top of page
Writer's pictureLocal Insider

Insights From The Top with Maria Kast


Founder and lead coach at CORE Leadership

Icon Member at The Nxt level collective


Q. I consistently fall short of my business goals. What do I need to do differently in 2025 to achieve my goals?


 

Step away from business-as-usual to identify with great clarity where you’re going and who you must become to get there. True power to grow your business starts with gaining insight from your Inner Coach. It is through this connection that you’ll uncover where you’re going and who you must become to fulfill that vision. Use the following guidelines to create your business retreat to plan a stellar 2025!


10 Tips

for Creating the Perfect Conditions to Plan Your Best Year Yet!


1. Take at Least One Day to Be Alone. Alone time is essential for gaining awareness to design your upcoming quarter or year. To tap into your intuition and creativity, we strongly recommend that you take one day for your quarterly planning and three or more for your yearly planning. To really “retreat” from business-as-usual, we recommend shooting for one full week each year. (Now tell me that wouldn’t be a treat!)


2. Listen to Your Inner Coach. This heart-centered approach was created for you to connect to your Inner Coach, who guides your purpose and ideas. Pay attention, because your Inner Coach will show up at any time, even while you’re in the hot tub, going for a walk, in the middle of dinner, or dare I say, in the shower!


3. Embrace Solitude. Go about your day in solitude as much as possible. Take time to meditate. Do some deep breathing. Start your mornings slow, quiet, and intentional. Practice being present and calm throughout the day. And whatever you do... don’t work through your meals.


4. Allow for a Zone of Silence. This means no cell phone, no computer, and no distractions. Turn off all notifications. There will be plenty of time later to catch up. Hmmm, is this tip bringing up any resistance for you? Lean into it!


5. Write with a Pen and Paper. What travels from your heart to your head can be transferred to digital format after the retreat. Pen and paper bring out creative thinking and quality ideas. It’s proven that what is written by hand increases the likelihood of achievement as well. A little “old school” for you, my friend.


6. Release Any “Bad Feelings.” You cannot accomplish anything of value in a state of stress. Whenever you feel worry, control, or fear, stop for a moment and just allow yourself to feel it until it passes—and it will! Then bask in the relief you’ll feel and get back to “work.”


7. Keep a Resonant Tone. Whatever you are doing must feel good and not deplete you. If you notice your energy shifting away from resonance, stop and ask yourself: “What do I want to do right now?” Then do it.


8. Remain in Your Future Self. Think in terms of what you want for your business and what kind of leader you want to be in the future. Rid yourself of that gremlin reminding you of your past “failures” or telling you things like, “That’s unrealistic,” or “What makes you think you can do that?” Future-you thinking is a glimpse of what’s possible!


9. Have Fun. This isn’t meant to be all work. Self-care is very important during this time. Allow yourself to do the things that you might let slide when you’re back at home or work. Exercise, read, walk, kayak, or catch the sunset. The list is endless. Be spontaneous and allow yourself a truly retreat experience.


10. Do What Feels Right. There’s no wrong or right way to do your retreat. This is YOUR retreat, nobody else’s!


During your retreat, schedule time to contemplate the following questions, or for a more comprehensive guide download my Evolve Your Leadership Guidebook to the Inner Coach:


  1. What is the unique work I am meant to do and what does it look like?


  2. What do I TRULY WANT for my life, career, or business in the next 1, 2, or 3 years?


  3. What does my life, career, or business look like in the next 1, 2, or 3 years?


  4. What dream keeps popping up over and over again that I have yet to realize?


  5. What prevailing thought, feeling, or behavior must change for me to fulfill my vision?


  6. What shows up repeatedly in my life, career, or business that I know must change, but I struggle to change it?


  7. What are some ways I can begin to make the changes I identified above?


  8. What must I start or start doing to achieve my vision?


  9. Who must I become to achieve this vision? (This is your next evolution)

xoxo, Maria
 

We will be featuring our NXT Level "ICON" Members in this

column to answer your burning questions on how to take

your business, career, or life to the next level!

Send your questions to:

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


bottom of page