Top 5 Lessons From My First Ever Self Development Retreat

People eagerly put money into stocks or assets, and talk endlessly about financial investments—but they forget that one of the most valuable investments is in yourself. This year, I decided to make an intentional investment in myself and attended the Valuable Retreat, a three-day experience in the UK for young, ambitious professionals who want to grow both professionally and personally.

This was my first real retreat—before this, I’d only been on church retreats with people I knew. It was a little daunting to head off with 50+ strangers, but everyone I spoke to who went the previous year had nothing but positive things to say about it, so I decided to take the leap. And I’m so glad I did! From the incredible people I met to the powerful speakers and their stories, I left inspired and genuinely transformed.

While I could go on forever about what I learned, here are my top five takeaways:

1. Practice Excellence as a Mindset

Excellence isn’t just a one-off achievement; it’s a mindset. It starts by asking, “What would excellence look like in this situation?” It’s about making a series of excellent choices that add up to an exceptional life - just like compound interest. When you adopt this mindset, it even influences the little things—like responding with “I’m excellent” instead of just “good” when people ask how you’re doing. It’s a reminder to live out excellence every day.

Action: Next time someone asks you how you are, instead of saying 'good' or 'ok', say 'excellent!'. Watch this transform your mindset and people's perception of you.

2. Build a Tribe of Warriors

Your community matters—a lot. There’s a saying: If you’re in a room with four millionaires, you’ll be the fifth. I wholeheartedly believe this. Being surrounded by people doing amazing things leaves you inspired and driven. Connecting with like-minded people can also expand your network, introducing you to others with similar goals and ambitions, creating an upward cycle of motivation and success. So be mindful about who you keep around you, they can determine your success.

Action: Do a review of your tribe. Which ones propel you forward, and which ones are holding you back?

3. Don't Be Scared Of AI, Leverage It

One incredible tip I picked up is how to use AI tools for tracking achievements at work—a game-changer for staying organized and prepared for performance reviews! The speaker, Sharon Oranekwu, shared her approach: she created a tab in ChatGPT titled “Work Achievement Tracker.” She would put in key company KPIs and targets she needed to reach. At the end of each workday, she’d summarize her key actions, including relevant statistics (ensuring no confidential information was included of course). Then, at the end of each month, she’d compile this data into a file.

When it was time for performance reviews, she’d simply input the accumulated data back into ChatGPT and use the prompt: “Use this data to argue why I should get a promotion, including relevant stats.” ChatGPT would then generate a persuasive summary, highlighting her accomplishments and impact in a way that saved her time and effort.

This is hands-down one of the smartest ways I’ve seen AI being used for career growth and self-advocacy!

Action: Start using GPT to track your work achievements

4. Dream Big

Dreaming small can actually be a sign of a lack of faith in God. You should be chasing dreams that don't make sense, dreams that will require divine intervention to come to pass. Pursue the goals that feel impossible or unknown, and trust that the journey will reveal itself. I highly recommend reading Chase the Lion By Mark Batterson if you’re looking to expand your dream capacity. The fact that you have someone who is all knowing and all powerful backing you, should encourage you to dream even bigger.

Action: Write down a list of 3 dreams you have. Then 10x them until they sound impossible. Congrats, you have actual dreams now!

5. Ask for What You Want

If you only ask for things that guarantee a 'yes,' you're settling into a passive role rather than actively shaping your future. Asking for something big might risk a “no,” but it also opens doors for opportunities you might never have imagined. If you do get a no, ask, “What would it take to change this no into a yes?” Then, take the steps needed, return, and ask again. To get comfortable with rejection and push past it, try practising “rejection theory.”

Action: Ask someone for something that feels like a stretch and build up your tolerance for possible rejection (you'll need this to progress).

If you get the opportunity to attend the Valuable Retreat, I can’t recommend it enough. Investing in yourself is one of the most impactful things you can do, and this retreat is a powerful way to start.

Until next time,

Ruth

Us at the Valuable Retreat '24