Meet Tony Franklin, a seasoned sales leader and founder of Tidbit Consulting, whose journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship is as inspiring as it is relatable. With over 30 years of experience building high-performing sales teams and strategies, Tony has dedicated himself to guiding small and mid-sized businesses towards scalable, repeatable success. His story reflects the resilience, self-belief, and process-driven mindset essential for entrepreneurial growth. At Humans of Fuzia, we believe in empowering voices like Tony’s — stories that motivate, challenge stereotypes, and remind our 5-million-strong global community that success knows no gender. As advocates for both He for She and She for She, we proudly share his journey to inspire the next wave of changemakers.
Tony, can you tell us how your entrepreneurial journey began?
It all started back in 2007 when I was working at a startup. We were going through a rough patch — typical startup ups and downs. I’ve always been someone who likes to motivate people, so I sent out an inspirational quote to the entire company. I didn’t ask permission, just felt the team needed a lift. The next day, the CEO called me in and said he loved it. That’s when I asked if I could keep sending them, and he agreed. Soon, friends outside the company started asking for my “Tidbits,” and before I knew it, TonyTidbits was born. Over time, it grew into a daily motivational message reaching 5,000 people, eventually evolving into Tidbit Consulting and my podcast, The Black Executive Perspective.
How does Tidbit Consulting support businesses today?
At Tidbit Consulting, I help small and mid-sized businesses build scalable, structured sales operations that generate repeatable revenue. What makes us different? I don’t just develop strategies and walk away — I roll up my sleeves, install the processes, coach the teams, and lead execution. I turn sales chaos into clarity so organizations can grow with confidence.
You’ve had a successful corporate career. What was the biggest challenge when transitioning to entrepreneurship?
Confidence. In corporate roles, you perform your job, and the paycheck follows. As an entrepreneur, you invest time and effort without guarantees. It can get lonely. You start questioning, “Am I good enough? Did I make the right decision?” That’s when I remind myself to bet on me. Everything I’ve learned brought me here. It’s not about immediate results; it’s about staying committed to the process, even when you can’t yet see the outcome.
You shared an insightful metaphor during our chat — would you share that with our readers?
Absolutely. I always use the farmer analogy. Picture a farmer looking at a rocky field but envisioning a cornfield. He clears the land, plants seeds, waters the soil — but for days, he sees nothing. That’s where many entrepreneurs quit. But success is happening underground; they just can’t see it yet. If they stick to the process, one day the corn sprouts, visible to everyone. It’s all about attitude and work ethic — those are the only two things you control. Focus there, and success follows.
What’s your perspective on women in leadership and entrepreneurship?
Women have always had the ability to lead — history just didn’t set them up for it. Now that we’re seeing more women in leadership, it’s not only necessary but essential. Diverse perspectives fuel innovation and growth. That said, we’re not there yet. Many women leaders still face bias, stricter scrutiny, and unequal pay. We need to support talented individuals — regardless of gender, race, or background — because true leaders are rare, and when you find one, you lift them up.
What short-term goals have you set for yourself this year?
My family and I do a year-end ritual — we write our goals, share them, and burn them in the fire pit as a symbolic commitment. For 2025, I have five daily affirmation words: Scale — to grow my business; Composure — stay calm through the ups and downs; Mission — I’m on one to be the best version of myself; Discipline — consistent action even on tough days; and Enjoy — have fun, enjoy life and relationships. Our family slogan for the year? “Strive and thrive in 2025.”
You’re clearly passionate about coaching — what fuels that?
I’ve been fortunate to have mentors who saw potential in me, sometimes before I saw it myself. Helping others recognize and live up to their potential is how I give back. Success starts in the mind — I love helping people understand that.
Lastly, any advice for budding entrepreneurs out there?
Plant the corn. Don’t obsess over instant results — focus on the process. It might get harder before it gets better — like when I started hitting the gym years ago, and after two weeks, I was just sore and still out of shape. But consistency, attitude, and hard work pay off. You have everything inside you to succeed. The only person who can stop you is you — and that only happens when you stop getting back up. So keep going — through the ups, the downs, stay on your path, and thrive.
“You have everything inside of you to succeed. The only person who can stop you is you.” — Tony Franklin
Connect with Tony Franklin:
You can connect with Tony on LinkedIn.
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