By: Maria Williams

Tony Schmaltz is a Florida-based personal, leadership, and business coach whose leadership has been described as empowering for individuals looking to break through challenges in life, relationships, business, and career. Since 2021, Tony has worked with individuals to help them make the leap to the next chapter of their lives through corporate coaching, speaking engagements, one-on-one and group sessions, and his inspiring book, Wake the Bleep Up: Break Down the Walls Blocking Your Possibilities.

A natural leader, Tony has always exhibited a talent for motivating those around him to see the best in themselves. Even from his early years—whether on the playground or the Little League team—he often stepped into the role of leading and inspiring his peers. As part of his affinity for forging his own path, Tony chose not to complete his college education.

Instead, he worked at a steel foundry right after high school for two years. Later, he worked as a lab technician in an aerospace company, where he essentially built the lab from scratch. He was soon promoted to becoming a project manager, and his ascension through the ranks continued. Through a series of promotions, Tony refined his leadership skills alongside his growing responsibilities. He later found himself in a leadership position at a design company, where he and the team achieved substantial growth, increasing annual revenue by several million over five years.

Somewhere along the way, Tony realized his talent for uplifting people. He moved to Florida with his wife and kids in search of more tropical climates. Although it paid well, the leadership of the company he joined in Panama City presented challenges. “It was one of the most negative companies I’d worked for,” Tony recalls, “I had always been a very positive person, but when I got to this company, I was frustrated all the time. My family saw it too, and at that point, something had to change.”

Tony hired his first life coach from a friend’s referral. In six months, his perspective shifted significantly, and he felt a renewed sense of purpose. In 2021, Tony left the company and began coaching full-time.

Today, his colleagues and mentees frequently compare him to motivational icons, calling him a ‘Tony Robbins 2.0.’ This is because of Tony’s direct but approachable style of coaching, encouraging people to assess their lives and take the actions they need to step back into themselves. “Through a series of questions, I can help clarify the steps you need to build your business and relationship and upgrade your life. There’s no need to overcomplicate things; we just focus on what matters.”

For example, one of the many insights shared in his book Wake The Bleep Up is the concept of taking ownership of one’s life and moving away from the ‘victim mindset.’ “Once you stop blaming everything and everyone around you and see that you’re responsible for what happens, growth becomes possible. This mindset shift can help build confidence across all areas of life,” he explains.

With seminars, workshops, and speaking engagements, Tony engages in corporate coaching sessions to inspire and guide organizations in optimizing productivity and collaboration. Through straightforward and impactful communication, Tony customizes his coaching to resonate with each team member while fostering unity and collaboration. His most recent engagement was a three-hour workshop with managers and leadership at Amazon.com.

As one attendee of this session noted, “Tony will wake you up, right from the start! He’s an engaging facilitator and did such a great job tailoring this training to our team’s needs. This was such an effective time together for our team, changing the way we spoke to each other. It improved both our communication and how we approach expectations.”

He also holds one-on-one sessions to delve into a person’s psyche and help identify obstacles to their growth. Tony emphasizes that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ guidance; each program is tailored to meet the unique needs of his clients. However, Tony shares one common insight with most clients: understanding the distinction between expectations and agreements. “I’m talking about communication and collaboration. Expectations without communication lead to disappointment, but once you understand where everyone stands, you take back ownership of your response to any situation.” As personal growth is a collaborative process, Tony offers a complimentary first session for every client to ensure it’s a mutually good fit.

Additionally, he offers group sessions and online courses that facilitate collaborative personal development while making his insights accessible to a broader audience. To demonstrate the value of translating his in-person services to the virtual world, Tony recently hosted a successful two-day online summit filled with inspiring speeches, sessions, and presentations. Tony has shared live or virtual stages with well-known motivational speakers and coaches such as Steve Chandler, Les Brown, Tom Ziglar, and more. His events aim to leave participants feeling inspired and empowered to pursue their goals.

Recognized as one of the top fifteen coaches in Tampa, Florida, Tony Schmaltz continues to provide focused and impactful guidance to help others rediscover their power and agency.

Published by Iris S.