I’m still buzzing from The Experience – the Basic Bananas business retreat. A brilliant few days with business owners and leaders who were open, generous and willing to share how they approach their work.
I was invited to run two Maverick Minds sessions, using the Shift Your Thinking cards – both analogue and digital – to explore where people are now, where they want their business to go, and what might need to shift along the way.
But first, we began with introductions, more than ice-breakers I facilitated human connection, and the energy in the room changed completely. People were up and moving. We started out not knowing each other and quickly found common ground and unique stories. Then, when the business owners chose an image to represent their business, the room changed again. Each attendee chose a card that represented where they were in their business at that moment. People found language and feeling through the image they chose. The stories that emerged were candid, at times surprising and full of clarity that hadn’t been there previously.
Then I took them to their future.
The group chose a new card that symbolises the kind of business they aim to build, the work they want to be recognised for, the customer experience they hope to deliver, and the legacy they aspire to leave.
This was when the creative leaps began to happen:
- gaps became visible
- barriers surfaced
- new ideas emerged
- their direction became clearer
At the end of the retreat, we used the digital platform to generate insights and practical subsequent actions. You could see the shift in thinking (my favourite moment!) to embrace clarity, confidence, and momentum.
Here are just a few things people said about our time together:
“You created a safe space for real vulnerability, your warmth and passion stood out from the start”
“Your exercise with the cards was amazing! And the artwork itself is even more amazing, keen to get my hands on some when you launch them”
“Awesome presentation, loved the inspiration, new direction, the deep thought you inspired – great artwork too”
“Absolutely loved your energy and knowledge shared! You have inspired me to reconnect with creative thinking again – thank you”
Feedback like this reinforces what I believe – that Artful ways of working result in real change. The images didn’t reduce their business to something simpler. They revealed it.
And when you can see something clearly, you can act on it.
What added to the enjoyable vibe of The Experience was that others from the group stepped in to facilitate and share their expertise, making it feel like a genuinely shared space. The experience was collegial, thoughtful, and full of good humour. The Basic Bananas team, Franziska, Christo and Kevin are “cool bananas” indeed.
Want to bring this spark into your own business? That’s exactly what we do. Let’s discuss how I could support your next executive retreat, workplace event or planning day.
PS: Here’s a snippet of Working with Images from The Experience Basic Bananas Business Retreat
Sarah Joyce who operates a fantastic travel business called Mariner Boating Holidays was one of the participants at the Basic Bananas Experience. She’s generously recorded a short reflection about her Experience with Maverick Minds, what resonated, and why she wanted to continue exploring creative ideas by ordering Seriously Playful Creativity.
Sometimes the best way to understand this work is to hear from someone freshly immersed in it.
Hear Sarah’s experience.
