We had the good fortune of connecting with Derek Juno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Derek, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Over a decade ago I was talking to one of my mentors/dear friends and I asked him what he was doing for the weekend. He told me he was doing his annual retreat. I asked him what that was, and he said it was the most impactful weekend of his entire year. He said, “The best companies in the world give their employees annual or semi-annual evaluations/reviews. When was the last time you evaluated your best employee… yourself?” This question blew my mind.

Three weeks later I locked myself in small remote cabin in the middle of the woods and I did my first personal development retreat and it was by far the most impactful two days of my life. I got so much life and career clarity out of that weekend. I’ve been doing them at least once a year since. Over the years friends and colleagues started asking me for the agenda/exercises I was doing during my retreats, so I shared the package that I originally just created for myself. Their experiences were just as impactful. Many of them told me I needed to create a formal retreat package and start a retreat business, but I was WAY too busy helping to run a social enterprise called, Mealshare.

When COVID hit I found myself with a lot of extra time and one of my favourite authors, Donald Miller, posed a question on his Instagram story that gave me the push I needed. He said, “In ten years from now you will look back at this crazy time of our lives, this global pause,… what do you want to be proud that you used the time to do or create?” I knew right away I wanted start Elysium Retreat and help people pause, reflect, and deliberately plan in order to improve their lives and the world.

So I did. It wasn’t easy or convenient but it has been an incredibly rewarding and impactful experience that I’m so proud of.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Elysium Retreat is everything someone would need to conduct their very own annual retreat. Our two-day self-led personal development retreat package guides customers through a formal review of their last year and leads them through fourteen impactful personal development exercises that will have them buzzing with excitement over their upcoming year and beyond! Once someone orders the Elysium Retreat Package and confirms their retreat spot (our Pre-Retreat Guide helps our customers find their perfect venue) they are ready for an impactful and transformative experience!

For every Elysium Retreat workbook sold, $15 is donated to CAMFED Canada to buy the school supplies for one marginalized girl in Sub-Saharan Africa for a whole school year. Because school is paid for by the government (in most regions), school supplies are one of the main barriers to education.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people and so many books!

People:
1. Andrew Hall – For being an amazingly patient and supporting friend and colleague.
2. Mike Tan – For being such a beacon or support and love to everyone that crosses his path.
3. Praveen Varshney – For being an amazingly generous and supportive mentor and friend.

Books:
1. The E-Myth, by Michael Gerber – This book changed the way that I look at my life and career. It taught me to not just work IN my life, but to make sure I’m protecting time to work ON my life! If you can do that… it’s game changer.
2. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, by Donald Miller – One of my all-time favourite books. It’s powerful, funny, and always teaches me something new each time I read it.
3. Awaken the Giant From Within, by Tony Robbins – There are some books you read at the right time and this was the first personal development book I ever read and I started it while I was traveling Southeast Asia after I graduated from university. It put me on the path I am now.

Website: https://elysiumretreat.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elysiumretreat/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/75751618/admin/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheElysiumRetreat

Image Credits
Derek Juno

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