I’m an Achieving Average, not an average achiever. I’m an average guy who has been blessed to be included as a small part of mighty moments, teams and units. That’s not by luck or mistake.
Rather than letting my averageness limit or lower my expectations, it forced me to learn at an early age what is true of any great achievement: we all need angles, allies, and advantages to do anything meaningful . . . anything bigger than ourselves.
Gifting has something to do with success, but not as much as you might think. My life is an example of knowing when, how and who to join forces with in order to do things bigger than myself.
A great NFL linebacker once told me, “Clint, everyone gets the ring or no one gets the ring.” What did he mean? He meant, we all win or no one wins. This complements an old Navy saying, “Rising tides raise all boats.” What does that mean? It means, when the tides rise, everyone rises. I believe both of these statements deeply. I’ve bet my life on them.
If I have a gift, it is this; I know I need good people around me. I’m a tribal person, and tribes beat teams every day.
A Brief History:
1997 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
4-year letterman at Linebacker, Captain and MVP of the 1996 Aloha Bowl Championship Team.
Inducted into Navy Football Hall of Fame.
Invited to camp with Baltimore Ravens (1997) and New Orleans Saints (1999) after completing SEAL training and reporting to SEAL Team V.
Completed BUDS (Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL) training in 1998, with Class 217.
Deployed multiple times in various leadership roles with SEAL Team V, before and after 9/11, fighting the Global War on Terror.
Co-founded Trident Response Group (TRG) in 2005, after a successful rescue of more than 700 people from the Fairmont Hotel during Hurricane Katrina. TRG is a multi-family office that manages risks for America’s best leaders, businesses and families.
Founded Carry the Load (CTL) in 2011, as a way to challenge America to better remember our fallen military on Memorial Day and to honor fallen first responders during “Memorial May.” CTL has awarded more than $3M since 2011, to existing non-profits serving military and first responders.
Founded HoldFast in 2012, as a way to create successful “second chapters” for veterans as professional speakers and leadership coaches.
Recipient of the Marine Military Academy’s Iwo Jima Leadership Award for post-military leadership.
Recipient of The University of Texas at Dallas’ Center for Brain Health Legacy Award for contributions to their ground-breaking research and impact on traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress.
Co-recipient of Dallas Communities Foundation’s “40 Under 40” award for community impact.
Recipient of America’s Future Series’ Megellas Award for post-military community impact.
