Aaron Chapman
Author of Redneck Economics, EVP of Investment Lending
Big-game hunter from cattle country — Alaska moose, Arizona mule deer, New Zealand.
- Investment Property Lending
- Mortgage Origination
- Real Estate Investing
- Big-Game Hunting
About Aaron Chapman
What Aaron built
One of the top-ranked mortgage originators in the United States, specializing in real estate investment lending. Executive Vice President at a national lending firm. Built his career from scratch after entering the industry in December 1997 with no background in finance. Author of Redneck Economics, a three-and-a-half-year project backed by a quarter million dollar investment and illustrated by his brother.
Aaron in the field
Big-game hunter with roots in cattle country. Grew up hunting birds in the American West and rekindled his passion for the field after a devastating 2008 motorcycle accident. Completed a 10-day Alaska moose hunt along the Yukon River — six moose in six days, packed out on foot. Also hunts mule deer in Northern Arizona and has been to New Zealand.
Why this conversation matters
Aaron's story is the definition of radical tenacity — from picking up coins to buy diapers to becoming one of the top originators in the country. His philosophy on pain, perseverance, and faith translates directly from the field to the deal table.
“Life is hard. There's no cheat code. Pick your path, get your ass on it, and keep moving forward.”
Aaron Chapman on The Hunt for Success
Sam McGough's full conversation with Aaron, available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Key takeaways from Aaron Chapman
The ideas Aaron left on the table in episode 01.
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There is no cheat code — life is hard for everyone.
Aaron's assistant asked him for the cheat code to life. His answer: discovering that life is hard IS the cheat code. Once you accept that, you stop looking for shortcuts and start doing the work.
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Rock bottom is where the real path gets revealed.
Picking up coins in a parking lot to buy gas and diapers led Aaron to an encounter that put him in the mortgage industry. The prayer he thought went unanswered was answered in ways he couldn't have imagined.
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Pain is the ultimate teacher — you retain what hurts.
Aaron doesn't remember the deals that closed smoothly. He remembers the one that fell apart after he sacrificed Christmas morning. Scars teach lessons that success never will.
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Don't sacrifice what matters most for what's fleeting.
A client made Aaron work Christmas morning 1998, then signed with another lender for an eighth of a percent. The deal would have died either way. Now Aaron shuts off his computer when his grandkids show up.