INTERVIEW | Make Money by Leading Through Crisis with Buddy Clay
Buddy Clay is the founder and CEO of New Hope Healthcare Institute, a behavioral health and addiction recovery facility based in Knoxville, Tennessee. After being diagnosed with stage three melanoma at 32 and then facing a stage four recurrence just a few years later, Buddy chose a holistic healing journey while continuing to lead and grow his company. He shares the lessons he learned about leadership, purpose, community, and resilience in his book Built in the Fire: Two Battles at Once. In this episode, Buddy opens up about building a business during uncertainty, battling cancer, and creating meaningful impact through addiction recovery and mental health services.
On this episode we talk about:
- Buddy’s journey from aspiring professional basketball player to entrepreneur
- How a cancer diagnosis changed his perspective on business and life
- Building New Hope Healthcare Institute from the ground up
- Why community is essential for addiction recovery and mental health
- The leadership lessons Buddy learned from being forced to step away from his business during treatment
Top 3 Takeaways
- A major health crisis can force clarity around what truly matters in life, business, and relationships.
- Strong leadership means building systems and teams that can thrive even when you need to step away.
- Community and connection are critical for recovery, mental health, and long-term fulfillment.
Notable Quotes
- “There’s nothing like a cancer diagnosis to completely shift your priorities.”
- “The opposite of addiction is community.”
- “I was forced to trust my team — and they exceeded everything I hoped they could become.”
Connect with Buddy Clay:
- Website: BuddyClay.com
- Company: New Hope Healthcare Institute
- Book: Built in the Fire: Two Battles at Once
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