299: The Full Circle Entrepreneurial Experience with Clint Salter

Building, Selling, and Sabbatical: Lessons from Clint Salter’s Entrepreneurial Journey

In episode 299 of the Her Empire Builder Show, Tina Tower sits down for a heart-to-heart with her best friend and entrepreneurial powerhouse, Clint Salter. For those interested in the behind-the-scenes realities of starting, growing, and eventually selling a business, this episode is a goldmine packed with wisdom, laughter, and honest conversation. Here are some major takeaways and lessons from the episode that every entrepreneur should know.

From Teenage Studio Owner to Industry Leader

Clint’s journey began when he started his first business—a dance studio—at just 16 years old. While most teenagers are still figuring themselves out, Clint was exploring his curiosity through creativity and building “things.” That willingness to experiment and “have a play with ideas,” as Clint puts it, has been the secret sauce behind every venture he’s launched.

Key Lesson: You don’t have to start with the mindset of an entrepreneur. Sometimes, simply following your interests and letting your ideas grow organically leads you to business.

Scaling and Leaving a Legacy

Clint is best known for Dance Studio Owners Association (DSOA), the company that made him a millionaire and eventually led him to the U.S. He shares how DSOA evolved from a coaching program to a full-fledged association with a faculty of coaches and a leadership team. Importantly, he intentionally made sure his personal brand wasn't the only draw—by creating strong IP and systems, and “making the IP the celebrity.”

This approach made DSOA not only scalable, but also (critically) sellable—a major obstacle for many personal brand businesses.

Key Lesson: If you want to build a business you can one day step away from (or sell), gradually transition away from a single-person brand and invest in creating robust systems, frameworks, and a team that can operate without you.

Letting Go (and Growing Through It)

Selling a business might sound like the ultimate dream: build something meaningful, get an amazing exit, and then relax. But as Clint candidly shares, it’s so much more emotionally complicated. There was grief, vulnerability throughout due diligence, and genuine worry about the legacy he was leaving behind for both his team and customers.

He talks openly about the responsibility he felt during COVID-19, pulling himself “back into the business” to personally help, only to realize afterward that sometimes your body and your intuition will push you toward rest. His honest description of selling and stepping away—“You never really switch off”—highlights how entwined we can become with our creations.

Key Lesson: Exiting a business comes with as many emotional hurdles as it does financial rewards. Allow yourself to process grief, pride, and uncertainty—these feelings are part of letting go.

The Power of Sabbatical & Redefining Success

Post-DSOA sale, Clint has embraced a “portfolio of randomness,” from writing fiction (his novel “Eight Wishes”) to considering everything from sandwich shops to doggy daycares. The accidental theme of the year? Rest. Walks, time with family, and creative explorations that aren’t about hustling to the next big thing.

And perhaps most striking—after years of non-stop pushing, Clint admits he’s found happiness in the ordinary: “Some of my happiest days are just sitting on the couch with my blanket, Annie and Alex, and watching a show.” Success is revealed to be less about achievement or “the next mountain,” and more about alignment, agency, and contentment.

Key Lesson: There is life and joy after hustle. Rest isn’t just a reward—it can be the most impactful phase of growth and discovery, allowing you to connect deeply with yourself and your next chapter.

Money & Meaning

Both Tina and Clint thoughtfully challenge the old adage that “money doesn’t buy happiness.” For them—and for many entrepreneurs—financial freedom means security, choice, and, importantly, the ability to live life on one’s own terms. Yet, it doesn’t fundamentally change who you are or how you find joy.

Key Lesson: Money amplifies who you already are. Use it as a tool for creating experiences and supporting your well-being, but don’t expect it to magically rewrite your sense of fulfillment.

Clint’s entrepreneurial story is a masterclass in building, scaling, letting go, and redefining purpose. Whether you’re in the thick of the hustle or wondering what happens after you exit your business, this conversation is a powerful reminder: your legacy isn’t just what you build, but how you live—and love—along the way.