This week on Outliers, I explore the incredible story of Jim Clayton.
When the bank forced him into bankruptcy at 27, they literally seized everything, including his accountant’s calculator.
He started over and rebuilt following an unconventional playbook. He refused bad loans, vertically integrated everything, and played relentless offense during downturns.
While the home industry collapsed in the 1970s, 1990s, and 2000s, Clayton stayed disciplined. Competitors chased growth with loose credit and failed. He survived every downturn and bought their pieces.
When Warren Buffett read his autobiography, he called days later and paid $1.7 billion cash.
The lesson: discipline beats hype, vertical integration beats vulnerability, and recessions are buying opportunities.
It’s time to listen and learn.
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Approximate Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction  01:36 - Part 1 - The Dream  12:01 - Ad Break  13:13 - Part 2: Flying, Falling and Rising Again  35:47 - Part 3: Clayton Homes  56:02 - Epilogue  57:20 - Reflections / Lessons  
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Jim Clayton: Turning Competitors’ Mistakes Into $1.7B [Outliers]

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