London. Barcelona. Beijing. The world’s business hubs are also desirable travel destinations. And yet, when we’re sent there for a conference or client meeting, many of us act like it’s a slog.
I admit, I struggled some days to sustain my sense of adventure. But I’d rented a beautiful home in Auckland with chickens in the backyard, and I’d brought my family with me, so I was committed. By the time I moved back to the U.S. in 2007, I’d realized that, in fact, it was the adventure itself that had sustained me.
Some savvy travelers take this even further. Productivity expert Tiago Forte, whom I recently hosted on my podcast, has spent months working in Mexico City without a local SIM card. Not only has he managed to get by without mobile internet, but it’s made him so productive that he’s actually planning to keep this arrangement after he moves there permanently next year.
True, it can be tough to squeeze in time for tourism between conferences and client meetings. But if you’re traveling for work, chances are that you’re someone who takes team members into uncharted territory. Think of exploratory time as practice in spotting and seizing new opportunities. For example, I recently took a five-month trip to Israel. I could’ve kept my head down like most business travelers — but if I had, I’d have missed out on much of what made it a productive trip.
This is good advice