No one knows better than you what you need to learn in order to grow your business or start a new venture. Wading through the ocean of advice, tutorials, tools and educational offers online is a disheartening lesson in itself. Where can you turn to find simple and direct instructions from successful entrepreneurs that target the specific aspects of business you’re looking to master?
Thrive15 is an excellent place to start. This educational platform delivers action-oriented lessons that waste no time putting new skills into practice. 15-minute video tutorials led by “millionaires, mentors, and everyday entrepreneur success stories” help business people learn marketing, networking, branding, fundraising and other essentials.
Lessons from the “Wheel of Wealth” teach how to build businesses and give business owners access to singular mentorship. This flexible subscription service lets you learn what you need, when the time is right for you, on whatever device you like. Besides learning how to run businesses more successfully, students have added incentives to do their homework – exclusive mentorship opportunities and cash prizes that will further boost their companies’ fortunes.
Thrive15 has other innovative programs not to be missed. CEO Clay Clark managed to slip away for a few minutes and tell us more about how his startup will turn entrepreneurs into accomplished Thrivers:
What’s your company about? What do you do? Who are your customers?
Thrive15.com offers 15-minute edutainment videos that teach small business owners and entrepreneurs how to start or grow a business. Taught by millionaires, moguls and everyday success stories. “Thrivers” learn from mentors such as former NBA hall of famer David Robinson, former Executive VP of Walt Disney Resort Lee Cockerell, or mompreneur Rachel Faucett of Handmade Charlotte.
What’s the greatest thing about your company/website? Why is it better than the competition?
Thrive15 offers world-class education, taught by mentors that business owners would otherwise not have access to. The 15-minute videos are packed with practical action steps that business owners can use to grow their business. In addition, we offer gamification. Thrivers earn points that allow them to earn rewards such as a one-on-one mentor session with any of the Thrive15 mentors or a boost package of $30,000 that they can put into their business.
Clay Clark, CEO of Thrive15
How’d you come up with the name for your company?
At Thrive15 our goal is to see business owners and entrepreneurs get from where they are to where they want to be. From barely surviving to Thriving in 15 minutes a day.
What time do you usually start work each day? How many hours a day do you usually work?
I am usually at work by 5am (sometimes earlier), and leave at 6pm or later.
When do your best ideas come to you? In bed in the morning? During dinner? On your third beer?
In the morning. It is no secret around the Thrive15 office that I wake up 3 hours before I head to work and take a bath. During that time, I read – this is when I usually have my best ideas.
How many people did you start the company with and how many people work for you now?
We started the company as an idea with about 5 of us. Today those 5 are still here, and we have grown into a team of videographers, a marketing team, and a small PR team of about 25.
A lot of people have big ideas. What gave you the confidence to actually go after yours?
I started my first company out of my college dorm room and found great success through mentorship and following systems that other successful companies were implementing. I have since started and grown over 9 different companies. I know that small businesses can thrive when given the tools and applications needed to succeed. Being a small business owner and entrepreneur, I had the confidence that others needed this same guidance.
Remember the early days of starting up? Describe the struggles you went through.
It still feels like we are in the “early days.” There are constant struggles on a daily basis, but that is was owning a business is. It’s learning how to adapt and keep going that makes or breaks a business.
How do you handle frustration? What has been your biggest professional frustration?
I take frustration and turn it into motivation. That fuel keeps me going. The biggest frustration with Thrive15 has been the issue of finding quality coders in mid-America.
What’s your office environment like? Do you listen to music? Watch movies? Play video games?
There is constant music streaming throughout the office. I believe that the culture of a company is key to productivity and high morale.
How do you picture your company in 5 years?
In 5 years I want to see Thrive15 at the forefront of business education. I believe that there is a new era that is asking for uncommon education. Thrive15 seeks to engage and entertain business owners, making learning fun and not a chore.
Who or what inspires YOU? Role models? Quotes? Running? Video games? Snack food?
Knowing that there are business owners out there struggling to keep their business going is what motivates me. I also frequently return to books like Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes for inspiration and motivation. These are two books that greatly impacted my life.
Got any great bootstrapping tips for the lean startups out there?
(Insert Shameless plug) Get on Thrive15 and learn the practical steps to grow your startup!
What other advice do you have for other entrepreneurs struggling to get started?
The most important part of growing your business will be to take action! Ideas are great, creative business plans are great, but unless you are taking the necessary action steps needed your business will stay a great idea.
What would you do if you had a year off and $500,000 to spend (on something other than work)?
I would most likely travel and speak. I cannot stand to be idle and not working in some capacity. Movement and progress is what wakes me up in the morning. Without working towards a vision, I would perish.
Do you consider yourself a successful entrepreneur? If not, what’ll make you feel successful?
I feel that I have worked very hard over the years and have been successful enough that I can pursue what I am truly passionate about, which is seeing other business owners and entrepreneurs thrive.
Top 5 websites you couldn’t live without and why?
- Google – does that count as a website, because I’m sure that we all would agree that we could not live without Google.
- Facebook – I personally don’t understand social media, but Facebook is the marketing tool of this generation.
- YouTube – everyone loves a good Youtube video. I mean, a cat in a shark costume riding a vacuum… come on, that’s funny.
- Entrepreneur – this magazines website is full of great articles by great people that have done great things.
- Thrive15 – another shameless plug, but this website is something that I am very proud of and I believe that it will change business education forever
People (other than you) we should follow on Twitter and why?
- Entrepreneur Magazine – they have infographics relating to business for days.
- David Robinson – the man, the myth, the legend.
Please share some specific numbers (funding, revenue, visitors) that highlight your growth.
As a private company, I can’t disclose specific numbers. However, I can say that Thrive15 is steadily changing businesses all over the country, helping people to become excited about growing and starting a business.
Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us, Clay!
Shoot over to thrive15.com to learn more about how it works and to take advantage of a special beta offer on subscriptions for just $2 a month.
