Joe Yakuel’s Post

How about... We rethink company retreat team bonding events? Let's face it, when it comes to company retreats you picture idyllic escapes, reconnecting with colleagues, and igniting team spirit. But in reality? Back-to-back presentations and stale discussions trap you in a glorified conference room, just with a different view. Not exactly rejuvenating, is it? By the time the "team bonding" event rolls around, everyone's glazed over from sales reports and projections. Who wants to "connect" when all you crave is a drink and catching up on a flooded inbox? Here's a radical idea: we rethink company retreats. Ditch the endless decks and lectures. Let's dedicate those precious afternoon hours to fostering real team bonding, when people are actually engaged, fresh, and open to connection. Strategic meetings can still be valuable, but the retreat should be more than just work. It's about building a stronger team – a team that thrives on collaboration, respect, and communication. This kind of spirit doesn't magically appear from a projector screen. It's forged through shared experiences, laughter, and the chance to see each other outside the usual routine. So, what do you say? Let's break the mold and rethink company retreats. Ditch the decks, spark connections, and bring your team back feeling energized and ready to conquer anything together. Share your ideas! How do you ensure your team leaves retreats feeling truly connected? #corporateretreats #teambonding #teambuilding #companyculture

I couldn’t help myself 🙃 S/o to Brian Elliott for being a good sport! I was talking to an investor today and he asked about whether the market size of what we’re building at Marco Experiences is big enough to build a billion-dollar business. I’ve been on the other side of the table as a former investor, so I usually try to get ahead of these questions. For context, Marco Experiences is a connection company. We help companies connect their people through intentional events. We’re focused on the offsites category, which is by far the largest category of company spending. It typically falls within T&E on a P&L. We think offsites are the most impactful gathering moments, especially for remote or distributed companies (80% of companies). Corporate travel is an $800 BILLION industry. Of that, group travel is a $300 BILLION industry, growing to $800B in 5 years. There is no real technology solution to book group travel, a lot of which is related to offsites, onsites, etc. While travel tech companies like Navan, TravelPerk, etc. are good solutions for individual travel, to book a property for a group of over 10 you have to…call hotels. Then you have to plan the other components of an offsite: the meals, the activities, the work, and team-building sessions. Companies use spreadsheets or notion docs to manage, and don’t realize tons of savings through booking with a partner (we save companies 20%+ on offsites). That’s for a one-off event. Now you have to plan a full calendar - company-wide events, functional, leadership, and new hires. Companies are spending millions on this and have a huge problem managing their connection strategy at scale. Later during the day, I was having a conversation with Brian Elliott, former SVP at Slack and founder of their Future Forum, author of the book “How The Future Works,” getting his perspective on what we’re building at Marco. Needless to say, Brian knows the space better than most. We kind of laughed at the point of the market size. Not only is it a big market, but solving employee connection is one of the core problems discussed at the exec level of nearly every company right now. At the end of the conversation, I asked if I record how he thought about the market size, and whether what we’re solving is a problem for companies. Here are some of the great points that Brian made: (1) 3 big topics come up during future work discussions. Productivity, Connection, and Culture. The last two are directly relevant to the problem we’re hoping to solve at Marco. (2) Workplace teams now are responsible for planning offsites and onsites, managing massive amounts of spend with no training or tooling. (3) Companies are starting to think of their overall spend on real estate and T&E - this is massive spend and they need a solution to manage. (4) Orchestrating events is hard enough. Companies aren’t thinking about the insights and data around what's working and what isn't. #offsites #retreats

In the bustling realm of event hosting, every second is precious. Amid this, a gifted copy of "The 4-Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferriss became a beacon of transformation for me, reshaping my professional and personal life. The book challenged traditional work ethics, propelling a reevaluation of my definition of success. As an event host, I often felt drained. Ferriss’ concept of working smarter resonated with me, urging a shift from the nine-to-five grind to creating my lifestyle. One significant idea was outsourcing. Realizing its potential, I delegated tasks, enhancing efficiency and productivity, focusing more on creative and strategic aspects for more memorable events. With Ferriss’ insight, I identified time-consuming tasks and adopted efficient time management and automation, optimizing productivity without sacrificing quality. The book's emphasis on experiences over possessions led me to prioritize moments with loved ones and personal passions, infusing joy and fulfillment in my life. Years later, "The 4-Hour Workweek" remains a guide in my event hosting journey, consistently grounding me in efficiency, innovation, and intentional living. "The 4-Hour Workweek" has illuminated my path, empowering a redefined success and intentional living, making it not just a reading recommendation but a lifetime guide to efficiency and fulfillment.

"Don't work in your business, work on your business." Great in theory, but how does one not work in the business if you are still growing and you don't yet have the resources to both sustain both yourself and someone in an "doing" role so you as a company owner can make that pivot? That's the piece that is frequently missed in business advice. The books and pundits talk about all the money you can make as a result, but what about when you are still in product development and don't yet have the revenue? Is this how the 80-hour work week gets crafted? That the company owners get so used to working all that extra time that they then assume all the staff will work all those extra hours for free? Is this how toxic corporate cultures start?

If you're considering planning a corporate retreat, #TodayInFocus we’re sharing some helpful tips to get you started and ensure that your retreat is a success! A corporate retreat is a great way to strengthen your team's connections and foster a memorable and impactful experience for your employees. Read more by visiting: https://lnkd.in/gaA7R_JG

Are you ready to unlock fresh perspectives, ignite innovation, and foster deeper connections within your team? 🚀 Join us on a journey beyond the boardroom as we dive into the world of Corporate Retreats – where growth meets adventure, and collaboration takes centre stage. 🌄 Escape the Ordinary: Step away from the hustle and bustle to immerse yourself in a retreat like no other. Discover breathtaking landscapes, inspiring venues, and a tranquil atmosphere that sparks creativity. 🤝 Team Synergy: It's not just about relaxation – it's about fostering stronger bonds. Engage in team-building activities that cultivate trust, enhance communication, and bring out the best in every individual. 🎯 Goals Reimagined: Experience the power of strategic planning in a fresh environment. Set your sights on new horizons, align your team's vision, and return with a roadmap for success. 🧠 Innovation Unleashed: Shake off the routine and embrace innovative thinking. Explore workshops designed to ignite creativity, push boundaries, and challenge the status quo. 🌐 Global Perspectives: Connect with colleagues from diverse backgrounds, exchanging ideas that transcend borders. 📈 Results That Matter: Beyond relaxation, our retreats drive tangible outcomes. Return to the workplace with renewed energy, a wealth of insights, and an action plan for continued growth. Ready to elevate your team's dynamics and tap into hidden potential? Join us on a transformative journey at Beyond Boardrooms Corporate Retreat. 🌎🌟 Let's redefine success together! #CorporateRetreat #TeamBuilding #InnovationJourney #ProfessionalGrowth #NewHorizons #TeamSynergy #BeyondTheBoardroom #UnlockPotential

Planning your summer advancement team retreat? Here are 4 tips to set you up for success: 1. Plan with the outcomes in mind. What do you want people to think/feel/do as a result? 2. Determine the ideal environment for the retreat and how it can contribute to your team building efforts. 3. Identify activities that will help your team consider a new perspective and motivate them professionally. You may bring in an external speaker and/or facilitator, read a book together as a team and discuss, or create a workplace ritual for your team to celebrate your progress and accomplishments. Or all of the above! 4. Consider ways you’ll keep learning and connection going beyond the retreat. Whenever you bring people together for retreats in a distributed work environment, it has significant implications for strengthening culture and retaining employees. This means a team gathering is as much about being together to build relationships as it is about advancing the work. 💡What is one of your favorite tips for planning a successful team retreat? _____ Hi, I’m Shanna (rhymes with Donna) and I partner with university and nonprofit advancement teams to create meaningful learning experiences that build trust, strengthen workplace culture, and develop leaders—all of which will help you raise more money. Reach out to learn more about our available retreat speaking/facilitation dates in June, July (only a few dates left!), and August.

In Smartway.work, part of the process to disrupt how companies plan and design an offsite, is understanding what are offsite goals and measure the impact of the offsite. 😎 We're doing this with a data-driven approach, with a proprietary tool. Imagine having a real ROI of a team event!

When "fun" becomes "fake fun". how to tell when your well-intentioned workplace events become just another thing to do or truly enjoyable, team-building and worthwhile. https://lnkd.in/d_YinBk3

If you're one of the many organizations planning an upcoming #offsite or #TeamRetreat, here are three quick tips to make it GREAT: 1. Make sure that the event takes place during the "normal" work week (whatever that is for your company). No matter how fun or engaging the #retreat is, it's not okay to ask people to use their personal days off work for events that are ultimately designed to benefit the organization. People need that time to unwind, recharge, and attend to their personal life and responsibilities. 2. Some retreats are so jam-packed with work that there's no time for socializing and connection. That said, it's possible to err too far in the other direction as well – the best retreats I've been a part of are about 1/3 strategic-level work, 1/3 facilitated/intentional team building, and 1/3 socializing (with personal/down time built in :). Time outdoors can be powerful too! 3. If you have the budget for it, consider hiring an external consultant to co-design and facilitate the event. An experienced #RetreatFacilitator will get to know your organization and help you to develop an agenda and activities that are engaging, accessible, and strategically aligned with your team/organizational goals. They'll also provide an #evaluation and recommendations for follow-up. Plus, their presence will ensure that every member of your team will have the opportunity to engage as a participant. At the end of the day, retreats are typically a significant investment of time and resources, so it pays to be thoughtful about how you will engage in a way the ensures a positive return on investment. (And I'd be delighted to hear additions to this list based on your observations and experiences.)