There’s no Internet in classified intelligence training in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). That meant Narkis Alon had to learn to operate without the benefit of smartphones or instant access to the world’s knowledge. To her surprise, she realized that the pace of learning and connection with others was actually accelerated in that environment. Inspired by what she saw happen without technology in and out of the military, Alon founded Double You, to curate retreats for an international community of businesswomen looking to merge professional success with personal growth.

The women-only retreats embody those ideals with a strict set of rules including no phones, little networking and a wardrobe provided by the retreat to reduce their focus on external things.

Leah Wald: Why did you pick this method to help female entrepreneurs?

Narkis Alon (Founder and CEO of Double You): I have always been interested in people’s growth process. I have always believed that if you give people time to think and focus on what they want and help them gain the confidence needed, it can transform their lives. I always had a dream to design experiences that would fit entrepreneurs. I had an intuition that if I designed an experience that entrepreneurs could be with themselves in silence, and then could share with other people, it would benefit them.

Wald: What did you learn as a businesswoman that applies to your current projects?

Alon: Building a business is really hard. Even after you have a product that people want, you find yourself facing problems on a daily basis. Many of these problems are ones that you are dealing with for the first time. If you don’t have a worthy cause that you really believe in, it will be nearly impossible to continue running.

Wald: What do you look for when you say you’re looking to assist with the participants’ innovation?

Alon: Innovation, power and any kind of success come from within. We keep looking for things outside of ourselves, when in reality, we just need to trust ourselves.

Wald: What is the best lesson you’ve picked up from the participants?

Alon: I learned that when you are a person that tries to actively pursue what you want, you mainly learn how to get what you don’t want. You have to adjust your will according to reality and to the changes that you go through. As an example, when we dreamed about Double You, we visualized the retreat happening often and managing all the operations. Yet in reality, there are very few people that really excel in managing operations. I’m not one of them. In our process of growing Double You, I realized that I had to partner with big operation companies in order to grow.

The participants also taught me how to receive feedback. I’m a perfectionist and it used to be nearly impossible for me to receive feedback without becoming defensive. When you gather strong women, they will have things to say and ideas for improvement, and if I want to lead change at scale then I need to know how to receive feedback. I’m grateful for this lesson.

Wald: What do you identify as key barriers for women to start a company?

Alon: Firstly, lack of time. Usually, women that have the qualities to start a business are very busy. They are hired in a demanding job and simultaneously manage the house. It is really hard for anyone to decide to start a business when they don’t have time because in order to take the entrepreneurial leap you need to be very passionate about your idea. To be passionate about an idea you need the time to develop it. This is why the biggest thing that retreats give to people is time. Time, when invested properly, is more important than money.

Secondly, lack of support. Most female entrepreneurs do not have friends that are also female entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship is challenging enough and when you do not have friends around you who can relate to your challenges, it can become unbearable. Especially for women that love sharing with each other.

Wald: What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?  

Alon: Firstly, develop an idea worth hustling for and dedicate daily time to remember why you do what you do and why you are the person that can make it happen. There are enough doubtful people that will make sure you hear their fears and doubts. Cultivate confidence in yourself because you are the strongest and at the same time the most fragile asset your business has. A business, in the beginning, is like a newborn; if you don’t feed it, it will die.

Secondly, connect with the right people to make it happen. You need team members that you can trust and you need strong partners that can help you move your idea forward. Life is supposed to be fun, with challenges and with fear. Don’t wait until the fear disappears; act on it, become friends with it and enjoy the ride.