Every year, we carve out time to step away from the deadlines and client work to invest in our most important asset: our people.
This November, as LivingWord Communications approached its 8th anniversary, we packed our bags for Johor Bahru. This wasn’t just a break; it was a chance to reflect and gain perspective.
This was our first-ever full overseas company retreat. To stand there with the core team, 8 years after starting this agency with nothing but a willing heart, was a humbling milestone that I can only praise God for.
The Uphill Climb: Navigating Moving Goalposts
Our retreat began with a hike up Gunung Pulai. Looking back, we know we covered nearly 14 kilometres, winding through dense greenery and past a striking red-earth quarry with an aqua-marine blue pond. But when we started, we didn't actually know how far we would go.
We didn't set a rigid distance target. Instead, we worked backwards from a safety constraint: What time do we need to be out of the forest?
That uncertainty defined the journey. The goalposts kept moving. The terrain between Checkpoint 3 and Checkpoint 4 turned steep, the clouds rolled in, and our breath ran short. We had to stop multiple times, wrestling with the thought: Should we just turn back?
At Checkpoint 4, a couple passed us on their way down and told us, "You can just rest here and forget about it."
It was a strange moment of discouragement. But it forced us to pause and prioritise. We checked our map through the app, and realised we were close enough to the summit to make it safely. The decisive moment wasn't about ego or conquering a peak; it was about checking in on each other, ensuring everyone had the capacity to continue, and moving forward together.
It was a similar reflection of our journey at LWC. In the agency world, the goalposts are constantly moving. Client needs shift, crises erupt, and plans change. But our priority must always remain the same: to take care of our teammates and stay grounded to where we started. It is the journey together that matters, not just the destination.
The Reward: Simplicity at its Best
We descended safely just as the afternoon drizzle began, making the forest trail precarious. In true local fashion, we celebrated immediately at a roadside stall, watching the seller crack open fresh durians.
Everyone loved it. There we were, tired, muddy, washing down creamy durian with fresh coconut water. It was simplicity at its best.
In the communications world, we often overcomplicate things. We look for the "big idea" or the complex angle. But that afternoon reminded us that sometimes, the best options were right in front of us, coming naturally and without much fuss.
Messy Confluence: The Hotpot Reflection
As evening fell, we gathered around steaming pots of soup. Hotpot is a messy confluence of ingredients —meats, vegetables, dumplings, noodles, spices—swirling together to create something satisfying.
Looking around the table, I felt a deep sense of gratitude. This dinner wasn't just a meal; it was a celebration of how God has continued to lead LWC through 8 years of ups and downs. To enjoy the retreat and each other’s company was a humbling experience, a reminder that the "messiness" of agency life often produces the most satisfying results when shared with the right people.
Agility (and Personality) on the Track
The next morning, we traded hiking boots for helmets on the go-kart track.
If the mountain was about endurance, the track was about personality. One of our colleagues was driving for the very first time. True to her nature, she wasn't reckless; she was careful, deliberate, and steady.
It was a great reminder that we don't all have to drive the same way to finish the race. In a team, you need the speed demons, but you also need the steady hands who navigate the curves with precision.
Gratitude: From Reluctant to Resilient
Ending the trip with some quiet retail therapy gave me a moment to reflect on how far we have come since 2017.
When LivingWord Communications started, there was no grand master plan or complex Excel sheets on revenue targets. Coming from a missionary family, doing business wasn't in my DNA. In fact, I often described myself as a "reluctant entrepreneur." (See Five Lessons Learned from a Reluctant Female Entrepreneur)
In those early days, I learned that leadership is about learning to serve first. It’s about getting the small things right, even when no one is looking.
Eight years later, the reluctance hasn’t completely disappeared, but in its place, there is a quiet resilience. Whether we are navigating a forest with no clear distance marker or navigating a complex campaign for a client, the sentiment remains the same: You can go fast alone, but you can go further together.
By God’s grace, here’s to the next leg of the journey!