Behind the Mic: Dolphins, Whale Tales & Retreats with Anne Gordon

Michelle Abraham: 00:00:03

This is amplify you the podcast about you discovering your message and broadcasting to the world. If you're a coach, author or speaker, you'll want to tune in. If you're looking for the best return on your time investment, to get your message out to the world in a bigger way, we're giving you full access behind the scenes look of how we're running our podcasts, how our clients have found success, and what you can do to launch your podcast today. The world needs your message. I'm Michelle Abraham, the host. Join my family as we unleash your unique genius and find the connections you need to launch your venture today. Join us and let's get amplify. Hello, hello amplify you Michelle Abraham, your host here today. And I'm so excited you guys. I'm kind of an incredible guest for you not only if we're going to talk about we're gonna talk about an Ask the Expert topic today all about retreats. But we're also going to share a little bit of behind the mic because my guest today has not one but two podcasts. So let me introduce you to and Gordon. Hey, Ann, how are you doing?

Anne Gordon: 00:01:09

Hey, Michelle, it's great to be here. Thanks for having me.

Michelle Abraham: 00:01:12

You are so welcome. amplify your family. Let me share a little bit more about Anne with you. So Anne running her successful Whale and Dolphin Wisdom Retreats since 2007. Don't all sound fantastic. I can't wait to hear more about them. She shares the wisdom of the dolphins and whales through transformational retreats to spend time with and deepening your spiritual connection with the natural world. So she's a retreat success coach who loves to share her complete, comprehensive knowledge and experience of leading successful and lucrative retreats for the last 15 years with coaches healers, and transformational leaders, she is dedicated to empowering you easily as six figures to their business by leading transformational retreats now does not sound like something that's something I've always wanted to do and haven't done yet. And we just we just shared that it's probably one of the main reasons that you hear all the time is because what if nobody shows up? Right? I think that's a real fear, right? Yes, it is. So what do you say to your clients that that say, Well, what if nobody shows up?

Anne Gordon: 00:02:15

Well, you want what I tell them is you need to follow a retreat success system, so that you set yourself up for success. And one of the biggest mistakes I see people make around that is they don't give themselves enough time to promote that retreat. So for example, if you're leading a week long retreat, then I've seen people where they had a retreat going to Thailand, and they give themselves two months to promote it. So like that's nowhere near enough time. Because some people, if your audience works a regular job, they have to schedule their vacation time a year in advance, right. So I give people nine to 12 months to fill a retreat, promote your retreat. So people have time to schedule their lives, their childcare, their elder care, or pet sitter, their vacation, everything in their life, they have to juggle, and it also gives them time, sometimes they need the time to raise the money for the retreat, because a retreat is not a lower priced item. And so the more time you give them to promote and say yes, the more likely you will fill the retreat.

Michelle Abraham: 00:03:33

Oh my gosh. So now we're talking about retreats and you jumped right into the topic of retreats. Let's maybe let's back it up for a second for our audience and maybe like maybe like what the heck are you talking about a retreat? What does that look like? They're not used to being in this kind of space not really heard these retreats? why would why would we want to do a retreat and what like, what, what is a retreat?

Anne Gordon: 00:03:53

Yeah, great question. And, yeah, in the coaching industry, I see the word retreat used really kind of loosely, it's like people using retreats for a three day sales event, or a deliverable, where it's just content content content or more of a workshop, not what I would call a retreat. When I'm talking about retreats. I'm talking about a destination. For example, you know, an obvious one is Costa Rica for a yoga retreat somewhere, right? And so, or Bali, or Italy or something really magical, where it's more about experiences than delivering PowerPoint content. So that the experiences you may have a goal or a theme. Say for example, you're doing a writer's retreat in Tuscany. Yes, you're going to have time for writing but you're also going to go out and have powerful experiences and maybe do some wine tasting and maybe visit Have some castles and little villages, so that you are inspired as a writer, not just sitting in a room writing what you could do in Minneapolis, right? It doesn't you want to make take the advantage of being in that location.

Michelle Abraham: 00:05:19

So by having those experiences, that experiential kind of learning is that more like a transformation you see in people, then they're able to like, you know, write better or, or, or kind of, like, do the goal of the of the retreat?

Anne Gordon: 00:05:32

Yeah, for sure. Because the beauty about a retreat is we can teach you the content anywhere, and we could do it virtual, we could do it, you know, anywhere in the world. However, when you go away, kind of step out of your comfort zone, and you put away you're not being distracted by your life, by your phone, by your emails by all of that you're all in. And the experiences help inspire you, but also bring out that play. And that being in the present moment, which us humans were not so good about. And so that really helps. Now, here's the thing, when the very first retreat I ever led, I realized I didn't know this before my first retreat. But I realized, and I observed, that when you create this safe, sacred space of a retreat, that it just beautifully, very gently allow those limiting beliefs and blocked emotions, and the things that's holding us back to bubble up and be released in a gentle way. And that's where the transformation happens. And what I like to say is on a retreat, you don't have to have a traumatic breakdown. You don't even have to discuss it. Yet, you can still have a powerful breakthrough,

Michelle Abraham: 00:07:02

is that something that's inspired by like the coaching or just the environment are like the people that are there.

Anne Gordon: 00:07:09

It's how you create the retreat. So a lot of times, it's the environment I've had, I'll tell you a really powerful story that will illustrate this. I had I do an annual gifts from the gray whales retreat in Mexico, where we go hang out with gray whales that come right up to the boat, we can touch them and pet them and kiss them. And it's just amazing. And I had a woman come on that retreat one year, and I didn't know her at all. She was referred by a friend who had come to your before and loved it. So she came. And she was a little reserved, didn't share much about herself. But she participated fully and she had a good time and enjoyed the retreat. And it wasn't until the final sharing circle, that she told us how her husband and the family dog had died in this horrible car accident where the car just burst into flames. And there was nothing anybody can do. And she was only two cars behind them.

Michelle Abraham: 00:08:13

Oh my gosh. Yeah.

Anne Gordon: 00:08:15

I mean, I can't imagine the horror of that. And what she shared with us on that day was that on this retreat was the first time in seven years that she felt happy again. No, wow. And we never even talked, I didn't even know this about her. And so when you design and retreat with powerful experiences, and bring back that inner joy that we all have, then you get these powerful transformations.

Michelle Abraham: 00:08:50

Well, that's incredible. That's so cool. No is at a retreat appropriate for like all businesses, are there some that you know, are better suited for retreats than others?

Anne Gordon: 00:09:01

I think for most businesses, it probably could now if maybe if you're a podiatrist or a dentist or you know, something like that, maybe not so much. Um, but if you're interested in helping your people have, you know, learn a better healthy lifestyle. Right, it can be and for some businesses, it may be thinking a little outside the box, but if you're in the coaching business or service industry, I mean, there's corporate retreats for team building, and you know, there's, there's church retreats, right, and there's youth retreats and there's people recovering from grief or divorce. There's couples intimacy retreats, there's, you know, stepping into empowerment retreats, there's women's retreats, men's retreats, there's spiritual retreats. I mean, literally there's there's no limit to what your retreat can be

Michelle Abraham: 00:10:00

awesome. And if you're like a coach, would you recommend like doing a retreat, like to kind of be a part of like the things that you offer, like a once a year kind of thing?

Anne Gordon: 00:10:11

Absolutely. If you're a coach, and you're doing group coaching programs, or you know, even if you're just doing one on one, I think of it this way. Imagine traveling to one of your bucket list destinations in the world, with 10 of your favorite clients, and getting to do the things you've always wanted to do, and getting paid well for it. It's like why the heck not? Man, when you do that, your clients that come will become raving fans for life. Now, here's the difference between what happens on a retreat, and what happens in one on one coaching or group coaching program or even a like virtual, a workshop or a three day event, whatever. When you're doing all of that you're on you're the professional you're you know, doing your job. When you're on a retreat, you're sitting, sharing a meal together, you're maybe going zip lining together, and you may be the scared the one that's nervous about that. And they get to see you and they may even see you in your jammies. Right, they're seeing you as a real everyday person experiencing things to gather. Wow. And that takes your sense of community and connection to such a deep level. That how can they not want to keep working with you after that?

Michelle Abraham: 00:11:44

Is it usually like an offer at the end of a retreat? Or is that something that's just you know, it could be or whatnot,

Anne Gordon: 00:11:51

it can be it depends on your retreat and what your goal for the retreat is, you can certainly make an offer and it may be to come to the next retreat. Or it may be Hey, that's we've created this strong sense of community. Let's keep that going. And a membership group or a mastermind. Cool.

Michelle Abraham: 00:12:11

I love it. Oh, so many ideas in my head right now. Oh, my goodness. So cool. So is it? Is it something that it cost the host a lot of money to put on a retreat? Or is that something that like, the cost is usually covered by the People's fees to come to the retreat,

Anne Gordon: 00:12:29

it shouldn't cost the retreat leader a penny when you do it, right. And that means that and you don't even have to spend money out of your pocket to make a deposit on the venue or your hotel, whatever. You shouldn't have to spend any of your own money. And I do hear people saying, well, I could never afford to get started. Well, you don't you shouldn't pay for it. Then there's some tricks to getting it like when you first announced your retreat? Yes, you have everything figured out that and maybe the hotel is asking for a deposit before you announce it. But you're a year out. So you say look, I'd rather Can I give you a credit card that you don't charge, right? That's one way, you know, as a guarantee, or you say, Look, I'd like these specific dates. Can you give me a first right of refusal, and hold those rooms for me for two months. And as soon as I have some people booked on the retreat, I will send you that deposit. And then when you announced that you want to your retreat, you want to create some kind of like an early bird incentive, whether that's a maybe $200 discount on the retreat, or maybe it's some private time with you as a bonus. But in a lot of people would the way they do this early bird is say you retreat. You're announcing your retreat in June and you're saying by August 1, you know, you have this window of this early bird discount. Well, what's going to happen is that people are going to wait till August 1 or July 31 right they're gonna wait the last minute but you need that money now to pay those deposits. So instead of putting a date on that earlybird say for the first three people who book this retreat, I've gotten emails like within an hour of sending out that promo email am I still in the first three Can I get in? It's like yes you can.

Michelle Abraham: 00:14:40

In fact oh you can you can

Anne Gordon: 00:14:42

write exactly well I actually don't I am really hold it to the three but you have to book at the exact same moment. sure of course before had a chance to change that price. But yeah, you want to that it sense of instant urgency. And then wow, I have And then you can even give a pay in full bonus. Right? So that, you know, if two people pay in full, as soon as I announce it great, then I can pay my deposit to the venue.

Michelle Abraham: 00:15:13

Do you the retreat leaders typically, like make money from the retreats too? Or is it just kind of to cover the costs of them going in the experience?

Anne Gordon: 00:15:20

Well, I'm glad you asked that question. Because I see a lot of retreat litters doing just what you said, I just want the free trip. I just want I don't want me to make any money. You should make money. There's no reason why you shouldn't make money. You should always build it so that you do make money on this. Now hit let's just do a I'm not a math person, but do some basic numbers. If your retreat, a week long retreat is $3,000. And your expenses are 1700. What my calculator because this doesn't work. And numbers don't work in my brain so much. But so it's 3000 minus 1700. That's $1,300. That's your profit. And if you've got 10 people, that's 13,000 people. If you had 20 people, that's $26,000. Hmm, yeah. And what if you lead four retreats a year? That would be prepared for $100,000 in profit, from going and playing in your favorite location, with your favorite clients doing your favorite things?

Michelle Abraham: 00:16:40

So yes, I know retreats have always been very attractive to me. I've been to 47 countries and like, I just, I love travel. And I see so much transformation when travel, you have travel and I've really missed it the last few years, so has to last few years really affected like impacted your business and like the retreat industry.

Anne Gordon: 00:17:06

Yeah, totally. Obviously, people have been have been nervous about traveling for obvious reasons and lock downs and so on. In a normal year, I lead four to six retreats a year. But in the last two years, I led one may have one each year, but the amazing part was I was able to leave Yeah. And it was out of the country was in the Bahamas. And that retreat I normally have 20 people on. But we went with smaller numbers, like the first year was eight people. And last year was 12 people. So but still, people were and the beauty was we stayed at this kind of all inclusive retreat center. We didn't the end, the boat that we went out with there was about Swimming with wild dolphins is docked right at the retreat center. So we never had to leave once we were there. And to get into the Bahamas, and you either had to be vaccinated or have a negative COVID test. So once we got there, we knew everybody was in this COVID Free bubble, which was such a relief.

Michelle Abraham: 00:18:15

Yeah. Well, the gift for you for being able to do it the last couple of years. That's awesome. And now are you seeing a lot more people interested in traveling? There's a lot more places opening up. That's more retreat. Yes, centers are opening up again.

Anne Gordon: 00:18:28

Yeah, absolutely. And I want to come back to this because I also want to mention that I did do a pivot. And in April 2020, I lead my very first virtual retreat booth, which was taking as many experiences as possible from a live retreat into a virtual format, not just a workshop, not just all PowerPoints but bringing in some improv games and some community building activities and movement and things like that. So it's a more whole body experience. And what I learned after I led the first one was like, how come I haven't been doing this the entire time. Because a virtual tree is usually a very lower priced item. So if I do a one day six hour virtual retreat, I charge 197. So it's kind of it's a great way to take somebody who's been on your email list that has never purchased anything from you to becoming a paying client. And then at that know like and trust factor goes much higher after the retreat is over. And it's a perfect way to then tee up your live retreat.

Michelle Abraham: 00:19:42

Awesome. I love it. So other people that come to your retreat, do they usually know each other before or are they they're friendly to each other.

Anne Gordon: 00:19:50

Oftentimes, I mean, sometimes somebody will bring their their spouse, their partner, a friend, you know, their their adult daughters kind of thing, but most People don't know each other. Yet, it always works out that it becomes this beautiful aligned group mean, and I just led two weeks ago, I got back from my gray whale retreat in Mexico. And I had eight people. And there was a friend of mine who came on and he had come on that retreat several years before. And he said at the end, he says, I didn't expect to laugh so much. Because the group just really gelled and there was so much play and laughter and silliness that it was just really beautiful to watch.

Michelle Abraham: 00:20:38

Oh, that's so fun. I love it. Well, you've gotten me excited about retreats again. Now you have two podcasts. So I want to shift to the behind the mic segment of this show. And you know, I didn't even know you had two podcasts until we started talking before the show. So this is great. So tell us a little bit about the two different podcasts and what they're each about and what you can expect for as a listener.

Anne Gordon: 00:21:02

Yeah, sure. So the first one is Transformational Travel. And one as you were talking about all your travels, I need to have you as a guest on my show. And that is all about it's I'm interviewing people who have had powerful life changing experiences, through travel. Now that travel could be spending time at an ashram in India. It can also mean having a powerful aha moment, walking in the park down the street from your house. So there's some really fun interviews on there. And I love talking to people about what they've learned, and how their eyes their mindset, their perspective has shifted through travel. So that's one, the second one is called Dolphin and Whale tales, t a l e s. And it's all a lot of it is some of them are introduced. Most of them are just me talking and sharing the wisdom that I have learned through my observation and timeless as well as directly received in meditation through with the whales and dolphins and how that they're teaching us how we can live a better life. I love so that's a fun one to

Michelle Abraham: 00:22:24

have you always been involved in travel or is this like a new, a new kind of business for you in the last few years?

Anne Gordon: 00:22:31

Well, I've always loved travel. My My history is kind of weird. I I studied biology and zoology and animal behavior in university. I worked as a zookeeper. I trained animals, wild animals, about new school educational outreach programs, to teach a respect for wildlife. And then I also trained animals wild and domestic for movies and television for over 20 years, so animals have always been the theme. Yeah, that's

Michelle Abraham: 00:23:05

amazing. Throughout see why the whales

Anne Gordon: 00:23:09

and I grew up voting in the Pacific Northwest, my dad had a bow, I grew up watching the orca whales. And then I got hired on a film that was shooting in Panama, that hired a local indigenous tribe as the actors. And so I got to spend time with them and visit their villages, which they're still traditional villages, deep in the rainforest, only accessible by dugout canoe. And I just fell in love with who they are as a people. And as fate would have it, I married one of them.

Michelle Abraham: 00:23:44

Oh, wow.

Anne Gordon: 00:23:46

And that's obviously a whole nother story. But his village survived on tourism. And when I moved down there to be with him. I mean, obviously, there's not much of a film industry in Panama. So I couldn't really continue that career. And so I realized that people that came to the village to learn about the tribe, were fascinated by me being me being married into it, and then my perspective, as an insider and outsider. So I started working in tourism, and being a freelance tour guide, and then started my own website to take people out to the village. And then I'm like, I'm in this country, with two oceans 50 miles apart. What species of whales and dolphins are there here? And how do we get out to see them? And I found that nobody was doing whale watching in the entire country. And it's one of the easiest places in the world with humpback whales that come from both the northern and southern hemisphere to prolong birth. And so I literally pioneer the whale watching industry in that country. And as I was doing the day tours pardon Fun. I wanted to dive deeper into connection with my clients, as well as really get into the spiritual aspect of connecting with the dolphins or whales. That's when my retreats were born in 2007.

Michelle Abraham: 00:25:18

Oh, so cool. Now another fascinating story that so I love hearing everyone's stories, how they got to where they are. So he's not necessarily a straight line.

Anne Gordon: 00:25:29

Not at all. Not at all. But but it's been great, great fun

Michelle Abraham: 00:25:35

to do is to is we're watching Stila tours tourism activity in Panama.

Anne Gordon: 00:25:40

It is I no longer live there. But there are many people, boat owners and I trained a number of tour guides. And so there are people that are doing it now.

Michelle Abraham: 00:25:49

Yeah, that's so cool. To save declaim with inventing two wheel tours and tunnel I love it. I did. So cool. So now before we let you go, any last words for our listeners that may be like, Oh, I've been inspired by either going on a retreat or maybe leading one of their own? Anywhere?

Anne Gordon: 00:26:11

Once a week, for sure. And I you mentioned earlier about, you know, are people traveling now and we wanted to answer that before we get into the last words. And that is, yes, people are. Um, I actually have four retreats scheduled for this year, my last one of the gray whale was sold out with eight people at a smaller number. My next one is in June, it is almost sold out. And that's going to be 20. People, I just have a few spots left on that. I have an orca retreat in the Pacific Northwest, that one is half full. I have a swimming with humpback whales in French Polynesia in October. And that one is half full. That only they are interested in traveling. Yes.

Michelle Abraham: 00:27:00

That's great. That's good to hear. It's good to hear that. You know, that could be something I think you'll put on hold for a little while there.

Anne Gordon: 00:27:07

Right? It can be done. You know, sometimes there's some testing that needs to be done. But we just figure that in.

Michelle Abraham: 00:27:15

Yeah, one last question on that before I let you answer your last. Your final words? No. Do you recommend people go to where their treats can happen first before they leave the retreat there?

Anne Gordon: 00:27:27

Ideally, yes. So you have firsthand experience in that area. But it's not required. I have led retreats in areas that I had never been before. But then you look for a local kind of coordinator or somebody that can be you're on hands, but if you can ask them what, how close is it to the grocery store? How do we get to restaurants? You know, what's a really fun local activity to do? Rather than just doing it all on the internet?

Michelle Abraham: 00:27:56

Hmm, cool, loving. And last question. Another last but last last last question. Are you going to do more virtual retreats? Is that a success? Did you like doing those?

Anne Gordon: 00:28:07

I love those. And absolutely, I am continuing to do virtual retreats to prime the pump and set people up and invite them invite them to the live retreats. For sure. Yes,

Michelle Abraham: 00:28:21

very cool. Okay, now you can ask them.

Anne Gordon: 00:28:23

Okay, the last words are. So as I mentioned earlier, how I saw how on my very first retreat, how you these beautiful transformations that happened kind of organically, when it's a beautifully well set up retreat. So I know that not everybody's going to come on a whale and dolphin wisdom retreat. That's just, you know, my flavor of retreats. But when I can empower you to lead a transformational retreat, I see it as spreading this beautiful wave of transformation, like the ripple effect around the world that just consider the impact and my story about the woman whose husband died, if you can make that kind of impact in the lives of your clients. Why not?

Michelle Abraham: 00:29:23

Why not guys? Why not? Yeah, I love it, Paul, and thank you so so much. This has been so great to learn more about what you're up to and how retreats can really help transform businesses and just the transformation of the people in your business and your clients and your colleagues. And yeah, I just love it. I'm so glad that retreats are coming back and we're back in business. Now. I look forward to traveling again. And we can do awesome.

Anne Gordon: 00:29:55

Um, do you wanna share the free gifts that I have or yes, please So I have and you'll I'm sure you'll put this the link in the show notes. Yeah. And that is I have a guide the top 10 strategies to fill your retreats. Because I know that that is probably the number one fear about leading retreats. So we'll make that available to everybody who goes to that link.

Michelle Abraham: 00:30:20

Awesome. Thank you so much. And that's awesome. We'll make sure we put those links to that in the in the show notes for you all listeners amplify your family. Thank you so much for tuning in today. This has been so great to hear and wisdom, wisdom from her retreats and just love to hear from you guys. Are you interested in retreats? I'm thinking about putting together a podcasting retreat, would love to know what your thoughts are on that. So hit me up in a message in the comments. And we look forward to chatting with you again, thanks so much for today.

Anne Gordon: 00:30:51

Thanks for having me. And I just want to say podcasting is a great way to attract people to your retreats. And I have had people come from my podcast that join my retreats. So perfect combination.

Michelle Abraham: 00:31:05

Yeah, that's a great, that's awesome. A great call to action from your podcast, join our retreats, right, because that's what your podcast listeners want is that next step is getting to know you. And so what a great way to do that. Awesome. Thanks so much and we'll take care talk to you soon.

Anne Gordon: 00:31:20

Thank you everybody. Thank you, Michelle.