Kevin Freidberg:
Silence, Sweatpants, and Ed
On his way to a silent meditation retreat, Kevin found himself 47 miles off course—both literally and figuratively. Over the next three days, amidst silent bows, strict rules, and an enigmatic roommate named Ed, Kevin discovered a deeper layer of self-awareness he didn’t expect.
Bio
Kevin Freidberg helps overworked technology consultants work with fewer clients without losing income.
Now that we’ve got the SEO version out of the way, here’s Kevin in his own words:
I was a creative director and independent consultant for 15 years,
working for some of the most prestigious ad agencies and clients in the
world including: HBO, Disney, 3M, Target, The Dallas Cowboys, The New
York Times, BBDO, McCann World Group, Zeus Jones and over 500 small
businesses and solo shops.
But early into my career, I realized one thing:
Great clients are born from great service providers.
Nightmare clients → nightmare providers
You can create your own worst enemies – without even knowing it – by not giving them what they need to help us do what we do best.
Which all comes down to creating enough value so that your clients are inspired to:
*show up to meetings
*answer questions
*give you access to their clients
And set them up to be the experts – not you
Why?
Because you will never know your clients’ businesses as well as they do.
Once you shift the burden of expertise from your plate to your clients – from the beginning of the engagement → straight through to the end → suddenly, all of your clients turn into G.O.A.T.s.
– without marketing b.s., being the cheapest or overworking.
Today, it’s my mission in life to help technology folks like you have the business and the life you deserve.
Care to join me?
I’m here,
Kevin
Topics
- Navigating unexpected social dynamics in silent environments.
- Humor and humility in spiritual practices.
- What meditation retreats teach about non-verbal communication.
- The role of discomfort in personal growth.
- How mindfulness practices challenge societal norms.
- The awkward yet meaningful moments of silence.
- What it means to truly “sit with yourself.”
- Breaking the rules: when peace meets curiosity.
- The psychological impact of retreating from daily life.
- Finding connection in a world of disconnection.
Guiding Questions
- What inspired you to attend a silent meditation retreat in the first place?
- Can you describe the initial challenge of adjusting to complete silence?
- What was the most surprising aspect of the retreat experience?
- How did your interactions—or lack thereof—with Ed influence your weekend?
- What role did humor play in processing the retreat’s structure and rules?
- What did the “Grasshopper Bow” symbolize for you during the retreat?
- How has the experience changed your approach to mindfulness or meditation?
- What lessons from the retreat have stayed with you the longest?
- Did the retreat help you confront any personal challenges or fears?
- Would you attend another retreat, and if so, what would you do differently?