Ep #59: Behind the Scenes of Our Upcoming Retreat (Dos and Don'ts of Retreat Planning)

Episode Summary

Jenna offers special tips for developing your own retreat!

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Show Notes

Have you ever thought that a retreat may be a great way of enhancing connection with your clients? If so, this is the episode for you. Organizing a retreat takes scheduling and thoughtful planning, but it doesn’t have to be wildly overwhelming. 

A retreat amplifies the power of your community; it's all about connecting with your clients. In this episode, I share how I planned my Clarity Collective Retreat, why retreats are so important, and how I am setting myself up for success.  

Discover how to leverage the skills, power, and knowledge of your client base. Learn how to create a retreat that builds up your community, deepens your teachings, and allows you to shine with easeful upfront planning.

What You’ll Learn From This Episode:

• The power of collective thought.

• What the goal is for my Clarity Collective Retreat.

• How I manage the cost of the retreat.

• Where to host a retreat, and how to choose the most suitable destination for your goals.

• How to create a retreat that will greatly benefit your clients.

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Full Episode Transcript:

You're listening to Episode 59 of The Uncommon Way where I'm going to be taking you behind the scenes of our upcoming Clarity Collective Retreat, and talking through the exact things that I was thinking through in developing the various components of the retreat, so that you can use the same kind of framework going forward, if you decide to host your own retreat.

You're listening to The Uncommon Way Business and Life Coaching Podcast, the only podcast that helps you unlock your next level in business and life by prioritizing your clarity and your own Uncommon Way. You will learn to maximize your mindset, mission, messaging, and strategy in order to create a true legacy. Here's your host, top-ranked business coach, and reformed over-analyzer turned queen of clarity, Jenna Harrison.

Hello, my friends, welcome back to The Uncommon Way. I am really excited about this episode because I get to debrief for you and for me all of the details about our upcoming retreat, which I'm so excited about. Also, the thought process that I use to make all of the decisions about the retreat.

I know that a lot of you are also thinking about holding retreats, or you're just curious about what goes into them, and so this is really going to provide that framework for you, as well as some good do's and don'ts. Or at least, in terms of The Uncommon perspective do's and don'ts, the way we do things around here and the way we don't do things around here.

I thought I would start off, with the first point being, get buy-in from the people that you will be inviting to the retreat. Now, I know that a lot of business owners believe that ‘if you build it, they will come.’ And yes, but if you have access to the actual people that you want to invite to the retreat, definitely talk to them about it.

Find out what they're really hoping for, what they really love, because chances are, they're going to surprise you with some absolute brilliance that you hadn't even considered. Doing so, and engaging in this very act of listening with your people, is the basis behind the philosophy of the collective.

So, for those of you that are new, the Clarity Collective is the larger group of my clients that include both the members of the Clarity Accelerator, which is an ongoing group and one-to-one hybrid program. And also, my private clients that also will join in on some of our group calls. Because we believe so fully in the power of the collective that I would never want to offer any type of program that didn't at least include some group component.

But I don't really love the term “mastermind;” I love the term collective. Collective very much speaks to the power of all of us using our combined brilliance together. And in order to actually walk that talk, you've got to believe that your people have that brilliance that will absolutely amplify your own.

The core principles of building a service business in The Uncommon Way is that you know yourself, you know your people, and then you just speak about how those two things connect.

It really is about creating connection. I would not have been able to do that with this retreat if I hadn't listened to my people, if I hadn't had some really good, in-depth conversations and listened actively to what they were saying, and what they weren't saying, so that I could curate this experience that would just go above and beyond what they were hoping and dreaming about.

Now, let's talk about cost. When I was thinking about a cost for the retreat, I first had to get clear on my objectives. Again, that's the first principle of what we do here, is to know yourself. So, my objectives for this retreat are, of course to amplify my clients’ results, that's always at the forefront of my mind. But it was also to continue to build the bonds, the social bonds that are within this collective, within this group, because they are amazing.

My clients, they reach out to each other on the side. They get together for peer coaching. They help each other out. They brainstorm ideas. And that's just with seeing each other on an hour long call every week or every couple of weeks. We already have that culture in our program for how we're different and why we're choosing to do business this way, why we're choosing to do business differently, and how beautiful it is that we've all met up to do this together.

However, I know that if they could spend concentrated time together in person that they'd have even more of an opportunity to know each other like I know them. I know that they haven't even scratched the surface of what each of the different group members can do for them, and how those people can complement their own strengths and weaknesses.

But I also believe in my heart of hearts, that a rising tide lifts all boats, and the stronger they are as a group and as a collective the more they will all be able to thrive.

When I was thinking about cost, I wanted to make this such a no-brainer, and to be able to clearly articulate with integrity the value of them coming to this retreat and why we were doing this retreat. So, I decided to make the retreat completely free. My clients will pay for their airfare, they will pay for their lodging, but there will be no additional charge for the extra value they're going to receive while they're there.

But let me tell you what else needed to happen in order for that to be a good idea. I needed to know my people very well. I needed to be able to discern whether they would actually be aided by paying some sort of entry fee, or some fee, in order to come. If that would actually help them put more skin in the game, take this more seriously, if it would uplevel their soul in some way, to see them as the type of person that goes on retreats.

If that had been the case, then I might have considered some sort of fee. But that does not describe my clients. My clients are extremely committed, that is part of who they are. My programs aren't cheap, so they do pay a significant price when they decide that they are ready for this type of high touch coaching.

When they come into my programs, I'm very selective about who I let in. And when my clients join, they're rolling up their sleeves. They're like, “I am ready, let's dive in.” So, it made a lot more sense for me instead to say, “Hey, collective, let's get together. We've all enjoyed hanging out here. Let's nurture that and let's take our businesses to the next level in this amazing space, in this amazing time, and create some really magical memories.”

We had the cost decided, and we had the location decided as well, because that was a decision we made as a collective, with people that would be going to the retreat. We decided we wanted something that was near nature, potentially with water, or a beach element there.

We knew we wanted a location outside of the United States that would help us really get out of our day to day, out of our fishbowl as I like to call it, and help inspire new creative ways of thinking. We knew we wanted there to be some sort of ability to move our bodies and be out in nature and not just be sitting in a conference room. We knew that we wanted to nurture both body and mind.

So, I took all of that information and I started doing my research. I looked around, I reached out to people that I trust asking for recommendations for wellness retreats, and unfortunately, we weren't able to find too many that were at the standard that I was hoping for outside of the United States. There were plenty inside the U.S. but it was challenging to find outside.

We could find some places that were maybe serving great macrobiotic food and would give you lots of exercise classes, but nothing that really was combining mind-body-spirit. But then I found it, and I just knew it was our place.

So, we have managed to find a wellness resort that is on a beautiful isolated stretch of Mexican coastline. It's totally all inclusive, and includes amazing healthy farm-to-table meals prepared by Michelin starred chefs. There are so many wellness opportunities, like Sunrise yoga and stand-up paddleboarding.

As well as so many healers and spiritual leaders that are brought into the space to host cacao ceremonies for opening the heart, and sound bath experiences to really open us to our next most creative inspiration and to clear out any blocks that have been keeping us from moving fully into who we are here to be and what we're meant to express next.

I also have some favored vendors that I'll be having either pipe in over Zoom, or potentially, even come in person, some extra little surprises in store for my clients. Oh, and did I mention all of the spa rituals? We also get discounts on spa activities.

The reason I’m mentioning all these things is because I stopped to think through, again, what are the objectives here and where do you really get the most value from a retreat like this? I know that for my clients to get the mega results that they're hoping for, the mega boost that just turbocharges them, they are going to need to get out of their fish bowl, like I mentioned. We need to get out of our day to day and start seeing things differently.

I know that you need to relax your nervous system, you need to tap into your higher self or the universe, or the most creative part of your cerebral cortex, however you want to think about it. And that you need to be in a space of potential and ‘why not’ and ‘watch me.’

Those are some of the key components for allowing clarity to really surface, allowing your most powerful self to surface, and allowing all of the downloads and intuitive hits to surface. I know that those things are created, of course, like we mentioned, getting outside of the country, or outside of your typical routine, but also with downtime. And so, I made sure that when I'm thinking about this schedule, there is plenty of downtime.

That they will have time to get a massage. That they'll have time to journal or even just sit on the beach watching the waves, and integrating whatever we have activated or whatever new ideas have been coming to them. I also know that so much of the value will just be them digesting everything that's been coming up with their fellow sisters in the collective.

Really been able to talk through your experience reinforces and helps you integrate, and fully understand, what's been happening. And to remember it as well, so that it doesn't become just one of those times where you had a great couple of days, or a few days, and then you were back to real life and you forgot all about what you learned.

That really comes through talking about it and through understanding it on a deeper level. Sometimes having people challenge you on a certain direction that you're heading, and you being able to talk through your rationale for why, is helping you build up that huge reserve.

That huge bank of thoughts and beliefs that will propel you forward so that a month or two from now you're not saying, “Oh, I don't know, maybe I should do this instead. Maybe I should have done that,” and you're going through all the FOMO and all the second guessing.

No, we do not want that around in The Uncommon Way. We want to get very clear on our deepest knowingness. Then, we want to cut out all of the extraneous stuff, and be able to take very decisive, methodical steps towards our future that we know is inevitable. That is how we create the business and life that we want, our way versus some other way that somebody thought might be good for us.

This is a new way of business, making decisions from this place and then moving forward in this way and daring to do things your way. It gives me chills. It is such a privilege to get to support my clients as they're doing this; as the ground breakers they are. And of course, to see the incredible results that they manifest because of it.

Alright, the next point is, don't overthink it. It can really be as easy as finding an all-inclusive, this wellness resort that fits your needs. Or if you're not going to a wellness resort, finding the venue that fits your needs. Knowing your objectives, knowing your people, and then calling and asking for a group discount.

I just compare this to so many stories I've heard from mentors of mine that have talked about extensive contracts that they would get into with a different vendor, and how if enough of their clients don't come it costs them such financial hardship. That they would do it here but then they can't bring in the vendors that they want to. That there are all of these problem areas that come up around trying to run a retreat.

I think that keeps more of us from doing it. Which is unfortunate, because, especially for women, being together, in person, and building really strong bonds, is everything for our business. Our brains will integrate on such a deeper level when what's going on is just part of how people are.

When our brains start to believe, “Oh, this is just how it's done, right? It's very normal for women to make money. It's very normal for women to step into their power. It's very normal for women to be taking risks. It's very normal for women to be making large purchasing decisions on behalf of their business. It's very normal for women to be excelling and succeeding, and being able to still have lives outside of all of that.”

A coach could tell you all of that until they’re blue in the face. I can sit here on this podcast and be like, “Seriously, girl, it's so possible, just go after it.” But until you are in an environment where everyone is eating and breathing and shifting this stuff out, it won't feel real in your brain. It will still seem like something that you hear about over there, rather than who you are and who you are going to become.

And so, I want more of you, if you're interested in holding retreats and get-togethers and having in-person events, I want you to be doing them because it's so powerful for us, all of us. Most of us listening to this podcast, are interested in bringing some sort of change to the world.

So, I didn't go for any of the fancy contracts. Now, that meant that I had to give up some control; I didn't know exactly how many rooms would be available. I just had to tell my clients, “Here's the opportunity, go ahead and call the hotel using this discount code,” and when the hotel runs out of rooms, that caps the size of our event.

And I was okay with that because I fully believe that whoever is meant to be at that retreat will be at that retreat. At the time of this recording, there are still rooms available.

All right, here's my next point. Allow yourself to be supported. Allow yourself to be supported. Allow yourself to find a venue that can support you so fully in this way that you really just get to show up, and then lead the retreat. Allow yourself to go to the slightly nicer venue that is going to have your needs well accommodated for. Allow yourself to rely on your clients to figure out their transportation, to be able to call the hotel, and to support you in supporting them.

Allow yourself to believe that your family will support you while you go do this thing that's so important for you and your business. Allow yourself to believe that you will find the money, that you will be supported, and/or recoup the money, by what you're able to do there. Related to this, but I do think it's a separate point, is to manifest it.

So, this is why it came together so seamlessly and effortlessly for me. It's because I allowed myself to lean into the vision of it long before it ever came about. Also, I allowed myself to experience other retreats. I'd probably been on six or seven business retreats, in all different places, and I kept doing it until it felt so normal to me that it just felt strange to not be running these myself. I do not recommend trying to sell something that you haven't experienced for yourself.

I remember I spoke with a woman the other day on a call, who was talking about how she's wanting to move into group programs at some point. But when I mentioned the group component of my program, she said, “Oh no, no. I only want to do one-to-one. I'm not interested in showing up on a group call.”

I thought that was so interesting, that she would be thinking about moving into group. How would she be able to sell that to her people with integrity, if she herself doesn't believe that she can get great results, even better results, from a group than she could with one to one with a coach?

So, because I believed that retreats are so normal, because I experienced retreats, because I went to all different types of retreats to see that there's no one way of hosting a retreat, I was able to lean into the vision of what would make my retreats different. How I would want to do retreats. And I was able to feel it so clearly, that when it came time, it was really just like putting those pieces in place.

There wasn't a question of “if.” It was only, “Okay, how?” Oh, and I'm just realizing, I said that I don't recommend selling something that you haven't experienced yourself. You may think, “Well, you're not actually selling it, Jenna, because it's free.” But actually, I'm selling them on the idea of this and the time that they're going to give.

So, even if there's not a financial cost, there is always some investment that your clients are making. You have the opportunity to sell them on why. Why it will be so transformative for them?

Last but not least, decide it is perfect. That it's going to be perfect, ahead of time. Just decide, right now. Release your expectation and open up to whatever magic is going to occur. I don't know if you're like me, but I am a woman with very high expectations and high standards. And those can kind of get in the way sometimes, when the reality turns out differently.

And I really enjoy the opposite experience of not having any expectations, and just deciding ahead of time that it's going to be wonderful. If we can truly get into that place, wouldn't that wipe out so much of the fear that we have? So much of what holds us back from actually moving forward?

It may not be a retreat for you, it may be some other big type of thing that you're planning in your business. But you have these expectations, and what if the expectations don't come to pass? But I know it's going to be amazing. I'm pretty lucky, I have pretty amazing clients. And so, even if we were just hanging out all the time drinking, I don't know, pineapple juice or margaritas or whatever, even just the conversations that would flow will be amazing. Then we add on all the other things we're going to be doing.

And yeah, I really, really don't have to worry about this one. This retreat is happening the week of October 9th. If you have been thinking about joining us, there has never been a better time. This retreat is only open to members of the Collective. So, those are my Clarity Accelerator clients, and my private clients.

This will be an experience of a lifetime, opening you to deeper levels of clarity about where your business is going, and how, matched with, down and dirty here on the 3d plane, business tactics that will propel you forward and accelerate your timeline.

You will be creating your plans here, with my help. Making the hard decisions about what to cut out, or what to lean into, and activating that confidence and that knowingness that will allow all of this. Allow you to simplify. Allow you to be supported by your business. And to cut out all the things you don't need, so that you can gain massive traction where it counts.

You'll return so deeply grounded in your body, and your nervous system will feel so safe and supported after a week of luxury and pampering… or three days, however long you choose to join us… that you'll be able to make major moves on whatever you've been holding back on. You’ll show up to your audience and your clients and your teammates, your family, friends, everyone, in an entirely new and powerful way.

I love this analogy of ‘the ramp versus the steps.’ So much of our change and our personal development, it's as if we're going up a ramp. We go up a little bit, and then we slide back down. And then we go a little bit further, and we slide back down. It's kind of this very fluid back and forth.

But sometimes you get a step; you take the staircase instead of the ramp. That will happen when you've had some kind of epiphany or awakening. Something clicks, and you take that step up. And because it's a staircase, you can't slide back down. You can never see reality the same way again; there's just no way for you to ever go back.

It's like when you've been dating the loser, you finally see the light, and there's just no way you're ever going to date someone like that again. You've so clearly identified where the red flags were that you completely ignored, and it's just not going to happen again.

This retreat will be one of those staircase moments. And on top of it all, you will get the bodily experience of retreats like this, so that you can more easily manifest yours. Or you can more easily manifest more supportive times like these in your business.

All right, my friends. That is what I've got for you today. I hope it was helpful, let me know. You can always reach me in the DMS, on any of the socials, at The Uncommon Way. You can write a review of this podcast.

And if you would like to book a call, to talk about what it would be like for you to join the Clarity Accelerator and what that would do for your business, you can do that at TheUncommonWay.com/schedule.

Remember, you know who you are, and every day you're stepping further into what you're here to create. Have a great week.

Hey, if you want true clarity about your secret sauce, your people, your best way of doing business, and how you talk about your offer, then I invite you to join us in the Clarity Accelerator. I'll teach you to connect all the dots, the dots that have always been there for you, so that you can show up like you were born for exactly this.

Come join us and supercharge every other tool or tactic you'll ever learn, from Facebook ads to manifestation. Just go to TheUncommonWay.com/schedule and set up a time to talk. I can't wait to be your coach.

Thanks for joining us here at The Uncommon Way. If you want more tips and resources for developing clarity in your business and life, including the Clarity First Strategy for growing and scaling your business, visit TheUncommonWay.com. See you next time.

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