“Meals make the society, hold the fabric together in lots of ways that were charming and interesting and intoxicating to me. The perfect meal, or the best meals, occur in a context that frequently has very little to do with the food itself”. Anthony Bourdain
We offer 4-day retreats which focus on personal and professional development. Our individual leadership retreats are designed for one person with one of our leaders. We spend the majority of our time together discussing and exploring what means to you as an individual to be a leader in both your personal and professional life, about what makes a leader, why being a leader is important in your life and explore actions and ideas you can implement to the most efficient and effective leader you can be.
A typical personal retreat would include:
Day 1 – Arrive at our location (we can pick you up at the train or airport if needed) and spend the evening enjoying tapas and sangria while getting to know each other through conversation. We learn about each other and find out what you hope to accomplish with your visit. All topics are on the table for the evening and you guide us to learn about you, who you are and what makes you tick. It’s a relaxed evening where you share only what you want with us and provide insight were asked and vision were needed.
Day 2 – In the morning we meet for breakfast we make especially for you with local ingredients and discuss topics ranging from economics, to world events. We get to know each other a bit more. Then the fun begins.
We go on a journey. Leadership is a hands-on experience. It is part of the fabric of our lives and is only accessible when we use it. You can’t be a leader inside a bottle, you have to get out there and experience life. We can do simple things such as going to the market for the days fish and produce, walking on the beach, or riding bicycles through town. What we want to see is how you interact with others, especially those whose job it is to serve. Based on our observations here we talk about how you see yourself in the grand scheme of things and how you treat others around you.
Depending on our morning we can either catch a snack from a seaside vendor or head home to a light lunch we make together. We talk over our a meal. We talk about what leadership means to you, how leadership affects your decisions and why being a leader is important to you. We talk about your definition of a leader and how you envision being in this role.
We enjoy some down time after lunch where you are welcome to either continue our conversations or spend time on your own relaxing.
The evening starts with a wonderful wine or sangria and paella made with local ingredients. Spain boasts 5 different types of paella dishes and we are always striving to perfect them. We learned from a wonderful woman in Calella, Spain that love is the main ingredient in Spanish cooking and so we use quality ingredients and put our hearts and souls into its creation. You are more than welcome to participate in the preparation or enjoy a nice evening relaxing until dinner is ready. We have found that conversations in the kitchen often bring about the most amazing ideas and revelations, so we hope you join us.
We spend the evening in more immersive conversation. This time about you as a person, your thoughts, dreams, ideas, fears and frustrations. All these things are a part of who you are and what makes you tick. Without understanding how and why we are who we are we cannot be leaders of any kind. We get to know you and what makes you tick. The topics on the table are yours to decide. The floor “so to speak” is yours.
Amid this conversation a wonderful tarte de Santiago and espresso might be served if so desired to enjoy during our conversation.
The evening ends when we feel full, satisfied and happy.
Day 3 – Today after a hearty breakfast that might include a tortilla de patata we get out and about. Depending on your fitness level and interests we can either wander village stalls and try regional delicacies or paddle a kayak along the coves. The possibilities are endless. We spend more time talking and learning about leadership. What it means to build a team, how to instruct and how to follow. We tackle the difference between leadership and management and learn if they are compatible. We learn what makes up a good team and how to motivate and inspire the players.
Depending on our choice of activity we might bring lunch along or find an eatery in town. We enjoy the conversation and company of those around us and continue our conversation.
We spend the afternoon relaxing and enjoying some downtime were again you are welcome to either continue our conversations or relax on your own.
The evening might be a feast of friends and companions from the area who bring insights to you about leadership experiences of their own or just getting more into depth on our current path. We often find learning from others brings us closer. So, we invite in the “locals” to create dinner with us and share their thoughts and ideas on leadership, life and more.
After dinner and the guests leave we spend more time talking about all the concepts we have covered and delve deeper into any remaining mysteries on your mind.
Day 4 – Breakfast awaits you. We have local pastries and fruits in season over a coffee and talk about what you plan on doing with the information you have uncovered, not just about yourself, but those around you. We let you bounce ideas off us and help your make a plan to take home with you.
The rest of the morning is yours to plan. You are the leader now, so we follow you.
Then we drop you back at your train or airport and hope we have made a connection that will enrich us both for years to come.
As always if you have a specific immersive experience in mind please contact us to see about feasibility, scheduling and cost.
As always if you have a specific location you would like to explore, please reach out to use to check viability.
4 Day Retreats in Croatia (Email [email protected] for 2024 availability)
4 Day Retreats in Spain (Email [email protected] for 2024 availability)
For more information please us email us at [email protected]. We are always open to new locations and ideas.