Not coincidentally, I, along with two associates, am offering a one-evening, 2-day retreat in NYC in late October. It is for high-end leaders who need to look at some things in their lives. This newsletter is not about that particular retreat, but it made me think nonetheless…
How frequently do any of us stop to look so much more deeply at where we are, where we have been, and where we want to go? It is so easy to get caught up in the grind of productivity, we just do what we do. We carry the world on our shoulders while we make things work for our organization, our families, and our lives. What’s missing however is us.
Taking time out of our lives to think, to experience, to feel, to connect, and to rediscover seems like a time-consuming process we have no time for. Surprisingly, if we look back, we have learned before that by taking time away to reflect, to reorganize, and to reevaluate, we become so much more efficient, and so much more capable of really being on top of things.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about what I learned living on a tropical island for 10 years. This follows that thought. A few days away is a simple, timely, and impactful way of learning what needs to be learned. To remember what needs to be remembered and to have someone support you in an efficient, productive way.
Accountability, an objective perspective, a fresh outlook, and frequently a new paradigm become the gifts we walk away with, as well as a great night sleep from the clarity, and breath of fresh air. However, it’s not just the clarity, it’s themselves – unmasked, reconnected, and recalibrated.
In just two days, something profound happens: the noise quiets. The proving stops. The doing relaxes its grip. And what remains is a deeper truth… one that’s been waiting patiently and unseen underneath all the titles, decisions, and performance.
We walk away with a clearer internal compass. With words for desires we haven’t remembered, perhaps, or simply haven’t spoken aloud in years and with the recognition that our power is not in our position—but in our presence.
We remember how to listen—to our own wisdom and how to lead from the soul, not stress.
It’s beyond the accolades, the pressure, and the next big move. We get to leave lighter.
Clearer, and recommitted—not just to the work, but to ourselves, and to why we chose this position in the first place.
And perhaps most importantly, we walk away with the realization that the next level of success isn’t about doing more. It’s about being more of who we truly are. Look at what you need and go find it.
