Connection Over Content (Side Convos Are Where the Magic Happens)

I admit, I do random things but this was a pretty big experiment.

Bring 9 founders together, go off-grid, take them to a luxury campsite with a gourmet chef, hikes, workshops, fireside canapes and bubbles.

So... did it work?

Hell yes!

And what was more surprising was that none of us stopped laughing for 48 hours.

This is the first time I've hosted a retreat and it's because Steven Demedio pitched the idea when we met for the first time, on a walk and talk around Mt Cootha this time last year.

I love his enthusiasm for the outdoors, and so I thought it would be brilliant. I know I do my best thinking away from my screen, so why not create that experience?

The crew that showed up also bought into that idea, and were the most fun, interesting, insightful, clever, group put together. We were shocked that we actually all got along SO well.

It was more about connection and sharing vs. content but we did cover a lot over the experience including checking into nature, mapping your life dreams and visioning them with a terrific exercise from, figuring out how business can support that (a nice reflection on some Effort: Reward ratios!!), and more.

But more importantly it was the side convos over a meal, or a hike, or the campfire, or a John Farnham song that made it an experience.

Can't wait to show you some footage, but here's a snap of breakfast today. Yum.

If you could “retreat” anywhere in the world, where would that be?

Thank you to these absolutely beautiful humans Sarah Stoddart Julian Mather Jason Knight Danielle Skelton Melissa Langton, Steve Hodgson.