The Most Controversial Decision I Made That Led to My Success An act that will lead you to success, too — if you have the guts.
By Clinton Sparks Edited by Mark Klekas
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Of all the decisions I've made in my life, one stands out as the most controversial. It wasn't controversial because it shocked others — though it did. It was controversial because it challenged everything I had been taught about security, success, and making the "right" decision.
It was risky, and most people thought I was crazy. But looking back, it was the only way to build the life I have today. In this article, I'll take you through how I made that choice, what it cost me and why it was worth it.
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Initial doubts and excuses
When I decided to pursue what I had then chosen as my career and the way I would make a living, I had a lot of people doubt and question me with concern. It usually sounded something like this:
Them: But you don't know anybody.
Me: Then I'll meet the right people.
Them: But you don't have any connections.
Me: Then I'll find the right people to connect with.
Them: But you don't have any money.
Me: Then I'll make some.
The one thing I've noticed since I was a young kid is that everyone has excuses. And trust me, as much as their supply seems endless for themselves, they have a surplus left over to lend you. I never subscribed to using an excuse as a reason not to do something, become something or pursue whatever it is I wanted.
From chasing a girl to landing a job to seizing an opportunity, I didn't see why I couldn't achieve it — or at least put the effort towards making it happen. So when you're having doubt or others are skeptical of what you are trying to do:
Never let a moment of fear or awkwardness cause you a lifetime of regret.
Discovering my passion
It all started when I was 10 years old and became attracted to music. It did something to me that is unexplainable, but all I knew at the time was that I wanted to do this — I wanted to make music.
For the years to follow, I did everything you can imagine with music: dancing, rapping, producing and DJing. But in the '90s, turning that passion into an actual career was so unrealistic for a broke boy from Boston.
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Throughout my entire teenage life, it was always music. I'd skip school to work on music, working on it before I went to my job, on weekends, and when I came home. Everyone knew if you called Clinton to do something, he wasn't interested — he was making beats.
A turning point
Skipping years of turmoil and drama, fast forward to when I was about 22 years old and working my first real full-time job at UPS. After three years, I had an injury that required spinal surgery. (Curse those makeshift steps.)
I was now stuck with two hard facts:
- I could no longer do hard labor.
- I hadn't graduated high school. What was I going to do now?
This was the moment when I made the most controversial decision that would change my life.
I decided to make the thing I loved doing the most the only thing I would do from now on.
I had no plan b.
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I had to go all in
To most, this would be incredibly scary and risky, especially when you don't have money, a family to fall back on and bills to pay. As much as I despised people making excuses since I was a young kid, I equally hated watching people merely hope and wish for the things they wanted.
I knew I wanted to do this, and I knew I couldn't make excuses. I knew this would be difficult, and I knew all the odds were against me. How? Well, I was a broke white kid from Boston attempting to build a career in hip-hop — a scene deeply rooted in Black culture and predominantly based in New York.
I also knew that the only way this would work was if I studied what was missing and where I could fit in. I couldn't attempt to do what everyone else was doing the way they were doing it. If I wanted to make this work, I needed to be the first me and not the second somebody else.
I was focused. I made a plan with one goal and architected the path to success. I built my life by design.
Building the brand
The reason I knew this would give me the best odds of success was because I believed:
The only thing worse than having no goals is having too many goals.
My goal was to be recognized as the best, but not just for my skill in making music. I wanted to be recognized as trustworthy, honest, hard-working, consistent and original. I wanted others to see me as the best networker, communicator, and value-add for others.
I was on a mission to make the Clinton Sparks brand original and innovative. I needed people to associate the brand with quality and value. I needed them to get familiar.
The grind
I began this massive gamble by working for free, providing value to others, ghost mixing and making mixtapes to showcase my production work and skills. I would drive to New York and wait outside record labels in the cold for people who looked like they worked there. I'd ask them, "Hey man, do you work here?"
This was before social media. I perfected my elevator pitch on why they should be down with me instead of begging them for a shot.
I built my own radio show and syndicated it so I would be live on four radio stations in four different cities every week — Boston, Connecticut, New York, and Baltimore — all on my own dime. I learned how record labels brought their artists down the East Coast for promotional runs and made sure they saw me at every stop.
The results
I went so hard at my goal that I won every DJ award you could win in my first three years. I worked with everyone from 50 Cent, Kanye West, and Busta Rhymes to Fallout Boy and Snoop Dogg. I co-founded and launched the world's biggest mixtape site, made $5 million in our first year, started touring the world as a DJ, and eventually got the call to host E! News.
There is so much more to this story, but the point is: It all stemmed from a decision.
The takeaway
When you think of the greatest to ever do it — whether it's Tom Brady, Oprah, Kobe Bryant, Beyoncé, or Taylor Swift — their success was all determined by a decision they made. They went all in. They put in the time. They had one goal.
They didn't have a plan B.
Neither did I, and neither should you.
When you know what you want for your life and what will make you happy, you're halfway to success. The only thing left for you to do is make the most controversial decision that will lead you to your success.
Have no plan B — Best of luck.
Your friend,
