Travel Broadens the Mind - A Personal Perspective

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Travel Broadens the Mind - A Personal Perspective

As the peak holiday season approaches in the northern hemisphere, I have been thinking about travel and the phrase ‘travel broadens the mind’. ‘Broaden’ means to become wider - see Words of the Day below.

I am very lucky with my business roles in that I have the opportunity to travel regularly and this phrase is certainly true for me. Here are 5 ways that I think that travel has broadened my mind.

1) New Perspectives

It is easy to assume that our own circumstances are the norm. However, travel is an eye-opener. In Italy, business transactions are notoriously slow. This is in contrast with the swiftness of payments in the USA, in my experience.

Another example is connectivity. I have been without an internet connection here in Italy for the last 24 hours. This is a rare occurrence when travelling around Europe and Northern America.

Travel undeniably reshapes our understanding of what is, or should be, considered ‘normal’.

2) Personal Growth

I am passionate about personal growth and expanding my worldview. While I spend a lot of time reading business biographies and studying investment strategies, I find that travel is vital for personal growth.

We tend to mainly communicate with people in our personal sphere which limits our exposure to diverse viewpoints. Global travel shatters these boundaries. For instance, views on cryptocurrencies vary considerably depending on the investing culture of the people you meet.

3) Building Connections

One of my favourite things about travel is meeting new people. Without a doubt, these encounters have enriched my life immensely and many business contacts have become cherished friends. I look forward to meeting them again - either on a personal or business basis.

4) Increased Creativity and Confidence

Stepping outside your comfort zone and examining the world from a different perspective can increase creativity and inspire new ideas. I also find that this point, combined with the points we have already discussed increases confidence. The result? Arguably this newsletter would never have happened without the confidence and creativity that I have gained from travel and the belief that I have something to say that people may be interested in.

5) Appreciation of Diversity

A few years ago, I met a man in California who was a country estate worker. His knowledge of nature and the history of the surrounding area was magnificent and he was a joy to listen to for hours on end. I asked if he learned all this at university. He told me that he did not go to university and in fact, he did not even go to school - he was home-schooled. His knowledge came from extensive reading which he credited to never having a television at home. This is just one small example of how travel exposes you to different cultures, customs and perspectives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, travel has been an invaluable catalyst for my personal and professional growth. By immersing myself in diverse cultures and perspectives, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the world and a more open and adaptable mindset.

Are you travelling anywhere this summer? How will it broaden your mind?

What’s in the News? Elon Musk and Donald Trump

Elon Musk interviewed Donald Trump on X (formerly Twitter) this week. Did you watch any of the interview and if so, what were your thoughts? Does your opinion depend on whether you are a fan of Donald Trump, or indeed Elon Musk?

Too Much Power?

Should we be worried that one person has so much influence (I am referring to Musk here - not Trump!)?

Or is this a familiar issue when we consider the political power Rupert Murdoch wields with his global media empire?

Has the interview changed your opinion of either Elon Musk or Donald Trump?

My To-Do List - The Unsung Hero of My Productivity

One of my most important productivity tools is my To-Do list. Juggling Business English coaching, writing these newsletters, working as a project manager and managing my investments would be overwhelming without it. I use Apple Reminders but they all basically serve the same function.

Without using a To-Do List I found that important tasks would often get forgotten until the last moment and I would be no longer in control of my time. It is hard to quantify, but I believe that using a To-Do list has increased my productivity by 50%.

Anything that does not make it onto my To-Do List often does not get done but this is a great way to prioritise.

How do you manage your tasks?

Words of the Day: Broad & Broaden

Broad - adjective - very wide (opposite of narrow)

Broaden - verb - to become wider or cause something to become wider

Do you have any Business English Questions?

Please email me and I will do my best to answer them in future newsletters.

Until next Wednesday - have a great week!

Iain.

www.communicateenglish.com