Suzanne Clarke Life & Business Coach

What are you choosing to think?

I could think that my holiday is spoilt because it’s taken me nearly 30 hours to get home instead of about 16.
I could focus on the cancellations, the queues, the inconvenience, all our checked luggage being lost and the lack of sleep 😴

Or I could choose to think of the amazing time I had with my family. The memories we’ve created that will last forever.

I can choose to think that sh*t happens that is out of my control, and that’s okay.

After an amazing trip to celebrate my 60th, we had a flight delayed and then cancelled. Crazy queues to get on shuttle buses to stay in a hotel, to then get 2 hours sleep, and back to the airport, and then none of our bags making it back with us.

It was a pain but in the scheme of things I’m determined to not let it spoil an otherwise great holiday.

We also had some of the worst weather that California has known for this time of year but I can’t change that either. The shorts stayed packed 🤣

Running your business means there will be challenges that are out of your control.

If you change the way you think about them, you could have a very different experience.

So what are you focussing your thinking on?

If you’re finding your glass is tending towards half empty then let’s talk.

Who or what is your safety net?
When the Golden Gate Bridge was being built, a safety net was installed underneath which saved the lives of 19 men working on the bridge.

When you’re running a business, or leading a team, it’s easy to take on all the responsibility and forget to look after yourself.

How could you create a safety net?
How could you create a safe space for when things don’t go to plan?

I help business owners and leaders to create lives and businesses that they love.
This includes creating space to fail, be supported, and taking time out to enjoy life with loved ones.

Get in touch if you want to create your safety net.

What if it’s not about setting goals?

Some people will tell you to set an impossible goal… or a goal that feels doable… or add 10% to last year.

What if you make your own rules this new year?

What’s right for you?

How about setting an intention to feel good about your decisions… to feel proud of whatever you do… to have your own back… to nurture your team… to have great conversations… to reduce stress… eat well… exercise consistently.

If you feel under pressure to be someone you’re not, or set goals that don’t work for you, then let’s talk.

I want you to have a life AND business that you love. I want you to feel the best you can feel.

What are you waiting for?

Let’s debunk Imposter Syndrome.

What are the thoughts that create Imposter Syndrome?
I’m not good enough.
There are better people than me.
I shouldn’t be in this role.

I repeatedly say that my favourite question is - what if the opposite is true?

So what thoughts could you create that serve you better?
I’m exactly where I need to be.
There’s no one better than me, right here, right now.
I was chosen for this role for a reason.
(Or I chose this path for a reason).

Why have we been conditioned to think so poorly of ourselves?
Why can’t we have our own back like we hold for those around us?

I challenge you today to think of 5 reasons why you’re exactly the right person for your business and your role.
Maybe list one below.

I’ll start.
I have the patience to listen to my clients, hear things that they don’t hear, then repeat them back so that they can reframe and move forward with purpose and excitement.

If you want to see how this could work for you ( in any situation) then drop me a message.

How about focusing on what IS going well.

Your brain wants you to focus on what you could do better.
What you could have said or done differently.
What other people might be thinking of you.

The important thing is what YOU think of you.
What are the stories you are feeding yourself with?
I challenge you to take a ‘negative’ thought and flip it.
What if it’s not true?
How could you think and act differently?

Worrying feels useful but it just perpetuates the issue.

It’s not about ‘positive’ thinking, it’s about ‘balanced’ thinking. There’s always an opposing view.

If you’re ruminating about a situation and don’t know how to get past it, then get in touch and let’s talk.
The first session is on me.

When do you take time to relax? And to think?

To appreciate what you’ve achieved.
To reflect on how far you’ve come.
To think about what you’d really LIKE to achieve (NOT what’s expected of you).

We’ve been conditioned into thinking that being busy is a good thing. That multi tasking is clever.

But our brains need some calm and space. To slow down. To process.

I challenge you to take a few minutes and see what comes up for you.
To be present.
To not worry about getting the ‘next task’ completed.

It’s a game changer.

Don’t worry about what other people are doing. Work out what’s best for you. What energises you and makes you happy and productive.

If you want to take a pause and look at your life and business from a different perspective then book a call with me. The first session is on me.

There are no prizes for being the busiest. Calm creates results.
Try it.

What if a Key Performance Indicator doesn’t get you where you want to be?

Getting the results we want usually means challenging ourselves.
Getting outside our comfort zone.
Doing things we’ve never done before.
Thinking differently.

KPIs can encourage us to do more of the same.
They don’t always allow us to experiment.
It feels safer because our minds perceive less risk.

They show us that we’re performing against our ‘current’ thinking.

Are you playing it safe?
What could you do differently?

If you want to explore new ideas and new ways of thinking then let’s talk.

Question: Who’s looking after you?
Answer: That’s your responsibility.

Do you find yourself unintentionally blaming others when things go wrong or not how you’d hoped?
Do you blame the situation, the client, the economy, (fill in the blanks…)?

What if you could take full responsibility and not feel bad about it?
What if you could lead and still make ‘mistakes’?

I show leaders how to own any situation and feel good about it.
How to handle any difficult conversation.

I had a discussion with a peer group this week about how we all describe our coaching and several of them didn’t want to say they did life coaching.

I say that when you take life coaching skills into your business, you’re on to a winner.
You take ownership.
If YOU feel good, it will be reflected in your business.

If you want to see what I mean and how it works so well, then drop me a message and let’s schedule a call. The first one is on me.

From award winning Hollywood actor to country singer in a small venue in Sheffield.

Change management, transition and living the dream at its finest.

Last night we went to see Kiefer Sutherland perform his album Bloor Street.
It was fantastic.
The tickets were only £17.50!
We were entertained by an award winning Hollywood actor in a small venue in Sheffield.

He’s gone from being the star of numerous block busting films and long running series, to rodeo riding, to singing simple country songs to a small intimate audience.

By the sincerity in his comments and the joy on his face whilst he was singing, it was obvious that he’s doing what he loves.

What do you dream of doing but don’t think you could or should?
What if it was possible after all?

I love helping clients to change the way they think about their lives and businesses. To create lives and businesses that they love.

If you want to chat about any unrealised goals and aspirations, let’s explore them together and make them a reality.

How connected are you?

We all crave human connection.
In these times of working from home, having remote teams etc, it can be challenging as a leader to feel a connection.

I find that connection is more natural when you have something in common.
Whether that’s people, interests or goals.

Last weekend I went to the 60th birthday party of two of my school friends.

Some of them I haven’t seen for over 40 years!! And yet I felt a deep connection immediately. The bond that was created all those years ago was still there.
I was soooo excited to reconnect.

I also joined the NUFC Business Club recently.
We all love Newcastle United.
It gave us something to connect with immediately.

So I ask you. What do you have in common with the people you’d like a connection with?
How can you leverage those commonalities to create greater connection?

If you’d like to talk connection, goals and challenges, get in touch for an initial free chat.

Question: What’s the right way to run your business?

Answer: However you choose… However feels right to you.

How long have you been ‘secretly’ trying to live up to someone else’s expectations?

Believing there’s a right way to lead, sell, grow, recruit (fill in the blanks…)

When I became a recruiter, I did two things differently.
Firstly I recruited for the profession that I’d been in (in my case IT). So I understood what my clients were looking for and I could talk their language.
Secondly I met ALL my candidates face to face. And in 1988 I can tell you that was unheard of. Driving down the M1 from Harrogate to Nottingham twice a week at the crack of dawn. Interviewing all day, two days per week.

But it set me apart. I got to know candidates on a deeper level. I got a greater feel for where they would fit in and which clients would love them.

Where could you do things differently?
Make your impact in a different way?
Be even more successful because you challenge the ‘norm’?

My passion is encouraging CEOs and Business Owners/Leaders to challenge their thinking.
To be their sounding board.

If you’d like to try it, then drop me a message and the first session is on me.
What have you got to lose?

Are you listening to your body?

Do you push through when you know you should rest?

Do you pop painkillers and hope the pain will disappear?

I’m all for releasing the good endorphins through exercise ( and music works well too) but sometimes your body is telling you to pause.
Take a breath.
Have a rest.

And this week that’s what my body is saying. My back is spasming due to getting cold in it at the weekend.

I love my exercise. I walk and do yoga everyday. But right now it’s rest time.

My brain wants to override that message but no!

Where are you pushing too hard?
Not listening to your body?
Not paying attention to your thoughts?

What ideas come up when you press pause and really listen to your mind and body?