Meet Jon Antonucci | Founder of SML Consultive

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jon Antonucci and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jon, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The story of starting my own business is one I’ve shared 100’s of times. It all began during a conversation I was having with my boss, as the training manager of an organization. To make a long story short, she wanted me to develop training that was specific to the team-leads of the organization, which I supported, but felt was in need of some change.

I said, “I know I’ve brought this up before, but I am going to press harder, this time. If we are going to do training for the team leads than we NEED to start with leadership training.” I received instant pushback, but eventually was able to convince her that, it did not matter how well they knew their job if they did not know how to lead their teams. I will forever remember her closing statement, “I’ll be interested to see what you put together.”

In that moment, I knew I already had a pretty dynamic curriculum from previous work I’d done, but I also knew that it needed to be supplemented and we were in agreement that we wanted to give them outside materials for them to consider before the weekly leadership sessions. So, I set out to put together the new leadership program for our organization.

As I did, I recognized a couple of things:
1. The materials that were available were not very good.
2. The training that existed was designed for executive level leadership.

It was also, during this process that I recognized the passion within me to create an impactful program that would empower our front-line leaders for success. I also recognized that I had been in various forms of leadership for over 20 years, and had been helping empower leaders (unofficially) for over a decade. Through all of this, I had to acknowledge that it was truly my life’s calling.

The decision to begin a business was not easy, nor made lightly. But, over the course of a couple of months, and via a couple of situations that propelled me forward, I decided that I was destined for the great work of empowering leaders. I also recognized that there was precious little available for the front-line and middle management leaders. And I felt that I had a lot to offer them!

So, I set out to offer my gift to the world, and I have been so honored to be able to walk along-side many leaders in their journey, so far. I am eager to continue to do so, as we empower leaders to change the world!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I got my entrepreneurial start growing up in the foothills of Colorado, where I provided lawncare and lemonade stands for my neighbors at only seven years old. At age 11, I had multiple business pursuits, and began karate classes at the local Boys and Girls Club. By age 12 I made use of my “firstborn” natural leader tendencies, teaching my first class.

When my family moved to Arizona, I got his first W2 job, quickly becoming the go-to person at the local Safeway. At age 17, I was given my own martial arts class to teach and by the time I was 19, I was leading 15 classes totaling over 500 students.

Unfortunately, this bright star was not mature enough for my early success. Before I turned 20, I made the stupidest decision of my life, choosing to accompany 3 of my friends in the arson of a building in South Phoenix, which left my best friend dead and sent me to prison for over a decade!

Thankfully, I was able to redeem the terrible situation by first addressing my own character flaws and second by using every day productively: participating in every rehabilitation class offered, completing multiple certificates and degrees, and actually rooting myself in the faith that I had previously pretended to hold. Because of my transformation, I was given many opportunities to empower others in their success.

By the time I was released, I had been instrumental in the development of the Inmate Peer Program—creating and facilitating rehabilitation classes, and other opportunities that provided tools for success to those who wanted to leave a life of crime and return to society as productive, contributing members.

After release, I have enjoyed the privilege of first being the Training Manager and subsequently the Director of Revenue for an international specialty logistics company, consulting for multiple multi-million-dollar businesses, being a keynote speaker, sharing my story of hope in a variety of settings, and serving in my church.

I am now pursuing my passion for empowering leaders by providing leadership consulting, training, and workshops for organizations which value servant-minded leadership that is rooted in love.

My journey has been filled with challenges that have refined my character and helped me become a person who can actually help others. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to positively impact others and help them achieve the success that they seek!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Phoenix has some really neat spots that I really enjoy. For an easy and beautiful sight, South Mountain at night is a short drive that will take you to the top of the mountain and will permit one to see the city below. It is particularly beautiful during the Christmas season, when there are even more lights!
For a more arduous experience, I recommend a hike up either camelback mountain (multiple difficulty levels), or Piestawa Peak, which is more difficult. Both will allow one to experience the desert beauty, and provide great views of the city.
For more indoors fun, I LOVE a new(er) place in Scottsdale called “Bam Kazam” I have yet to take anyone there who did not absolutely fall in love with the place!
And my favorite dining is not far away from that. Maggianos is a wonderful Italian place that is sure to impress.

There are many other places, but these will keep you busy and satisfied for a day or two!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have been so blessed to have impactful leaders in my life that have helped me become the man I am today! I am a firm believer that we are ALL turtles on fenceposts! “What does that mean?”, you ask. Great question! Have you ever seen a turtle on a fencepost? If so, I guarantee that it did not get there on its own! Similarly, none of us truly get to where we are on our own. I know that I have done a LOT of work, but NONE of this is possible on my own. The list of people that I would like to give credit to is about 50 names long. But, for the purpose of this article, I will name only three: 1. My father – He is the one who taught me hard work, and gave me opportunities at a young age to be a leader.
2. My brother – I’d like to name 2 of them, but I will only recognize Josh, who has inspired me to keep improving and keep investing in others!
3. My mentor – Again, there are several I would like to name, but I will stick with Brent, who is specifically my leadership mentor and who has invested a lot of time that he really doesn’t have to help me in my journey!

I am exceedingly grateful for each of these people and I would not be the man I am today without them!

Website: www.servantmindedleadership.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantmindedleadership/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sml-consultive/ or https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-antonucci/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Real_Jon_A

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantMindedLeadership

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sml-consultive-peoria

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@servantmindedleadership