It’s that time again – the season for goal setting and intentionality, whether it’s in your personal life or at work. Everyone is making lists and thinking about systems, and teams are gearing up for strategic planning to guide business objectives for the next fiscal year.

No internet. No cell service. No tv. No people. Sound like a dream, or your worst nightmare? I took myself on a solo 48-hour retreat, tucked away in a little cabin in the woods, perched on a cliff above the ocean.

Many years ago, in a universe far, far away, I had a bad performance review. I remember sitting down in the meeting room with a normal level of jitters, ready to talk about my accomplishments from the past year – and leaving 45 minutes later in tears, feeling betrayed, shocked, and deeply confused.