I’ll never forget attending my first “traditional” business conference – hours of PowerPoint presentations in a windowless hotel ballroom, forced networking over lukewarm coffee, and superficial conversations that led nowhere. But what if there was a better way to create meaningful professional connections and breakthrough business insights?
Enter Camp Clockwork, an innovative business retreat that’s challenging conventional wisdom about professional development events. By replacing conference rooms with climbing walls and PowerPoints with purposeful play, this unconventional approach is delivering measurable returns on both investment and relationships.
The Business Case for Experiential Events
“My intent was never to make a lot of money off this first event,” explains Adrienne Dorison, CEO of Run Like Clockwork. “My first goal was to break even. My second goal was to build brand equity, making some noise in the marketplace by doing something different.”
The results? The inaugural Camp Clockwork in October 2024:
– Generated $3,200 in profit
– Attracted 47 attendees (94% of target)
– Created significant industry buzz and media attention
– Resulted in multiple business partnerships among attendees
Why Traditional Conferences Fall Short
Standard business conferences often prioritize comfort and polish over authentic connection. While luxurious hotels and elaborate presentations might impress, they rarely create the conditions needed for meaningful relationship building or innovative thinking.
“You need some downtime and you don’t give it to yourself as a business owner,” Dorison explains. “So let us help you plan it and come do it with us.”
The Power of Purposeful Play
Camp Clockwork’s approach centers on creating shared experiences through activities like:
– Zip lining
– Rock climbing
– Team building exercises
– Arts and crafts
– Communal meals in a camp dining hall
“When you’re experiencing things that you feel nervous about, like getting on a zip line…it builds something in you that sitting in front of the computer will never do,” says Dorison. “It builds this courage, this boldness, this getting out of your comfort zone.”
Measuring Success Beyond Revenue
Traditional ROI metrics don’t fully capture the value of experiential events. Key indicators of success include:
1. Relationship Depth
“The wholeness of what we created allowed ideas and connection to happen in a way that I’ve never seen happen at a live event,” Dorison notes.
2. Business Breakthroughs
“People were surprised that they got all these breakthroughs they didn’t know they were going to have,” shares Dorison.
3. Long-term Community
Many participants joined the ongoing CEO Club membership program to maintain connections formed at camp.
Creating Conditions for Transformation
Research suggests transformation begins between days two and three of immersive experiences. Camp Clockwork’s three-day, four-night format deliberately creates space for:
– Slowing down
– Building trust
– Fostering organic connections
– Enabling creative thinking
Looking Ahead: Scalable Innovation
While the event’s success has created demand for growth, maintaining intimacy remains crucial. “I don’t want to triple it and then feel overwhelmed and not be able to facilitate and maintain the same connection and experience,” explains Dorison. The 2025 event will grow incrementally to approximately 70 attendees.
The Bottom Line
Experiential business events like Camp Clockwork demonstrate that meaningful professional development doesn’t require luxury accommodations or formal presentations. By creating space for authentic connection and personal growth through shared experiences, organizations can achieve stronger returns on both financial and relationship investments.
Ready to reimagine your next business event? Consider how incorporating experiential elements could transform standard conferences into memorable, high-impact experiences that deliver lasting value for participants and organizers alike.
Learn more about Camp Clockwork at campclockwork.com or connect with Adrienne Dorison at runlikeclockwork.com]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennedorison
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