Nikonomics - The Economics of Small Business

195 - How to Overcome Money Trauma with Clifton Sellers

Jun 27, 2025

Clifton Sellers, an entrepreneur and founder of Legacy Builder, shares his inspiring journey from being buried in debt to running a thriving multi-million dollar content agency. He discusses the pivotal role of endurance and obsession in his success, revealing how he overcame money trauma that once held him back. Clifton highlights the importance of investing in coaches for rapid growth and underscores the value of core business principles like 'unreasonable hospitality' that shape a strong company culture.

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ANECDOTE

From Debt to Multi-Millionaire

Clifton Sellers transitioned from being deep in debt on a $95K VP salary to running a multimillion-dollar business.
His obsession was not money itself but becoming the person who makes money and finding needed answers.

ADVICE

Seek Guidance and Build Skills

Reach out to people ahead of you for mentorship and advice to get unstuck.
Focus on building your skills and growing your account before quitting your day job.

INSIGHT

Coaches Accelerate, Not Save

Coaches won't save you but can help you win faster if you already have the drive.
Investing in coaching accelerates success but isn’t a magic fix for unmotivated people.

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Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Clifton Sellers (https://x.com/LegacyBuilder__)

In this episode, I chat with Clifton Sellers, a social media favorite who's built a business projected to hit $2-3 million this year. He shares his incredible journey from being deep in debt while working as a VP of development making $95K a year to a thriving entrepreneur.

Clifton reveals how obsession and sheer endurance were his secret weapons, starting from a $29 Gumroad course. We dive into his pivot from "money Twitter" to establishing Legacy Builder.co as a legitimate, reputable content agency.

He opens up about overcoming past money trauma that initially capped his business at under $1 million in revenue, and how investing in coaches was the key to unlocking rapid growth.

We also discuss the power of professionalizing a business and the critical role of strong core values like "unreasonable hospitality" and "say the thing" in building a successful team and culture.

Questions This Episode Answers:

How did Clifton Sellers transition from significant personal debt to running a multi-million dollar business?

What role did obsession and endurance play in his journey to entrepreneurial success?

How did he overcome money trauma to break past the $1 million revenue ceiling?

Why does Clifton believe investing in coaches and mentors is essential for accelerated business growth?

What does professionalizing a business entail, and why are core values critical for scaling?

Enjoy the conversation!

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This week we covered:

00:00 From Debt to Success: The Journey Begins

09:52 The Power of Obsession in Business

20:02 Navigating the Online Business Landscape

30:04 Building a Team: The Key to Scaling

39:38 Professionalizing Your Business for Growth