My Biannual CEO Retreat | Get Focused & Get Aligned

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I took my first business retreat earlier this year…

A CEO retreat offers an invaluable opportunity for business owners—small and large alike—to step away from their day-to-day responsibilities and immerse themselves in focused, strategic thinking. Bill Gates, renowned for his visionary insights, practices a similar approach with his annual "think week." Each year, Gates sets aside a dedicated week for uninterrupted contemplation and intensive reading. During think week, Gates disconnects from all distractions, including email and social media, to fully engage with a curated collection of books, research papers, and other sources of knowledge. By secluding himself in a serene environment, Gates allows his mind to wander freely, generating innovative ideas and uncovering new perspectives. This deliberate withdrawal from the constant demands of the corporate world empowers Gates to identify strategic priorities, refine his vision, and ultimately, drive the future of his organizations.

Now, I’m no Bill Gates and my business is nowhere near as large or as lucrative as his is. But, I think every business owner—regardless of how large or income-generating their business is—knows how each it is to get trapped in the day-to-day activities of running a business. The long-term strategy, alignment, and often the necessary education and research to make your business better often get pushed to the wayside, right?

When I took my first annual business retreat earlier this year, that was the goal: to get myself aligned, to get myself organized, and to read and study all the things that I knew I needed to read up on but hadn’t made time for. The time was invaluable, so I schedule another one for this summer.

It had been a long overdue break for me, a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse myself in a serene environment that would encourage relaxation and reflection. I left on a Thursday evening, eager to embark on my CEO retreat at the Lodges on Vashon, a quaint island just a short ferry ride away.

Now, before I get to the actual retreat, let me tell you about how I prepared for it. As you’ll see in my companion video (below), I created an event within Notion dedicated solely to my CEO retreat, allowing me to plan and structure my time effectively. It became my digital sanctuary, where I could jot down ideas, aspirations, and tasks to make the most of my retreat experience. As I thought of things, I would add them to the note. As a result, my CEO retreat was jam-packed with all the behind-the-scenes, should-do-but-don’t-have-time stuff that so many of us as business owners push off…

• Learning YouTube SEO

• Watching a money mindset course

• Create better systems for tracking keywords and content in my business

• Creating systems for content that I teach

• Long-term planning

One of the primary goals I had set for myself during this retreat was to enhance my understanding of YouTube SEO. I have been on YouTube for a while, but, frankly, had no idea what I was doing in terms of content people wanted, how to make my videos rank, etc. I wanted to equip myself with the knowledge and strategies necessary for success. With this in mind, I found a YouTube SEO course online and worked my way through the majority of the course videos.

Creating a comprehensive bank of B-Roll footage was also on my retreat agenda. I have no organization—or had no organization—to my B-Roll. I wrote down the shots I wanted and then, by memory, figured out which ones I needed and which ones I had. If you know me at all, you know that I am a “stop memorizing things, write shit down!) kind of person, so this was not my style. So I wanted to create a digital space inside of my Notion systems—connected my content tracker and planner—where I could house all the B-Roll shots I have, which ones I need, and which ones need to be updated.

This was my “pre-work” if you will for the actual retreat. And then, on last Thursday evening, I boarded the ferry to Vashon. The Pacific Northwest summer vibes were in full effect and I had some beautiful summer weather as I took the ferry over. Mt. Rainier was even out to say hello as I took the quick, 15-minute ferry ride over the water. Definitely check out the video below for views!

When I arrived at the Lodges on Vashon, I was greeted to the same lodge I stayed in last time and a welcome back note—it’s my 3rd time staying here.

I tend to bring my own food with me, so the first thing I did was unload my food, but it in the mini-fridge, and then set-up my workspace. I like to bring my food because I don't want to have to worry about feeding myself while I’m here. My whole goal is to get that deep, intensive, behind-the-scenes business work in, so I bring my food with me to ensure that I have sustenance but that finding food isn’t a distraction. My future #boss vision of this retreat is that I’ll have it catered or have someone cooking for me. #futuregoals

Once I arrived, it was really strictly business. Yes, However, Vashon offers a lot of recreational, views, walking trails, and tons of activities during the summer. Heck, even the place I stayed—the Lodges on Vashon—has some beautiful amenities and common spaces. I checked them out and even worked at them for a period of time, but that’s just not what this retreat is about for me. It’s an opportunity to do the focused work that I usually skip, so that’s really what it was about.

For more, check out the video below!

Have you ever taken a business retreat?

How did you spend it?

What do you think?
Drop a comment below!