From Business Bootcamp to Big Apple Bliss.
Back in 2012, Yoni and I were riding the wave of success—and let me tell you, it wasn’t all smooth sailing.
The Business Bootcamps were taking off like crazy, and our little team of five (well, three plus us) suddenly had to morph into a crew of twelve.
Talk about growing pains!
It wasn’t just about adding people, either.
The sheer scale of operations was mind-boggling—organizing events, managing finances, handling tech, and somehow keeping track of tens of thousands of participants every single day.
We could have turned into one of those big, impersonal companies where people were just numbers. But that was never our vision.
We believed in staying connected, in keeping that personal touch alive—no matter how big things got.
But how do you do that with 1,500 people packed into a single room and countless others continuing their journey with you?
It felt like a puzzle with no solution.
But Yoni and I have a motto: If it’s not working, it’s not impossible—it just means there’s something we don’t know YET.
So, we started looking for answers. And like magic, the Universe delivered.
Just as we were scratching our heads, Yoni got an invitation to a three-day workshop in New York hosted by one of our favorite mentors.
His tools had already pushed us and Open Circles forward in giant leaps, so this was a no-brainer. We just had to go.
Now, New York hotels aren’t exactly budget-friendly—especially near Times Square.
Luckily, our friends Mark and Bonita came to the rescue, offering us their New York apartment.
We didn’t really know what to expect, but when we walked into that penthouse overlooking Hudson Bay, our jaws dropped.
It was like stepping into a movie scene—the view, the art, the whole vibe. For a moment, we got a peek into how the top 0.1% live.
We arrived a few days early to soak up the city, and to my surprise, Yoni—Mr. “I Hate Cities”—didn’t hate it.
Maybe it was the perfect spring weather or the magic of New York itself, but the city seemed to be showing off just for us.
We wandered through Central Park, strolled down bustling streets, and even spent a whole morning lost in the beauty of the botanical gardens.
Everywhere we looked, there was something incredible—a street performance here, a group of gymnasts there.
The city was just bursting with life.
Now, if you ask me what we learned from the workshop itself, I honestly couldn’t tell you. I’m sure it helped, but what really stuck with me was the experience.
It was a reminder that even for nature-loving souls like us, a city—especially one like New York—can be just as awe-inspiring as any national park.
It was two unforgettable days of soaking up the energy, the sights, and the sheer magic of a city that never sleeps.
