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About what can happen when you spend a few days together

Why do strategy weeks and masterminds often work better in small groups?

Because you only really hear each other when there is enough space to say something that isn’t finished yet.

Sometimes these kinds of conversations don’t start at the table,
but somewhere earlier.

With a story that lingers.

If you recognise that, you’re welcome to read along in Letters from the Cortijo.
From time to time, we send a small letter from our place in Andalusia.

It starts with a table

Picture this.

Eight people at a long table.
The plates are empty, but no one gets up.

There’s laughter.
A story that becomes just a little bigger each time it’s told.

And then, somewhere along the table, someone asks a question.

Quiet.
But honest.

And suddenly, everything slows down.

Not uncomfortable.
But the kind of silence where you feel:
this is the moment.

The place is already there

A place where nothing is expected.

The long table.
The stillness.
The space.

Everything you need to spend a few days together.

What can unfold here now… are exactly those conversations.

The ones where people stay seated because it feels right.
That one question that changes everything for a moment.
That moment you didn’t plan — but turns out to be the one that matters.

That’s what this place holds space for.

What can happen

A day doesn’t have to end because it’s “done”.

It can simply continue.

Into an evening that doesn’t need to go anywhere.
Into a conversation that wasn’t planned.

People stay seated.
Not because they have to.
But because it feels right.

Someone says:
“Can I ask you something I’ve been thinking about?”

And someone else leans forward.

Conversations begin.

At the table.
Over coffee.
Or somewhere halfway through a walk.

Sometimes almost unnoticed.

Just like stillness here rarely comes from planning,
but more often… simply finds its way to you.

Sometimes with laughter.
Sometimes with silence.

And after a few days, you might think:
this wasn’t what I expected — but it was exactly what I needed.

Who this resonates with

You might already be able to picture it.

Because you work with groups.
Or because you feel it could be different.

Masterminds.
Strategy weeks.
Leadership.

Small groups that don’t just come to do something,
but move through something together.

Where the programme doesn’t have to carry everything.
Because the real value happens in between.

And where the place itself is not just a backdrop,
but part of the experience.

People who understand that the real value isn’t only in what you plan,
but in what happens in between.

People who feel that slowing down is not a luxury,
but a different way of living.

The place

Our cortijo is located in the north of Andalusia.

Among the hills.
Far away from busy places.
Close to stillness.

More and more people are no longer drawn to the coast,
but to places where true quiet still exists.

A place where it becomes wonderfully quiet.
Where in the evening, the crickets begin to sing and the day slowly fades.

And where, once it gets dark, you can still see a sky full of stars
that has disappeared in many parts of Europe.

Because there is very little light pollution here,
it truly becomes dark.

The kind of darkness where conversations soften.
And where you stay a little longer than you intended.

The table is still there.

Not because it has to be.
But because nothing pulls you away.

FAQ - Frequently asked questions

What is an ideal group size for a strategy week or mastermind?

A group where everyone is seen. Often between 6 and 10 people.

Why do small groups work better?

Because they create space. For doubt, for ideas and for real conversations.

Why is the place so important?

Because your surroundings determine how much space there is to pause — and to think further.

Where is Cortijo La Vista located?

In the north of Andalusia, in the province of Córdoba.

Summary

Some conversations can’t be planned.

You can only create the space
where they might unfold.

Letters from the Cortijo

You might recognise this feeling.

Or feel that this is exactly what you’re looking for.

If so, you’re welcome to read along in Letters from the Cortijo.

From time to time, we send a small letter from our place in Andalusia.
About what is already here — and what might still unfold.

Why do good ideas so often appear in the shower?

Good ideas often appear in the shower because your mind receives fewer stimuli at that moment. When you don’t have to do anything for a while, your brain gets the space to connect thoughts and allow new insights to emerge.

You might recognize that moment.

You are standing under warm water. Shampoo in your hair. And exactly at that moment – when you don’t have to go anywhere and nobody expects anything from you – an idea suddenly appears.

Not a small idea.

The kind of idea that makes you think:
I should do something with this.

The strange thing is that ideas like this rarely appear when you actively try to find them.

They don’t show up during meetings with an agenda that says: 10:30 – brainstorm.
And they also don’t appear when someone says: “let’s quickly come up with something.”

Good ideas seem to dislike haste.

Ideas need space

Maybe it happens because your mind doesn’t have to react to anything while you’re in the shower.

No emails.
No messages.
No to-do list waiting to be finished.

Your thoughts get the chance to wander a little.

And sometimes something interesting happens. A thought that has been quietly present in the background suddenly moves forward.

As if your brain quietly says:
now that we have some time, let's take a look at this.

This happens to me surprisingly often on the cortijo

For me something similar happens when I am at Cortijo La Vista.

Not because the cortijo has magical inspiration powers — that would be slightly exaggerated.

But because the pace there is different.

The morning starts quietly.
Breakfast on the terrace.
Maybe a walk through the hills of the Sierra Morena.

And somewhere between coffee, a notebook and a conversation another idea suddenly appears.

Sometimes small.
Sometimes big enough to think about for a few days.

Maybe that is why people sometimes step away

It is noticeable that more and more entrepreneurs, creators and facilitators occasionally gather somewhere else with a small group for a few days. Some people even combine this with a workation in a quiet place in Andalusia, where working and thinking naturally fall into a different rhythm.

Not to work harder.

But simply to step away from their everyday environment.

A few days away from the office, the agenda and the routine can sometimes be enough to look at ideas again. It also connects to the idea of slow travel: travelling and living at a pace where space to think naturally returns.

Such a week might take the form of a strategy week, a writing week, a workshop or a small personal development programme.

Not because the place does the work.

But because a different environment sometimes creates space for conversations and thoughts that are harder to start at home.

Small groups often work differently

When a small group stays together in one place for a few days, the dynamics often change. That is also why some facilitators consciously organise their programmes in a quiet location where a small group can come together for a few days to work, write or reflect.

Conversations last longer.
Topics return later in the day.
Someone asks a question that the rest of the group continues exploring.

And sometimes an idea suddenly appears that previously seemed to fit nowhere.

Not because someone had a specific method.

But because there was time.

That is why we bought the cortijo

Cortijo La Vista is not a conference centre and not a large retreat resort.

It is a place with seven guest rooms, an Andalusian patio and a long table where conversations sometimes last longer than planned.

For some people it is simply a place to spend a few days in Andalusia.

For others it can be a place where a small group gathers to write, reflect or develop an idea further.

Not because the cortijo provides the answer.

But because space is sometimes exactly what a question needs.

FAQ_ Frequently asked questions

Why do ideas often appear in the shower?

Because your mind receives fewer stimuli at that moment. As a result, thoughts can wander more freely and unexpected connections sometimes appear.

Does a different environment help creative thinking?

Many people experience that distance from their everyday workplace helps them see situations from a different perspective.

What is a good group size for a mastermind or strategy week?

A small group of about six to ten participants often works best.

Why do some facilitators choose a quiet location?

Calm environments can help slow down the pace of a programme and allow participants to focus more deeply.

Summary

Good ideas rarely follow a schedule.

They often appear when space opens up.

In the shower.
During a walk.
Or somewhere where the pace of life naturally slows down.

For some people a few days in a quiet place can provide exactly that space.

Read also

You might also enjoy these stories – they connect to the same rhythm of living, building and discovering on the cortijo.

• Workation in Spain: working in peace at Cortijo La Vista
• Slow travel is not a trend – it is a way of life
• Why a retreat in Andalusia does not have to be spiritual

✨ Thank you for reading this far — it means a lot.
If you enjoy these reflections, a free subscription is always welcome.

Hasta luego from Andalusia,
Daniëlle | Cortijo La Vista