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

Hi Tony, other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?
I realized that this process was going to take some time, and I decided that I was in it for the long haul. Running this business is the first time in my life that I made a firm decision to keep going in the face of many obstacles over the course of years. My mantra is ‘don’t give up’. Our society prizes speed and quick success. We are expected to drop out of college, start Facebook, and make billions. The reality for almost everyone is that building a successful business/career takes time. It has been difficult, but I’m so glad I’ve made the decision to stay with this over 3.5 years.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The hardest part about my business journey is doing it alone. It is difficult to weather the business storms without colleagues. And I have struggled at times with being accountable to myself. This is also what I’m most proud of. I reached out and found support when I’ve needed it. I continue to work on building a community, and I’ve improved a great deal. I put roots in the ground that support me through the ups and downs.

What sets me apart is deep listening, 13+ years of experience, and a desire to positively and profoundly change the lives of the creative professionals I work with. I’m interested in what works for my clients, not what works for me. I adapt and change my coaching depending on the needs of my clients. I am process focused and driven to get my clients wins in the black and white environment of getting a job and/or securing financial resources. I take a holistic approach to my work with clients. I know that all parts of our lives are connected. This holistic approach allows me to help clients improve their lives in deeper ways.

The world of career coaching is strange and exciting. Anyone can be a career coach. You don’t need a degree or license. You don’t have to pass a test. In order to have success as a career coach you need to build trust with clients and get clients great results. In other words, you just have to be really good at it. I think I’m really good at it.

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?
Paul Zelizer is my business coach and without him there is no business. He has helped build my business from the ground up. In his 15+ years as a social impact business coach he’s gained so much experience, knowledge, and wisdom. I’ve benefitted greatly from his years of experience. Paul is a good person, a great listener, and he also knows when to step in and light a fire under my butt. He’s taught me about accounting, marketing, sales, social media, and navigating the emotional ups and downs of solopreneur life. He deserves the biggest shout out. Thank you, Paul!

Website: tonyleonardcoaching.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-leonard1/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tony-leonard-coaching-oakland

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