In this episode of Beyond the Blend, Steve sits down with Cameron Clarke, Head of Sales and Operations at Oil Store, for one of the most honest and human conversations we’ve had on the podcast.

Cam didn’t grow up dreaming of lubricants. His journey started on the top deck of a bus, scrolling Indeed, looking for direction. From office administrator to sales leader, from blagging Excel skills at interview to earning the UKLA Certificate of Lubricants Competency with distinction, his path has been shaped by resilience, responsibility and purpose.

But this isn’t just a career story.

It’s a conversation about:

• Becoming a father young and letting that sharpen your focus

• Building stability when life hasn’t handed you an easy start

• Football, community and charity

• Culture over corporate scripting

• Sustainability and AI in a human industry

This episode goes well beyond oil and grease. It’s about growth.

Key Takeaways

1️⃣ Purpose Drives Progress

When Cam became a father, the job stopped being “just a job.” Responsibility sharpened ambition. Clarity around what he wanted from life accelerated his learning and performance.

2️⃣ You Don’t Need All the Answers

Cam entered lubricants with zero product knowledge. His approach? Stay calm, gather information, and go back with the right answer. Accuracy builds trust. Panic doesn’t.

3️⃣ Culture Is Lived, Not Trained

At Oil Store, authenticity isn’t a marketing strategy, it’s how the team operates. New hires are chosen for attitude and coachability. The instruction is simple: be yourself.

4️⃣ Community Builds Resilience

Football and charity initiatives have played a huge role in Cam’s life, raising significant funds and creating connection beyond work. Community strengthens perspective.

5️⃣ Sustainability & AI - Keep It Real

Cam takes a pragmatic view: reliability is part of sustainability. Extend service life and reduce waste. AI is a tool, but relationships remain central in lubricants.

Personal Insights

Cam speaks openly about a challenging upbringing, the influence of his grandfather, becoming a father at 21, and navigating loss.

He doesn’t dwell on hardship; he focuses on momentum.

His philosophy is simple:

Negativity compounds.

So does progress.

Even small forward steps work in your favour.

That mindset shapes how he leads, sells, writes and shows up daily.

Why Listen?

Listen if you:

• Entered lubricants by accident and wonder if you belong

• Are early in your sales career and feel overwhelmed

• Care about culture more than corporate language

• Believe people buy from people

Cam’s story proves you don’t need a perfect start to build a strong career.

You need clarity. Effort. And the willingness to keep moving.

If this episode resonated, particularly the move from price selling to purposeful partnership, you’ll enjoy:

👉 Selling Lubricants Smarter - A Lubricant Seller’s Journey from Crisis to Success

A practical, story-led guide to modern lubricant selling, built around real industry experience.

Buy your copy here: https://sellinglubricantssmarter.com/