men's coaching day intensive @ Poole
My friend Callum asked me to contribute to a day-long men’s retreat he was planning.
The group of high-achieving guys, coming from disciplines as diverse as Olympic sport to green tech entrepreneurship, set off from Callum’s residence in Poole for a 25km there and back walk. Our journey took us through scenic routes, on a ferry to Studland, along the beach, culminating in an invigorating swim and a hearty lunch at The Pig before we turned round and headed home.
Throughout the day each person was individually coached by Callum in front of the group who would then get the opportunity to chime in, sharing their knowledge and wisdom. I themed the day with a selection of stories, chosen to get the group thinking and all based around the idea of the quest. I interspersed these tales throughout the day to offer up different perspectives on the idea of striving for a goal.
The Hero’s Journey archetype has been told and retold in countless forms throughout history. At its core, it is a tale of a hero setting forth on a quest, conquering challenges, achieving a lofty goal, and returning home a changed individual. This narrative cycle not only captures our collective imagination but also reveals profound truths about the human experience. Revealing the framework to the group at the beginning of the day immediately got them considering what the day was about and encouraged by Callum, to define what they were looking for.
The stories I selected came largely from The Grail Quest, specifically the life of Sir Lancelot, but also from 1001 Arabian Nights and The Alchemist, all tales describing journeys that mirrored ours, there and back again.
This retreat was not just a walk. It was a quest, a physical challenge, an emotional experience, a day of understanding and a day of revelation. The group returned with new perspectives, ways of seeing the world and a shared bond that’s continued beyond the end of the day.
Given its success, Callum and I are already envisioning more of these in the future.