Working On the Business, Not Just In the Business – Q1 Retreat, 2025

Now that Zykin Design has been up and running for a few months, we’re taking time to be more intentional with how we grow—not just externally through client work, but internally through processes, systems, and strategy. We kicked off Q2 by holding our very first quarterly retreat, which gave us space to hit pause, take a step back, and get clear on what’s working, what’s not, and what we want to build toward next.

We’ve known for a while that we wanted to carve out space to work on the business. Client work is the priority (understandably), but without making intentional time for internal operations, things can—and did—get put on hold for too long. Our goals for this retreat were centered around realignment: refining workflows, improving systems, getting strategic about Q2, and ensuring that our content and marketing efforts are sustainable.

What Happened?

This was our first official company retreat, held in person over two full days at the beginning of Q2. We created an agenda from a running list of topics that had been stacking up over the past few months:

• Workflow and project management improvements
• Strategic planning and setting sustainable quarterly goals
• Refreshing the content calendar and aligning on a realistic publishing cadence
• Investigating new platforms to support internal operations, collaboration, and project management

We spent a lot of time on internal operations, which might not always be visible to clients, but heavily impacts how we function as a business. One of our big action items was testing out a new platform that better supports our workflows and collaboration. While a full software switch is a big change, we know the upfront investment will save us time and stress in the long run.

Process is Design

Something that kept coming up throughout our retreat was the idea that process is design. Design isn’t just what something looks like—it’s problem-solving. Just like our client work, our internal systems need to evolve to meet our current needs and help us overcome obstacles. Just like design, the way we run our business should never be static.

We treated the retreat like we would a design sprint: we set a goal, built an agenda, brainstormed solutions, tested systems, and made decisions. We’re always looking for ways to work smarter and more efficiently, and that includes having the flexibility to change routines, adopt new tools, and stay open to better methods.

The Power of Working In Person

One of the most energizing parts of the retreat? Being in the same room together. While there are a ton of benefits to remote work, getting together in a physical space sparked a level of productivity and creativity that felt totally different and refreshing. There’s something about sharing a table, pointing to your screen instead of screen-sharing, and having face-to-face conversations that unlock new ideas.

Collaborating on a new platform side-by-side made the learning curve smoother and faster. The social side was just as valuable—grabbing lunch together, chatting between sessions, even meeting other small businesses in the office space we were using. Community matters deeply to us, and being around other passionate, small business owners was a refreshing reminder of why we do what we do.

We’re now exploring ways to make office collaboration a more permanent part of our process. Whether it’s for retreats, strategy sessions, or creative workshops, the in-person energy is something we want to keep harnessing (more on that soon).

Key Takeaways

This retreat was a reset. It reminded us how essential it is to give your business the same care and attention we give to our clients. Some takeaways we’re carrying into the next quarter:

• Quarterly retreats will be a regular thing. Dedicated time to reflect and plan is non-negotiable.
• Internal processes matter. The internal work behind the client work is what sets us up for longevity and quality.
• Balance is key. We want to be ambitious but realistic. Client work is still the core of what we do, and we’re building structures to support both the services we provide and our internal goals.
• In-person collaboration is powerful. It’s not about replacing remote work, it’s about integrating intentional moments of connection, inspiration, and team-building.

As we continue to grow and nurture Zykin Design, these quarterly retreats are going to be one of the key tools that help us stay grounded, adaptable, and focused. We’re working on continuing to show up across our social channels more consistently, refining how we bring new clients into the business, and making sure the systems behind the scenes are just as thoughtful as the deliverables we put out into the world.

Design never stands still. Neither should the business behind it.

Stay tuned—there’s more to come.