It was December 7th. A Sunday. I was putzing around the kitchen while my husband made breakfast when I came across a Facebook post about a retreat in Italy. As soon as I read the details — I already knew. The pictures called to me. I was dying for the sisterhood with fellow women entrepreneurs that I read about on the sales page. And the coaching aspect? I knew I needed the coaching. I knew I was feeling stuck and I needed something to get me unstuck.
Most importantly, I needed to take a risk. Go on an adventure. And do it for me and me alone. Not for my husband, not for my kids, not for my business. I needed to make this investment in myself. I needed to show myself that I still believed in me and that I was still willing to invest in my own hopes and dreams.
So I said to my husband, while he was making waffles in the waffle iron,
“Can I go to Italy for a week with a bunch of women that I don’t know in April?”
My husband turned around and looked at me strangely and said, “Sure.” (Gotta love this guy!). So I immediately went to the sales page and paid the $699 deposit before he could think about it and change his mind! (Did I mention that we had two young children that he would be home alone with for a week so I could go?)
I had absolutely no idea where the rest of the money to pay for that retreat would come from (the total cost was $7,000 not including airfare).
But what I did know was that I needed to be there, I needed to do this. And I knew I could figure it out.
And I did.
And I spent a week in Italy on an amazing retreat with some amazing women, led by an amazing coach.
And I can say with absolute certainty: that retreat changed my life.
I came home with a newfound sisterhood of women, some of whom would become dear friends.
I came home with brilliant business ideas (my coach gave me an idea to generate an extra $30k in my business and it worked).
I came home with a solution to a problem that had been taxing my brain and causing me to lose sleep (and money) for months (we masterminded that ish while laying by the pool #notevenkidding).
Perhaps, most importantly, I came home no longer willing to hide my true self. I came home with Diana Ross’ “I’m coming out” in my head. My mistakes, my love of hip hop, my love of France, my love of being a mom and baking and watching Downton Abbey. The true work I was meant to be doing. My liberal-AF-ness. My blackness. My feminism. My love of expletives. Even my hair got bigger.
After that retreat, I was no longer willing to hide any aspect of myself, in business and in life.
A week of luxurious accommodations, delicious food, stunning views, one-on-one and group coaching and wild adventures and I was incapable of going back to being the old me. Retreats are the fast-track to next-leveling.
Which is why I am so passionate about offering my own retreat now: MADE. MADE includes sisterhood, luxury accommodations in a French chateau, exciting excursions, gourmet meals prepared by our personal chef for the week, a photo shoot, a video shoot, one-on-one coaching, group coaching and a week to step out of your everyday life and into a fairytale-like setting, so you can create something magical. Something that’s been on your heart. Something that will make you plenty of money for years to come. Something that will change people’s lives for the better.
If MADE is calling to you, I encourage you to take a leap of faith and lay down that deposit. There are currently 3 spots available. Bet on yourself and you will always win.
To new, life-changing adventures in 2017,
PS: Have questions about MADE? Want to make sure it's right for you? Email me at rachel@rodgerscollective.com and I will answer any questions you have for me. I may even send you a special audio recording just for you with answers to your questions and some end-of-year encouragement. xo
