Entrepreneur, Among Other Things
Entrepreneur, among other things...
“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, cook a meal, fight efficiently, and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
― Robert A. Heinlein
I talk to the most interesting people we can find in business, finance, science, art, technology, and human improvement and try to learn from them.
Entrepreneur, Among Other Things
#115 - Clay Carter - Rising the Ranks at Whole Foods to Entrepreneurial Startup in Outdoor Apparel
In this episode, we sit down with Clay Carter, a dynamic leader and entrepreneur who shares his incredible journey from a rapid ascent through the corporate ranks at Whole Foods Market to launching his own successful outdoor brand, Split Ridge Outfitters.
Clay dives deep into the high-stakes world of retail leadership, discussing the steepest learning curve he faced going from an entry-level position to overseeing a major store in just four months. He reveals his counter-intuitive, but highly effective, leadership philosophy: why the most influential leaders "lead from the bottom up, not the top down," and how to build a team that wants to work with you, not just for you.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this conversation:
- The Shocking Cost of Living: The reality of the post-2021 housing boom in Jackson, Wyoming, where the average home price hit $4.2 million and the practical impact on local business and talent.
- Rapid Career Growth: Clay's strategy for accelerating his path from the deli counter to a Store Leader role in under six months.
- The "Work With, Not For" Rule: How to implement a Servant Leadership model and why leaning into your areas of discomfort is crucial for development.
- Entrepreneurial Inspiration: The story behind Split Ridge Outfitters and the profound meaning of their tagline: "Freedom lives where we go."
Whether you’re a manager looking for an edge, an entrepreneur seeking inspiration, or just curious about the wild world of Wyoming real estate, Clay delivers actionable insights and powerful stories you won’t want to miss.
🔗 Connect with Clay Carter & Split Ridge Outfitters:
LinkedIn: clay-carter-973748105
LinkedIn: split-ridge-outfitters
Facebook: /clay.carter.39142/
Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction to Clay Carter
1:22 - The Shocking $4.2M Reality of Jackson, WY Real Estate
8:41 - Leadership Philosophy: Leading From the Bottom Up
12:28 - From Deli Team Member to Store Leader in 4 Months
18:04 - The Power of the Daily "Morning Store Walk"
41:33 - The Inspiration Behind Split Ridge Outfitters
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Alexander V. Johnson is a Founding Partner of Mixt Solutions, a 6x Inc. 5,000 Fastest Growing Company in America. Mixt Solutions has successfully done millions of transactions on Amazon and works with some of the biggest consumer packaged goods brands in the world. In 2024, Mixt Solutions crossed over 150 million dollars of all time sales on Amazon.
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Intro Music Credit:
"Alone and Afraid" - SourBlood: • Alone and Afraid Official Lyric Video
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FJVH...
#LeadershipDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #ClayCarter #SplitRidgeOutfitters #ServantLeadership #BusinessStrategy #CareerGrowth #WholeFoods #JacksonWyoming #RealEstate #RetailManagement #OutdoorBrand #SEO #podcast
