How A Former NFL Player Built A Real Estate Empire | Pro Athlete Interview Series - Episode 3

In this exclusive interview, discover the inspiring journey of former NFL player Thomas Clayton as he shares his secrets, strategies, and invaluable insights into building a thriving real estate empire of $100M+. 

From playing with superstars like Tom Brady, Marshawn Lynch, and Rob Gronkowski, to meeting with nationally renowned real estate partners, Thomas Clayton has led a life of talent and professionalism and is continuing to set even larger goals for years to come.

Tune in and see how Thomas made his dreams into a reality and how you can incorporate his daily rituals and routines into your own passion projects.

Transcript

Thomas Clayton |  Charlie’s Interview Also attending in Dec

Well, welcome back to our pro athlete interview series, brought to you by the Family Office Club. Today, we're here with Tom Clayton. Tom, how are you doing today?

Tom Clayton: I'm fantastic, thank you!

Host: Happy to hear that. Thank you for making the time. As you probably know from some of our live events, we have about 75,000 registered investors—well, about 7,500 actually—but we've hosted events all over the world for the last 17 years and have 12 million social media followers. At these live events, we've had pro athletes on stage, along with doctors, private investors, and billionaires. We decided to go deeper and see what it really takes to become a top 1% performer. And we thought, who better to invite than someone like yourself to tell us about your mindset, investments, visualization practices, affirmations, and discipline. Not just things you're interested in, but things you're actually doing. So, we wanted to hear from you—practically speaking—what you're currently doing and how we can implement these strategies ourselves, and share them with our listeners.

Tom Clayton: Absolutely, I appreciate the intro!

So, Tom Clayton, former NFL athlete. I played for seven years, from 2007 to 2013. I started with the San Francisco 49ers in 2007, spent several years there, and then got traded to the Patriots in 2010. I was with the Patriots for 2010 and 2011 before moving to the Seahawks, and then I bounced between the Browns and the Cardinals for about a year and a half. I retired in 2013.

Before retiring, I got my real estate license in my last year with the Cardinals. Unfortunately, I left the league on an injury settlement, but by then, I had already played for seven years, and I thought, "It's time for chapter two. Time for the next thing." So, I dove into real estate.

I had a dream of being a pro athlete, and I fulfilled that. I got to play with some of the best players—Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Marshawn Lynch—you name it. It was amazing. But then I started thinking about how I could make an impact in the community. I didn't know it would be in real estate, but I had the drive to learn and grow in that field.

In 2013, the real estate market wasn’t great—some areas were depressed, while others were thriving. But it was a perfect time to learn and make some mistakes. I went to a real estate investing meeting in Boston, and that's where I met a guy who had an office in Foxboro, where I was living while playing for the Patriots. He invited me to take up space in his office and start learning real estate.

I had no experience, but I had the drive to make it happen. I read books, watched online courses, and got involved. I eventually got my first project, learned the value of leverage, and scaled my business. That project turned into three, then 10, then 20, and now I’ve built a portfolio worth millions. Real estate has been a natural extension of the skills I developed as an athlete—grit, determination, and always working to be better.

Host: That's incredible, Tom! And I think that's the goal of these interviews: to learn from successful people like you who have managed to transition from being elite athletes to succeeding in other fields. It’s not just luck—it’s consistent effort. That’s why we have a few questions for you.

One thing I’d love to hear about is your approach to visualization, affirmations, or goal-setting rituals. Has this changed from your time as a pro athlete to what you’re doing now in real estate? How are you applying those practices today to stay in the top 1%?

Tom Clayton: Great question. I would say my preparation before the NFL was very different from what it is now. After I retired, I underwent a significant transformation. My ways of thinking, operating, and preparing completely shifted.

Today, I’m heavy into meditation. I meditate multiple times a day—first thing in the morning, at night, and sometimes even during the day if I need to center myself. Meditation helps me connect with my inner self and sets the trajectory for my day. I also have several affirmations that I listen to or repeat throughout the day. It's like a full-on commitment to my new craft and a new way of being.

These practices—meditation, visualization, affirmations—are central to my routine and have a huge impact on my success in real estate and beyond.

Host: Can you walk us through what your meditation practice looks like? Is it just to calm your mind, or do you also focus on your goals during these sessions?

Tom Clayton: It’s a combination of both. I meditate right when I wake up and before I go to bed. If I get the chance in the middle of the day, I’ll do a quick meditation to release tension.

When I meditate, I sit in a quiet space—usually the same place each time. I clear my mind, then go deeper to connect with that higher consciousness. I start by reviewing my day and making corrections—if something didn’t go as planned or I could’ve handled a situation better, I make mental revisions. Then, I go into “targeting” mode. I think about the goals I’m working towards, visualize them as if they’ve already happened, and feel the emotions associated with that success.

This creates what Neville Goddard calls the “Bridge of Incidence”—once you make that internal connection, the outer world aligns and guides you toward your goal. It’s all about vibration. The higher your vibration, the more momentum you get. That’s what meditation and visualization do for me—it keeps me on track and helps me move forward.

Host: That’s fascinating! And what would you say is a “$1 million lesson” you learned during your time as a pro athlete that you’ve been able to apply outside of sports? What are the things you’ve learned that help you get into beast mode in business?

Tom Clayton: The biggest lesson I learned is to prepare at a level that makes the extraordinary ordinary. I saw this firsthand from Tom Brady, Gronkowski, and Marshawn Lynch. Their preparation was second to none. Marshawn would do extra footwork drills, and Gronk would stay after practice catching balls from the machine or with Tom Brady. They always put in the extra work.

I adopted that mindset in real estate. I was willing to do whatever it took—whether that meant hanging 1,000 bandit signs or sending 1,000 postcards. That commitment gets the momentum rolling, and once you have momentum, everything slows down, and you’re in the zone.

I learned that preparation is key, and I’ve applied it to my new career in real estate. It works every time.

Host: What are you doing now to make sure you don't make the same mistakes again? What's something you're doing differently today compared to earlier in your career?

Tom Clayton: Earlier in my career, I relied heavily on my talent, and I didn’t always take the extra steps. But through my experiences, especially in the NFL, I learned that there’s more to success than just talent.

Now, I take the extra steps. I focus on preparation, and I’ve applied that mindset to my real estate business. I started as an adaptive reuse developer, taking existing structures and transforming them into multi-family properties. Now, I’m also involved in new construction, like townhouses and apartments.

The key is having a plan—setting goals that may seem just outside of reach, then working every day toward those goals. It’s the same principle that got me into the NFL. I applied that same level of commitment and preparation to real estate, and now we’re building a portfolio worth over $100 million in just five to seven years.

Host: What’s one costly mistake you think other athletes or people making the transition from sports could avoid?

Tom Clayton: I’d say it’s not buying hard assets early enough. Real estate is a long-term investment—you buy real estate and wait, you don’t wait to buy. The value grows over time.

Athletes often focus on the present—being the best in their sport. But having a vision for the future is crucial. I was fortunate enough to think about life after football, but I know many athletes who didn’t prepare as well and have struggled with the transition. It’s important to think ahead and invest in assets that will set you up for the long run.

Host: How did you find your tribe of people to surround yourself with after football? What would you suggest to someone still playing, looking to build their network for the future?

Tom Clayton: Being authentic is key. I attracted people who were aligned with my vision and progression. I didn’t meditate on meeting a specific person, but I meditated on connecting with people who were in harmony with my goals and values. That’s how the right people showed up.

In real estate, I found my tribe by going to conferences, talking to people, and putting myself out there. Trust your instincts and let things unfold naturally.

Host: Finally, what are some other practices or strategies you use to hold yourself accountable and make sure you're putting in the right work—not just working hard, but working smart?

Tom Clayton: I’m big on writing things down. When you write a goal down, it becomes a target, and from there, you can build a path to achieve it. It’s not just a thought anymore—it’s a concrete plan.

Also, I work with people who are aligned with my mission. I have accountability partners, coaches, and advisors who help keep me on track and challenge me to level up.

Lastly, my mornings are critical. I spend the first few hours of my day working on myself—mentally, spiritually, and physically. That sets me up for success and keeps me aligned throughout the day.

Host: Tom, thank you so much for sharing these insights with us today. It’s incredible to hear how your work ethic and discipline from your football career have helped you succeed in real estate and beyond. We appreciate the value you’ve brought to the table today!

Tom Clayton: Thank you for having me. It was a pleasure to share my journey with you all.