Are you going through a season of profound heartache and challenge? I am presently emerging from a chapter of sorrow and pain, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way are why I’m more passionate about my business vision today than I was when I welcomed my first client 10 years ago.
At the beginning of 2020, I was flying high. I had two sold-out retreats planned for May and June in Tuscany; and in January I launched and sold out my first Marrakech City Exploration, planned for that October. The future of my company was looking good. Cue the record scratching sound effect. …
Just a few weeks later, everything was upended by the pandemic.
For anyone with a business that interfaced with the public, hosted events or offered travel services, it was devastating. None of us were equipped to handle it and there were no “best practices” to refer to. We had to figure it out as we went along. There were many days and weeks when I had a pit in the bottom of my stomach, praying that I was making the right call for both my clients and partners.
Just as it looked like we were coming out of the pandemic, my family entered a life-changing medical crisis when, after months of concern and testing, in October of 2021 my mom was diagnosed with ALS, a terminal disease that paralyzes every muscle in your body. From that moment, I became her primary caregiver and advocate until she died, just shy of two years later. To say that it was difficult would be underselling just how traumatic it was to watch the disease ravage her body. I’m sure that those of you who have been, or are currently, caregivers can relate.
It was with that backdrop that I was able to experience, in an unprecedented way, the power of my retreats. For many years, I welcomed guests from a place of plenty, where my heart and creative tank were full. While I certainly enjoyed the camaraderie, gathering didn’t feel as radically necessary as it did in 2022, when I hosted my first retreat since the pandemic and my caregiving journey began. As I planned the retreats I was eager to feel the promise of my event’s tagline, “Celebrating creativity and community,” as my attendees were.
I longed to feel the magic of gathering with creative kindreds, the kinds of women who get excited about a beautiful flower arrangement or are willing to brainstorm kitchen layouts, share antiques market finds, make art, and discuss recipes.
As I designed the handouts, purchased gifts and surprises for my guests and made plans with my collaborators, I tapped into my own journey, not satisfied until I knew that I had designed something with a higher purpose — that of encouraging and filling the creative well of each woman who gathered at my event table.
Oh, what a joy it was when I finally gathered in Marrakech with that first group. As we wandered through the medina, gazed with appreciation at the incomparable zellige tile at the Ben Youssef Madrasa, explored the countryside, and participated in cooking lessons, the joy of friendships born through the lens of creative appreciation was a sweet blessing.
When we finally said goodbye 10 days later, I shed tears, overwhelmed by the beautiful reprieve the trip had provided from a homelife that was full of heavy caregiving responsibility. It was soul stirring, and a true full-circle moment for me to feel what so many of my clients have told me they feel when attending my events.
While creativity is the lens through which all activities pass on a Prone to Wander retreat, the travel component of my events is equally as important. There is something about leaving all that is familiar and setting out to experience new cultures, food, traditions and scenery that is humbling, mind-expanding and can lead to spiritual renewal. It is vulnerability at its most raw, and inspiration to the max. It brings with it opportunities for soul reflection and often inspires a wellspring of awe and thankfulness.
There are many times in our lives when women are asked to hold all the things together. To be the glue, the conduit, the lubricant, the connector … to put our needs behind those of our loved ones. And we do it because we love them.
But there are other times when it is necessary to step back and stoke the fires and passions in our hearts before we get to a place where we have no fuel left in the tank.
So, whether it’s attending a retreat with me, booking a weekend at a cottage with friends, planning a dinner with a girlfriend at a new restaurant; signing up for a hands-on workshop at a local florist, restaurant or craft store; or having a virtual coffee date with someone who actually gets the hobby you’re passionate about, I encourage you to remember that it is not selfish to honor the part of your spirit that is inspired by gathering with kindred creatives. The soul-affirming, positive impact it will inspire is vital to surviving and sustaining your heart during difficult chapters.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERING OFFERING RETREATS OR CREATIVE GATHERINGS, HERE ARE A FEW TIPS:
Find out what you can and can’t legally sell in your jurisdiction. In the U.S., if you live in California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa or Washington, you must be a registered seller of travel if you include accommodation or travel services (such as transfers) in your retreat tuition. In Canada, if you live in Ontario, British Columbia or Quebec, you’ll find similar requirements. If you’re in those states or provinces and you want to avoid this, contact travel agencies and ask to collaborate with them.
If you’re just starting, take the fear — and some of the risk — out of launching by collaborating with another artist; or ask an event/retreat company that you admire if they would plan a private event for you. This allows for further consumer reach.
Be curious. I pride myself on offering activities and events that would be hard for an independent traveler to find themselves. Many of my collaborations are direct results of asking questions, seeking recommendations from trusted local friends and reaching out to begin conversations with strangers whose ethos are in line with mine.
Develop processes and checklists for everything you do. There is no need to reinvent each event you host. While it makes sense to change the visuals, color schemes, special guests/ collaborators, etc., the process of what you need to do to prepare for each event can remain fairly standard. This baseline gives your events consistency and builds your reputation.
Remember that while one would hope that your clients will become (or are already) your friends, they are paying to attend a well-run event. Don’t let the grace that their friendship will afford you, should there be a problem, allow you to be complacent.
As soon as it is financially feasible, collaborate with a photographer to take pictures of your event. Those images are vital for advertising and sharing a real picture of what your event looks like with prospective clients.
Recognize that you can’t do it all. I am a published photographer and have taught paper crafting workshops all around the globe. I do what I can for my event, as it reduces expenses, but I subcontract and collaborate — even in some areas where I have expertise, such as photography and leading art workshops — because I know that wearing all the hats is a surefire way to drop a ball or two or be too worn out to be a gracious hostess.
While it is important to do research to know your competition, I highly recommend that you don’t regularly follow them on social media in order to be sure that your event stays true to your vision and you are not unintentionally being influenced by something you see them post/promote.
Are you going through a season of profound heartache and challenge? I am presently emerging from a chapter of sorrow and pain, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way are why I’m more passionate about my business vision today than I was when I welcomed my first client 10 years ago.
At the beginning of 2020, I was flying high. I had two sold-out retreats planned for May and June in Tuscany; and in January I launched and sold out my first Marrakech City Exploration, planned for that October. The future of my company was looking good. Cue the record scratching sound effect. …
Just a few weeks later, everything was upended by the pandemic.
For anyone with a business that interfaced with the public, hosted events or offered travel services, it was devastating. None of us were equipped to handle it and there were no “best practices” to refer to. We had to figure it out as we went along. There were many days and weeks when I had a pit in the bottom of my stomach, praying that I was making the right call for both my clients and partners.
Just as it looked like we were coming out of the pandemic, my family entered a life-changing medical crisis when, after months of concern and testing, in October of 2021 my mom was diagnosed with ALS, a terminal disease that paralyzes every muscle in your body. From that moment, I became her primary caregiver and advocate until she died, just shy of two years later. To say that it was difficult would be underselling just how traumatic it was to watch the disease ravage her body. I’m sure that those of you who have been, or are currently, caregivers can relate.
It was with that backdrop that I was able to experience, in an unprecedented way, the power of my retreats. For many years, I welcomed guests from a place of plenty, where my heart and creative tank were full. While I certainly enjoyed the camaraderie, gathering didn’t feel as radically necessary as it did in 2022, when I hosted my first retreat since the pandemic and my caregiving journey began. As I planned the retreats I was eager to feel the promise of my event’s tagline, “Celebrating creativity and community,” as my attendees were.
I longed to feel the magic of gathering with creative kindreds, the kinds of women who get excited about a beautiful flower arrangement or are willing to brainstorm kitchen layouts, share antiques market finds, make art, and discuss recipes.
As I designed the handouts, purchased gifts and surprises for my guests and made plans with my collaborators, I tapped into my own journey, not satisfied until I knew that I had designed something with a higher purpose — that of encouraging and filling the creative well of each woman who gathered at my event table.
Oh, what a joy it was when I finally gathered in Marrakech with that first group. As we wandered through the medina, gazed with appreciation at the incomparable zellige tile at the Ben Youssef Madrasa, explored the countryside, and participated in cooking lessons, the joy of friendships born through the lens of creative appreciation was a sweet blessing.
When we finally said goodbye 10 days later, I shed tears, overwhelmed by the beautiful reprieve the trip had provided from a homelife that was full of heavy caregiving responsibility. It was soul stirring, and a true full-circle moment for me to feel what so many of my clients have told me they feel when attending my events.
While creativity is the lens through which all activities pass on a Prone to Wander retreat, the travel component of my events is equally as important. There is something about leaving all that is familiar and setting out to experience new cultures, food, traditions and scenery that is humbling, mind-expanding and can lead to spiritual renewal. It is vulnerability at its most raw, and inspiration to the max. It brings with it opportunities for soul reflection and often inspires a wellspring of awe and thankfulness.
There are many times in our lives when women are asked to hold all the things together. To be the glue, the conduit, the lubricant, the connector … to put our needs behind those of our loved ones. And we do it because we love them.
But there are other times when it is necessary to step back and stoke the fires and passions in our hearts before we get to a place where we have no fuel left in the tank.
So, whether it’s attending a retreat with me, booking a weekend at a cottage with friends, planning a dinner with a girlfriend at a new restaurant; signing up for a hands-on workshop at a local florist, restaurant or craft store; or having a virtual coffee date with someone who actually gets the hobby you’re passionate about, I encourage you to remember that it is not selfish to honor the part of your spirit that is inspired by gathering with kindred creatives. The soul-affirming, positive impact it will inspire is vital to surviving and sustaining your heart during difficult chapters.
FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERING OFFERING RETREATS OR CREATIVE GATHERINGS, HERE ARE A FEW TIPS:
Find out what you can and can’t legally sell in your jurisdiction. In the U.S., if you live in California, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa or Washington, you must be a registered seller of travel if you include accommodation or travel services (such as transfers) in your retreat tuition. In Canada, if you live in Ontario, British Columbia or Quebec, you’ll find similar requirements. If you’re in those states or provinces and you want to avoid this, contact travel agencies and ask to collaborate with them.
If you’re just starting, take the fear — and some of the risk — out of launching by collaborating with another artist; or ask an event/retreat company that you admire if they would plan a private event for you. This allows for further consumer reach.
Be curious. I pride myself on offering activities and events that would be hard for an independent traveler to find themselves. Many of my collaborations are direct results of asking questions, seeking recommendations from trusted local friends and reaching out to begin conversations with strangers whose ethos are in line with mine.
Develop processes and checklists for everything you do. There is no need to reinvent each event you host. While it makes sense to change the visuals, color schemes, special guests/ collaborators, etc., the process of what you need to do to prepare for each event can remain fairly standard. This baseline gives your events consistency and builds your reputation.
Remember that while one would hope that your clients will become (or are already) your friends, they are paying to attend a well-run event. Don’t let the grace that their friendship will afford you, should there be a problem, allow you to be complacent.
As soon as it is financially feasible, collaborate with a photographer to take pictures of your event. Those images are vital for advertising and sharing a real picture of what your event looks like with prospective clients.
Recognize that you can’t do it all. I am a published photographer and have taught paper crafting workshops all around the globe. I do what I can for my event, as it reduces expenses, but I subcontract and collaborate — even in some areas where I have expertise, such as photography and leading art workshops — because I know that wearing all the hats is a surefire way to drop a ball or two or be too worn out to be a gracious hostess.
While it is important to do research to know your competition, I highly recommend that you don’t regularly follow them on social media in order to be sure that your event stays true to your vision and you are not unintentionally being influenced by something you see them post/promote.
