Clay Clark
Here is a profile of Clay Clark (Clayton Thomas Clark) — his life, entrepreneurial journey, and public persona — based on available public sources.
Introduction
Clay Clark (full name Clayton Thomas Clark, born November 5, 1980) is an American entrepreneur, business coach, author, public speaker, and podcast host.
He is best known as the founder of Thrive15, and as co-creator/host of the Thrivetime Show podcast.
Clark’s public brand combines business education, motivational speaking, media, and coaching, often with a strong personal narrative of overcoming financial limitations and scaling multiple ventures.
Early Life, Education & Background
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Clark was born on November 5, 1980.
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His early life included financial constraints; he has spoken about growing up in a home without abundant resources and having to find paths to “thrive” rather than just survive.
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To support his education, Clark launched his first business while at Oral Roberts University.
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In one of his bios, it is noted that he started a business from his college dorm room at about age 18.
Entrepreneurial and Professional Journey
Early Ventures
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Clark’s first venture was DJ Connection, launched in 1999 while he was in college, aiming to fund tuition and leveraging events, entertainment, and DJ services.
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Over time, he diversified into a range of businesses: Elephant in the Room Men’s Grooming Lounge,
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He also co-founded or started Make Your Life Epic, a business consulting / coaching brand.
Thrive15 & Media / Coaching Work
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In 2014, Clark launched
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He is a host / co-founder of the Thrivetime Show podcast.
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Through his coaching, speaking, and content, he has consulted for or spoken to many organizations across industries (e.g. Hewlett Packard, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Valspar, Maytag).
Recognition & Awards
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At age 20, he was named Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce “Young Entrepreneur of the Year”.
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At age 27, he earned the U.S. SBA (Small Business Administration) Entrepreneur of the Year for Oklahoma.
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His enterprises have earned various accolades, such as national quality awards or recognitions in business media.
Public Persona and Controversies
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Clark is not just a business coach but also an event organizer and media personality. He has been involved in political and activism events, such as the ReAwaken America Tour (a series of events focusing on political, health, and faith topics).
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Some public sources mention that he has made statements and taken stances in relation to COVID-19 policies, mandates, and related conspiracy theories.
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In 2009, he initially declared candidacy for Tulsa mayor, though he later withdrew and supported another Republican candidate.
Because parts of his public persona are intertwined with political activism and contentious topics, some of his statements are subject to criticism.
Philosophy, Style & Public Voice
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Clark emphasizes “actionable steps”, practical strategies, and a narrative of transformation through consistent work and mindset.
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He often frames business growth in terms of frameworks, disciplines, accountability, and scaling systems rather than mere inspiration.
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He blends faith, personal story, and entrepreneurship in his messaging.
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His persona is energetic, high-volume, and media-savvy — he often blends coaching with performance, showmanship, and personality.
Publicly Attributed Quotes
I could not reliably find a well-documented, authoritative collection of quotes attributed to Clay Clark in the kind of historical quotation sources. Many quotes circulating online are from social media, promotional content, or secondary sites without verifiable sourcing.
Here are a few commonly repeated lines attributed to him (with caution about verification):
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“Starting a successful business is not tricky. Starting a successful business … requires having a pig-headed, purpose-driven tenacity about achieving your life goals.”
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“Your seeds of success won’t grow unless you plant them.”
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“Temporary setbacks and failures are prerequisites to success.”
Because these are from non-primary sources, they should be treated cautiously.
Lessons from Clay Clark’s Journey
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Start lean & use existing resources
Clark’s initial venture (DJ Connection) was built while he was a college student as means to pay tuition — showing that many businesses start small and grow from necessity. -
Diversification & multiple ventures
He broadened into grooming, photography, coaching, media, and events — showing that entrepreneurs often expand across adjacent fields. -
Leverage content, media & personality
His success is not just in running businesses but in building a public persona, creating content, and using media to scale influence. -
Narrative of overcoming scarcity
His story of coming from constrained resources gives him credibility with audiences who feel similar pressures. -
Risk & public identity
Being visible, especially in controversial arenas (politics, public health), bears risk: reputational challenges, pushback, controversy. -
Mix of faith and business
Clark integrates spiritual and business language in his narrative, which appeals to certain audiences but also polarizes others.
Conclusion
Clay Clark is a modern entrepreneurial figure whose work lies at the intersection of coaching, media, business education, and activism. His career illustrates how a public brand can be built on a combination of venture building, content creation, and storytelling.