Concept

What is the Homecoming Academy?

Humanity is undergoing a deep shift . We have made huge progress through technology. On the flipside, our minds have a hard time coping with the complex world we created. Some of the signs are depression, addictions, and a general feeling of emptiness taking hold of our societies. 


Many gifted individuals are drifting without aim. Many bright performers are burning out and not using the door the crisis opens for them. Many middle aged and older people are looking for how to progress in their lives after career success and / or children.


The Homecoming Academy is secular monastery , mind healing center , and leadership academy . It provides a virtual hub and physical centre to advance human development. Its work is based on solid psychological insights and therapeutical methods, traditional proven wisdom and mind-development practices, philosophical clarity, and concrete social engagement. 


We are providing consulting and coaching services to support better decision-making and to reduce suffering in organizations. A unique international network of coaches and consultants is coming together for this purpose. In addition, we are providing online social development spaces, e.g. via our Change Leader Meetups.

The offer of the future physical centre will be full-time extended stays for three purposes:

  • Retreat to grow and work
  • Evolve through personal crisis
  • Regain sanity and strength after burning out

 

Retreat to the Homecoming Academy to work on your project
Retreat to grow and work

Sometimes, it is time to focus on your own development because you know it is.

Getting out of environments which stabilize your old self is helpful. Instead of spending energy on defending every little change you dive deeper through studying in our library, interacting with our distinguished advisors, and being inspired by fellow seekers.

You will acquire stable mind development practices and life-enhancing skills. If you already have a concrete project, e.g. your next book or your next leadership position the Homecoming Academy will offer you the environment to produce and become your best.
Retreat to grow through your crisis
Evolve through personal crisis

“Crises” happens when our mental models are no longer sufficient, and our normal ego narrative cannot integrate what is happening. This causes much suffering and people have a hard time to "function."

However, crisis are great opportunities for growth. You will find the environment, structure, professional support, and community to use your crisis as a door to evolve. The environment and structure will help you to feel safe enough to process.

Your personalized therapy will help you to develop new more adequate mental models reducing your suffering and helping you grow. The community will help you to realize your strengths.
Retreat to Homecoming Academy to overcome exhaustion and reignite your fire
Regain sanity and strength

Exhaustion, “burn-out”, depressive moods are our body telling our mind that we need to shift. The trajectory, the path we are walking is no longer healthy for us.

The Homecoming Academy is a space to recalibrate, to reconnect with yourself and your truth. A healthy environment and structure will let you relax but become active again.

Your personalized therapy will let you reflect and reintegrate what is causing your exhaustion. The community will inspire you to experiment with the aspects of yourself, which want to emerge. Instead of drifting about you can start your new chapter with clarity and serenity.
Background

The first idea for a sanctuary in time of crisis and place for development took hold during my psychology studies at Humboldt University about 20 years ago. Creating a space for recovery. Not treating people in crisis as patients but as humans struggling to develop. Back then, I felt humans only really need three things to become sane (again):
  • Felt creative influence on the world via manual work
  • Structured and supportive community
  • Nature and healthy diet
After my master in psychology, I left university and took up a career in business. After a fast career, my final corporate position was Director, Change & Risk at BP International. I coordinated parts of BP’s efforts to shift culture and leadership throughout the organization after the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Working in large multinational organizations I learned about complexity, communication, leadership, responsibility, decision-making, and systems dynamics “in the trenches”.

Since 2013, I coach and consult leaders and management teams on how to transform their businesses for growth. This typically includes a shift in strategy, a reorganization, and leadership development interventions. Being able to control my time allowed me to invest heavily into my own development. I learned to listen to and harness my emotions and my body. I expanded and stabilized my meditation practice and started solo meditation retreats. More and more, I coach individual leaders on their personal development. The deep stuff.

It is time to come home and refocus on helping people to develop and create a robust space and community for their growth. Being a bit older I would add the following to what humans and especially high performing adults and leaders need in order to develop and become sane (again):
  • Individual and group psychotherapy
  • Regular contemplative practice
  • Philosophical / spiritual studies
  • Community service
These 7 things define the Homecoming Academy. The Academy will do the grunt work, the hard work with real individuals in the real world at times when deep learning can happen. It draws on time-tested practices of monasteries, tools developed by science and psychology, and lessons on individual and organizational leadership in complex environments.

The aim of the Homecoming Academy is to support the emergence near the evolving tech hub of Berlin. We need leaders who are able to deal with complexity and who are willing to take on responsibility for others and our communities. I will contribute my experience, dedication and organization skills.

If you are intrigued, if you are moved to support the Academy or this might be for you at some point... please get in touch and sign up for the newsletter below. I invite you to join me. 

Nico Czinczoll
Founder Homecoming Academy


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