From Military Leadership to Business Growth with Antwon Person

What does it really take to go from being busy in your business to actually building one that can grow? In this episode of Adrienne Barker Speaks: No Prep Needed, Adrienne sits down with Antwon Person, also known as The Skillful Advisor, a retired U.S. Army Senior Officer, entrepreneur, and founder of Skillful Brands. Antwon shares how his 22 years in the military shaped the way he now helps entrepreneurs create structure, simplify operations, and build scalable businesses without drowning in confusion. This conversation goes deep into the real reasons many businesses struggle. Antwon explains why passion alone is not enough, why too many entrepreneurs jump into programs at the wrong stage, and why structure, systems, and strategy have to come before growth. He also shares how his nine week mastermind helps business owners move through different phases, from formation and validation to systems, credit, capital, branding, and team building. Adrienne and Antwon also talk about masterminds, business credit, referrals, hiring, AI, community building, and the importance of being honest about where you really are in business. This is one of those episodes that gives you both the big picture and the practical truth. No fluff, no pretending, and no fake guru nonsense. Just real talk and smart strategy. Key Takeaways → Being busy does not mean you are building a real business. Antwon says many entrepreneurs get stuck because they are doing too much without the right structure in place. → Entrepreneurs often fail not because their idea is bad, but because they do not have the right business framework. → Antwon teaches three core pieces every business needs: structure, systems, and strategy. Without those, growth gets messy fast. → His mastermind is built in phases so entrepreneurs get the right support at the right time, whether they are just starting out or preparing to scale. → Masterminds offer more than coaching. They create community, perspective, accountability, and ideas from other business owners who may see what you cannot. → AI can be useful, but Antwon believes many business owners should focus on using it for research first instead of replacing real relationships and human connection. → When hiring support, look for someone with a zone of excellence rather than expecting one person to do everything well. That right there will save a lot of people from expensive chaos. How to Reach Antwon Person Website: SkillfulAdvisor.com LinkedIn: Antwon Person Business: Skillful Brands If this episode gave you a fresh way to think about business growth, leadership, or building with intention, be sure to subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review. And if you know an entrepreneur who is working hard but still feels stuck, send this one their way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices