The Secret to a Small Business Reset

A DIY Self-Retreat for the Ultimate Strategic Plan

Maintaining a healthy business in the era of COVID uncertainty means pausing, prioritizing, and pivoting. Goals have changed, the financial outlook is altered, business is - different. As a small business owner, I believe making space to care for my business strategically is a necessary piece of my professional self-care. What will you do to care for your business health in the final five months of 2020? 

Taking a page from my corporate days, I recently created structured time for a meaningful and essential strategy session to map out the last 100 working days this year. Using some of my favorite workshop facilitation tools and techniques, check out my tips below to make the ultimate at-home DIY retreat for your business.

Creating Your Retreat

Determine your primary objective(s). This could be to re-align goals, re-assess your audience and their needs, determine how to best re-direct your team, refreshing your product or services. For me, it meant restructuring my time based on updated goals for financial stability between now and December 31.

Practically, I broke down: 

1. My current cash flow by service
2. Built new benchmarks focused on how I want to grow/decrease my energy output and assessed my current time spent against these benchmarks
3. Defined how much time would be spent in these areas five days a week 

Getting Started with Your DIY Self-Retreat:

#1 Create Your Space: Your environment is where it begins. Don’t underestimate the impact physical space can have on mood, ability to stay free of distraction, and problem solve.

Tips: Get creative. Move furniture, grab items that bring a sense of calm or happiness, consider background music, lighting, where you will sit, and how you feel most comfortable. 

(How I did it: I turned our den into a cozy retreat space using camping chairs covered with blankets and pillows. I brought in fresh flowers and plants, I grabbed crystals and a candle to add some ambiance. I made the most of the natural light by planning the time for mid-morning.)

#2 Create Your Agenda: Outline specific goals and set aside enough time to accomplish them. Determine if this is a one-time or multi-part session.

Tips: Create structured time blocking around the main problems you want to solve.

Be realistic with potential distractions that may come up in your home environment and how you will create boundaries. Build in time for breaks.

(How I did it: I wanted to accomplish my problem-solving in one session so I set aside a four-hour time block. My agenda was three parts based on my current business needs with a short break after each item was complete).

#3 Fuel Your Success: After you complete each task, assess your next steps, and set a follow-up day and time for yourself to keep that piece moving. Make sure you have everything you need to stay focused on your session. 

Tips: Consider supplies you may want (paper, pens, computer, references, etc), and don’t forget about literal fuel (beverages and your favorite snacks -  a great way to stay motivated).

(How I did it: I do my best creative work when I put my computer away. I had paper, coffee table books to serve as my desk and pens/markers to make the work more fun. Once I completed each part of my agenda, I spent 20 minutes recapping takeaways on my computer so I didn’t create more work for myself after my session. I also had plenty of coffee and snack time built in!)

#4 Post-Session Accountability: Maintain a clear, specific, and simple action plan to easily keep going post-retreat. Reflect on why you are making this commitment. 

Tips: Consider writing down your “why” for making this time for your business to start or end your session.

(How I did it: I started my session with a short, two-minute meditation. I asked myself, “what one thing would help me find success between now and the end of 2020?” This became my why. The week after my retreat, I kept myself committed to the tasks in my calendar and gave myself grace if I couldn’t get them all accomplished).

Final Thoughts: Pick your date, set aside your tools, get creative, and go for it!

About the author: Karianne Michelle is a Chicago-based brand strategist, entrepreneur, and health advocate. After a 15-year advertising career spent crafting strategies for global companies, Karianne made the leap in 2017 to chart her own path as a creative entrepreneur. Transitioning from high-pressure, high-performance professional to business owner naturally led her to integrating a more mindful approach to health. Her company Lofti, hosts professional branding workshops that integrate meditation and grounding techniques to help attendees achieve their next level of greatness, in either their career or business, without losing their sense of self and purpose in the process. Combining her classical training as a vocalist with methods learned during her 20-year yoga practice, Karianne leverages the elements of movement, breath, and sound to cultivate a deeper connection within—helping individuals discover new, untapped ways to relieve stress.

NEED HELP PLANNING A RETREAT FOR YOUR BUSINESS OR TEAM? EMAIL ME: [email protected]

WANT TO STAY CONNECTED? SIGN UP FOR THE LOFTI NEWSLETTER