Meet Tony Barnes

We were lucky to catch up with Tony Barnes recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tony, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience was forged in two places: the battlefield and the breakdown. As a U.S. Army veteran, I learned discipline, mental toughness, and how to keep moving forward under pressure. But it was life after the uniform—when I faced personal loss, identity shifts, and silent struggles—that really tested me. I had to confront my own “mind bullies,” the inner voices of doubt, fear, and unworthiness. Through faith, deep inner work, and the decision to stop playing small, I rebuilt my mindset from the inside out. That’s where my resilience comes from—not just surviving tough seasons, but choosing to grow through them and helping others do the same.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m Tony Barnes — a U.S. Army veteran turned mindset and transformation coach, author of Do The Work, and the founder of Auxano Coaching. My mission is simple: help ambitious people conquer the mental battles that keep them stuck — what I call “mind bullies” — so they can rise into purpose, clarity, and unstoppable momentum.

After years of leading soldiers, navigating life transitions, and wrestling with my own silent struggles, I realized the biggest fight wasn’t external — it was internal. That revelation sparked the creation of my coaching frameworks, which combine real-life experience, neuroscience-based tools, and faith-aligned principles to help others build unshakable confidence and clarity.

What excites me most is seeing people flip the switch — that moment when they stop settling and start taking bold, aligned action toward their next big win. I coach high performers, entrepreneurs, and everyday leaders who know they’re meant for more but need help breaking through the fog of fear, perfectionism, or procrastination.

Right now, I’m focused on expanding my coaching platform through live events, keynote speaking, and our signature Mind Bullies to Breakthrough program — a transformative reset experience that’s changing lives. We’re also relaunching Do The Work this Christmas as part of a larger push to impact men’s mental health and personal growth.

For anyone who’s ever felt like they’re losing the battle in their own mind, I want them to know — they’re not broken, they’re just not alone. And I’m in their corner, every step of the way.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three most impactful traits in my journey have been resilience, self-awareness, and communication.

Resilience helped me bounce back from hard seasons — not just survive them, but grow through them. It’s one thing to get knocked down; it’s another to rise with intention. For anyone early in their journey, resilience is built by keeping promises to yourself, doing hard things consistently, and embracing failure as feedback.

Self-awareness was a game-changer. Once I got honest about my patterns — the thoughts, fears, and habits that were keeping me stuck — I could finally do the real work. My advice? Slow down enough to reflect. Journal. Ask the hard questions. Awareness always comes before breakthrough.

Communication allowed me to lead, connect, and coach with power and authenticity. Whether you’re building a business, a brand, or just a better version of yourself, your voice is your vehicle. Practice speaking your truth with clarity and conviction. And just as important — learn to listen deeply.

Whatever your path, remember: You don’t have to have it all figured out to start. Start messy. Start scared. Just start — and grow forward from there.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

There’s no single person — it’s been a divine layering of people, pain, and purpose. But if I had to name the most impactful, it would be my late mother and the mentors God placed in my path at key moments.

My mom taught me grit. I watched her navigate life’s storms with quiet strength, and even in her struggle, she pushed me to think bigger, believe deeper, and lead with heart. Her journey — and the dreams she never got to fulfill — is what fuels mine.

Then there were mentors, both in and out of the military, who challenged me to sharpen my mind, speak with clarity, and lead with integrity. And ultimately, I credit God. Faith has been my foundation — in every dark valley and every breakthrough moment, I’ve seen His hand guiding me.

So I didn’t get here alone. I’m the product of people who believed, stretched, and sometimes even broke me — so I could be rebuilt stronger, wiser, and more aligned with my purpose.

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