Brand Sabbatical

Are you challenged to find the time (amidst the day-in-and-day-out requirements of work & life) to devote to strategic visioning, business development, and marketing?

If so, it might be time to proactively take the proverbial “bull by the horns.”

Having done just that, I am thrilled to announce a Communication By Design working retreat. I am in the countryside near Almogía, a remote mountain village in the Andalucía region of southern Spain — smack dab in the middle of bull (fighting) territory!

My plan is to sequester for all of October to:

  1. Sharpen focus free of NYC & regular-life distractions. Be productive.
  2. Encourage awareness by disconnecting from routine & habit. Be alert.
  3. Broaden perspective through experiences in a different place. Be open.
  4. Gain clarity with meditation, journaling & quiet contemplation. Be centered.
  5. Catalyze creativity via active exploration. Be adventurous.
  6. Promote wellness — physical, mental, spiritual — through connection to nature, long walks, and yoga. Be healthy.
  7. Affirm the purpose of my “next chapter” of life (and work). Be intentional.
  8. Practice discipline with SMART goal setting, time management, and self-control. Be accountable.
Almogía, Málaga province, Andalucía region, southern Spain

What is a Sabbatical?

The word sabbatical comes from the Hebrew word “Shabbat,” meaning “to rest” or “to cease.” The concept of a sabbatical is rooted in the biblical tradition of the Sabbath, which refers to a day of rest observed every seventh day.

Over time “sabbatical” evolved to refer to a longer period of rest or leave, often used in academic settings to describe time off granted to college and university professors to focus on research, writing, or other scholarly pursuits.

The idea of taking a break to pursue special projects — especially strategic or creative endeavors that require deep thinking and focus — has since extended beyond academia to other industries and workplaces, including now, we are happy to report, Communication By Design!

At Work in Almogía

After travel, and a day or two of settling in, work begins on sabbatical projects: values definition, website, blogs, social media, and the first official issue of the Communication By Design Creative Toolbox • Monthly-ish E-Memo.

Follow Along on Instagram

See instagram.com/cxdnyc for highlights.

Getting There

Part 2 • Valencia to Almogía: Six-hour road trip with layover in Murcia.

Part 1 • Madrid to Valencia: AVE (Alta Velocidad Española) high-speed rail. Visit with son studying at the Berklee College of Music Valencia campus. It is actually a mini-campus, but one of significant stature as it is located within the stunning Ciutat de les Arts i Les Ciénces complex, which is, as described by ChatGPT:

The Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences) in Valencia, Spain, is a futuristic architectural and cultural complex designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. It features striking buildings like the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (a performing arts center), the Hemisfèric (an IMAX cinema), the Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe (a science museum), and the Oceanogràfic (Europe’s largest aquarium). This iconic site blends art, science, and nature, making it a symbol of Valencia’s modernity and innovation.

Santiago Calatrava, Spanish architect, engineer, and sculptor, is known to us New Yorkers as the designer of the “Oculus” transportation hub and mall located at the World Trade Center site in NYC. He was born in Valencia!

Getting Ready

Strategy Prep: SMART goal setting for the retreat: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-sensitive. All completed by the sabbatical end on Friday, October 25, 2024:

Values Definition: Identify and prioritize core values to inform CXD’s brand vision & mission statements, and all else emanating.

Website: Integrate images from personal brand photoshoot this summer, add 3 new case stories and catch up all client intro quotes.

Blogs: Publish 1 Brandology post, 4 Notes from Drydock posts, 4 Visual Diary posts, 2 Reading Room posts. Catch up all notes.

Social Media: Catch up NYC content (8 posts) on Instagram. Post 3/week Spain & sabbatical content on Instagram. Post 1/week on LinkedIn.

Email Newsletter: Finalize design and content strategy, implement Issue 1 and schedule to send Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

Travel Prep: flight booked, Airbnb* booked, ride from Valencia arranged (thanks to my studying-abroad son/chauffeur). I fly on September 22 to Madrid.

*see my Visual Diary post on Airbnb visioning and CSR.

10.01.24

•••

This post is an entry in Creative Toolbox • Notes from Drydock where we share sneak peeks from behind the scenes of CXD’s own comprehensive overhaul and ongoing brand refresh.