As A Freelancer Host A Retreat how to

by: Natalie Miller-Moore

As a freelancer, I set aside my business registration anniversary each year to meet with myself and think through my goals for the year ahead (You’ve got to do this annual meeting if you are an LLC, so don’t be shy!) But there are other important reasons to retreat from the day-to-day of owning a business break the cycle a time + money process check refuel + renew

Save your stress for check in time instead of constantly reviewing and revising what you are doing, what you are offering your clients and wondering if it’s working. Spend some time setting goals and then a plan for them, set it and go…constantly adjusting is going to burn a lot of fuel and you’ll be exhausted, but also unable to tell if things worked because you didn’t give them enough time to pan out.

How do you spend your time? How much money are you making? What clients / projects are eating up all your time and does that match with how much they are paying you? Find out how much money is actually coming in, from where, and what’s the value of that for your business?

Give yourself space to look at long-term goals It doesn’t have to be all done today or this year, but if you can, make changes that will re-align yourself a little bit at a time 1% change will still give you a different trajectory over time You deserve some time to think, and play, and to be proud of yourself!

Freelancer's Retreat : Sample Agenda

9am: Get Centered - An honest assessment of how last year went packing list

What was your favorite project? Which project went sideways? What is getting you headed in the right direction? What's your general sense of the health of your business? How do you literally feel related to your own health?

Comfy Snacksclothes – lots of snacks!

Paperfilesrelatedtoyourwork

Magazines/inspiration

How could you have served them better? How they could have communicated better?

Was the project "worth it" for you? How do you know? Which client is the most promising for additional work?

11am: Break it down - Review past clients & projects noon: lunch break

Scissors/glue/tape/markers Post it notes

Bigsheetsofpaper(like

Asketchbooksorbutcherpaper) way to organize your notes andfiles,likebinsorfilefolders

Rewardsforyourself

1pm: Get Balanced - How you are balancing your personal life and business

Self-care – how's it going? What boundaries do you need to implement?

When was the last time you had a day with no work contamination?

How is your support system at home and at work? Do you have people to call when there's a crisis or something unexpected?

3pm: Goal Setting

Dream big / vision boards: let yourself imagine what you'd love, and make a visual reminder of it No limits…just pour it out

4:30pm: Accountability + Action Steps

Personal rules / 10 things you'll do differently:

Define your metrics of success

Put your task lists evaluation and personal rules where you'll use them when you return to your daily business!

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