CLAY by Sarah Clayton-Jones

11/09/2023

Curiosity killed the cat.

If that were to mean killing the squawking in my head, I agree.

This weekend I went on a Reconnect Retreat, and got curious.

Curious about how often we live in our heads.

How we believe so much of what we think.

How this cultivates what we feel, good and bad.

How when we fall out of our thinking, and into our being, we connect to a calmer and clearer state.

A state that is natural, and one we can all tap into, in any given moment.

Thank you Marcus Hemsley, Emma Claire Davis, Jo, Gary, Louise Howlett, and Rainey Palahey for an incredible weekend of curiosity and discovery.

Of great food, friends, sea swims, exercise on the beach, karaoke, laughter. Of being.

Reconnection Rocks!

➡️ Connect with Marcus Hemsley if you’re interested in the next retreat.
📙 Check out the book “One Thought Changes Everything” to understand more.
💡Come along to READ TO LEAD® to inspire continuous curiosity and connections.

01/08/2023

Of the ’13 things that mentally strong people don’t do’, which one has the biggest impact on the most people?

According to Morin, author of the book, it’s ‘giving up your power’.

We often forget we have control over how we think, feel and act.

And setting boundaries is key to regaining and maintaining this control.

Amy gives some examples and advice in this short and exclusive clip from a recent Q&A - link in the comments.

Thank you Amy for sharing your wisdom with the READ TO LEAD community, and helping us to understand and develop our Mental Strength toolkit.

Mental strength is more important than ever in our uncertain and stressful world. Yet we often focus more on our physical strength. What one small thing can you do to improve your mental strength? If you’re not sure, I highly recommended blinking Amy’s book, its a worthwhile 15mins.

31/07/2023

Never give up.

That was the message from Robbie Williams at his 25 years celebration tour in Lucca.

He took us on an epic journey starting in 1990 with Take That, at only 16 years old. Their rise to fame within just 2 years. Through to being asked to leave the band.

He talked about addiction, ego, love, anxiety, depression, loneliness, fame and fortune. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows. But he never gave up.

He launched his solo career in 1996 and although his first song flopped, he tried again, this time with ‘Angels’, and in his words ‘The rest is history’.

What a fantastic story of mental strength. Life is filled with opportunities and challenges. It is resilience and determination to keep going that makes the difference.

Thanks Robbie, epic show!

30/07/2023

I put my mental strength to the test.

I climbed a Swiss mountain and swam in a freezing lake 🥶.

And I am pleased as punch I managed both as I broke my hip only 6 months ago on a similar terrain.

I had to draw on my mental strength, resilience and determination, skills I have focussed on developing the last few months.

Fortunately, I met Amy Morin this month, author of “13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do”, as part of the monthly READ TO LEAD Q&A, so I was able to put some of her tips into immediate action.

Such as “changing the channel” on self criticism, quietening the mind to boost resilience, and recognising the achievement within a realistic context.

I love how as you tackle challenges you find your perspective on what you thought you were capable of achieving expands.

What’s your next challenge?

I highly recommend Amy’s book if your mental strength needs a bit of fine tuning, and let’s face it, whose doesn’t!

21/03/2023

Don’t forget to ‘check in’.

The cast of Ted Lasso visited the Whitehouse to discuss the important of mental health.

If you haven’t seen the show, head over to Apple TV, fast. It will fill your soul.

I always feel better, and want to be a better person, after watching Ted Lasso. It’s littered with learnings, on all things including mental health matters.

Check in with someone today.

https://news.sky.com/video/share-12839128

Jason Sudeikis, who plays the title character — an American coaching a football team in London — and other members of the cast will meet with the Bidens “to discuss the importance of addressing your mental health to promote overall wellbeing," the White House said.

20/03/2023

Atomic Habits is the definitive guide to breaking bad behaviors and adopting good ones in four steps, showing you how small, incremental, everyday routines compound into massive, positive change over time.

Want to know what those four steps are? 🤔

Join us for our THIRD 📙 One Hour Business Book Experience on 28th March 2023 from 4pm to 5pm (GMT) and we'll share with you what they are AND help you start to implement them in your life.

Reserve your spot for this free online event
https://lnkd.in/ezgcESsn

Join the READ TO LEAD Community

30/12/2022

Thank you to the incredibly talented CLAY Collective Team for their smart work, and even smarter results, in 2022.

We have defined business strategies, launched standout brands, implemented measurable marketing, created compelling content, and improved business bottom lines 🙌

It's an honour to work with this talented group of experts, and a pleasure to partner with such lovely human beings.

Josie O'Donovan, Steve Mark, Sophie Blackmore, Lisa Wilson Hardy, Maxine Sampson, Lee Novo, Tanya Whymark, Helen Horrell, Elizabeth Dalziel, Amy Burnett, Jemma Cotterrell, Laura Johnson, Tim O’Donovan

Here's to more in 2023, Happy Nearly New Year!

Thank you 🙏

16/11/2022

The last One Hour Business Book Experience was a blast 🎥👇

So, we are running another one on the 7th December 1-2pm.

Sign up to get smarter and make smart connections in only 1 hour.

The theme is 'Setting you up for Success in 2023'. We will share a simple but effective approach for success, and how to implement it.

AND 📣 Tom Ziglar, author of Born to Win, will be attending the event. So come along to meet him and ask your questions.

Spaces are limited, link in the comments.

We look forward to seeing you at the last OHBBE of the year 🙌

15/11/2022

Worry that your business will collapse without your constant presence?

Sacrificing your family, friendships and freedom to keep your business alive.

📙Read ‘Clockwork’.

Or blink it in 20mins to see if it’s for you.

Some nuggets:

✅ Avoid the productivity trap - you will just fill the time. Aim to implement systems that will enable you to work less.

✅ Balance the doing and designing - aim for the business is 80% doing, 2% deciding, 8% delegating, 10% designing.

✅ Identify the Queen Bee Role - the most important thing your business does and focus all other roles on supporting it.

✅ Create SOPs for key tasks - standard operating procedures for consistency, clarity, and efficiency.

🙋‍♀️ In READ TO LEAD we are meeting the author Mike Michalowicz for a Q&A, what would you ask?

10/11/2022

📙 Do you have a clear vision for what a successful 2023 looks like?

Do you have clarity on your goals and more importantly the accountability to help you achieve them?

I’m excited that our last One Hour Business Book Experience event of 2022 will help you plan and execute a winning 2023.

You’ll join other smart minded professionals to learn something new, make new connections, and set yourself up for success in 2023, all in only 1 hour.

SIGN UP NOW, SPACES ARE LIMITED - https://lnkd.in/eqBWMncT

📆 I look forward to seeing you on the 7th December 1-2pm.

09/11/2022

Can AI really help you sell?

It can, depending on when and how it is implemented.

Interesting article in the HBR from Sales Experts Jim Dickie, Barry Trailer, Boris Groysberg and Benson P. Shapiro.

📌 Tech isn't being used effectively - 15% said their companies are not actively using CRM, 42% said it's merely used for storing data.

📌 Sales people are struggling - only 32% of their time is spent on sales activities, and buyers are better informed than ever.

📌 The earlier, and more broadly, AI tools are implemented = more data, better algorithms, better service, more usage, more success.

📌 The Sales Success Matrix helps determine which AI solutions to use, considering process and relationship levels, the aim to increase both for higher customer loyalty and competitiveness.

📌 AI success stories from Trellix, Accenture, Honeywell, and SAP prove that combining AI with well-defined sales processes and strong customer relationships leads to high sales.

Worth a read 👇.

What's your takeaway?

16/10/2022

How to be a good human person 👇

Have you read any of Massimo’s books?

📙 Can we make ourselves into better human beings?

Can we help others do the same?

This book provides a step-by-step guide to becoming a better person, and I can’t wait to get stuck in.

Not yet officially launched in the UK, author Massimo Pigliucci has kindly sent me a copy as it very much aligns to our quest in READ TO LEAD® - to become better leaders of our lives and businesses to achieve greater success (whatever success means to the individual).

Massimo is a Professor of philosophy at the City College of New York, author of 16 books, and has published articles in the NYT and WSJ.

We are meeting him as part of our ‘Meet the Author’ Q&As, and I’m so darn excited.

“If only those in power would grab hold of this literary lifeline and take heed of Pigliucci's wisdom, humanity might just have a chance to flourish economically, materially, and spiritually”.
Skye Cleary, author of 'How to Be Authentic'.

I will share what I learn, the action I take, and the impact I make, to hopefully inspire others.