20 Business Owners. 3 Days in Bali. One Lesson I Will Never Forget.
“If it makes you happy, take the risk. Worst case, you learn. Best case, it changes your life.”
That quote has been sitting with me ever since we got back from Bali.
Because if I am completely honest…
There were so many reasons not to run our first BREAKAWAY Retreat.
Flights.
Accommodation.
The cost.
The planning.
The logistics.
The thought of asking twenty busy business owners to leave their businesses for three whole days.
I know how hard that is because I would have had exactly the same thoughts.
“Who is going to look after everything?”
“Can I really switch off?”
“What if something goes wrong while I am away?”
There were moments when people who had booked had to pull out because life happened.
There were times I wondered if enough people would come.
There were plenty of late nights where I questioned whether all the planning and organising would actually be worth it.
I talked myself in and out of it more times than I would like to admit.
But we did it anyway.
Looking back now, I can honestly say…
It was worth every bit of the uncertainty.
What Happens When You Finally Give Yourself Permission to Slow Down?
For three days, twenty business owners gave themselves something many of us rarely allow.
Space.
Space to stop checking emails every five minutes.
Space to stop solving everyone else’s problems.
Space to stop being the leader.
The business owner.
The parent.
The person everyone relies on.
Instead, they were simply people.
People who laughed.
People who cried.
People who admitted they were exhausted.
People who realised they were carrying far more than they had ever said out loud.
One conversation after another reminded us of something powerful.
So many business owners feel exactly the same.
They just think they are the only one.
None of the Conversations Were About Growing a Rent Roll
We did not spend three days talking about marketing.
Or KPIs.
Or business plans.
Instead, we talked about things that quietly shape every business we lead.
We learnt how our nervous system responds to stress.
We explored why burnout does not suddenly appear one morning. It builds slowly through hundreds of small moments that often go unnoticed.
We spoke about identity, beliefs and why working harder does not always create better results.
We had honest conversations about perimenopause, energy and how our bodies change through different stages of life.
We explored imagination, mindset and the stories we tell ourselves every single day.
None of those conversations were about growing a rent roll.
Yet every one of them will help us become better business owners.
Because businesses do not grow without healthy leaders.
That was probably my biggest takeaway from Bali.
The Best Ideas Come When You Stop Rushing
Somewhere between the conversations, the laughs and the quiet moments, something shifted.
People started thinking differently.
Not because someone handed them another business strategy.
Because they finally had space to hear themselves think.
I came home with pages of notes.
New ideas.
A clearer head.
A full heart.
And a reminder that growth does not always happen inside a boardroom.
Sometimes it happens while walking along the beach before breakfast.
Sometimes it happens over dinner with people who genuinely understand what it feels like to carry the weight of running a business.
Sometimes it happens because you gave yourself permission to stop for a moment.
There Will Always Be a Reason to Wait
The retreat reminded me of something I hope I never forget.
There will always be reasons not to do something.
There will always be uncertainty.
There will always be a safer option.
You can always wait until next year.
Until work settles down.
Until the timing feels right.
But if there is one thing I learnt in Bali, it is this.
The timing rarely feels perfect.
Sometimes you simply have to trust yourself enough to say yes.
Because the biggest growth often comes after the decision that feels uncomfortable.
BREAKAWAY 2027 Is Coming
If there is something you have been putting off because it feels scary…
Maybe this is your sign.
Take the risk.
Worst case, you learn.
Best case…
It changes far more than you ever expected.
That is exactly what BREAKAWAY did for us.
It gave twenty business owners permission to pause, reconnect with themselves and return home with fresh energy, clearer thinking and a completely different perspective on leadership and business.
The conversations are still happening.
The lessons are still sinking in.
And we already know one thing.
BREAKAWAY Retreat 2027 is coming.
If you have ever wished you could step away from the daily grind, spend time with like-minded business owners and come home feeling like yourself again, we would love to have you there.
Join the BREAKAWAY 2027 waitlist and be the first to hear when registrations open.
Sometimes the biggest investment you can make in your business is investing in yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should business owners attend a retreat?
A retreat gives business owners something they rarely have enough of. Time to think, reflect, learn and reconnect with themselves. That clarity often leads to better decisions, stronger leadership and a healthier business.
Can stepping away from my business actually help it grow?
Yes. Many business owners discover that taking time away helps them return with fresh ideas, clearer priorities and more energy than constantly pushing through exhaustion.
Who is BREAKAWAY Retreat for?
BREAKAWAY is designed for business owners who want to grow sustainable businesses without sacrificing themselves in the process. It is for leaders who know that personal growth and business growth go hand in hand.
