BusinessOutside

Team meetings and corporate offsites are evolving as people seek genuine connections and deeper engagement. Last week, AVL Growth Partners embraced this shift, hosting their first-ever offsite with BusinessOutside in a rustic Colorado barn. Typically connecting virtually, the AVL team made the most of this unique opportunity for in-person interaction. 🏔️ Amidst open, creative spaces, the team engaged in meaningful, authentic conversations, building friendships and trust that extended beyond the usual work setting. 🍁 A heartfelt thanks to AVL and Chris Schwalbach for trusting BusinessOutside to guide this impactful experience. 👊 #AVLOutsiderDay #BusinessOutside #MakeitHappen Jennifer Pearce Rich Frankenheimer Jenny Stroud Susan Sieber, CPA Steffany Ayala, CPA Daniel Aquino Audrey Geisman Kristy Gibbs Bethany Kicz Brian T. Lyle Alison Meadows Brad McKinzie, MBA Mitchell Seurer Taylor Ulrich Riley F. Becca Blay

Yesterday's 𝔸𝕍𝕃 𝕆𝕦𝕥𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕣 Day was an adventure of authenticity, spirit, and commitment. I am in awe of our team and proud to know every single one of them. It was also a dream come true to have my dear friends at BusinessOutside lead this experience! For me, it felt like I was connecting my two best friends for the first time! And it was outstanding! Because our team works remotely almost 100% of the time, our time together is like liquid gold - so precious! And we used it well! We journeyed on a Connection Hike to connect more deeply with one another and focused on true 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 (not just "team bonding"). We shared our personal values statements and explored guides to support healthy conflict conversations. So much was accomplished. Thank you Bart Foster, Riley F., and Becca Blay for your guidance and care with our team. Thank you to everyone on the AVL Growth Partners team for your engagement, and enthusiasm. Thank you all for getting 𝕠𝕦𝕥𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖 your comfort zone. Finally, thank you for your support and commitment to making AVL a very special place to do great work! #AVLGrowth #fractional #mindfulgrowth #LFGrow #BusinessOutside

When we first partnered with Bart Foster and BusinessOutside we realized something: his approach to business and life is exactly what we needed at Echelon Risk + Cyber. It's counter to the corporate norms, and aligns with our challenger mentality. We aren’t a firm that sticks to the status quo – we’re the firm that wants more cowbell. 🐮🔔 So, what better way to kick off our all-hands meeting than moving in the sunshine, sharing conversations, and hiking through beautiful scenery? I’ve done this several times with Bart, and every time, I walk away with something new. But the most important lesson isn’t about me – it’s about the people I’m with. These hikes create a space for real, meaningful connections beyond the small talk. We all spend so much time on the surface level – “How was your weekend? What’s the weather like?” – but what about the real stuff? Bart’s guided hikes help us ask the deeper questions: 🟢What’s really going on in your life? 🟢Are you facing any challenges? 🟢How can we help each other grow? These moments open doors to understanding and connection, helping us come together as a stronger, more connected team.

THE BIGGEST TURNOUT YET! On this beautiful morning, 70+ founders and funders came together for a jog and kicked off Venture Atlanta with a bang! 💥 Huge thanks to TrackCred for teaming up with Venture Atlanta Conference to make this dream happen! So many familiar faces and new friends joined us—entrepreneurship is thriving here in the ATL! 🍑 There’s truly no place like home.

Here’s what we learned from The Conscious Entrepreneur EP24 “A Modern Trail Guide to Leading a More Intentional Life” with Bart Foster. “I realized when I’m outside, I’m more creative, I’m more authentic, I’m more innovative. I feel happier, I feel more alive, I feel more energetic.” - Bart Foster In this episode, Bart Foster shares how being in nature and stepping out of traditional corporate norms can foster creativity and authenticity. Here are the main takeaways: - Outside for Creativity: Spending time outdoors helps unlock creativity, innovation, and genuine connections. - Deeper Connections: By asking meaningful questions and embracing vulnerability, entrepreneurs can build more productive relationships. - Intentional Living: Bart’s “zip code strategy” and focus on minimizing regret highlight the importance of making intentional life choices. Listen to the full episode to learn more about Bart’s journey toward leading a more intentional life through business and personal growth.

Being a successful entrepreneur takes more than just hard work. It’s about having the right product, timing, strategy, team, market conditions, intellectual property, partners, investors—and yes, a little luck. Every so often, a company gets all these factors aligned, which I like to call having “good mojo.” 🚀 Last week at the 6th annual Eyecare Innovation Summit, Sanitas Advisors introduced six of the most promising emerging companies in the eyecare industry—all with serious mojo. 👏 Industry leaders came together to support these entrepreneurs, sharing ideas, experiences, and advice to push forward new technologies and business models. The goal? To drive innovation and create success for everyone involved. Jared Noble, Arrellio; Luís Lopes, Matthias Hofmann, Eyebot Scott Xiao Luminopia; Dave Barton, Optify Yair Yahav, RevitalVision, John Walborn Jeff Poe Pierre Bertrand; Jay Hirsh The Vision Council David Friedfeld, Howard Purcell Howard S. Fried, O.D. Brent Rasmussen Visibly Brianna Rhue, OD, FAAO, FSLS Susy Yu, OD, MBA, FAAO, Dipl AAO Jim McGrann Jason Lake Justin Manning, OD, MPH, FAAO Carla Mack, OD, MBA, FAAO, Dip(AAO), FBCLA, Eugene Shatsman, Megan Molony Stephen Rappoport Daniel Liberman Robert Cathey, MBA Raanan Naftalovich Nathan Kondamuri Cliff Robinson,

Working with BusinessOutside has been an amazing experience. One thing that I’m proud of for me is that I now give myself “full” permission to get outside to think and plan. Yesterday, at the peak of Colorado fall colors I hiked for a few hours to prep for the AVL Growth Partners quarterly offsite meeting. Here comes Q4 and I’m feeling so ready for some fun! Bart Foster Bob Africa Riley F.

Last week we joined forces with City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks and La Sportiva to organize a public guided “Walk & Talk” on Mount Sanitas to learn about trail sustainability, history of trail development, and upcoming trail maintenance work in the area. Mt Sanitas was recently awarded a $1.1 million grant “to conduct significant trail repairs and construct two new trails to help the community enjoy the area, to improve climbing experiences in the area, and sustain natural areas”. It was a unique opportunity for trail users to hike with and learn from government officials (thank you Beau and Armant!) who are directly involved in shaping the future of one of Boulder’s most popular spots for outdoor recreation. Thank you Myke Hermsmeyer for capturing the action! #hiking #sanitas #boulder #osmp #lasportiva #trailwork

Bringing true human connection back to conferences, expos, and summits is not just enjoyable in the moment—it’s transformational in the long run. When leaders come together with the intention of finding meaningful common ground (far beyond simply sharing an industry), remarkable things happen. Communities form, ideas take shape, and the results speak for themselves. This morning, we put this belief into action along the Vegas Strip with a BusinessOutside Connection Hike at Vision Expo West. At 7 AM, >50 executives, ForumOutside members, and visionaries gathered to connect on a deeper, more authentic level. Together, we explored the future of our industry—under the soft glow of the Nevada sunrise and the ever-present neon lights. I encourage you to bring this approach into your own events. Let’s move beyond the outdated norms and shape the Future of Work through genuine connection. We’re excited to join you on this journey. Let's start a movement! #MakeItHappen #BusinessOutside #FutureOfWork Brent Alvord Brett Moore Brianna Rhue, OD, FAAO, FSLS Cliff Robinson Colleen Van Ham Craig Fels Darren Horndasch David Friedfeld Eric Blanchette Erich Mattei Howard Purcell Jackson Lau, OD, FAAO, FSLS Jennifer Hicks Jennifer Trakhtenberg Jill Eldridge Jim McGrann Justin Kwan, OD, FAAO Karryn Schultz, PMP Katie Horan Kenton Iglehart Kristen Tischler Larry Macapagal OD Dr. Lorie Lippiatt Mark Carmona Maureen Cavanagh Megan Molony Mikki Collins Ovais Vaid Pamela Riedy Paul Mormon, OD Pierre Bertrand Thomas Brophy Steve Epstein Steve Druckman Rachael Durkin Reagan Colpitts Scott Shaughnessy Tyania Klingelhofer Priscilla Chang,

I'm focused on building "high net(work) worth groups" at the moment on Freshwalks. Through sector and discipline specific events, we are curating high value communities of senior business leaders. The antidote to scattergun networking with a side order of desperation and "who else is going?" Being outside, closer to nature and without technology distraction, our vibrant yet intimate groups can think more creatively and with greater clarity. Defragging the mind alone frees up a mental blank canvas. Doing so in the presence of like-minded industry champions exchanges bad "head code" for clean code. Both are necessary. Given psychological safety and fuelled by walking brain science, these Freshwalkers will quickly become vulnerable with one another, cultivating extraordinarily high levels of trust. The outcomes? A brick wall of trusted connections to lean into when needed. Last week I personally led The PDE Hike (Planning, Development & Environment) and The HR Hike (for Chief People Officers & HR Directors) and both days were immense. Within our "Elevator Pitch Protection Zones" there's no selling. There's no mithering. There's no post-event spamming. Just all that good stuff mentioned above. Fancy putting yourself close to the beating heart of a sector and spending quality time with relevant industry contacts. Get in touch with me to discuss how. #BusinessOutside Photo: The HR Hike 3 (Friday 20 September)