A few months ago, I went to Mexico to visit my web designer and explore a new country. While it wasn’t planned, the trip turned into a bit of a business retreat. We were masterminding, brainstorming and even co-working on some days. I came back to the U.S. totally refreshed and with a new perspective on my business and travel. Two months after that, I had my first five-figure month in my business.
This got me thinking, is there a way I can do this on a more regular basis? After all, I’ve got airline miles to burn and I can work from anywhere in the world. So I told myself I’d start making the investment into business retreats.
Fast forward a few months and I already have a trip planned to San Juan, Puerto Rico where one of my colleagues will be hosting a business mastermind retreat in February. The opportunity came up and I decided to take it.
Here are just a few reasons you may want to start planning on taking regular business retreats.
Work and play don’t need to be separate.
As freelancers, we can work as long as we have WiFi. With this kind of location independence, it’s a lot easier to work and play.
It means you can work from a cafe in Europe. You can climb Mayan ruins one day and go to an internet cafe to work the next. You can work on the beach, an airplane, where ever!
You can plan business retreats on your own and just take off, or you can invest in something more organized like I’ll be doing in February. In my upcoming business retreat, I’ll be masterminding for a day and then exploring San Juan with the group the next.
It can help you out of a rut.
Sometimes we get in a rut in our businesses. And, sometimes, the way out of such a rut is to switch up your routine and try something different.
Business retreats, especially those that include travel, push you out of your comfort zone and give you a new perspective. I saw my business in a completely different light after Mexico. It helped me realize that I wanted to travel more, and that I should begin building passive streams of income so I can make money even while traveling.
A few months later and I went from making a few dollars in affiliate sales on my blog to now making hundreds of dollars from affiliate sales each month. This increased my income and now it’s easier for me take off for business retreats.
Business retreats can boost your bottom line.
The business retreat I’ll be attending in Puerto Rico in February is being led from one of my colleagues who also does business coaching. One of her specialties is systems which, quite frankly, is the next step for me to take my business to the next level.
By going on this retreat, I’ll get personalized attention from a colleague I admire and who I am certain knows her stuff. While I could probably learn this stuff from a webinar, the reality is that learning this stuff while also enjoying San Juan seems more enjoyable to me. Additionally, it’s harder for me to get that kind of coaching on a webinar.
Final Thoughts
Business retreats can get you out of a rut, help you explore the world and help you boost your business all at the same time. Take advantage of the opportunity the freelance life affords you and start investing in yourself and in your business.
