The Benefits of Travel and Adventure
How to travel the world and give zero fucks
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain
I’ve always had a keen sense of personal freedom, and I’ve instilled this as a core value within our company. I believe travel and adventure are beneficial in order for people to learn, adapt, and grow as individuals. While it isn’t always comfortable being away from home, traveling teaches us to see things from a different perspective and opens our minds to a deeper understanding of nature, humankind and ourselves. Our homesickness or anxiety eventually turns into an emotional escape from the tunnel we often find ourselves in, opening our eyes to embrace new opportunity. For most people, you feel rejuvenated after a nice vacation and ready to get back to work.
But if you’re like me, you may find it difficult to fully disconnect and recharge your battery. There might be a sense of guilt for taking time off, for not responding to emails immediately, or a desire to work because you love what you do and want to succeed. As someone who has traveled a lot (20+ countries, 3–4 weeks per year) while managing a growing business, I wanted to share my thoughts on mixing business with the pleasure of travel.
It’s important to acknowledge the difference between traveling and vacation.
In this age of technology, there are thousands of digital nomads wandering through this beautiful world while making money as copywriters, marketers, designers, developers, or freelancers. One of the reasons I became an entrepreneur was so I could have my own freedom, set my schedule, and build a great team that could share these values with me. Having a routine on the road so people know when they can connect with you is important, while remaining flexible to whatever comes your way.
When it’s really time to disconnect and enjoy a vacation, preparation is key. Connect with your team and clients ahead of time letting them know you will be on vacation, and ask that they don’t reach out to you unless it’s an emergency. Set up a schedule for anything that can be managed while you are gone, use an email auto-responder, and leave a paper (and email) trail so your colleagues know where projects were left.
While you’re in it, embrace the journey, because the rewards are far greater than the costs.
1. Get the creative juices flowing
A change of scenery, a reconnection to the outdoors, and even that uncomfortable night sleep in a 2-star hotel can improve your creativity. New ideas stem from new experiences. By traveling and doing something you have never done before, you will process these experiences and they will join the makeup of your mind, eventually being recycled when the opportunity presents itself.
2. Learn to cope with uncertainty
Traveling comes with a lot of baggage (pun intended) in the form of uncertainty. Bad weather, delayed flights, overbooked hotels, lost luggage, language barriers. The list goes on, and I’m sure we’ve all experienced these feelings of uncertainty. Dealing with uncertainty builds confidence in our character, and overcoming these setbacks makes us better problem solvers and gives us patience when we need it most. Traveling is not about getting from one place to the next without any hiccups. Embrace the journey.
3. Make new friends, all over the world
One of the benefits of traveling is the ability to make friends all over the world. People whose life experiences are very different from your own, which brings a new perspective to all your ideas. You begin to see how problems all over the world affect us on a global scale, which helps to address the real problems you have as an entrepreneurial organization. Exchange numbers and stay in touch, because you’ll never know when you need a couch to crash on when you’re in London. Or Nashville. Or Barcelona.
4. Take a journey into yourself
Traveling is one of the best ways to connect with your inner self. As you venture outward, you expose yourself to new people, food, cultures, and lifestyles which causes you to reflect inward. Spending some time on your own while traveling may help you find the sense of purpose and direction you’ve been looking for.
5. Create memories for life
At the very least, traveling will create memories for life. Especially if you’re traveling with friends and family. Make new friends, try new food, and explore the crevices of this world that you otherwise would have never experienced. Take lots of pictures :)
6. Greater appreciation for your home
Resting your head on that old familiar pillow after a long trip is one of the greatest joys in my life. Being abroad gives you so much appreciation for how lucky we are to have a place we can call home.
“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” — Lin Yutang
We are lucky to be alive, and we’re just a small part of a much bigger picture. Travel and adventure will give you perspective and gratitude for the beautiful world we live in, and the amazing people we create memories with. Enjoy it.
Let the good times roll.
