A Retreat Retrospective: Reflecting on Restore

The Restore Retreat, which took place in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, in May of 2022, was an amazing time of intense breakthroughs, increased self-awareness, and priceless knowledge-sharing. Participants learned and grew, absorbing lessons in prospecting, managing their business, handling communication, and more. It was a week of sharing and progress.

We are still in touch with participants and have been delighted to learn of all they’ve accomplished since Restore, particularly how what they gained from the Retreat has facilitated their subsequent successes.

• Keri of Greenwood Treasure Trove told us that she’d found “…great value in the workshops, ultimately using many of the organization tips and business ideas to increase customer engagement.” It’s not uncommon for business owners with an admirable work ethic to nevertheless get bogged down in the details of running their business. Part of what Abambyh Business Coaching does is to teach habits and tactics that create productive workflows and allow a healthy work/life balance. This was among the topics covered at Restore, and Keri was able to make good use of what she learned.

• Elba Colon, among other ventures, offers guidance to her clients with her business Awaken the Gratitude. Elba saw an additional $10k in profit across her various business interests as the result of a breakthrough that she credits to her time at Restore. “I appreciate you for it”, she told Alison Hartrum, owner of Abambyh Business Coaching, who planned and hosted the retreat. Elba is a woman who already had an established business and vision, but benefited from Restore in ways she wasn’t expecting.

She told us that “the experience of the luxury, the massage, the meals, the professional photography, and being among all those entrepreneurs from all parts of the world — it fueled my business and my vision. I started new projects; I created new collaborations.” She told us that, just as the name of the retreat suggests, she “felt restored” by her time with us in Mexico.

• Laura Vargas, owner of Impressions Hair Design, said “The retreat was such a positive experience for me. It not only helped me feel more confident and comfortable with doing business, it also had me thinking bigger. As businesswomen we may not be taken too seriously at times, so seeing so many women on the same page as me really took me out of my head. It was a safe space to be myself as a person, and not only in the businesswoman sense. I would say there was the perfect combination of professionalism and personalized attention to every person. We were such a diverse group and from many different industries, but in the end, we all connected so well. Everything was organized and on time. Definitely the kind of structure we all need.”

• You may have already read about Faith Bonareri-Rich, who was so inspired by Restore that she signed up for Abambyh’s Business’s 23-Hour Collab (twice!) and went on to build her business from the ground up and host Pick A Safari’s first safari that same year. Faith’s message for Alison when she was reminiscing about their work together was: “Thank you for showing me the formula, thank you for showing me S.M.A.R.T. Thank you for being the first one to believe in me. You have inspired me and I know my worth. I’m all about Quality and not Quantity. I will always believe in forward ever and backwards never. You are my REAL SUPER STAR!”

• Netta Jones of Hot Girl Lashes fell in love with Mexico during her time on Isla Mujeres, describing the surroundings as being “like something out of a magazine”. She loved the yoga and the professional photoshoot, found the burning ceremony to be profound and personal, and still practices some of the techniques she learned to stay on top of her emotions. She was stunned at how much she enjoyed the vegan meals and how the quiet atmosphere, with no television or other noisy distractions, assisted her focus and allowed her to fully appreciate the experience. Netta found support and healing at Restore.

Like Laura Vargas, she felt that the workshops were a “safe space where we found support and comfort”. “People really saw me and my worth,” Netta said when we talked about Restore. “Those workshops were about sharing ourselves, struggles and strengths, trust.” Netta treasures the connections made at the retreat with women from all over the world, and still keeps in touch with other guests. She has also been impressed with the natural networking that took place, with attendees exchanging services with their fellow entrepreneurs. And she’s still using her Business Prompt Deck!

• Erin Pohan, who runs a thriving bookkeeping business (www.upkeeping.co) found that the 2022 retreat had a profound impact both personally and as a business owner: “Restore was the best unconventional business bootcamp I never knew I needed. I spent a week in Mexico surrounded by an incredible group of supportive women all chasing our entrepreneurial dreams. The lessons I learned about myself and how to run a successful business are still impacting my daily life. The investment has more than paid for itself in less than a year in revenue earned from new clients as a direct result of the retreat. I highly recommend jumping at the opportunity to attend an Abambyh Business Coaching retreat!”

Restore was more than a series of workshops in a gorgeous setting. It was more than a gathering of women from disparate backgrounds and places; more than yoga and healthy eating, work and play. Restore was so much more than the sum of its parts.

It was a place and time of strong connection and growth. An opportunity to be safely vulnerable and to learn from that personal sharing and introspection. A revitalization of vision and a way to illuminate the path to achieve that vision.

If you’re ready to experience relaxation, deep connection, and valuable business training all in one place, we’re thrilled to introduce Connect: A Retreat for Networking Women taking place in October 2023 in Merida, Mexico!

See you in Mexico!

Written by Tina Harmuth