We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary Clay Gupton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary Clay, how do you think about risk?

If someone asked me point-blank if I was a risk-taker, I’m not sure I’d answer with an emphatic “yes!”, but as I reflect on my career… there’s really no other answer.

A self-proclaimed late bloomer, I had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up, and I took a job out of college in the Oil and Gas Industry in Fort Worth largely because I loved Fort Worth. After growing up in Amarillo and attending The University of Texas in Austin, I found Fort Worth to be the perfect combination of the two cities — both geographically and culturally.

After 7.5 years in the Oil and Gas industry doing everything under the Landman umbrella from leasing to title work to lease analyst work and curative title, I knew the time to leap was nigh, and my first itch to take a career risk started to fester. A writer at heart, but vividly aware I had no background or experience, I started to look for a role to allow me to write as a novice. I was newly married, and my ever-supportive husband encouraged me to take the leap out of OGL and into something more creative. I jumped into a Grant Writing position at a local non-profit, and as it goes at most non-profits, your job is never limited to your title.

While there, I started to hone my writing craft (albeit not in a sexy way!), and I also got my hands into event planning and Adobe Programs creating graphics and marketing materials. I loved the combination of this work – minus the event planning! – and I believe God planted a seed in this two year tenure at the non-profit. All because of the risk to leave the comfort of oil and gas – the only field I ever knew professionally.

About this time, we started to plan for a family, and my part-time, non-profit paycheck wasn’t gonna cut it. As God would have, my first boss ever reached out with a position in an administrative role back into the oil and gas industry. While my heart wasn’t yearning to return to the industry, the timing was certainly right, and I could not have been working for two better guys, particularly when starting a family came into play. I am forever grateful for this 5 year stint back into oil and gas because it allowed me to be a present mother while also supporting our family financially. Due to its part-time nature, I was able to start doing more creative work on the side.

After 3 years of growing my creative business of writing, design work, and now web design work, it was time to rip the oil and gas bandaid once again. This time with a plan and a pretty vivid realization the time to take the risk was now or never. In sum, comfort can be a beautiful thing, but when it becomes the only thing holding you in a position – it’s time to take the risk!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

Wow that’s kind, thank you. I think what sets me apart in the design and marketing space is that because I wasn’t classically trained, I’ve got fresh eyes and I’m super hungry. I want to be an encouragement to anyone in any industry who feels a creative urge and tell them to go for it. I got so hung up on not being classically trained in Graphic Design, Writing or Web Design, it almost stopped me from trudging forward. But that’s the thing, in this day and age, you can learn anything online. Seriously, anything. Ok maybe not how to be a doctor, but certainly any craft you’re interested in can be fine-tuned if you’ve got the grit and a little bit of talent.

I also have this super snobby quality of never wanting to look like anyone else. I borderline abhor name brands or the “must have” pantone color of the year because why would you want something everyone else has? While this quality obviously shows my judgemental tendencies – sorry, yuck- when it’s honed correctly, it helps me give a client a totally unique product.

My devotional blog, Hem Me In, is a huge piece of my why, and while the creative process of branding and logo design has visual appeal, my writing is my passion. I have a heart for Jesus while also keeping it super real because if I sat here and wrote about how to pursue God’s heart without revealing the grossness of my own sin, why would you want to listen? The devotional is delivered to your inbox every Sunday night at 8:30pm, and each post takes no more than 10 minutes from start to finish. It closes with a prayer, tools, and scripture to use throughout the week. I must say this portion has been burning inside of me for so long, it’s the easiest and most enjoyable part of what I do. Sure there are days of writer’s block and thinking everything I spit out is hideous, but for the most part, writing this weekly devotional feels like my purpose!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Oh man I love this question so much. I think Fort Worth is the greatest place on earth!

We’d start the morning with a walk around our cozy nook of Ridglea I believe to be the best kept neighborhood secret in Fort Worth. While we feed to Ridglea Hills Elementary, where we live is just called Ridglea. This nook has fabulous mid-century moderns and crazy good views. The people are down to earth, and there’s almost zero traffic on our street. We’d continue the walk up to Lazy Daisy and grab a cup of coffee for our walk back home. After regrouping, we would venture to Joe T’s for a patio brunch, complete with a mid-day marg or two – don’t judge. Afterward, we would wander the newly renovated Mule Alley and dip by Hotel Drover. En route home, we could drop by Esther Penn for a new outfit and head home for a power nap. I’m all about the power nap. Finally we would get ready for our dinner reservation at Tinie’s where we top off the evening with a nightcap on their upstairs patio to take in the views of Fort Worth.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

When I think about where I am today, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ must be acknowledged and thanked first and foremost. Emerging into a place where I could step out and launch this business was not without some of the darkest, hardest seasons of my life. He keeps refining me, and He never, ever gives up on me.

Secondly, my husband! Without his endless support, I’d still be outlining what I wanted my dream job to look like, waiting for the “perfect moment” (it doesn’t exist, by the way) to go for it. A huge piece of gratitude also goes to the first businesses to take a chance on me. Melissa O’Neill of Newborn Nightingales let me help her marketing efforts with an abundance of grace and trust. Dabney Poorter did the same, and she also propelled me to client after client with her belief in me and glowing recommendations. Thanks to her, I took on one of my biggest clients, Restore + Revive Wellness Center, of which Dabney is co-founder. Working with R+R’s Director of Brand Development, Melissa Raulston, has been a huge blessing to my growth as well.

Gracie Chambers. This girl. She’s a business coach and a delight, and working with her has given me the confidence to set systems in place to scale with confidence. My spiritual mentor Miranda Jo Davis, a fellow writer and entrepreneur has helped me immensely in darker days. Counselors Leanna Rae and Julie Ayala helped me realize I really was a creative – something I’d been fighting to admit for wayyyy too long. My Divas, my Amarillo Besties, amazing church friends, and our church small group are a constant support as well.

Last but certainly not least, in the early days of doubt and the I can’t do this pity parties, my sister’s voice continues to echo in my ear… “But sister, you ARE doing it!” The days of doubt still come (I think any entrepreneur can attest to that), but when we surround ourselves with cheerleaders and God’s truth to combat the lies when they creep in, defying the doubt only makes us stronger.

Website: www.claiborne-creative.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claiborne.creative/

Image Credits
All imagery by Tamara Gorski of 4th Floor Phorography All logos designed by Claiborne Creative

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.