“I’ve spent most of my work life searching for efficiencies, and I derive great pleasure from finding better ways to do things.”
“Failure is a waypoint in the process, not an end.”
– Clint Greenleaf
It’s often been said, “Once an entrepreneur, always an entrepreneur.” Clint Greenleaf certainly fits that statement. A true serial entrepreneur, Clint’s achievements have been chronicled for quite a while. He started out as a CPA for Deloitte and Touche but hated being an accountant.
That’s what prompted him to start his first company, Greenleaf Book Group (GBC). The success of this venture can be measured by his tenure on the Inc. 500 and 5000 lists. His first year on the list was 2006, ranking 224, with a three-year revenue growth of 562%. GBC then resided on the Inc. 5000 from 2007 to 2012.
Clint sold GBC in 2011, and remained CEO until 2014. With all this free time, he founded four more businesses, Tree Neutral®, Bambino BallsTM, Pigs and Bricks, and Moonshot Brands, and serves as CEO. The latest offering of Moonshine is HomePlate Peanut ButterTM, which can be found in every Major League clubhouse.
Not being satisfied with his own success, Clint educates other businesses on better ways of operating. He is a sought-after speaker and serves on the Board of Directors of Young Presidents Organization, Austin, TX chapter. Award-winning author is another accomplishment, he can add to his résumé, having written, or collaborated on, a multitude of titles. Consider Clint’s story a how-to resource for entrepreneurial success. This serial entrepreneur is poised to become the next peanut butter mogul.
Age: 41
Company Name: HomePlate Peanut Butter
Title: CEO
Website: www.HomePlatePB.com
Hometown: Austin, TX
Relationship: Happily Married
I grew up in a house that was proud to be American, that understood hard work and appreciated entrepreneurial ventures. I started businesses throughout my childhood, adolescence, and in college.
Why did you start your business(es)?
I hated accounting. I spent 7 long, boring months as a staff accountant at Deloitte before retiring to start my own company. I earned my CPA, but just barely.
What entrepreneur has most inspired you?
My dad has been a huge influence. He started a few different financial companies, and has been able to run them well, and make money with integrity.
What is the biggest obstacle you have overcome thus far in business?
The mistake of not paying enough for great talent. In the early years, I tried to get by with people who were good but not great. I had been unwilling to take the leap, but once I did, I realized just how much that choice had held me back.
What have you learned from failure?
I’ve learned that I don’t have to be right every time, and that failure is a waypoint in the process, not an end. Failure is a common occurrence. As long as you get back up it’s just a hiccup.
How does your leadership style foster your company’s culture?
I like to hire great people and get out of the way. I’m not one to micromanage or sweat details. I like to let great people flourish.
What are your top 3 responsibilities as a leader?
- Take care of my people
- Provide an awesome vision
- Remove roadblocks so they can succeed.
What internal process do you use to guide your decision-making?
I like to get a number of different opinions from different points of view. Yes-men or Yes-women are not valuable in any way.
How do you define success?
Freedom is the biggest, but I also want to raise awesome kids who are motivated to live as productive members of society.
Which book has inspired you?
That’s a long list! But some of the biggest ones that stand out to me are:
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
Great by Choice by Jim Collins
Small Giants by Bo Burlington
Return on Integrity by John G. Blumberg
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
What do you think is the coolest technology out there, and why?
I guess peanut butter is too self-serving? In that case I would say drones are the coolest. Their ability to solve transportation problems over the coming years will revolutionize how we live.
Bonus: Wildcard (Anything else we should know about)
Here are some link I would love to share with everyone.
www.homeplatepb.com, www.clintgreenleaf.com, www.bambinoballs.com, www.pigsandbricks.com
Do you want to see what you have in common with me? Here are some of my preferences, at a glance…
Chocolate
Chips or Pretzels?
Chips
Mountains or Beach?
Mountains
Early Bird or Night Owl?
Night owl
Sweet or Savory?
Savory
Mac or PC?
Mac
Cake or Pie?
Cake
Dog or Cat?
Dog
Pen or Pencil?
Pen
Car or Truck?
Truck
Summer or Winter?
Summer
Introvert or Extrovert?
Extrovert
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