Remember the story about the person who gave up after their first try? Neither do I.Over 18 years I've tried, failed, fought, learned & succeeded. In that perseverance I've developed a few key superpowers that create business impact (my ultimate professional goal).Partnerships/Relationships 🤝🏻In the 8th grade, at a parent-teacher conference, my teacher told my mother “Clayton will do just fine. Everyone can work with him." I believe in authenticity as a key element of leadership & I’ve found that parlays well with building long term, fruitful partnerships.Connecting the Dots (aka Critical Thinking & Problem Solving) 💭I’ve found throughout my life that I can quickly connect disparate ideas in ways others don’t. This can be as operational as identifying a problem with a retailer search program or as strategic as a unique blue ocean opportunity for business growth. I prefer to REACT, work the problem & make the appropriate moves.Innovation 🧪What geeks me out is building custom solutions around those connections to solve problems. My team & I won a Google Search Excellence Award in 2015 for the custom solution we built for our client to manage a competitive retailer SEM program that was drastically raising cost & depleting margin. We saved the client $7M/year based on this strategy! I believe if you’re not moving forward & looking for the next thing, then you’re quickly moving backwards. I like to test & learn. I like to try new things. I’m not afraid of failure, but I will ALWAYS learn from it.Storytelling/Communicating 🗣️I believe in the power of a good story, whether that’s creating more entertainment around a campfire or influencing CMO’s to adopt a unique strategy. I’ve been told that I have a unique ability to simplify complex situations & my bosses in the past have relied on me for that ability throughout my career. Clear, concise & consistent are the basis of my communication style.Collaboration & Teamwork 💯While I’m a very effective individual contributor, I am a lifelong athlete that thrives on working with other people, especially when brainstorming. The energy that comes from effective teamwork is matched only by the success that follows when everyone aligns around their roles & a shared goal. Let's build, innovate & succeed!