The Most Important Meeting on My Calendar: Me

Picture this: I am in the back of an Uber headed down Las Vegas Boulevard. Neon lights, crowds everywhere, the thrum of slot machines leaking out of every casino. Not exactly the image of calm reflection, right?

And yet—this is my sanctuary.

Every year, I take a solo trip. Always to Las Vegas. Always on my terms.

I check into the Waldorf Astoria, a rare non-casino hotel on the Strip (bonus: Hilton points). From the moment I step inside, the noise stays out there, and the reset begins.

Here is what my solo retreat looks like:

• Freedom: I eat when and what I want. No one else’s preferences. No “where do you want to go?” debates.
• Spa Day: I book a one-hour massage—because here is the hack: it buys you a whole day of spa access. Sauna, pool, quiet time, the works.
• Options without obligation: Maybe I go to a show. Maybe I shop. Maybe I sit by the pool with a notebook. The key is: I choose.

From the outside, it might look like indulgence. But for me, it is leadership.

Why Leaders Need Solo Time

Here is the thing: when you are in your business, you are reacting. Solving problems. Answering questions. Living in the urgent.

When you step out, you finally get to work on the business—not just in it. The same applies to life. Solo space lets you zoom out, notice patterns, and ask the questions that never make it onto the Monday meeting agenda.

And you are in good company.

Bill Gates famously takes a “Think Week” every year—seven days of uninterrupted solitude spent reading, reflecting, and dreaming. Some of Microsoft’s biggest strategic shifts can be traced back to those weeks. Other leaders have borrowed the idea, proving that solitude is not a break from leadership—it is a practice of it.

My Instruction Sheet for a Solo Retreat

Over time, I have built a rhythm that turns Vegas from a getaway into a personal leadership lab. Here is the framework I follow:

1. Arrival Ritual – Unpack, breathe, and set an intention.
2. Retreat & Reset – Spa, pool, something that slows me down.
3. Reflect Back – What worked? What did not? What drained or fueled me?
4. Diagnose & Question – What am I avoiding? Where do I need to be more honest?
5. Project Forward – What do I want more of? Less of? What is the vision ahead?
6. Anchor a Shift – Choose one small but meaningful change to carry home.
7. Integration Plan – Build guardrails so insights turn into habits.
8. Departure Ritual – Review notes, make commitments real, pause for gratitude.

The Leadership Takeaway

Here is what I have learned: solo time is not selfish. It is stewardship—of your energy, your clarity, and your capacity to lead well.

When I return from Vegas, I am not just recharged. I am sharper, calmer, and more grounded. And that benefits everyone—my team, my family, and yes, even me.

So, what would your version of a solo retreat look like? Maybe it is not Vegas. Maybe it is a cabin in the woods, a beach, or a stretch of mornings without a phone. Wherever it is, put it on your calendar. Treat it like the most important meeting of the year.

Because it is.

Gratefully,