Meet Samantha Clayton

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Samantha Clayton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Samantha below.

Samantha, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

Raised by a single mom in the inner city of Birmingham England I learned from a very young age that no matter what is happening in your life you have to push forward and keep a positive attitude. I became a Track athlete at age 14 joining a local club paid for by people in the community who felt I had what it takes to be successful. I started with long-distance track spikes given to me by a mom in the street (they were boys’ shoes and not great for sprinting but I made it work and felt grateful. Having to race without the basic things I needed and still managing to win gave me an attitude and belief that I could overcome anything. When I did not have the bus fare to get to training I’d just go to the park and do the session alone, resilience to me back then was being defiant and not letting my current circumstances impact my future. When circumstances are not ideal in my life I just find a way. Making the Olympics despite the struggle showed me that I could achieve anything I wanted. I am far removed from the struggle of inner city life and poverty now but that same mindset I cultivated as a teenager has powered me to lead a successful life and overcome challenges. My home burned down in 2018 right before my final exams for my B.S. degree and I was like “This fire is not derailing my graduation”! My resilience is positive defiance that powers my life as an individual and i infuse that same mentality into my kids.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I have spent the past 23 years learning and growing as a fitness and wellness professional. I started as a personal trainer, transitioned into college coaching, and entered the corporate world. My career has taken me to over 68 countries as a speaker, educating people on the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle. I have created meaningful fitness and nutrition programs for a diverse audience and serve as an industry advocate. I’m entering a new phase on my journey, graduating in December with a Doctorate in Behavioral Health from Arizona State and leveraging my years of experience as a consultant helping companies in the health, fitness, and sports space define their strategy to maximize their impact. My website, samanthaclayton.com, is almost ready for launch, where people will find educational content and services to help them realize their best health. Moving bodies and educating minds is my purpose and my passion.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

My top three:

Learning to work backward from the end goal has been a game-changer in my life. A clear roadmap has been essential in my athletic, educational, and business pursuits. By defining my end goal first and creating a step-by-step plan to get there, I’ve stayed focused and avoided distractions. This approach has allowed me to break significant goals into manageable tasks and achieve them individually. It is a skill that is worth mastering. This skill got me to the Olympics and to gain a doctorate while raising a family of 4, including a set of triplets.

Approaching every situation with solutions rather than focusing on problems has helped me to be a bright light in the business world and at home. No one likes a complaining, negative person; they ruin projects and make everyone miserable. A positive, caring attitude is an undervalued quality, but I think it leads to a happy life and creates an environment for success.

Prioritizing Family and Well-being is everything to me. While any career can demand sacrifices, family time and health should remain a priority. Maintaining this balance has kept me grounded and enhanced my productivity. Focusing on moving your body each day in a way that feels good and eating as healthy as you can has impacted me and helped me raise 4 Division 1 collegiate athletes! Kids watch your every move, so lead by example if you have them.

For those just starting out, prioritize your health and relationships—they will keep you centered and give you the strength to succeed in all areas of life. Choose an education path with subjects you love because passion is what helps you become committed.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

My most significant growth area in the past 12 months is my ability to embrace the present moment. It has taken a lot of meditation and coaching to allow me to enjoy today instead of focusing on what’s next. I have taught myself that I am no longer in a race trying to reach some finish line or destination. The joy is in the journey itself. It’s hard to be a high-functioning, goal-oriented person and stay in today, but I have grown so much this past year in this area. I set my goal, worked backward for the plan, and stayed on today’s step, embracing the joy of today instead of worrying about what’s next. This is massive growth for me, my new mindset, and has me glowing and still growing with less anxiety and fear.

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Image Credits

INKTalks Global – for the ink pic

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