A few weeks ago I packed my bags, loaded up the car and made the six hour drive to New Orleans for the Rising Tide Society Leaders Retreat. For two days over 100 Tuesdays Together chapter leaders from all over the country gathered at the Pontchartrain Hotel to learn and grow.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Rising Tide Society (RTS for short), it’s an international network of creative entrepreneurs that meet once a month (usually the second Tuesday of the month) in their local communities to connect with and help each other grow. Being a business owner can be pretty lonely and since, as creatives, we typically work from home, we often find ourselves lacking in face to face contact.

I’m coming up on the one year anniversary of becoming a chapter leader. In March last year I was feeling pretty lonely in my business and I knew some other creatives that felt the same way, so I inquired with RTS about opening up a Galveston chapter. After a phone call with the home office, they welcomed me as the newest chapter leader in Texas. Our first meeting took place just a few weeks later in April 2017.

I wasn’t originally planning on going to the leaders retreat. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to afford the time or the cost to get to it, but when it was announced it would take place in New Orleans, I knew with some buddies to split the cost of an Airbnb I could swing it.

And I’m so glad I did!

We were treated to inspiring speakers and educators, group discussions with other leaders, and beignets! I’m making light of the intensity of it, but I can assure you I cried at least three times. We had some tough discussions about what it means to be a leader, why we do it, and how we can do it better. We shed some walls and got vulnerable with each other talking about our struggles and triumphs in leadership and business. We put faces with the names from our online leaders community, which is already fostering deeper connections that will benefit every chapter around the world.

To put it succinctly, it was all that and a bag of chips…and I’m definitely planning on going again next year!

One of my favorite things, is that Madison Short was there capturing the entire retreat…so the rest of us could be fully present for what was happening and not worry about taking photos…which is exactly what I would have done were she not there. LOL Instead, I was able to leave my camera in the bag and take a ton of notes and feel all the feels. My other favorite thing was the Prohibition themed masquerade ball they through for us! It was super fun to get dressed up and clink glasses with new friends.

If you’re a creative and you’re feeling like you need some connection in your life, I encourage you to look into either finding a local Rising Tide Society Tuesdays Together chapter, or starting the process to bring one to your community. It just might change your life!

Retreat Sponsers / Rising Tide Society, Honeybook, Travelbank, Weebly
Venue / Pontchartrain Hotel
Planning Logistics / Logan Doerries
Retreat Photographer / Madison Short
Gala Photographer / Trevor Mark
Stickers / The Nap Time Artist
Agate Placard Calligraphy / Romey Marie
Cards / Lily and Grey
Florist / Antigua Floral
Signage Calligrapher / Anna Kornick
Balloon Installation / Badass Balloon Co.