Top Table experience meets Your Away Day: a new kind of business retreat
11th July 2025
Author EditorPosted on Categories Networking & Events
Something magical happened in June. And I don’t say that lightly, writes Sam Thomas.
You know those rare moments in business when everything clicks, not because of spreadsheets or sales targets, but because of shared values, authentic connection and a deeper sense of purpose? That’s what happened when I had the pleasure of co-hosting a very special Top Table experience in collaboration with Joel Lawton and Your Away Day.
Now, I’ve hosted plenty of storytelling dinners over the years, Top Table has become a sacred space where business leaders take off the armour and share the stories that have shaped them. But this one felt different. Deeper. Slower. More human.
Maybe that’s down to the synergy between Joel and I. We joke that we’re twin brothers separated at birth (he reckons he’s the better-looking one, jury’s still out). But in truth, our work is deeply aligned. Joel’s ‘Your Away Day’ experience creates intentional space for leaders to step back from the noise of business, reconnect with themselves, and realign with what truly matters.
When we merged the soulful, grounding presence of Your Away Day with the raw honesty of Top Table Storytelling, something shifted.
We invited 10 incredible people from our Sussex business community to join us for the day. No agenda. No pitches. Just an invitation:
• To connect
• To share stories
• To have space to breathe
From the moment we gathered, there was a sense that this wasn’t going to be your typical “networking event.” It wasn’t about swapping business cards, it was about swapping life lessons.
Under the trees, beside a crackling fire, or simply sat in stillness, we spoke not about what we do, but who we are. There was laughter, of course, but also vulnerability. There were insights shared that you just don’t get in a boardroom. And most powerfully of all, there was listening. Deep, intentional, hold-the-space kind of listening.
The real magic happened during our storytelling circle. As we always do at Top Table, we pulled out the Different Hats conversation cards and invited each person to choose a question. One in particular stuck with me:
“How do you measure growth in your life? What signs or changes do you look for?”
Not a KPI in sight. No mention of profit margins or marketing reach. Instead, we heard reflections on emotional intelligence, self-awareness, healing old wounds, parenting with more presence, leaving toxic work environments, and finding the courage to live more truthfully.
And that’s when it hit me, this is the real growth. The kind that can’t be tracked on a dashboard. The kind that changes how you show up in life, in business, and in your relationships.
The day reminded me just how vital it is to step away from the grind. To press pause. To breathe. As entrepreneurs and leaders, we’re often so focused on building something out there, that we forget to build within. But growth starts with space. It starts with self-reflection. It starts with connection, not just to others, but to yourself.
At the heart of this collaboration was a belief that success isn’t defined by status or salary, but by presence, fulfilment, and the depth of your relationships. That belief is something Joel and I share wholeheartedly. It’s also the driving force behind the Different Hats Podcast, behind County Business Clubs, and behind every Top Table experience we create.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the people who showed up and showed up fully. A heartfelt thank you to Gavin Willis, Rebekah Whiteley, Emma Draper, Lyndsey Clay, Bruce Bignell, Jon Kennett, Matthew Gayler, Howie McConnell, Matthew Wright, and Warren Keech for embracing the experience so openly. Your courage to be seen and heard created a ripple that will stay with me, and hopefully all of us, for a long time.
And to Joel Lawton, my brother from another mother, thank you for bringing your gift, your vision, and your calming presence to this collaboration. This won’t be the last time we do something together. It’s just the beginning of something much bigger.
To the wider business community here in Sussex and beyond, I’ll leave you with a question from the day. One you might want to reflect on at your own pace:
“How do you measure growth in your life?”
Not revenue. Not reach. But real growth.
If the answer doesn’t come straight away, maybe that’s a sign it’s time for your own away day.
Until then, keep connecting, keep listening, and keep redefining what success truly means.
Sam Thomas is the host of the Different Hats Podcast and Co-founder of County Business Clubs
Joel Lawton