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How We DIYed a Business Mastermind Retreat (Without Spending Thousands)

I just returned from an incredible mastermind trip in Arizona with two of my business besties, and let me tell you—it was exactly what I needed in my personal life, for my mental health, AND for business growth.

We know each other’s businesses inside and out, we aren’t afraid to call each other out, and we all have big goals for 2025. So, we figured why not take a few days, get together, and make some magic happen?

Guilt-Free Business Reset

Here’s the reality—none of us have big teams.

We ARE the teams.

Which means when one part of life is running smoothly, another is usually in chaos. But we knew we needed space to step back, refocus, and invest in our businesses without feeling guilty.

So we made it happen. We mapped out a plan, coordinated with family (huge thanks to our supportive in-laws and partners!), and met up in Arizona at my parents’ winter home.

personal branding photos by Dolly DeLong Photography

The Best Part? It Was DIY & Cost-Effective.

The online business world loves to sell you on the idea that success requires the fanciest tools, the biggest investments, and the most exclusive rooms. But in reality? You just need a few good people in your corner, a clear plan, and a willingness to trust yourself. Here’s exactly how much I spent:

Lodging: Free—we stayed at a my parent’s house while they were on a cruise. It’s in a retirement community… nothing fancy, but it worked!
Airfare: $180
Airport Parking – $18
Gas – $20
Groceries: $65 (We planned our meals ahead of time in a shared Google Doc.)
Ice cream: $8 (When there’s a Culver’s I NEED TO GO!)
Dinner out: $25
Facials: $115 each (Because self-care is a business strategy.)
Hiking: Free!!!

Total Cost: $431

Did I get a ROI? YES. Not only did Dolly take branding photos (for free!!) which would have been $400+ dollars, I also walked away with SO MUCH CLARITY in my business and what is worth my time/ not worth my time this year (aka not a year to build a web design agency… but hopefully that is coming)…

What I walked away

Clarity of what business ideas to focus on and what aren’t worth it
A new product for the web designers in my audience
Refinment of my offer ladder
Not investing in another $4,000 course/ cohort
Closer relationships with Christian, entrepreneur, young moms

Beyond the clarity, I now have built-in accountability. I told them my goals. I told them I am going to do a live launch of my course, so now I have to do it!

This trip was such a great reminder for me that you don’t have to spend a fortune to build something amazing.

Prioritizing Yourself Is Hard. Prioritizing Your Business Is Harder.

Taking a week to invest in myself, rest from the grind of motherhood, and work 6-8 hours a day on my business was the best thing I could have done… even if my business doesn’t make another penny (although with all these new plans, I think it will).

Also I want to note, I couldn’t have done this without my in-laws flying in to my hometown to watch my kids. It seriously takes a village and I had to work through A LOT of guilt about leaving my toddlers for 7 days, but in the end it was worth it.

Want to DIY Your Own Mastermind Retreat? Here’s How:

Since posting about this trip, I’ve had so many people ask how we structured it, so here’s a breakdown:

How we met: We connected through our businesses (and Dolly and I connected through a mastermind we were in together in 2021) and naturally formed a friendship sending group chats weekly to each other.
How we planned: We set goals ahead of time, planned meals in a shared doc, and structured our work sessions to be productive.
How we stay connected: We check in regularly (like daily sometimes) and hold each other accountable.
Do you need a paid mastermind? Nope! If you can find the right people, you can create this same level of support for free.

CHECK OUT DOLLY’S EXPERIENCE

If you’ve been dreaming of something like this, this is your sign to make it happen. You don’t need permission. You don’t need a $5K mastermind ticket. You just need a few like-minded business friends who want to grow together.

Here’s to reaching higher in 2025! 🎈🌅

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I’ve got messy hair and a thirsty heart.

I overshare my life, and have an ultra-expressive personality. Some words people use to describe me are: helpful, real, fun, creative, authentic, and kind.

Elphaba from Wicked is kind of my alter-ego (I was a fan LONG before the movie-adaptation - anyone else?!). I am always trying to forge my own path and make a difference in the World, somehow, someway, while also constantly criticizing myself and trying to become the better version of me.

Quality conversations + coffee come easy to me.

I’ve never had an issue connecting naturally with others (probs because I can go on and on about my life story, not that it is interesting, I just process externally...)