EP 258 What I Wish I Had Done Differently When I First Built My Retreat Business

When I first started building my retreat business, I made mistakes. Not small ones - real ones that cost time, money, energy, and unnecessary stress.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing:

• What I personally wish I had done differently in the early days

• The most common mistakes I see retreat hosts still making today

• And how to avoid burning out, underpricing, or building a retreat that looks good on paper but feels exhausting in real life

If you’re hosting retreats (or thinking about it), this episode will help you build something that’s clear, sustainable, and aligned - not just pretty and stressful.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why unclear audience messaging makes retreats harder to sell

• How overbuilding your retreat actually weakens the experience

• Why marketing needs to start earlier than you think

• The real cost of underpricing and discounting

• Why doing everything alone hurts both you and your guests

• The mistakes I see retreat hosts repeat - and how to course-correct
  
  The Retreat Leaders Podcast Resources and Links:

  • Learn to Host Retreats
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  • Top 5 Marketing Tools Free Guide
  • Get your legal docs for retreats
  • Join Shannon in Denver at the Retreat Industry Forum 
  • Join our LinkedIn Group
  • Apply to be a guest on our show

   

  Thanks for tuning into the Retreat Leaders Podcast. Remember to subscribe for more insightful episodes, and visit our website for additional resources. Let’s create a vibrant retreat community together!

   

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  TIMESTAMPS

  Request for Reviews & Episode Overview (00:00:59) Shannon asks listeners to leave reviews and previews the episode’s focus on mistakes and lessons learned.

  Learning from Mistakes in Business (00:02:24) Emphasizes the value of learning from mistakes and introduces the main theme: what she wishes she’d done differently.

  Mistake #1: Lack of Clarity on Ideal Guest (00:03:27) Discusses the importance of defining your ideal retreat guest and the exhaustion from being too broad.

  Mistake #2: Overbuilding the Retreat Experience (00:06:32) Warns against overpacking retreat agendas, stressing the need for downtime and integration.

  Mistake #3: Marketing Too Late (00:10:43) Explains why marketing should start before all details are finalized, using her France retreat as an example.

  Mistake #4: Ineffective Use of Ads (00:13:58) Advises testing content organically before spending on ads to avoid wasting money.

  Mistake #5: Pricing for Comfort, Not Sustainability (00:14:54) Urges pricing retreats for sustainability, not just to fill spots, and explains the pitfalls of discounting.

  Mistake #6: Not Asking for Support Early Enough (00:18:50) Shares the importance of hiring help for logistics, food, and guest relations to avoid burnout.

  Common Mistake #1: Treating Retreats as One-Off Events (00:22:41) Highlights the value of making retreats part of a larger business ecosystem, not just single events.

  Common Mistake #2: Discounting to Fill Spots (00:23:41) Reiterates the damage discounting does to brand and guest alignment.

  Common Mistake #3: Weak Boundaries and Vague Policies (00:24:37) Stresses the need for clear boundaries, cancellation policies, and personal space for leaders.

  Common Mistake #4: Copying Other Retreats (00:27:28) Encourages originality and authenticity instead of copying others’ retreat formats.

  Common Mistake #5: Waiting for Confidence Before Acting (00:28:36) Explains that confidence is built through action, not as a result of success.

  Final Reflections and Takeaways (00:30:43) Summarizes key lessons: aim for clarity, sustainability, and alignment, and learn from mistakes.

  Closing and Call to Action (00:31:47) Thanks listeners, encourages sharing, and provides resources for further support.