Ed Tettemer at the Junto Retreat
September 3rd, 2014

What is the Junto Retreat?

Geoff DiMasi
Founder

"The Junto made it clear that it's very possible to run a business that's for good, and for profit."

— Kristin Thomson
 

"What is the Junto Retreat? I've answered so many times in conversation, but never written it down. Here is a listing some of the things I have said in the past:

  • It is a gathering of people that understand the phrase "for profit, for good".
  • It is for people that care about profit, but not just that.
  • It is for people that think about their legacy while living today.
  • It is a space to uncover things inside of you that help you make good business decisions.
  • It is a support group for people that intuitively have never bought into the idea that you have to run a business in a ruthless way to "return profit to the shareholders."
  • It is a place to see example of very successful people that have created businesses that do good in the world and have a lot of fun along the way. Thoughtful people running joyful businesses.

It is also helpful to read some of the descriptions of last year's Junto Retreat:

A small convergence of proactive, intelligent people interested in making a difference in the community.

— Brian McTear, co-founder and executive director of Weathervane

Space to think creatively and strategically. A place to expand your perspective through connection and community with other people thinking about the same stuff.

— Karin Dunn
Ed Tettemer at the Junto Retreat
junto 071

Fill a Quaker meeting house with a bunch of people of diverse backgrounds, add a dose of American history, stir, and you'll get an outpouring of great ideas, insights, and camaraderie. The Junto Retreat follows in the same footprints left behind by Benjamin Franklin and his compatriots—a place where self-starters can share their ideas and experience with each other.

— Bryan Satalino

A retreat for entrepreneurs that want to expand their concepts and reflect on the challenges and responsibilities of being a business owner.  

— Martin Brown, co-founder and owner of Little Baby's Ice Cream

A fluid, well paced 2-day event. Reflective and forward thinking in the presence of peers and mentors. Intimate. Shared experiences introducing business and life lessons with efforts to live sustainably and engage community.

— Dan Schimmel

A business conference for people who don't like business conferences. A chance to spend reflective time with peers and with yourself. A business retreat designed by Thoreau. A philosophical retreat that happens to involve a lot of entrepreneurs.

— Andrew Simmonet, co-founder of Headlong Dance Theater and ArtistsU

I have told people that there was a lot of silence — a lot of time for contemplation — a lot of vulnerability. The people I have told this to were sad that they weren't there this year!

— Beth Filla, owner of Yogawood
Brian McTear at Junto Retreat

Having raved about the Junto Retreat to my family and friends a few times, I'm well-practiced at this. I would explain it as a business retreat for people running small business that value profits and social good with equal weights."

— Gabrielle DeCrescenzo

Meditation or Yoga for business.  A refueling of the entrepreneurial spirit.

— Graham Bailer

I've been to many conferences. So many of them are focused on imparting the maximum amount of distilled information on X in the time allotted. The Junto wasn't about information transfer - it was about making a safe place for business owners to talk to other business owners about their fears and struggles and successes. A true retreat. For good, not for profit.

— Kevin Lee

I've been to lots of conferences and a fair share of retreats. On one end are events that are simply about networking to generate new business. On the other are retreats that urge you to dig deep into your psyche to find your purpose, etc. The Junto was neither of these things (but also both).

The Junto was the perfect embodiment of the principles espoused by Benjamin Franklin himself; that civic minded individuals should meet periodically to discuss the business and social affairs that impact their community, and work together to improve things.  

The event encouraged participants to see themselves not just as coders, or entrepreneurs, or marketing consultants, but as individuals that straddle many worlds, public and private.  The Junto made it clear that it's very possible to run a business that's for good, and for profit, and the event brought together like-minded individuals who were keen to learn from each other.

— Kristin Thomson, co-director of the Artist Revenue Stream Project at the Future of Music Coalition and co-founder of Simple Machines Records

The last two days were probably the most meaningful days to me, personally, that I've had in a very long time. For someone who is always a giver — to my clients, to my family, to my husband — it was nice to give back to me and spend time reflecting in a constructive and positive way. — Sadie Tettemer 

I was told to say that it was a "Business retreat" :)

— Kyle Fiedler

I don't think I could say it better except to say that I walked away from last year's Junto Retreat feeling a deep sense of joy knowing that a group of mostly strangers walked in on Thursday and left as friends on Friday. It was a deeply moving experience to be around so many people willing to be vulnerable, to share, and to care deeply.

This year's Retreat will take place on September 25th and 26th at the Neighborhood House of Christ Church in Old City, Philadelphia. If you are struggling with finding the purpose in your work, consider joining us

Junto Retreat 2014 - Day 2
Geoff DiMasi
Founder

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