ReTreat Yourself 2020
The end of the year is in sight. Whether 2020 was a nightmare or a dream come true (or, more likely, some hazy place in the middle), it, too, must end. The following question was posed to me recently: what can you do in the last 90 days of 2020 to make 2021 your best year yet? The clock is ticking down; let’s take action.
Here’s my advice – and your permission slip, if you need one! – take yourself on a business retreat. Pick a peaceful place, make a list of questions you want to ask yourself, plans you want to make, content you want to write, etc., and spend a few days on yourself and your business.
We’ve all had our noses to the grindstone this year. Take a moment to look up and determine if you’re where you want to be. If you’re not, use this time to recalibrate for the balance of 2020 and head into 2021 with a clear head and the right perspective.
Here’s what I did:
WHO – are you going solo or with a colleague? It made sense for me to team up with my colleague and collaborative partner Nicole Ellis of BBN Agency (we serve clients together under the umbrella Fort Worth Creative Suite). We had time together to chat through ideas and challenges, while also carving out solo time for our own personal goals and dreaming.
Also important – who’s looking out for you while you’re away? I found it incredibly helpful and anxiety-reducing to have my team monitoring my email so we could keep things moving along and allow me to step away.WHEN – Decide when you can go so that you can shut off work email, step away from family responsibilities, and focus on yourself and your goals. I planned my trip about a month in advance, which gave me time to give clients and family notice that I was going to be out of pocket.
WHERE – what type of location do you need to recharge your batteries and get your creative juices flowing? Spa, nature, adventure? We decided we wanted something just a little ways away in a peaceful location with minimal distractions but access to restaurants. Nicole found The Ruby Hotel & Bar in Round Rock. It’s tucked away in a neighborhood just north of Austin. Beautiful rooms, grounds, and pool. I got a ton of writing done on my patio overlooking Brushy Creek, as well as poolside under the live oak trees.
WHAT – okay, you’re booked. Now it’s time to think about what you want to accomplish. If you’re only going for a few days, try not to overload your agenda. In fact, commit to yourself right now that this will be the first retreat, not the only one. So, get organized, print out what you want to take with you, and have a clear plan of action for this time. If you want to spend the whole time napping, you certainly can, but I think you might regret it. I spent a lot of my time really thinking about where I’m taking my business and my life. Once I cleared the philosophical decks, I worked through some backlogged writing I’ve been wanting to do for the business (shoemaker’s children, don’t you know?).
GO – just go, friend. You deserve it. Your business needs it. Breathe. Think. Dream. Then come home ready to move forward.
Want to chat about your business retreat or your 2021 plans, contact us today!
