Seven people.
One Scottish estate.
Zero PowerPoints.
Brigadoon Scotland concluded on Friday at Carphin House in Fife, and I spent the weekend in Edinburgh letting it all settle before flying home Sunday.
The mantra I used when curating this gathering was "Less logic. More magic."
And I can tell you from firsthand experience, there is a specific magic that happens when you gather the right people in the right place with no agenda beyond authentic conversation.
I've organized Brigadoon gatherings in different formats and sizes for years, and I'm still surprised by what emerges when you trust the format: no PowerPoints, no name tags, and Chatham House Rule.
People arrived as strangers and became friends.
They left noticeably smarter, myself included, all while sharing challenges and opportunities in a friendly and welcoming environment.
Getting out of your typical routine is key, even for just a few days.
A fire burning constantly.
Hikes that start the moment you walk out the front door.
The Scottish November light casting a glorious hue across the landscape.
Nooks for reading and strategic planning.
Chef-prepared meals that let someone else make decisions and pamper you.
Nightly conversations that stretched for hours because no one wanted to leave.
All Brigadoon gatherings operate under Chatham House Rule, so what was said and what was shared stays private, but the impact doesn't.
Everyone left different than they arrived, especially me.
Some call these multi-day Brigadoon gatherings anti-conferences, but nothing I have ever attended creates this quality of dialogue and connection.
Nothing else makes you noticeably smarter and more energized in just five days.
I'm already thinking about the next one, and I'm so excited.
-Marc
