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Success Advice

How to Build Connections and Create Boundless Opportunities

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Even if you meet someone 30 times for coffee, it’ll never equate to the connection that forms when you’re trying to change a flat tire together on a remote island without cell service. (Yes, that happened to me.) That’s why I’ve made it a personal mission to create memorable group trips that provide space to share experiences and grow relationships (ideally with no flat tires).

I started hosting curated trips in college for my business society. As I entered the workforce, I began theming trips around learning new skills, bonding over specific topics, or going on unforgettable experiences. My goal is to handpick professional contacts for trips that accelerate bonding and promote collaboration.

If you’re thinking you’d love to go on a trip but don’t have the time, I challenge you to reframe your thought process. These trips aren’t just vacations — they’re opportunities to learn something new, build deeper relationships, reflect, recharge, and invest in your future success. Group trips are a way to access people for longer periods than you otherwise would and bond over topics outside of work. Plus, you can outsource a lot of the planning, which is a huge benefit as a busy professional.

How Group Trips Prompt Self-Reflection, New Opportunities, and Growth

For years, I attended Jeff Bezos’ annual, invite-only MARS retreat. At this event, top leaders in machine learning, automation, robotics, and space gather to listen to thought-provoking lectures about the future of technology, bond over meals, and engage in activities such as hiking and martial arts. In just a few days, people with similar professional interests meet and form long-lasting connections.

These retreats are some of the most productive “workcations” I’ve attended. They gave me time to self-reflect on my own work, learn from thought leaders, and turn professional contacts into friends. After every MARS retreat, new businesses form and people change roles. These retreats are fun and successful, driving new ideas, strong partnerships, and individual growth.

The MARS retreat resembles many of the trips I’ve been doing for 15 years, and it’s the perfect playbook for planning a professional getaway. 

Here are the five key ingredients for success:

  1. Curation. Curate a group based on a common thread: an interest in meditation, experiences as women finance executives, etc. It’s important to handpick the right mix of people to ensure they get something valuable out of the trip.
  2. Purpose. There must be an explicit purpose for the trip. For example, if you want to host a meditation retreat, you should plan to spend three hours each day meditating and bringing in teachers. You can use the rest of the time for general bonding and group activities.
  3. Length. The trip should be at least three and a half days to give people time to build meaningful connections. (This does not include travel time.)
  4. Quality. My recommendation for a three-to-five-day trip is about 20 people. But if you want to maximize your efforts, you could invite up to 100.
  5. Downtime. Each day should have a few hours of downtime for the group to recharge and connect.

“The time to build a network is always before you need one.” – Douglas Conant

Group Trips Aren’t as Difficult to Plan as You Might Think

Remember, group trips are an investment in your future success. To make them more feasible from a planning perspective, try out these three types of trips:

1. Center your trip on learning a new skill for self-development.

Everyone has hobbies and skills they want to learn, so use those as conduits to bring people together and bond with professional contacts. For instance, pre-pandemic, a group of entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley went on annual kitesurfing trips around the world (including Richard Branson’s Necker Island). Hire a company that does custom tours to learn something new, such as mountaineering, sailing, or cooking. These companies will set a price and then usually take care of everything once you touch down — all you have to do is book a flight.

I did a four-person girls’ trip to French Polynesia, where we spent a week getting our catamaran skipper certifications. It was one of the most fun trips I’ve ever taken. We all studied together to take tests, practiced our skills on the catamaran, and bonded over a common goal. We also had a blast swimming with sharks, cooking meals together off the boat, and sailing around Bora Bora. We still regularly chat on our WhatsApp group about sailing and have been looking for more ways to put our certification to use.

2. Use pre-planned trips to meet new people.

Many companies offer incredible journeys with set dates, prices, and itineraries. You can travel at a better rate by inviting specific people you’d like to get to know on these trips. A couple of examples of ones I personally like are El Camino Travel (small group travel for women); For the Love of Travel (small group travel for Millennials); Modern Adventure (luxury culinary and wine tours); Abercrombie & Kent (global luxury tours); &Beyond (small group safaris); Nat- Geo Expeditions (history- and culture-themed trips); and Healing Holidays (wellness retreats).

“Your communication skills are your greatest strength as an entrepreneur. You have to know what to say when networking, team building, and talking with investors. Going on a group trip expands your professional circle and allows you to encounter new social situations that can help you grow as a communicator” – says Milosz Krasinski, Managing Director at Chilli Fruit Web Consulting.

3. Book a villa at a destination with many bonding activities.

I recommend the Caribbean for this approach! Look for homes that have a concierge or staff. These individuals can help you with responsibilities such as cooking, cleaning, or booking activities to remove those day-to-day stresses so you can focus on bonding with the people you’re traveling with. I curated a five-night trip to the Cayman Islands with 20 handpicked people where we all stayed in the same house. It was basically a summer camp for adults. We did night kayaking in a bioluminescent bay, sailing, and group yoga.

Many people on the trip didn’t know one another, but they were all Millennial tech professionals. This common thread created an opportunity for folks to have hours-long conversations. Have your guests facilitate events or conversations that play to their strengths. While on our trip, one individual hosted a yoga class, another taught everyone about body posture, and a third gave a lecture on trends in the tech industry. By planning daily events and topic-based meals, you force people to open up, reflect, and be vulnerable in front of each other.

Making time for group travel — not to mention handling the logistics — can seem daunting with your busy schedule. But you will be glad you took the leap. The growth you’ll experience will be more than worth it.

Sasha Hoffman is a travel expert, business strategist, investor, and entrepreneur who’s worked for companies such as Uber, Piaggio Group, and Goldman Sachs. Sasha has been to over 100 countries and has married her innate ability to find great deals and design unique experiences with her passion for travel, curating luxury, purpose-driven trips for professional women to learn new skills and see remote parts of the world. Connect with Sasha on LinkedIn.

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Success Advice

11 Mark Manson Lessons That’ll Redefine Success in the Digital Age

Success in the digital age isn’t about hacks, it’s about the raw, real lessons Mark Manson actually lives by.

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In 2016, Mark Manson released The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, a brutally honest, thought-provoking book that redefined self-help for a new generation. (more…)

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Change Your Mindset

The Secret Daily Routines Behind History’s Most Brilliant Thinkers

Uncover the daily rituals and hidden habits that powered history’s most brilliant minds to success.

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Why Daily Rituals Matter

Every great achiever has one thing in common: discipline. Behind the novels, inventions, discoveries, and masterpieces are small, consistent habits repeated daily. (more…)

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Did You Know

How to Turn a Simple Link-in-Bio Into a Powerful Brand Hub

Transform your forgotten bio link into a high-impact gateway that fuels engagement, clicks, and conversions across every social platform.

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Social media is one of the greatest marketing tools in 2025. According to a recent study, some 86% of marketers globally use platforms like Facebook and Instagram for advertisements, while 94% use it for content distribution.  (more…)

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Personal Development

These 11 Habits Will Make You More Productive, Successful, and Confident

Boost your focus, confidence, and results with 11 powerful habits successful people use every day.

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Successful people love to help beginners. They have an incredible work ethic and rarely complain. As a result, others naturally look up to them and want to follow in their footsteps.

But here’s the truth: there’s no success without sacrifice. You’ll need to give up comfort, excuses, and sometimes even social approval to accomplish your goals.

Value comes from solving problems, and these 11 powerful tips will help you become more productive, successful, and confident, starting today.

1. Take Short Breaks After Finishing a Task

Psychology shows it’s important to reward positive behaviour.

After completing a big task or finishing a book, take five minutes to walk, stretch, or simply breathe. This quick reset helps your brain recharge and strengthens focus.

Many great writers swear by morning walks, solitude, and reflection can unlock creativity.

But if you refuse to take breaks, don’t be surprised when burnout hits. Your brain needs recovery time just as much as your body does.

2. Schedule Your Most Important Tasks First

Multitasking kills productivity. If you want to get more done, try time blocking, a method where you dedicate set periods for specific tasks.

Productivity expert Caitlin Hughes explains, “Time blocking involves scheduling blocks of time for your tasks throughout the day.”

For example, if you’re a writer:

  • Research your topic at night.

  • Write your first draft in the morning (don’t worry if it’s rough).

  • Edit in the afternoon, great writing comes from rewriting.

You can’t buy more time. Use it intentionally and without regret.

3. Eliminate Distractions from Your Workspace

Focus is the foundation of success.

According to Inc. Magazine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to recover from a distraction. That’s nearly half an hour of lost productivity every time you check your phone.

Put your phone away. Close unnecessary tabs. And yes, limit your Netflix binges.

Meeting deadlines consistently is one of the fastest ways to stand out and earn respect.

4. Take Full Responsibility for Your Life

Entrepreneur Derek Sivers once said, “Everything is my fault.”

This mindset doesn’t mean self-blame; it means self-ownership. Stop pointing fingers, making excuses, or waiting for others to change.

If your habits (like smoking or drinking too much) hold you back, it’s time to make better choices. Your friends can’t live your dreams for you; only you can.

5. Invest an Hour a Day in Learning New Skills

Knowledge compounds over time.

Whether you read books, take online courses, or practise a craft, consistent learning gives you a competitive edge.

I used to struggle with academic writing, but I improved by studying the work of great authors and applying what I learned.

Your past doesn’t define you; your actions do. Every new skill adds another tool to your arsenal and makes you more unstoppable.

6. Develop a Growth Mindset

Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck introduced the concept of fixed vs. growth mindset.

  • A fixed mindset believes success is based on natural talent.

  • A growth mindset believes success comes from effort and learning.

Choose the growth mindset. Embrace challenges. See failures as feedback. In today’s fast-moving digital world, adaptability is your biggest advantage.

7. Learn Marketing to Reach People Who Need You

I once believed marketing was manipulative, until I realised it’s about helping people solve problems.

If your work provides genuine value, marketing is how you let others know it exists. Even Apple spends billions on it.

Don’t be ashamed to promote your skills or business. Without visibility, your ideas will never reach the people who need them most.

Creative professionals who understand marketing and sales have an unfair advantage.

8. Ask Your Mentor the Right Questions

Good mentors can fast-track your growth.

While mentorship often costs money, it’s one of the best investments you can make. Great mentors don’t care about titles; they care about your progress.

If you don’t have access to a mentor yet, books are your silent mentors. Read the best in your field, take notes, and apply what resonates.

9. Build Confidence Through Action, Not Affirmations

Author Ryan Holiday once said, “I don’t believe in myself. I have evidence.”

Confidence doesn’t come from shouting affirmations into the mirror; it comes from proof. Doing hard things, keeping promises to yourself, and following through.

When you consistently take action, your brain gathers evidence that you can handle whatever comes next. That’s real confidence, grounded, earned, and unshakable.

10. Focus on Your Strengths

Your strengths reveal where your greatest impact lies.

If people compliment you on something often, it’s a clue. Lean into it.

A former professor once told me I was creative, and that simple comment gave me the confidence to go all in. I studied creativity, applied it daily, and turned it into my career advantage.

Double down on your strengths. That’s how you build momentum and mastery.

11. Identify and Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs

Your beliefs shape your reality.

For years, I believed I couldn’t be a great writer because of my chronic tinnitus and astigmatism, sensory challenges that made concentration difficult. But over time, I realised those struggles made me more disciplined, observant, and empathetic.

Your limitations can become your greatest motivators if you let them.

Avoid shortcuts. Growth takes time, but it’s always worth it.

Final Thoughts

Becoming productive, successful, and confident isn’t about working harder than everyone else. It’s about working smarter, consistently, and intentionally.

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start small: take a break after your next task, schedule your priorities, or spend one hour learning something new.

Every habit you change compounds into long-term success. Remember, true change comes from practising new behaviours.

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