Journey Beyond Business members attend eight meeting days a year, divided into four two-day workshops.

"Issues, Thoughts, and Feelings" is usually the first major activity at each meeting. This gives group members an opportunity to catch up with one another and share what has been going on in their lives: what's happened to them and those close to them, what they are doing in their business lives, what exciting new ideas they've had, what confuses or confounds them, what they're reading or thinking about, and what they've been feeling. All members agree to hold any information given in this context as confidential. "Issues" is high on the members' priority list and everyone who has something to contribute is heard.

When these discussions uncover a topic that is personally meaningful to most, or all, of the members, we use both group discussion and planned exercises  to  understand what the subject matter has to do with the individual life experience of each member. If the group wants to delve further, relevant readings may be “assigned,” or a film suggested,  so the conversation can be continued by email or at the following meeting. And while we are doing all of this, we’re also enjoying meals together and having lots of fun.

Occasionally workshops are held in a retreat setting, perhaps in the desert or at the beach. Spouses and significant others are invited to join in group activities, other than Issues, and something is always scheduled that makes use of the natural surroundings: a walk on the beach or a hike through desert wildflowers.

Of  course there are favorite topics and one of these is money. In the last year or two, we have discussed several books, as well as personal experiences, to define just what money really means to JBB members, as well as what they  have discovered about appropriate ways to deal with finances within their families. They also have read and talked extensively about making money and how their ideas about that have been affected by the current economy. Members also have taken a hard look at their own aging process, including their health issues, and how these new factors influence their sense of identity and security, their relationships, and their dreams about the future. The list of subjects that intrigue the group is a long one.

Sometimes We Just Hang Out

One-on-one meetings with the group leaders: Barbara and Sid are available to meet individually with each member for two hours three times a year. This offers each person the opportunity to talk further about issues raised in the group, to get more concentrated personal feedback, and to report on progress with personal and business goals.