrust me into a world of uncertainty and fear, but it also revealed the depth of my resilience. Despite the physical and emotional toll, I discovered an inner strength I never knew existed. Each setback became an opportunity to dig deeper and find courage in the face of adversity. Through resilience, I learned that light can be found even in our darkest moments, and that each day I had a choice in the attitude I would carry.
LESSON 2
NO ONE WINS ALONE
Through my journey, I was humbled by the outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and even strangers. Their unwavering presence reminded me that I was not alone in this fight. The power of community became a guiding force, showing me that strength is often found in unity. I strive to pay it forward by supporting others navigating similar paths.
LESSON 3
GRATITUDE CHANGES EVERYTHING
Cancer has a way of reshaping one’s perspective on life. It taught me to cherish each moment and find gratitude in the simplest of joys. Despite the challenges, I discovered silver linings amid the storm — moments of connection, acts of kindness, and a newfound appreciation for the beauty of life itself. Embracing gratitude has become a daily practice, grounding me in the present and guiding me forward with hope.
LESSON 4
PAIN HAS A PURPOSE
Perhaps the most profound lesson has been turning pain into purpose. My journey with cancer ignited a passion within me to make a difference — to advocate for others, raise awareness, and offer support wherever I can. By sharing my story and lending a listening ear, I strive to be a beacon of hope for those walking a similar path. In turning my pain into purpose, I’ve found a sense of fulfillment that transcends the confines of illness.
My cancer journey was a journey of self-discovery, resilience, growth, and a deep appreciation for God’s grace. It has taught me invaluable lessons that have shaped my life and my mission to support and uplift others. Through the power of community, gratitude, and purpose, I will continue to share my experiences in hopes of helping others navigate this journey with hope and determination — knowing that even in the darkest of times, there is light to be found, and that we can always choose our attitude regardless of the circumstances.
YOUR ATTITUDE. YOUR CHOICE.
AARON DAVIS
SPEAKER
FINDING THE STAGE
TURNING THE STORY INTO A MESSAGE
But this time was different.
There was no scoreboard. No opponent. No championship on the line. Instead, I had been given an opportunity to stand in front of young people, share pieces of my story, and hopefully say something that could impact a life or touch a heart.
Something came alive in me that day.
I realized that the experiences of my life were not meant to stay with me. The lessons from my parents, my struggles as a kid, the discipline learned through athletics, the championship years at Nebraska, the setbacks, failures, fears, and eventually the battles I would face later in life could become more than memories. They could become messages.
That feeling has never gone away.
Every time I prepare to walk onto a stage, I still feel those butterflies. I welcome them because they remind me that I care. They remind me that somewhere in that audience may be a person who needs exactly what I have been entrusted to share.
That responsibility drives me. It pushes me to study, read, write, grow, listen, and continually sharpen my understanding of attitude, mindset, discipline, resilience, and human performance. Over the years, those lessons ultimately developed into Attitude Over Everything and my AOE Formula: Aware, Assess, Advice, Attack, Adjusted. It became the framework for helping people understand that while we cannot always control what happens to us, we have tremendous power over the attitude we bring to what happens next.
Decades and thousands of audiences later, I still approach the stage with the same sense of anticipation I felt before that first talk in small town Nebraska.
Because for me, this has never been just about giving a speech.
It is a calling.
A calling to use my experiences, my scars, my victories, my failures, my faith, and everything I continue to learn to help people recognize the power they already possess.
One person. One choice. One attitude at a time.
TODAY
PUTTING IT IN PRINT
WRITING ATTITUDE OVER EVERYTHING
Coming this fall, Attitude Over Everything serves as the bedrock of the AOE Framework. But I did not write it to be another motivational book that gets people excited for a few days and then sits untouched on a shelf. This is a playbook. A field guide. A practical resource for becoming the best version of yourself by becoming more intentional about the attitude you bring to your life.
Attitude is not the only thing, but I believe it is the main thing when it comes to long term success in the areas that matter most. Your relationships. Your career. Your leadership. Your health. Your faith. Your response to adversity. Your ability to keep moving when life does not go according to plan. Talent matters. Knowledge matters. Opportunity matters. But your attitude influences what you do with all of them.
That is why the book is built around the AOE Formula: Aware, Assess, Advice, Attack, Adjusted. It gives readers a simple yet powerful process for recognizing the attitude they are bringing into a situation, honestly assessing whether it is helping or hurting them, seeking the right wisdom and perspective, attacking the next necessary action, and making the adjustments required to move forward.
Because sometimes you do not need to completely reinvent your life. You need to realign your attitude.
I wrote this book for the person who feels stuck. For the leader trying to bring the best out of a team. For the high achiever who knows there is another level. For the person navigating disappointment, change, fear, grief, failure, or uncertainty. And for anyone who understands that becoming better is not a one-time decision. It requires continual adjustment.
The stage allows me to reach people for an hour. This book allows the message to stay with them long after the applause ends.
My goal is simple: give readers something they can actually use when life gets difficult, their attitude gets tested, and they need to get realigned with who they are, what matters most, and where they are going.
Because circumstances will change. Challenges will come. Plans will get interrupted.
But you can always come back to the process.
Become Aware. Assess honestly. Seek Advice. Attack the next step. Become Adjusted.
That is Attitude Over Everything.
AUTHOR
WHERE IT'S LED
ATTITUDE UNIVERSITY & WHAT'S NEXT
Attitude University is where everything I have learned, experienced, taught, and continue to study comes together. Through courses, podcasts, interviews, coaching, current research, practical tools, and conversations with experts and high performers, the goal is to continually explore one central question: How does our attitude influence the quality and trajectory of our lives?
I want Attitude University to become a trusted destination for people who are serious about developing a championship mindset and attitude. Not hype. Not temporary motivation. Real principles, proven strategies, relevant research, and practical tools people can apply in their homes, careers, organizations, classrooms, locker rooms, and communities.
At the center of it all is the AOE Framework and a belief that has grown stronger through every chapter of my life: Attitude is not the only thing, but it is the main thing.
Because sometimes you do not need to completely reinvent your life. You need to realign your attitude.
Football taught me that. Business reinforced it. Cancer tested it. Loss deepened it. Marriage and family continue to remind me of it. My faith gives it purpose. And decades of standing in front of audiences have shown me how desperately people need practical tools to help them navigate the moments when life does not go according to plan.
But Attitude University is about more than what I can teach. It is about what we can continue to learn. I want to bring together research, experts, coaches, leaders, educators, athletes, entrepreneurs, and everyday people whose experiences can help us better understand the tremendous influence attitude has on human performance and the human experience.
And in many ways, I believe I am just getting started.
The next chapter is about building something that can outlive me. Something my family can be proud of. Something that equips organizations, develops leaders, strengthens teams, impacts young people, and gives individuals practical resources to become better versions of themselves.
My goal is not simply to build a successful speaking career or company. I want to build a body of work that matters.
A legacy rooted in faith. Grounded in family. Supported by research. Proven through experience. And dedicated to helping change the world the same way I have always believed lasting change happens:
One person. One choice. One attitude at a time.
Keynote Speaker · Author · Entrepreneur
Cancer Survivor · National Champion
“Your Attitude. Your Choice.”