Where Decisions Are Made
This week’s Rivr Notes is about the spaces we choose to make our biggest decisions—and why the setting matters.
As I pulled off the dirt road about an hour and a half outside of Kansas City, I followed the instructions I’d been given: just call security at the gate. When they answered, the voice on the other end surprised me.
“Hi Brent,” he said. “Come on up. Take your first right and we’ll see you soon.”
The road into the property stretched ahead, flanked on one side by open fields and a working ranch, and on the other by carefully placed cabins and still ponds reflecting the calm of the landscape. As I pulled in, I was greeted by a gentleman—warm, genuine—who welcomed me like an old friend.
“Glad you’re here. Welcome to Maple Ranch,” he said. “Take a right, then another right, and just walk in. They’re ready for you.”
I was there to co-facilitate a board retreat for a company I’d been working closely with over the last few months. It was their strategic offsite—an opportunity to focus on a five-year plan, challenge assumptions, and align around a shared vision. Maple Ranch wasn’t just a venue for meetings; it was designed to make them better.
On our first morning, the general manager—who also sat on the company’s board—shared a bit of the property’s origin. The founder had spent years acquiring land and eventually invested in building a place where teams could gather with intention. His vision was simple: create an environment where people could come together to make big decisions.
And everything at Maple Ranch reflected that intent. The space was designed for clarity and presence. From the moment we arrived, the staff made it easy to stay focused—always available, yet never in the way. The meals, curated by the chef, were both exceptional and thoughtfully timed, with the schedule flexing around the needs of the group. Whether a meeting ran long or a conversation extended into the evening, everything adapted to support the flow. Across the property, walking trails, cozy nooks, and wide-open rooms created opportunities to pause, reflect, and engage. It was remote enough to feel removed from the noise, yet fully connected when needed. Comfortable, but not distracting. Everything was built with one purpose in mind: to make big decisions possible.
And it worked. The board was present, focused, and engaged. They weren’t racing back to emails or multitasking through conversations. They had space—mentally, physically, and emotionally—to think clearly and creatively.
That experience reminded me how much setting matters when making strategic decisions. Maple Ranch is one example, but I’ve facilitated similar retreats in a range of offsite locations—each chosen intentionally to support long-term thinking and deep collaboration. Whether it’s been mountain lodges, remote ranches, or desert retreats, the common thread is this: we step away from the day-to-day so we can see further ahead.
These offsites aren’t just about having a nice view or better snacks (though, great snacks always help). They’re about creating an environment where teams can slow down, reconnect, and focus on the work that really matters—the kind that shapes the next five years, not just the next five weeks.
And in those environments, something else tends to happen: people connect in ways they rarely do at the office. They take walks. They share meals. They have real conversations. And that human connection becomes fuel for better thinking, stronger alignment, and clearer decisions.
This isn’t just something I recommend for teams—it’s something I rely on personally. When I’m facing a big decision, I make space for it. And that space is almost always outdoors.
It’s not a ritual or a rigid process. It’s more of a rhythm I’ve learned to trust. A hike, a run, a quiet walk—whatever form it takes, the goal is the same: get outside, disconnect from the noise, and listen.
That’s when the fog begins to lift. I start to see what matters and what doesn’t. Clarity doesn’t come because I force it—it comes because I’ve created the conditions where it can surface.
We all have our own way of getting there. But I believe the principle is universal: big decisions deserve intentional space.
Too often, we try to make them in the margins—between meetings, while distracted, while reactive. But the decisions that shape our future—personally or professionally—deserve more than that. They deserve our full attention. Our best thinking. And an environment that supports both.
So whether it’s a 10,000-acre ranch, a cabin in the woods, a quiet park bench, or a long trail with no cell service—find your version of that space.
Because where you make decisions matters. Maybe more than we realize.
See you next week,
Brent, your Rivr Guide
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🎧 Bonus: If this sparked something for you, you might enjoy the companion podcast episode of Rivr Conversations. It builds on the ideas in this Rivr Note—offering a new angle, deeper reflection, and practical ways to carry the story forward.
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And the photos? They’re not stock images — they come from real adventures. Because the best ideas often come from staying curious, embracing new perspectives, and engaging with the world around us.
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