Always take the trip, a reminder I was in need of. It isn’t easy to step away from the hustle of everyday life, but we must remember to always take the trip!
Sometimes that may be simply unplugging down the street from your house, maybe that will be a cruise through the Mediterranean, or going away to a retreat that lights you up.
Earlier this month was an experience of a lifetime when I stepped away from work and family to attend a 3 day Mastermind Retreat in Coronado, CA.
I was in the company of 100 passion driven Fit Pro’s and there was some serious magic to take away from this experience.
Last year, I made the decision to up-level my professional career and joined a Mastermind Group, under one of the most influential mentor’s out there – Todd Durkin. And I finally I had the opportunity to come together with this group in real life. I had to take the trip!
“The only person who can put limits on you, is you!”
It has taken some time to process this experience. I was surrounded by some of the most heart centered, passionate and down right purpose driven people on the planet.
I am excited to share some of my top takeaways from this retreat in hopes that it inspires even one person to keep growing outside your comfort zone.
In no particular order, my top inspo bombs from the TD 2020 Beach Retreat:
Lesson 1: “Being Uncomfortable Pushes You to Be Better.”
It is one of my favorite quotes to remind myself of. And as much as we know this concept to be true, it takes A LOT of effort to keep pushing outside your comfort zone.
Heading off to this retreat was WAY outside my comfort zone. I was leaving all 3 kids for the first time, travelling alone and spending the weekend with people I had never met before.
Getting outside my comfort zone is what got me to SHOW UP!
Lesson 2 : “Success is small wins each day.”
I always say, “beat the sun up and you already won the day”. Meaning that when you wake up and start your day with purpose and a workout, you tend to do better at life.
Look at any successful mentor out there (and I don’t measure success by money in the bank, but rather purpose, impact and happiness), and they all have a strong morning routine, which includes some form of movement to get your mind up and ready for the day.
This was proven to me again by my fellow masterminder’s.
Here we were on “retreat” and yet 90%+ of us CHOSE to wake up before the sun was up each morning to get in a killer workout together.
Rise and shine, literally! Above is a picture of our day 2 workout watching the sun rise over Coronado Bay…. more to come on that magical morning in #7.
Lesson 3 – “If you are not growing, you are dying.”
Humans are the most complex species on earth. It is our innate desire to continue to grow and flourish, yet we tend to be our own worst enemy when it comes to letting fear, comfort and doubt take the wheel.
Investing in yourself to be around the right people and events is always a good idea!
Most of your personal and professional growth will happen outside of your “office”.
It is through the people and experiences that we put ourselves out there for, that we grow the most toward our full potential and purpose.
Lesson 4 – “What is your Zihuantanejo?”
One thing that I loved most about this Retreat was there was an overall “theme” and that was “What is your Zihuantanejo?”
Now just like most of you reading this, I had no idea what the heck that meant at first, but as we dove into the meat of the retreat this concept was the heart of everything.
Yes, Zihuantanejo is a place in Mexico, but what it symbolizes is so much more. The value of this concept is to center your life, work and the things you are “doing”; around creating experiences that light you up from the inside.
You know…….those moments where you heart is literally smiling!? We ALL need to focus more on creating lives filled with THESE kind of moments.
The tragedy of Kobe Bryant, his daughter and the others aboard that tragic helicopter flight are a prime example that nothing in life in more important than right now and who you spend you time with.
As a mom of 3 young kids, trying to run a business is quite the juggling act most days. This theme was a HUGE reminder of the truly important things in life and where to place more of my time and energy.
Lesson 5 – “Be the Coffee Bean.”
Damon West, Author of “The Change Agent” and co-author of “The Coffee Bean” hung out with our group for a day and also gave one of THE most powerful presentations I have ever heard.
Damon grew up in a nice middle class family, was a star quarterback, who had everything going for him, when he let addiction take over his life and landed himself with a life sentence in prison.
I’ll let you read the story or listen to his podcast with Todd Durkin, but Damon is an incredible person and has one of the most powerful lessons to share.
I have been sharing the “coffee bean theory” left and right with my members, kids and anyone who wants to listen!
You have 3 choices in life: be a carrot, be an egg, or be a coffee bean.
When placed in a pot of boiling water, aka “the world”, a carrot will become soft and weak. The carrot lets the hot water break it down and take it’s strength and grit away. Don’t be a carrot!
What happens to an egg when it is placed in this same pot? It becomes hard (and stinky as my kids reminded me!). The egg lets that hot water harden its shell and insides. The world has way too many eggs. Angry, resentful and negative people. Don’t be the egg!
Be the coffee bean! Be that bean who when placed in a pot of water, changes the water into coffee! The coffee bean doesn’t let that water change it, IT changes the water.
We have the power to change our surroundings and make a positive impact in this world.
Smile more at strangers, walk into a room ready to light it up, laugh more, live more, compliment more. Be the coffee bean!
Lesson 6 – “The power of a team”.
That is what a mastermind is. A TEAM!
It is the belief that being part of a team with others of like minded values, passion and purpose; brings more value to your life than any one person can do alone.
I found my people this weekend! People who believe in lifting each other up, not climbing on top of each other to get to the top.
People who believe so deeply that we are on the FRONT lines of healthcare and that is is going to take all of us working together , to have a chance at changing this world for the better.
Each one of us wake in the morning driven to spread positive IMPACT around us. Let me tell you, being in the company of such passionate, fun and amazing people was a true honor.
Lesson 7: “Regret and excuses take a lot more time and energy, than ACTION does.”
I talked above about the importance of a strong morning routine. Does that mean it is easy to bounce out of bed each day? No way!
The second day at retreat, I didn’t want to wake up and work out. I was tired…. I didn’t have my kids…. We had blackout curtains in the room…. I had every excuse in my head why I could miss this workout. It was optional after all.
But I know better! As usual, I had already put out my workout clothes the night before. I couldn’t let them go home fresh!
I knew if I missed that workout, I would spend FAR more time regretting it, than if I just got my tired booty out of bed and in action.
How often do you get to workout on THE BEACH with a bunch of other amazing, driven and FIT beasts?!?!
I’m never one to sugar coat that being healthy and feeling good takes effort. “You aren’t always going to feel like it, but you must always be disciplined.” I tell my team that ALL the time.
I am so glad I woke up and went to that workout! We ran on the beach, there was so much laughter and bonding, I taught a segment of the workout to a group of peers (back to getting uncomfortable!), we watched the sun rise over the day and we laughed some more.
THAT workout was a highlight of my weekend and PURE MAGIC! So many “aha” moments were had during that beach workout. Much more magic than any sleep would have been.
Lesson 8 – “Polar Bear Plunge” – the power of a motivated LEADER
This picture above SAYS it all – united and stronger together! Let fear fuel you and rely on the power of a team to push you outside your comfort zone.
It was actually really cold in San Diego this day, and if you have ever been in the Pacific Ocean in CA, it’s pretty dang cold in general.
I had told myself I wasn’t getting in the water. Thank goodness my heart knew better and I put my swim suit on “just in case”.
But when our fearless leader, Todd Durkin led us through a sunset pep talk and encouraged us to link arms, to go run into that water together and to release anything that is holding us back – you bet we knew we had to take this once in a lifetime opportunity!
That is what a good leader does. They motivate, inspire and push you to be a better version of yourself. And it was 100% worth the plunge!
Being around some of the best leaders out there over the course of the weekend was infectious. From that “plunge”, I came out of the water a stronger leader myself.
Lesson 9 – “Chase more sunrises and sunsets.”
This one needs no further explanation.
It’s simple – you either can get busy living or get busy dying.
Go out there and chase as many sunrises and sunsets as you possibly can!
In health,
Rachele, VFit Owner
