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Alison discusses how to build a business ecosystem that supports retreat bookings and revenue beyond the event, from free content and low-commitment experiences to retreats and follow-up offers. She covers inviting people who already know our work, positioning a retreat around the transformation it offers, and planning the next step before registration opens. She also shares how retreats can lead to testimonials, stories, content, and referrals, and suggests mapping the ecosystem, clarifying the retreat’s promise, and identifying potential invitees. HIGHLIGHTS: 1:16 Building a Retreat Business That Lasts 5:42 The Four Stages of Your Business Ecosystem 8:56 Why an Ecosystem Makes Retreats Easier to Fill 11:30 Turning Your Retreat Into a Business Growth Engine 13:11 Plan the Post-Retreat Next Step 15:00 Use Retreats for Content and Referrals 17:07 Action Steps to Strengthen Your Ecosystem 19:01 Personally Invite Warm Leads 20:15 Plan Your Retreat Business for Next Year SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

Alison welcomes business consultant, Todd Krause, about the role of human conversation in business, even as technology and AI expand what companies can do. Todd says customers still want human contact, especially when they need help, and that businesses should focus on solving operational problems while improving customer experience. They discuss how leadership affects turnover, complaints, and morale. Todd argues that moving employees from a compliance mindset to a commitment mindset, and changing negative management habits such as micromanaging or using critical language, can improve both employee behavior and customer outcomes. Todd also describes changes he made after buying a cleaning company with high turnover and frequent complaints. He says replacing criticism with clear instruction, recognition, and rewards helped reduce mistakes and complaints, while improving reviews, employee engagement, and overall results. HIGHLIGHTS: 2:13 Todd’s Business Background 4:14 Customers Want Real People 7:13 Rebuilding Workplace Culture 10:17 The Cleaning Company Turnaround 13:26 Rewards Over Reprimands 16:32 Practical Leadership Tips 18:34 Real Profit Gains 19:35 Why Relationships Matter connect with Todd website: https://silversunconsulting.com SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

Alison introduces the first part of a two-part mini series on how retreats fit into a business. She discusses why retreats are often hard to fill and explains that the issue is not always marketing, but whether the wider business ecosystem supports the retreat. She talks about common problems such as one-off retreats with no clear next step, offers focused on deliverables instead of outcomes, and businesses that rely on social media or a venue deposit before the strategy is in place. She also explains that a retreat should sit within a larger offer suite, with entry points before the retreat and a clear path afterward. Part 2 of this series drops October 22 so stay tuned! HIGHLIGHTS: 1:16 Retreats Are Not the Business 6:01 Why Retreats Feel Hard 9:31 Human Connection Sells 14:00 Sell the Transformation 16:02 Stop Relying on Social Media 21:15 Map Your Retreat Journey related episodes Stop Selling the Engine - The Problem (part 1): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stop-selling-the-engine-part-1-the-problem-why/id1676688929?i=1000775118557 Stop Selling the Engine - The Application (part 2): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stop-selling-the-engine-part2-the-application/id1676688929?i=1000777026347 Stop Selling the Engine - Retreats & What They Carry Home (part 3): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stop-selling-the-engine-part-3-retreats-what-they-carry-home/id1676688929?i=1000779057508 SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

Alison speaks with Dr. Laura Roy about the difficulty of sorting through the large amount of health and nutrition information available online. Laura discusses her background in biochemistry, teaching, functional medicine, and clinical nutrition, and says that this training has made her more critical of misinformation and oversimplified claims. They emphasize that nutrition and health are nuanced and that no single supplement, diet, or fitness approach works for everyone. Laura says the basics matter most, including protein, fiber, sleep, exercise, stress management, hydration, and a diverse diet, and that supplements should support, not replace, those habits. Laura also introduces her Nutrition and Supplement Help Desk, where people can bring nutrition, fitness, and supplement questions or claims for research and explanation in a forum format. She says it's intended as a lower-cost option for people who want help evaluating information before committing to one-on-one coaching. HIGHLIGHTS: 3:13 Drowning in Misinformation 5:24 Science Over Noise 7:55 Supplements Aren’t Magic 9:33 Foundations First Always 11:59 Building the Help Desk 15:10 Why Credibility Matters 17:53 Slack Access Explained 21:43 Coaching vs Help Desk 23:38 A Lower-Cost Entry Point connect with Dr. Roy website: https://foundationalmetabolism.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/drlauraroynutrition SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

Back from her Sancerre retreat, Alison shares behind the scenes of the retreat and how she and her team prepared, ran it, and what she learned from the experience. She talks about the setting, the schedule, the welcome activities, and the mix of downtime, local experiences, and closing exercises she built into the week. She also discusses the business workshops, focusing on how retreats can generate profit beyond ticket sales through pricing, expenses, upsells, and mini offers and reflects on the challenges of selling retreats, the need for clear messaging, and the value of addressing what keeps people stuck. Alison closes the episode with her main takeaways from the retreat, including the importance of unscripted conversations and in-person connection and more importantly, her vision for the future of Luxury in Business Retreats. HIGHLIGHTS: 2:39 Luxury in Business Retreat’s New Chapter 7:14 Arriving in Sancerre 10:53 Teaching Six-Figure Profit 15:25 Pricing and Mini Offers 17:36 Free Time Builds Bonds 20:07 Key Retreat Takeaways 24:00 LIBR’s Future Vision SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

Alison speaks with Leslie Martin about her work as a holistic psychotherapist and coach, and how she uses retreats as a setting for healing, reflection, and recovery from difficult life experiences. They discuss how retreats differ from vacations, including the role of structure, safety, travel, and group connection. They also focus on Lesley's Morocco retreat, looking at last year’s program on burnout and how participant feedback shaped this year’s route and themes. This year’s retreat travels through Marrakech, mountain villages, the Dades Valley, Todra Gorge, and the Sahara, with emphasis on stillness, presence, simplicity, and relationships with self, others, and the land. The episode closes with practical advice for people who feel overwhelmed or stuck, including pausing, grounding, and asking what may be overcomplicated or what else could be true. HIGHLIGHTS: 1:15 Morocco Retreat Reimagined 4:12 Why Retreats Matter 7:08 Last Year’s Desert Journey 9:11 This Year’s Deeper Focus 17:57 November Retreat Details 23:29 Bringing the Lessons Home 25:38 Simple Questions, Big Shifts connect with Lesley website: https://lesleymartincoaching.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesley.p.martin.3 IG: https://www.instagram.com/LesleyMartinCoaching SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

In this episode, Alison talks about how her and her team prepare for an upcoming retreat and why that process includes more than logistics. She covers the self-care she prioritizes, scheduling, and daily routines she uses in the weeks before the event so she can show up rested and focused. She also discusses the systems she uses to stay organized, including packing early, keeping running lists, batching work, and coordinating closely with her team. Finally, she closes by looking at attendee communication, vendor planning, and how advance preparation helps her and her team lead with more steadiness and presence. SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

The conversation focuses on Holly Porter’s background and the creation of the International Retreat Association. Porter then shares that COVID affected her severely and describes a near-death experience that led to a major shift in her life and to writing a book about surrender, hope, intuition, faith, and transformation. Before her illness she had been developing Retreat R&R, a software concept for retreat bookings, and that her experience led her to create interviews and study the retreat industry more closely. This, she says, showed her the complexity of the field and the need for more structure and support. The International Retreat Association is an organization for the entire retreat ecosystem, not only retreat leaders. Holly says its goals are to build collaborative trust, establish professional standards, and support a new era of professionalism. Holly also shares that retreat leaders should not see each other only as competitors, rather the value of community, education, networking, and shared problem-solving. She outlines the association’s current offerings, including monthly mastermind meetings, a 12-week course on universal laws, a newsletter, a toolbox of business resources, and membership tiers. She says the organization will continue to build based on member feedback and that founders receive added visibility and benefits. HIGHLIGHTS: 1:15 Retreat Revolution Begins 6:22 Association Need Revealed 9:46 Community and Toolbox 11:08 Big Vision Ahead 15:05 Monthly Masterminds Launch 19:57 Navigating the Challenges 24:05 Membership Info connect with Holly website: https://internationalretreatassociation.com Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hollyporter SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

Alison continues her discussion on business promise, program promise, and audience building by focusing on how to describe the specific result you help people get. She explains that a strong promise should be clear and testable, using concrete before-and-after change rather than vague claims like “more confident” or “more aligned.” Alison also talks about how the most effective wording often comes from the phrases people use after working with us, and how collecting those words can make our messaging more authentic. Finally, she clarifies the difference between content and outreach: content is for recognition, while outreach is for proof and conversation, and both work best when we are specific, responsive, and human. HIGHLIGHTS: 1:16 Promise and Audience Building 4:01 Spotting the Fake Promise 7:31 Finding the Real Promise 12:14 Audience Building Shifts 17:57 Content Versus Outreach SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

Alison talks with gym owner, David Rafuse about how the fitness industry has changed since the pandemic and how those changes affected businesses in health, wellness, and service-based fields. We discuss how many people shifted toward working out at home, while others lost routine and community and had to rebuild their habits afterward. They also talk about the broader role of in-person connection, that social media and digital tools do not replace face-to-face interaction, and how loneliness and isolation have become more visible issues. A major part of the conversation is David’s app for gyms and wellness businesses. He explains that it's built to help people connect through events, group channels, and community communication, while limiting unnecessary notifications. The app is designed so members see only the information they choose, with the goal of supporting real-world interaction rather than keeping people on the platform. They also discuss how the app helps business owners. It gives them back-end data, lets them track staff engagement, and helps them identify likely connections between members through smart matching. Dave also talks about how this can support belonging, retention, and better member experiences, especially in environments where community is a major part of the business. Finally, they cover practical advice for experiential businesses. Dave points out that creating spaces and events that encourage people to stay, connect, and return, can be valuable if they are meaningful for the people who attend. HIGHLIGHTS: 1:16 Pandemic and Community Shift 8:16 Why Apps Matter 10:08 Building Micro-Communities 14:22 Smart Matching Members 16:59 Notifications That Connect 18:40 Partnering with Other Gyms 20:52 Tracking Staff Engagement 24:12 Future of In-Person Fitness 26:04 Designing Belonging 27:58 Experiences People Remember 28:56 Small Events, Big Impact connect with Dave website: https://blendedathletics.com email: [email protected] SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

Alison continues her discussion about messaging, client experience, and business growth, focusing on how you clarify a program promise and communicate the result you help create. She outlines three outreach buckets for building an audience: ideal clients, partners, and referral sources. She explains how to approach outreach by leading with the promise, showing proof through before-and-after stories or patterns of change, and then describing the path or process. Alison closes the episode by encouraging regular outreach and noting that these ideas apply to both online and in-person businesses. HIGHLIGHTS: 1:15 Outreach and Messaging Basics 5:37 Finding Your Ideal Clients 7:23 Partner and Referral Networks 10:31 Lead With Promise 13:59 Show the Path Forward SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

Alison welcomes her retreat client, Marsha Kucera, family physician in Calgary who also serves as a board chair for a not-for-profit organization, a site medical lead at her clinic, and director of informatics and quality improvement. Marcia explains that she entered leadership without formal training and experienced periods of burnout. She tried therapy, coaching, exercise, yoga, mindfulness, nutrition, and became a certified coach herself. She says those approaches helped, but the biggest shift came during a physically challenging hike with a friend, where movement, reflection, and time away from work made a noticeable difference. She contrasts that experience with traditional vacations, which she says didn't lead to lasting change. According to her, the combination of movement, breathlessness, exploration, and uninterrupted mental space allowed her to be present and notice what her mind could offer. She says ideas and solutions often come during movement and are more likely to stick afterward. The discussion then turns to how she designs her retreats and why they are different from conferences or passive getaways. She emphasizes that different participants take away different things, and that the retreat is meant to meet people where they are rather than force a single outcome. Marcia describes the retreat as a movement-based experience in Italy and the program includes hiking, walking, excursions, and a pesto class. She says it is designed for women leaders or women who want to become leaders and feel stuck or unsure about their next step. As the discussion wraps up, Marsha advises listeners who feel stuck to consider that they are not the problem; they need to identify the real issue. Her suggested approach is to move the body in a challenging natural setting while being mindful and present. HIGHLIGHTS: 1:14 From Burnout to Breakthrough 3:45 The Retreat Awakening 6:35 Movement Sparks Clarity 9:42 Why Vacations Don’t Stick 13:27 Keeping the Shift Alive 16:33 Italian Retreat Plans 19:18 Who This Retreat Serves 19:57 Stuck Means Not Broken connect with Marsha website: https://www.unchartdleadership.com SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

Alison continues her mini-series with part 3 on how to market retreats by focusing on selling the transformation, not the logistics. She explains that people need to feel safe before they commit, and that the real promise is what they will carry into everyday life after the retreat. She shares the self-selection effect and how a clear, specific message helps the right people recognize that the retreat is for them while others opt out. She also covers language to avoid and shares ways to frame retreat messaging through concrete before-and-after changes, including what life looks like after the retreat. HIGHLIGHTS: 2:26 Retreats Sell Transformation 4:26 Self-Selection Through Clear Promise 6:24 Specific Before-And-After Messaging 8:53 Show The Contrast 11:30 Monday Morning Vision 13:00 Retreat Profit Society Offer mentioned in the episode Retreat Profit Society: https://luxuryinbusinessretreats.com/join Innovation Avenue 360 Club: https://alisonkatschkowsky.podia.com/360-club Connect with Alison: https://thealisonk.com/connect SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

Alison speaks with business coach Cailen Ascher about building a soul-centered business and how that differs from hustle-driven business culture. Their conversation centers on creating a business from alignment rather than from constant pressure to be everywhere or offer everything. A major theme is the problem of hustle culture and the number of people calling themselves experts or coaches. Cailen and Alison discuss how many coaches focus on marketing trends, quick pivots, and broad offers instead of building a steady body of work and a clear direction. They stress the importance of longevity, consistency, and depth. Cailen explains her approach as “sacred self-alignment.” She works with clients on vision, voice, values, and vibe, then turns that into a business plan, a methodology, and an offer structure. She emphasizes creating one clear core offer and a simple client attraction system rather than complicated funnels or many disconnected offers. The process is also about supporting the client’s identity shift. Cailen says her work begins with ritual and reflection, then moves into strategy, while keeping the business owner herself in view. She describes helping clients stay aligned when they feel pulled by outside advice or new trends. Cailen also shares an example of a client who moved from a generic life coaching identity to a program rooted in sacred feminine work and spirituality. After reconnecting with what she cared about, the client launched a new offer, filled it, raised her price, and continued growing from that clearer position. Cailen closes by encouraging listeners to ask what they are good at, what they enjoy, and what people will pay for. She says those questions help people move from competence to genius and build a business that reflects their real mission. HIGHLIGHTS: 1:19 Soul-Centered Business 5:04 Hustle Culture Shift 12:10 Signature Methodology 14:42 Sacred Self-Alignment 21:19 Soul, Strategy, Staying Power 22:16 Finding Hidden Genius connect with Cailen website: https://www.cailenascher.com The Self-Led Woman on Substack: https://cailenascher.substack.com SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution

Alison continues her mini-series on 'Stop Selling the Engine' with part 2 and focuses on how to apply a clear promise and a through line across a business. She explains how the promise should be simple and specific, while the through line describes the larger transformation clients want. She explains how different offers, including coaching, memberships, digital products, group programs, and hybrid models, can be connected instead of competing with each other. She also covers how a clear promise helps us qualify people in sales conversations, shorten those conversations, and make memberships and retreats feel like natural next steps. Alison shares examples of clients who clarified their messaging and then created offers that sold more easily. She closes by saying that clearer messaging makes marketing easier, helps us connect rather than explain, and makes it easier to stand out in a crowded market. HIGHLIGHTS: 1:15 Promise Over Features 2:42 The Hybrid Business Model 5:01 Selling the Road Trip 8:18 Through Line Explained 11:51 Better Sales Conversations 15:08 Making Memberships Sticky 17:08 Offers That Support Each Other 19:42 Retreats and Clear Alignment 21:06 A Fat Loss Example 25:30 The Payoff of Clarity 26:16 Retreats Need the Deepest Clarity SPONSOR: Cellev8 Discount code: THEALISONK PODCAST WEBSITE & LINKS: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram JOIN The 360 CLUB GET MY FREE 4 part Pop-up Podcast Series JOIN Borderless Hybrid Innovators FB Group INNOVATION AVENUE: Fitness and Self-Care Revolution