Finding the Y-Camp Spirit in Business: Lessons in Collaboration, Creativity, and Support

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The summer of 2019, I joined a group of 25 campers on a hike into the woods to experience the low ropes course. The activity wasn’t about completing tasks in a set way—it was about collaboration, creativity, and supporting one another. As a group, we were presented with challenges to solve together. Ideas flowed freely, suggestions were made, and adjustments were considered to meet the needs of everyone involved. No one was forced to do things “the right way”; instead, each of us found solutions that worked for our strengths while contributing to the group’s shared goal.

Throughout the activity, words of encouragement were spoken, questions were asked, and cheers erupted as each person succeeded. Laughter, trust, joy, and camaraderie filled the air. At the end, we reflected on what we learned. Even though many of us had known each other for decades, we recognized that our trust and connection allowed us to take risks, embrace failure, and still achieve success together. The creativity of those who approached the task differently was celebrated, not criticized.

This experience taught me so much—not just about teamwork, but about what it means to create an environment where everyone can thrive. And it’s these lessons that inspire the work I do every day at Organized by Design.

In business, as in life, success doesn’t come from following one rigid path—it comes from collaboration, communication, and solutions tailored to the people involved. At Organized by Design, I help small business owners and leaders build systems and processes that work for their team, their workflow, and their goals. Like the low ropes course, every business challenge has multiple ways to succeed. By encouraging creativity, providing support, and celebrating progress—big or small—we can achieve more together than we ever could alone.

The Y-Camp spirit—the trust, encouragement, and celebration of diverse ideas—is exactly what I aim to bring into the “real world” of business. Whether it’s organizing workflows, streamlining processes, or helping a team reach a shared goal, my mission is to create environments where people feel supported, empowered, and inspired to succeed.

I’m forever grateful for the lessons camp has taught me, and I’m excited to share that spirit with the clients and teams I work with every day. Because when we combine creativity, collaboration, and compassion, anything is possible.