The idea for a Solotrip+Business Retreat
The last two months had been very low for me energy-wise, and I had been feeling uninspired and lacking any motivation to create art or complete tasks essential to the business.
Sometime in the middle of being in this energy slump, I did a mind dump of my desires for my art and my business, and of the things and activities that I thought would bring me out of that space.
Two of the things on that list were travel and scheduled moments of reflection. That’s where I came up with the idea of a quarterly business retreat for a team of one. In November I picked a location, added the challenge of making it a budget trip, booked accommodation and train tickets, and decided to take this idea for a spin.
Business Retreat December 2022 Agenda: Reflecting on 2022 and Planning my 2023
For the first and beta version of my business retreat for a team of one, I set the intention of reflecting on 2022, planning my 2023, and soaking up inspiration while actively resting. Last week, the second week of December, I spent in Pushkar, Rajasthan sitting by the lake overlooking the hills, under the desert sun.
I spent the first couple of days reflecting on how 2022 has been for me, how I have grown, the things I have accomplished, the challenges I have overcome, what worked, what didn’t work, and what can I change moving forward.
The next couple of days were spent ‘dream casting’ for 2023, I created a rough roadmap of the products and services I want to launch in the coming year, the ideas I want to explore translating on paper and clay, the knowledge and support I want to offer to fellow creatives. I spent time thinking about how I can make an impact in other people’s lives while exploring the depths of myself.
The last two days were spent ideating and scripting something beautiful. An audio training series for creatives, in the form of a private podcast, which I’ve named Mindset Magic for Aligned Action! I am so happy with the content of the series and I truly believe it’s going to be a helpful resource for creatives (and anybody else really). It is a Christmas gift from me to you. x
Weaving Travel into Running a Creative Business
All this journalling and inspired work were done sitting at pretty cafes. Enjoying the vista of the calming blues of the sky above the hills and the deep blues of the lake below it, that envelopes the city. Basking in the sun, enjoying the cool breeze coming from the hills and through the lake. Listening to the chants and prayers that echo in this small city filled with temples.
I came back feeling truly rested with renewed energy to create, and filled with inspiration I know is going to show up in my work in ways I cannot predict just yet.
Final verdict on Business Retreat for a Team of One?
It was only at the beginning of this year that I started pivoting toward becoming a full-time artist and setting up my art business, but one thing that was at the centre of it all was a desire to build a sustainable business. Sustainable for my life, my health, my relationships, my priorities, and my overall well-being.
The biggest perk of being your boss and having your own business is the power to design a schedule and a life that works for you, not the other way around.
I am always mindful to not lose sight of that, the power of designing my life and building systems that nourish me. And having a business retreat for myself is a system that is going to do just that, and therefore it is going to become a quarterly practice in my business.
