Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to sexual assault and abuse.
Everyone experiences hardship in life. Of course, it comes in different forms for all of us, but some of us become stronger, push past our trauma, and create success stories.
Why is that?
Well, for Clinton Sparks, the answer is simple.
The people who make it in life, no matter what they’ve been through, do so because they want to.
Raised in Boston by a single mom after his alcoholic father left his family when he was just five years old, Clinton Sparks dealt with a childhood of abuse, sexual assault, and poverty.
He learned his toughest lessons as a homeless teenager when he made a living through organized crime.
All of this adversity, however, triggered the entrepreneurial spirit in Clinton, and today, he is a Grammy Nominated, multi-platinum DJ, Producer, and Songwriter.
He has written and produced hit songs for multi-platinum recording artists such as Lady
Gaga, Beyonce, Usher, Diddy, Pitbull, Ludacris, Big Sean, Akon, and Tyrese, has been nominated for a Grammy for his production work on Lady Gaga’s Born This Way.
In this episode of the Rock Your Money, Rock Your Life, you’ll find out how Clinton went from a criminal to making it big in the music industry, his secret to mental fortitude, and why talent without kindness means nothing.
What You’ll Learn from this Episode:
- Why ANYONE can make it if they want it bad enough
- Why overcoming trauma is ultimately your decision
- The difference an abundant mindset can make in your life
- And much more!
“Famous doesn’t make you great, but great can make you famous, so focus on the great.”
Topics Covered:
00:00 – Intro to Clinton
02:55 – Working with P Diddy, Pitbull, and other major celebrities
05:30 – Breaking into the music industry
12:36 – It’s music or nothing
15:41 – Massive turning points
19:01 – An Extreme Emotional Event – dealing with molestation
30:23 – How to win big in the music business
35:40 – Passive income vehicles
40:00 – The elevator pitch
45:20 – Connect with Clinton
Key Takeaways
“When you’re young, you don’t understand consequences the way you do when you’re older and you don’t realize the effect you have on other people which is why bullying is so rampant because you don’t really know you’re destroying someone’s life.” – Clinton Sparks
“A lot of people that have trauma feel like there’s this long road to recovery, there’s this long journey and they need to get on that. It’s not a long journey, it’s not a long road, it’s merely a decision.” – Clinton Sparks
“Once you decide that I’m going to be better, once you decide this won’t affect me anymore, once you decide that this is not how I’m going to conduct myself anymore, the whole fucking world changes” – Clinton Sparks
“Don’t get mad when people aren’t listening when you talk, instead, learn to talk when people are listening” – Clinton Sparks
Connect with Clinton Sparks:
Connect with Rock Thomas:
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