What 9 Business Retreats Taught Me About Building a Life-First Business
Nov 19, 2025
It’s been a few weeks since our ninth Collective Co-Op retreat… and I’m just now coming up for air.
The laundry is done. I didn’t lose my voice this time — small miracle — but I did come home with pink eye. And yes, I finally caught up on the Taylor Swift launch. Priorities, right?
But before I dive into what I’ve learned from hosting nine retreats and running the Collective Co-Op for five years, I want to rewind a bit—because none of this started as a grand plan.
How It All Started
When I hosted the very first retreat, I wasn’t trying to create a movement. I was trying to find clarity. I was burnt out from back-to-back launches, trying to juggle motherhood, client work, and all the behind-the-scenes tasks of running a business. I knew I needed to step back to step forward.
That first weekend, I invited a few women to gather in a cozy Airbnb with flip charts, snacks, and space to breathe. We cried, we planned, we dared to ask, "What if it could be simpler?"
Turns out, it could. And that weekend changed everything.
Nine retreats later, five years into the Collective Co-Op, I’m more convinced than ever:
Growth doesn’t have to come at the cost of your life.
It’s not the spreadsheets or the strategies that make these weekends transformative. It’s the soul. It’s the safe space. It’s the late-night laughter and the moment someone says, “I didn’t think I could do this… but now I know I can.”
Here are the five biggest lessons I’ve learned that might just change the way you run your business, too.
Lesson #1: Strategy Only Works When It’s Paired with Soul
I’m a strategy girl through and through. But after nine retreats, I can confidently say: strategy means nothing without soul.
You can have the perfect launch plan, but if it drains you? It won’t work. When women feel safe, seen, and supported? They:
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Implement faster
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Make braver decisions
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Stop overcomplicating what works
Try this:
Ask yourself:
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What’s working energetically?
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Where do I feel drained?
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Where do I feel most alive?
That’s your roadmap. Strategy follows soul.
Lesson #2: Simplicity Scales
Every single retreat, we circle back to one theme: simplify.
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” — Albert Einstein
Simplicity isn’t about doing less. It’s about removing the noise so your best ideas can breathe. That looks like:
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90-day planning
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Automations that buy back time
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Delegating what’s draining you
Ask yourself:
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What could I stop doing that no one would notice?
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What can I automate or delegate?
Simplicity = scalability without burnout.
Lesson #3: Community Changes Everything
Here’s what nine retreats taught me: you can’t do this alone.
Every successful entrepreneur I know has a squad:
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A coach
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A mentor
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A community
One member said, “I came for the business strategy, but I’m leaving with sisters.”
That’s the magic of the Co-Op.
Build your community:
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Join a mastermind
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Plug into a local group
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Find your people (or come join us)
Your next level isn’t a solo mission.
Introducing a new private podcast series that’s just for you if you’re sick of all the Instagram BS! (or insert social channel of your choice). You can build a business without being a slave to the social engine. Grab the free series.
Lesson #4: Your Business Should Fit Your Life
This past year, I slowed down. And surprisingly? My business did better.
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Revenue down 30%
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Profit up
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Peace? Higher than ever
We used credit card points to buy a sauna. Not for luxury. For recovery. For the girl who juggles twins and perimenopause and a mission-driven business.
If I want my business to thrive, I have to take care of me.
Consider:
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What would your schedule look like if it honored your life?
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What would you cut, keep, or change?
Alignment beats acceleration. Every time.
Lesson #5: Fun Is a Business Strategy
This one is often overlooked, but crucial: if you’re not having fun, your audience can tell.
Our last retreat featured:
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Confetti poppers
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Dancing to Taylor Swift
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Mocktails and fuzzy socks
The result?
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More creativity
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Stronger client retention
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Easier sales
Action step:
Ask: What would make this launch/funnel/offering FUN?
Joy is magnetic. Don’t overlook it.
Final Reflection: Build What You Want to Live Inside
During our photoshoot this weekend, a client looked at me and said, “You look so happy.”
And she was right.
Because when you build a business that fits your life, instead of consumes it, everything shifts.
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Clients become family
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Marketing feels authentic
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Work feels meaningful again
Corporate Holly would be so proud of this version — the life-first CEO version. 💛
Join the Movement: The Collective Co-Op
If you’re craving a sustainable, strategic, soul-led way to grow your business, come hang out with us.
Join the waitlist for our next round. Doors open again soon.
Because business doesn’t have to be lonely.
When you find your people? That’s where the magic happens.
Share this post with a fellow entrepreneur who needs the reminder: you can grow without burning out. 💛
About the author
Holly Haynes is a female business coach and business strategist who loves a good plan and flow chart. She is crazy passionate about teaching women like you how to build your dream job and scale to 6-figures without sacrificing your weekends or priorities.
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