When William Clawson was 18, he was already used to winning. He had just been named an All-State high school wrestler and earned a spot on the All-American Trapshooting Team. That same year, he was awarded the Amateur Trapshooting Association Hall of Fame Scholarship and graduated as the top male student at Sentinel High School in Missoula, Montana.
But Clawson wasn’t chasing trophies. He was learning something deeper, discipline, focus, and resilience. “Failure taught me more than any win ever did,” he says. “Getting back up again is where the real growth happens.”
The Builder’s Beginning
After earning a business degree in accounting from the University of Montana in 1993, Clawson didn’t head to Wall Street. Instead, he launched Clawson Windows, a small business that made and installed windows in Missoula.
He ran the company for 19 years, serving local contractors and homeowners. During that time, he joined the Missoula Building Industry Association, eventually serving as its President. He also became Chairman of the Timber Products Manufacturers Trust, a regional industry group.
But while business was good, the grind was real. “I was running hard. I understood what it was like to be a small business owner wearing too many hats,” Clawson recalls.
Turning Point: From Operations to Strategy
In 2012, he sold his window business and started consulting. That’s when he saw a pattern.
“Most accounting firms look backward,” he says. “They tell you what you owe. I wanted to help business owners look forward, to plan, grow, and actually keep more of what they earn.”
This mindset led him to start Clawson Consulting, LLC. He began advising small business owners on tax strategy, cash flow, and financial operations.
He later joined New Era CPAs LLP in Seattle as a management consultant. It gave him a broader view of financial systems across industries. But he wanted more control and clarity in how clients were served.
The Launch of Endeavor
In 2015, Clawson launched Endeavor Financial Insights from Missoula. The goal? Help business owners save money on taxes, plan ahead, and build strong financial foundations.
He calls it “serving, not selling.”
Today, Endeavor serves over 160 clients across the country. They focus on advanced tax strategy, KPI dashboards, and fractional CFO services. “We saved our clients over $3.5 million in one year using tax tools most small businesses don’t even know exist,” Clawson says.
Process Over Chaos
Clawson believes business success comes from process. He’s a fan of the “12 Week Year” system and uses a strict strategic planning model. “Every week we review our two-page strategic plan. If we don’t track it, it doesn’t get better,” he says.
He also teaches his clients about the “First Domino”, the one activity that moves everything else. For him, that’s making five key connections every week.
“It’s simple: five connections, three conversations, two clients. That’s our 3C formula,” he says. “If I hit that rhythm, the rest falls into place.”
The Bad Plan (That Works)
Internally, his team calls their sales process the “Bad Plan.” But it’s anything but.
It includes a detailed breakdown of ideal clients, referral partners (called “Lumberjacks”), and weekly routines. The team hosts Catalyst Events across Tulsa, OKC, and Dallas to meet new leads.
They give away a tax guide to prospects and follow a script of open-ended questions like:
“Where is your business taking you?”
“What’s one thing that can help you get there?”
“Serve first. Don’t pitch,” Clawson says. “We don’t even mention Endeavor unless they ask.”
More Than Money
Even with a growing firm, Clawson keeps his values close. He’s volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, where he served as Treasurer for six years. He’s also active in peer groups like the 3to5 Club and DFW CEO groups, where he mentors other entrepreneurs.
He draws inspiration from an unlikely place: Billy Joel’s Downeaster Alexa.
“I think about the line, ‘I’ve got people back on land who count on me,’” he says. “That’s what keeps me moving.”
Clawson splits his time between Missoula, Montana, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He’s a big fan of Montana Grizzly football and basketball. He also loves concerts and traveling with his family.
Lessons for Business Owners
When asked what advice he gives most often, Clawson doesn’t hesitate.
“Build systems. Track results. Ask better questions. And don’t forget why you started.”
He’s not interested in being flashy. He’s interested in making a difference, for his team, his clients, and his community.
And after three decades in business, one thing hasn’t changed: “I’m still trying to get better every day.”
Interview with William Clawson
What made you switch from owning a window business to financial consulting?
After 19 years in the building industry, I realized I was spending more time reacting than planning. I wanted to help other business owners avoid that trap, so they could work on their business, not just in it.
Why do you focus so much on tax strategy over compliance?
Because compliance is reactive. It tells you what already happened. Tax strategy is proactive, it gives you a roadmap to save money before the year ends. Most business owners don’t even know what they’re missing.
You talk about something called the ‘First Domino.’ What is that?
It’s the most important number in business. For us, it’s five key connections per week. If we hit that, everything else, sales, relationships, opportunities, starts to move.
Why is your sales process called the ‘Bad Plan’?
It’s kind of an inside joke. It’s a detailed, structured routine, nothing flashy. But it works. It keeps us grounded and focused on serving, not selling.
What’s a lesson you learned the hard way?
Systems matter. Early in my career, I ran everything in my head. That only works until things get busy or break. Systems bring clarity, consistency, and scalability.
What keeps you going after 30 years in business?
People count on me, my team, my clients, my family. That’s the line I always come back to: ‘I’ve got people back on land who count on me.’
