When was the last time you changed your environment?

by Angela Darar

Jas often says, “If you do what you’ve always done, you get what you’ve always got.” It sounds simple, but the more you think about it, the more it starts to show up in different ways. Recently, it made me reflect not just on what we do in business, but where we do it.

Most business leaders operate in very familiar environments. The same office, the same desk, the same types of meetings, and often the same conversations. It creates a rhythm that feels productive, but over time it can become repetitive. Without realising it, thinking becomes fixed because everything around you stays the same.

My daughter Jasmine and I experienced something slightly different recently when we attended an outdoor networking event at Bradgate Park called “Walkie Talkie Wednesday – Free Networking with a Healthy Twist” The concept was simple: Instead of standing in a room, people were paired up and went for a walk while talking. What made it interesting wasn’t just the format, but the environment itself.

We were out in nature, away from the usual distractions, and for a good hour and a half there was no mobile signal. That meant no interruptions, no emails, and no quick checks of notifications. It created space to properly focus on the conversation and take in the surroundings.

What stood out was how different the conversations felt. They were more open, more thoughtful, and flowed more naturally. It felt easier to think clearly and explore ideas without the usual background noise.

It also made me think about why some of the best ideas come when you’re away from your business. It’s not because you’re trying harder, it’s because you’ve stepped out of your usual environment. That’s also why our free-to-attend workshops are a big hit among attendees and they keep coming back.

We’ve started to experiment with this concept more, changing where we meet, taking conversations outside, and being more intentional about stepping away from the usual setting. Each time, it seems to open up a different level of thinking.

It’s a useful reminder that productivity isn’t always about doing more. Sometimes it’s about creating the right conditions to think differently.

So it’s worth asking: where are you doing most of your thinking right now, and is that environment helping you move forward, or keeping things the same?