Jon Clayton delivers a brief special episode to thank listeners for their support. He shares notable statistics from 2025, including the release of 52 episodes, the 100th episode celebration in September, and record downloads in October. He also recounts the top three episodes of the year based on download numbers, highlighting listener favourites. Jon encourages you to take a break from the podcast to enjoy the festive season.

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Episode Highlights

00:00 Introduction and Holiday Greetings

00:35 Podcast Achievements and Milestones

01:29 Top Episodes of 2025

02:57 Future Plans and Guest Invitations

03:54 Holiday Sign-Off and Advice

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Key Takeaways

Keep Going, Even When It’s Hard

If you keep working on something, like making a podcast every week, you can reach big goals. You might even do better than most people if you don’t give up.

People Like to Hear Real Stories

When you share true stories about your life or work, others want to listen. You can help people by telling them what you have learned and what you have gone through.

Take Time for Family and Friends

It’s good to stop working sometimes and spend time with people you care about. You should enjoy special days, like Christmas, with your family and friends.

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Curious about podcasting? Click here to book a chat with Jon 🎧

Follow or Connect with Jon on LinkedIn 🤝

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👇 And if you enjoyed this episode…

Please leave a 5-star review or rating wherever you listen to podcasts, and don’t forget to hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode.

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Next Episode

Tune in next week for a New Year's episode previewing 2026.

In this episode of Architecture Business Club, hosted by Jon Clayton, productivity mentor Louise Miller joins to discuss a new definition of productivity that focuses on doing what's important rather than doing more in less time. Key topics include the importance of creating space over relying on systems, how productivity begins before taking action, and why recognising capacity can prevent burnout. The episode also explores practical strategies like taking a pause to reassess goals and the benefits of changing environments. Louise's insights are aimed at helping business owners achieve more with a sense of fulfilment and well-being.

Today’s Guest

Louise Miller is a productivity mentor, the founder of Make It Happen Club and host of the Unfrazzle podcast. She’s on a mission to change the world by helping her clients change the world. She partners with coaches, consultants and community-builders who have a big, exciting vision, helping them land their ideas in reality, reach more people and make a bigger impact, whilst being kind to themselves along the way.

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Episode Highlights

00:00 Introduction to Productivity

00:42 Meet Louise Miller

01:30 Challenging Traditional Productivity

02:26 The Importance of Doing What's Important

03:21 The Busy Trap

04:34 Productivity Before Action

04:45 The Treehouse Analogy

09:32 The Progress Cycle

10:56 Space vs. Systems

11:47 The Chaos of Systems

14:23 The Emotional Weight of Productivity

15:52 The Vicious Cycle of To-Do Lists

17:04 Six Pillars of Productivity

17:44 The Life-Friendly Approach

19:01 The Rhythm of Productivity

19:30 The Neuroscience of Productivity

22:50 The Real Reasons for Not Getting Things Done

25:23 The Power of the Treehouse

29:49 Final Thoughts and Resources

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Key Takeaways

Prioritise Space and Reflection Over Constant Action

True productivity is not about relentless activity or doing more in less time, but about creating space to pause, reflect, and make intentional choices. Taking time to step back. Louise’s “treehouse” analogy allows for clarity, better decision-making, and prevents the cycle of busywork and burnout.

Focus on What’s Important, Not Just What’s Urgent

Productivity isn’t simply ticking off tasks. Instead, it’s about identifying and working on what truly matters, rather than being caught up in the “busy trap”. This means aligning your actions with your values and long-term goals, and letting go of tasks that do not serve your bigger purpose.

Systems Are Secondary to Self-Awareness and Capacity

While productivity systems and tools can be helpful, they are not a cure-all. If you’re overwhelmed or unclear, new systems will only organise your chaos. The real key is self-awareness: understanding your own needs, capacity, and life context, and building a rhythm of regular reflection. Productivity is personal. Experiment to find what works for you, and don’t feel broken if someone else’s method doesn’t fit.

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Connect with Louise Miller on LinkedIn 🤝

Take Louise’s Productivity Quiz 🖥️

Curious about podcasting? Click here to book a chat with Jon 🎧

Follow or Connect with Jon on LinkedIn 🤝

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👇 And if you enjoyed this episode…

Please leave a...

Want to streamline your least favourite tasks? In this episode of Architecture Business Club, host Jon Clayton explores innovative ways to leverage AI for automating routine and time-consuming tasks in architecture. Joined by Bryon McCartney, CEO of Archmark, the discussion covers identifying tasks AI can optimise, the Teach framework for deciding what to automate, and practical tips for training AI to match your unique tone. Bryon shares insights on creating efficient workflows using AI, recounts his experiences enhancing his agency's profitability through AI integration, and underscores the importance of starting small for those new to AI. Additionally, the episode details Bryon's approach to building an AI-powered advisory board and a successful workshop using AI tools, emphasising the role of AI in freeing up time for creative and strategic work.

Today’s Guest

Today's guest is Bryon McCartney, CEO of Archmark, a leading business coaching, branding, and marketing firm working exclusively with architecture firms. Bryon has more than 35 years of experience and has led digital marketing initiatives for Calvin Klein, General Motors Europe, Lipton Foods, and many others. He has founded and led six successful creative service firms since 2002 and has helped more than 5,000 architects transform their practices. He's the only Business Made Simple, Small Business Flight School, and StoryBrand certified coach serving the architecture industry, and he's on a mission to help 10,000 firm leaders by 2030.

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Episode Highlights

00:00 Introduction: Tackling Your To-Do List with AI

00:47 Welcome to Architecture Business Club

01:06 Meet Bryon McCartney: Transforming Architecture Firms

01:51 The Power of AI in Architecture

05:42 Identifying Tasks for AI Automation

06:04 Streamlining Meeting Notes and Emails with AI

11:20 The TEACH Framework for AI Automation

14:37 Treating AI Like a Summer Intern

20:17 Balancing Instructions for AI

21:14 Five-Step Formula for Writing AI Prompts

22:59 Creating a Blog Post with AI

24:39 Structuring Your AI Prompts

25:15 Avoiding Common AI Pitfalls

26:11 AI's Impact on Agency Profitability

26:32 Early Experiences with AI

27:13 Adopting AI Tools in Business

28:07 Streamlining Client Onboarding with AI

29:54 AI-Powered Workshops and Presentations

31:29 Efficiency Gains and Profitability Boost

31:49 Using AI in Podcast Production

32:40 Building an AI Advisory Board

35:38 Getting Started with AI

39:10 Choosing the Right AI Tools

41:00 Creating AI-Powered Workshops

46:05 Final Thoughts on AI Integration

50:15 Connecting with Bryon McCartney

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Key Takeaways

View AI as a powerful tool to free up your time by automating repetitive and routine tasks. By letting AI handle admin, meeting notes, and standard email responses, you can focus more on creative and strategic work that you truly enjoy.

You need to approach AI like you would a summer intern: provide clear instructions, context, and feedback. AI is not a magic solution; it requires you to define what a good result looks like and to iterate, refining your prompts and expectations as you go.

You will benefit most from AI if you start small, choosing tasks you know well and can clearly explain. As you build confidence, you can gradually integrate AI into more areas of your work and life, ultimately gaining a competitive edge and improving your efficiency.

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Connect with Bryon McCartney on LinkedIn 🤝

Learn more about our guest’s services...