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INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY : OUR GUESTS
COMMITTED TO GROWTH
Elitist if you believe that Change Makers are rare. We believe everyone has this potential.
Few people will recognize this inner capacity. We inspire more people to look, see, and unleash their power. A part of them is already there.
Few people will recognize this inner capacity. We inspire more people to look, see, and unleash their power. A part of them is already there.
Executive Summary:
3 Types of Guests
We have organized our operations around 3 types of guests:
Teams:
A group coming with a shared intention.
Entire organizations or teams within these organizations, whether governmental, corporate, or not-for-profit. Less common, it could also be a wedding, a larger friend or family event...
Families:
Parents & Children coming together.
We focus on families with babies and/or toddlers, first parents especially: when it is most intense for them, and we can offer the most support.
Individuals:
If you don't fit in any of the first two categories, you'll be part of the "Individuals" bucket, you may come alone, with your partner, or with friends. You come for a personal journey, whether it is inner work or creative.
Teams:
A group coming with a shared intention.
Entire organizations or teams within these organizations, whether governmental, corporate, or not-for-profit. Less common, it could also be a wedding, a larger friend or family event...
Families:
Parents & Children coming together.
We focus on families with babies and/or toddlers, first parents especially: when it is most intense for them, and we can offer the most support.
Individuals:
If you don't fit in any of the first two categories, you'll be part of the "Individuals" bucket, you may come alone, with your partner, or with friends. You come for a personal journey, whether it is inner work or creative.
United in Values
COURAGE, HARMONY, AGILITY, WISDOM, LOVE, ENTHUSIASM
The community is value-based, so the traits that characterize our guests are the same values we hold dear:
Our guests are growth-oriented people who are committed, just like you, to taking their lives and projects to the next level. Our guests are Creators who believe that growth requires harmony between Inner Transformation and Creation. Creation as self-expression and more importantly as a contribution to the Community and all Sentient Beings.
They might live their first spark of interest for personal development in a particular area of life (the first steps), or they might already be well on their way to an extraordinary life with their own flow and a system for holistic growth. In both cases, they aspire for more and have committed to it.
Our guests are growth-oriented people who are committed, just like you, to taking their lives and projects to the next level. Our guests are Creators who believe that growth requires harmony between Inner Transformation and Creation. Creation as self-expression and more importantly as a contribution to the Community and all Sentient Beings.
They might live their first spark of interest for personal development in a particular area of life (the first steps), or they might already be well on their way to an extraordinary life with their own flow and a system for holistic growth. In both cases, they aspire for more and have committed to it.
Our most active community members
They have had high-profile careers in Arts, Technology, Business, Sports...
Overachievers: they have always pushed the limits of their craft. They grew quickly and achieved the version of success they initially had dreamt of.
They might be in their 3rd life already - meaning they reinvented themselves multiple times.
Over time, they figured out the importance of flowing into growth, no tension, no forcing, and respecting the rhythm of nature, including our own inner rhythms.
Holistic development (growth in every area of life). They have incorporated in their life habits of better eating, speaking, meditating, drinking, exercising, sleeping, etc.
They are sought after by their friends and family as a resource in many areas of life. They share the insights they realize and their practices. They hold space in the area(s) they have mastered.
Overachievers: they have always pushed the limits of their craft. They grew quickly and achieved the version of success they initially had dreamt of.
They might be in their 3rd life already - meaning they reinvented themselves multiple times.
Over time, they figured out the importance of flowing into growth, no tension, no forcing, and respecting the rhythm of nature, including our own inner rhythms.
Holistic development (growth in every area of life). They have incorporated in their life habits of better eating, speaking, meditating, drinking, exercising, sleeping, etc.
They are sought after by their friends and family as a resource in many areas of life. They share the insights they realize and their practices. They hold space in the area(s) they have mastered.
Unique Journeys
Intentions, Practices and Mastery
We celebrate diversity. Not just because it is kind but because it also enriches everyone's experience.
We are expecting to host people from all walks of life: all ages, all professions, all geographies, all kinds of hobbies. Because we are a community held around Growth, the most important criteria to differentiate the members will be on:
Intentions:
What they are most interested in manifesting in their life
In terms of
Practices:
What they practice
Mastery:
What they can teach others.
This one requires work from the community to identify it for its members: their level of mastery through proof points: quali/quanti data and background checks.
We are expecting to host people from all walks of life: all ages, all professions, all geographies, all kinds of hobbies. Because we are a community held around Growth, the most important criteria to differentiate the members will be on:
Intentions:
What they are most interested in manifesting in their life
In terms of
- areas of life they want to improve
- life dream / passion / purpose / project
Practices:
What they practice
Mastery:
What they can teach others.
This one requires work from the community to identify it for its members: their level of mastery through proof points: quali/quanti data and background checks.
Intentions: what defines guests’ experience at cocoon
For people to want to come to cocoon, their purpose needs to be strong enough.
What drives people to register for our experience are specific outcomes they want to get from attending the retreat, usually around reaching a specific creative milestone.
We differentiate our guests based on 3 elements that define their experience at cocoon:
What drives people to register for our experience are specific outcomes they want to get from attending the retreat, usually around reaching a specific creative milestone.
We differentiate our guests based on 3 elements that define their experience at cocoon:
We have simplified this into "Inner or Creative", and have created a special Parents & Children Space. Still, here is a more detailed version of how we think about the 3 elements:
Transitions: When life opens up
Everything is possible
What it means for Teams & Families
We focus here more on Individual Journeys.
Beyond being the sum of their members, Teams have their own lifecycle and pivotal moments, here are examples of Pivotal Moments for Teams:
For Families, the Birth is the pivotal moment.
Beyond being the sum of their members, Teams have their own lifecycle and pivotal moments, here are examples of Pivotal Moments for Teams:
- Major downsizing
- A massive hiring wave
- A Pivot
- A re-organization
- Going from one stage to another (example: designing to manufacturing, searching for product-market fit to scaling)
For Families, the Birth is the pivotal moment.
A common trait among our guests is the fact that they are at a pivotal moment in their lives, a moment where everything is possible:
If we look deeper into this, it has less to do with the moment in which the guests are than with the mindset they have. Any moment in life is as pivotal as you make it.
Let's be specific.
We support pivotal moments in people's creative life, such as:
- They just come out of a difficult period (break up, divorce, cancer therapy, layoff, etc.)
- Or they have been doing great, working on the next step in their journey.
If we look deeper into this, it has less to do with the moment in which the guests are than with the mindset they have. Any moment in life is as pivotal as you make it.
Let's be specific.
We support pivotal moments in people's creative life, such as:
Americans hold 12.4 jobs on average during their lifetime. Cumulative number of jobs held from age 18 to age 54 in 1978-2018 (US BLS data from a survey of 10K women and men) shows that there is more movement at the beginning of the career than at the end. 18-24yo experience about 5.6 changes and 25-34yo 4.5 changes. It continues to slow down with 2.9 changes for 35-44yo. Tenure has not changed much in recent years. The median employer change occurs every 4.1 years in the US (US BLS data from the Current Population Survey).
With the acceleration of change, we can expect more jobs in a career. And with more appetite for decentralization and freedom, a career will be less a sequence of "jobs" and more like a tapestry of "missions" as freelancers, fractional professionals...
With the acceleration of change, we can expect more jobs in a career. And with more appetite for decentralization and freedom, a career will be less a sequence of "jobs" and more like a tapestry of "missions" as freelancers, fractional professionals...
An Indeed survey of 662 full-time US workers showed that 49% had made a dramatic career shift (marketing to engineering, teaching to finance). And among those who haven’t, 65% say they’re either thinking about, or previously considered, switching. The 5 top reasons for switching were: 81% unhappy in their previous job/sector, 79% wanted greater flexibility, 79% wanted to earn more money, 78% did not feel challenged or satisfied, and 77% wanted more opportunities for advancement. Important to note that 58% were willing to take a pay cut to switch (at least in the short term).
The average person who switches careers is 39 years old, this age group may be in a more secure financial situation than younger workers, and they may have more flexibility when it comes to making a major switch. It can also signal a less stressful time in workers’ personal lives: the median age of marriage is 27 for women and 29 for men. The average woman has her first child at 28, and the average first-time homebuyer is 32. At age 39, a worker may have a dual-income home or a partner who can support the household in the midst of a career change.
The average person who switches careers is 39 years old, this age group may be in a more secure financial situation than younger workers, and they may have more flexibility when it comes to making a major switch. It can also signal a less stressful time in workers’ personal lives: the median age of marriage is 27 for women and 29 for men. The average woman has her first child at 28, and the average first-time homebuyer is 32. At age 39, a worker may have a dual-income home or a partner who can support the household in the midst of a career change.
The average age of a first-time manager in the United States is about 30. People management is considered to be one of the career leaps. There is a lot at stake. The relationship between a manager and his team is essential to employee motivation, performance, and retention. And a great individual contributor is not always a great people manager. Companies offer training programs to make sure the transition is successful. Still, a lot of the upskilling and pressure is with the new manager. The transition requires preparation ahead of time and even more mindulness during the first year.
Debunking the Myth of the Young Entrepreneur: the Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45.
When they analyzed founders who have won TechCrunch awards over the last decade, the average age at the time of founding was just 31. For the people selected by Inc. magazine as the founders of the fastest-growing startups in 2015, the average age at founding was only 29. Consistent with these findings, Paul Graham, a cofounder of Y Combinator, once quipped that “the cutoff in investors’ heads is 32… After 32, they start to be a little skeptical.”
Azoulay, Jones, Kim, and Miranda analyzed the age of all business founders in the U.S. in recent years by leveraging confidential administrative data sets from the U.S. Census Bureau. The average age of entrepreneurs at the time they founded their companies is 42. The vast majority of these new businesses are likely small businesses with no intentions to grow large (for example, dry cleaners and restaurants). To focus on businesses that are closer in spirit to the prototypical high-tech startup, they used a variety of indicators: whether the firm was granted a patent, was located in a tech hub, received VC investment, or operated in an industry that employs a high fraction of STEM workers. In general, these finer-grained analyses do not modify the main conclusion: The average age of high-tech founders falls in the early forties. High variation across industries though. In software startups, the average age is 40, and younger founders aren’t uncommon. However, young people are less common in other industries such as oil and gas or biotechnology, where the average age is closer to 47.” “The oldest of the bunch is Philip Greenberg, who was 68 when he started Juno Therapeutics, later bought by Celgene Corp. for $9 billion.
When they analyzed founders who have won TechCrunch awards over the last decade, the average age at the time of founding was just 31. For the people selected by Inc. magazine as the founders of the fastest-growing startups in 2015, the average age at founding was only 29. Consistent with these findings, Paul Graham, a cofounder of Y Combinator, once quipped that “the cutoff in investors’ heads is 32… After 32, they start to be a little skeptical.”
Azoulay, Jones, Kim, and Miranda analyzed the age of all business founders in the U.S. in recent years by leveraging confidential administrative data sets from the U.S. Census Bureau. The average age of entrepreneurs at the time they founded their companies is 42. The vast majority of these new businesses are likely small businesses with no intentions to grow large (for example, dry cleaners and restaurants). To focus on businesses that are closer in spirit to the prototypical high-tech startup, they used a variety of indicators: whether the firm was granted a patent, was located in a tech hub, received VC investment, or operated in an industry that employs a high fraction of STEM workers. In general, these finer-grained analyses do not modify the main conclusion: The average age of high-tech founders falls in the early forties. High variation across industries though. In software startups, the average age is 40, and younger founders aren’t uncommon. However, young people are less common in other industries such as oil and gas or biotechnology, where the average age is closer to 47.” “The oldest of the bunch is Philip Greenberg, who was 68 when he started Juno Therapeutics, later bought by Celgene Corp. for $9 billion.
International mobility is a massive change (especially the first international move). Every year, are reported:
• About 2.5M immigrants coming to EU and 1.2M emigrants (leaving EU).
• About 1.2M legal immigrants coming to US, including 0.6M new arrival
• About 300K immigrants coming to Canada
Many other countries receive immigrants and the mobility can be intra EU, intra country, intra region (from a city to its suburb, or from a suburb to the countryside). At any point, tens of millions are planning a relocation, near or far.
Despite the negative sentiment of some parts of the receiving countries, immigration has many positive benefits for the receiving country. Countries invite highly skilled workers as part of their immigration programs (US has for instance 12% of the 1.2M as employment-based preferences). A large proportion of immigrants are actually skilled workers. More striking, some immigrant populations are more educated than the host population.
• About 2.5M immigrants coming to EU and 1.2M emigrants (leaving EU).
• About 1.2M legal immigrants coming to US, including 0.6M new arrival
• About 300K immigrants coming to Canada
Many other countries receive immigrants and the mobility can be intra EU, intra country, intra region (from a city to its suburb, or from a suburb to the countryside). At any point, tens of millions are planning a relocation, near or far.
Despite the negative sentiment of some parts of the receiving countries, immigration has many positive benefits for the receiving country. Countries invite highly skilled workers as part of their immigration programs (US has for instance 12% of the 1.2M as employment-based preferences). A large proportion of immigrants are actually skilled workers. More striking, some immigrant populations are more educated than the host population.
Other major turning points in one’s life:
No data on this, but some insights or practice will change your life. One’s encounter with acting, meditation, or calisthenics can have tremendous consequences on one's life.
According to the UN (2002-2006 data), every year, there are an average of 23.1 million marriages: milestones in people’s lives and their communities. Although there are various trends modifying the meaning of marriage, it marks a step. Although not accounted for by any government agencies, meeting new people, as friends or lovers, can change our world.
According to CIA data, every year, there are an average of 130 million births.
About 6 million divorces per year.
In the US: 750K divorces per year (CDC) while there are 2M marriages per year. What the UN has been able to gather for the rest of the world between 2002 and 2006 is around 5 million divorces per year (average), 5.6M (max). Although not accounted for either, the breakups we go through will make us question our way of life.
In the US: 750K divorces per year (CDC) while there are 2M marriages per year. What the UN has been able to gather for the rest of the world between 2002 and 2006 is around 5 million divorces per year (average), 5.6M (max). Although not accounted for either, the breakups we go through will make us question our way of life.
You lose someone close to you. According to CIA data, this represents about 70 million deaths per year, but it impacts many more lives than just the deceased: parents, partners, brothers, children, friends, etc.
According to cancer.gov, cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. In 2018, there were 18.1 million new cases and 9.5 million cancer-related deaths worldwide. By 2040, the number of new cancer cases per year is expected to rise to 29.5 million and the number of cancer-related deaths to 16.4 million. Cancer can be a “teacher” pushing a lifestyle change and triggering loved ones to reconsider their own lifestyle if theirs can lead to the same outcome.
Diseases in general, because of the suffering they cause, the lack of energy, and all the frictions they add to one’s life, will push an individual to find solutions that will bring them to holistic systems of therapy. The older we get, the more likely we are to live with one or more diseases. 17.9 million people die each year from CVDs, an estimated 32% of all deaths worldwide (number 1 cause of death globally). Many chronic diseases will also motivate people to take action in one way or another.
Diseases in general, because of the suffering they cause, the lack of energy, and all the frictions they add to one’s life, will push an individual to find solutions that will bring them to holistic systems of therapy. The older we get, the more likely we are to live with one or more diseases. 17.9 million people die each year from CVDs, an estimated 32% of all deaths worldwide (number 1 cause of death globally). Many chronic diseases will also motivate people to take action in one way or another.
TBD
If we sum it all up, 250+ million people are directly impacted by a personal life-changing event in the few categories we have listed and each of these impact their family, their friends, and their communities as a whole. If each of these 250M touched just 4 people (a partner, a child, a parent, and a friend), we are talking about 1.25B people impacted...
Now, imagine everything we have missed (... war, man-made & natural disasters, etc.) and add the professional changes; it is unlikely to find a human who is not going through a major transition right now, either directly or through his loved ones...
Now, imagine everything we have missed (... war, man-made & natural disasters, etc.) and add the professional changes; it is unlikely to find a human who is not going through a major transition right now, either directly or through his loved ones...
Chance favors the prepared mind
Louis Pasteur said that.
The changes we have covered involve new relationships, new schedules, sometimes pay cuts and relocation, etc., and have a high impact for the individual performing the change, and also, for their community.
The switch doesn’t happen overnight.
For example, the average worker takes 11 months to consider a career change before making the move, with most consideration given to what they’d need to succeed in a new sector:
The more elements (job, `profession, industry, IC to people manager, entrepreneur, location) they change, the more impactful (and difficult) it is likely to be.
You can compensate for the difficulty with more preparation.
cocoon resorts aim to serve them in these moments of increased need.
The changes we have covered involve new relationships, new schedules, sometimes pay cuts and relocation, etc., and have a high impact for the individual performing the change, and also, for their community.
The switch doesn’t happen overnight.
For example, the average worker takes 11 months to consider a career change before making the move, with most consideration given to what they’d need to succeed in a new sector:
- 75% outlined what they would need to do to succeed in a new sector
- 37% report enrolling in specific educational or training programs in order to make the transition.
The more elements (job, `profession, industry, IC to people manager, entrepreneur, location) they change, the more impactful (and difficult) it is likely to be.
You can compensate for the difficulty with more preparation.
cocoon resorts aim to serve them in these moments of increased need.
Undertaking
Aka: wish, intention, pursuit, deep longing, desire, soul's search, quest.
Most of our Guests come to give birth to something important to them, something half-baked, something they’re still figuring out, maybe they have had trouble manifesting in their daily lives.
Examples of (real) individual undertakings:
Is everyone coming to cocoon with an “undertaking”?
To achieve their goal, guests come for a combination of the following actions:
Examples of (real) individual undertakings:
- Write a chapter (or more) of a book
- Play the Banjo
- Write a business plan, design a pitch deck
- Define their next step
- Create brand content
- Prepare a job, career, or geographical change
Is everyone coming to cocoon with an “undertaking”?
- Yes, and it is the cocoon’s differentiator: there are plenty of retreat actors around wellness (without undertaking), and being the operator that offers both joy/pampering and high performance makes us unique.
- We believe everyone has something half-baked they’re working on. Who has it all figured out?
- To create is a way to fulfill human needs, whether it is to contribute (an essential human need as we age and develop to be more selfless) or to satisfy other needs: creating to be “important”, as a tool to “connect”...
- Everything can be seen as an undertaking. In some cases, for instance, when someone gets clarity during a retreat, the undertaking is not “DOING” but “BEING”.
- Flow happens when you push the challenge/skill ratio. You develop what you love and it becomes your "undertaking", basically you become an artist, a sportsman, a writer...
To achieve their goal, guests come for a combination of the following actions:
So, who do you target?
Now you know how we think about our guests. Probably TMI and you'll want to skip to "so, who's the target?".
We target less specific age groups or demographics and more the pivotal moments in people's life, their needs. That being said, it is easier to relate to a persona.
Here are representative archetypes:
We target less specific age groups or demographics and more the pivotal moments in people's life, their needs. That being said, it is easier to relate to a persona.
Here are representative archetypes:
- PonBaTeam40-people Tech start-up, accelerating its growth after they just achieved product-market fit. 60% of the team joined in the last 6 months. The goal of the offsite is to bring everyone - founders, early employees and new joiners - together as one Team. It is also a moment for the Team to get ready for scale, structuring the organization (processes, systems, culture). The Team has decided to gather for a week at cocoon.
- Leo, Marie & NathanFamilyLeo, 1-year-old, and his first-time-parents Marie & Nathan. Since Leo's birth, Marie and Nathan have not maintained their power habits and they have not progressed as much as they planned on their respective enterprises. This retreat is a big step for them to change the rhythm, to make strides on their respective projects and kick-off a new routine, in a way that they can balance their creative, family, romantic, and personal lives.
- JohnIndividualSuccessful real estate investor, John had a dream. He was introduced to a famous actor who shared his vision, and they decided to start a business. After 3 years of investing all his energy and resources, successes & drama, the actor disappearing midway, pivoting and fundraising 5 times, John had to let go of his 12 employees. The bankruptcy was 2 years ago, he just recovered from depression. He got offered a book deal. He is coming to cocoon to write his first chapter.
Beyond these 3 examples, we have developed a comprehensive portfolio of Buyer Persona that enable us to personalize our scaled operations (including communications).
Start & Expand
After multiple experiments & prototypes, we have decided to start with Teams, and then expand with Individuals & Families.
Within "Teams", we start with Leadership Teams and whole startups of 30-50 FTEs, then expand to larger organizations: offsites for subteams & the whole organization.
Within "Individuals", we start with 25-35 year old creatives and knowledge workers, especially entrepreneurs, freelancers and remote workers. We expand in crafts, age groups, and level of support needed.
Within "Families", we start with first-time parents with kids between 6 months and 18 months, and expand to families with multiple children and older children.
Within "Teams", we start with Leadership Teams and whole startups of 30-50 FTEs, then expand to larger organizations: offsites for subteams & the whole organization.
Within "Individuals", we start with 25-35 year old creatives and knowledge workers, especially entrepreneurs, freelancers and remote workers. We expand in crafts, age groups, and level of support needed.
Within "Families", we start with first-time parents with kids between 6 months and 18 months, and expand to families with multiple children and older children.
