Jon Staff has a lifelong appreciation of the great outdoors. I, on the other hand, have always had a lifelong appreciation for the great indoors, so when I had the opportunity to fall in love with one of the cabin escapes provided by Staff’s company, Getaway, no one was more surprised than I. It turns out that Jon believes that rest and being unplugged is a human right, and he’s on a mission to ensure that folks have the opportunity to spend some unconnected time in nature, away from their hyper-connected worlds.
His company provides cozy, comfortable cabins surrounded by nature within a two-hour drive from some of the country’s biggest metropolitan areas. The organization is intentional about communicating inclusivity and connection and even provides creative residencies for artists who might not have the opportunities to enjoy them otherwise. And the best part? This CEO lives what he preaches and makes sure that his staff does the same.
How does your company create experiences that fuel creativity and conversation?
At Getaway we believe that everyone deserves access to free time, to disconnect from the day-to-day and truly relax. Recent studies have shown that spending time in nature fosters creativity. We have had many guests share similar experiences during their stay, saying that their stay allowed them to get through a creative block or allowed for time for personal reflection. Even taking a walk in nature is proven to spark creativity. Spending disconnected time in nature also allows for personal reflection and meaningful conversations with loved ones. Getaway encourages guests to unwind in nature and reconnect with their loved ones. Each Getaway location serves as the ideal destination to revel in nature, whether it be to roast a marshmallow by the fire, read a book, or take a leisurely walk or hike.
Rest is absolutely a basic human right. It can be difficult to step away from the hustle that is required on a daily basis, but it is so important for everyone to slow down and recharge to make deeper connections with others and to reconnect with themselves. And because life is short and we should enjoy it!
As a leader, how do you encourage your employees to live the values of Getaway in their own lives?
I started Getaway after a moment of self-reflection when I needed to truly disconnect. Since then, I’ve prioritized reconnecting with nature, myself, and my loved ones, and I encourage the same with the Getaway team. At Getaway, I want to help not just guests, but also fellow employees practice disconnecting and recharging in their everyday lives. We take our off time seriously, and I regularly encourage our team to make time for rest. One example of this is Getaway’s flexible Fridays. We offer two Fridays off a month in addition to our mandatory vacation days, because it’s important that we all have time to rest, recharge, and find balance in our lives.
Your book, Getting Away, shares 75 practices for finding balance. Which of the practices that you share do you think is the best one for fostering connection with others?
Getting Away has a whole section on balancing your relationships. Stack your phones at dinner and be present with each other. Send a postcard! A favorite of mine: Schedule a Day of Jubilation, which is a tech-free wander through the world with friends where you open yourself up to spontaneity. And carve out time to purposefully ask deeper questions with your friends.
One of the biggest leadership lessons I’ve learned is that adaptability is key — you have to be able to evolve and change.
You’ve said “rest is a basic human right.” Why is it so important?
Rest is absolutely a basic human right. It can be difficult to step away from the hustle that is required on a daily basis, but it is so important for everyone to slow down and recharge to make deeper connections with others and to reconnect with themselves. And because life is short and we should enjoy it! Rest doesn’t have to be sleeping or lounging poolside: it can simply be a refuge from day-to-day obligations and worries. This belief is at the core of Getaway and the reason why I created the company. Our tiny cabins provide undistracted time in nature that allows our guests to slow down from their busy routines and to truly rest.
What is the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned as CEO of Getaway?
One of the biggest leadership lessons I’ve learned is that adaptability is key — you have to be able to evolve and change. The COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on the entire travel and hospitality industry, which altered the way we operate, and the same is true for how we operate on the other side of the pandemic. Understanding consumer behavior and then adapting to it is fundamental to growth.
