Traveling Annectdotes: Self-Awareness Is Leadership

I don't travel often. More than zero, but not often compared to many of my peers.

That being said, I do tend to pick up on things that others may miss. They may miss things because of many reasons, but typically it's because the social contract people sign in an airport or on a plane is to keep your head buried in a smartphone. The list is long... as I write this, I wish it was harder to come up with these observations. 

First and foremost, stop bathing in cologne/perfume and instead bathe in a shower. This seems like something that should be self-explanatory, as we are all held to standards put upon us by society. Some may argue that this is a cultural observation, but in my experience everyone is equally likely to have gone nose deaf. It doesn't help that the planes are a hot box of recycled air, and I'm sensitive to that issue. Still, one tiny spray will do ya. 

Next, I'll broach the issue of space. I'm a big fella. This is a fact that has held true my ENTIRE LIFE. Not a shock to me. That said, I tuck in my elbows and knees as best as possible. I don't bogart the shared armrest. I do however fit into my own space allotted to me. Everyone does not fit in their allotted space. This is unfortunate for all parties involved, and I know it must be an uncomfortable feeling to know that you couldn't keep yourself on your side if you had to.  

Third, it's the food you bring on the plane. Similar to the phenomena that happens at workplace kitchen space, someone is bound to bring on a flight a food that violates social norms. I'm looking at you, person who insists on bringing reheated fish with you. No. Stop.  

 There ARE things that are incredibly positive about traveling. 

First, if you act like a semi-social, semi-well-adjusted person, you get treated like a king by customer service at any vendor. They are used to getting screamed down for things that are far outside of their control, so a simple smile and nod will get you miles of leeway. I got upgraded with my rental car on this trip, and on many previous trips, by cracking a "dad joke" and smiling with my whole face. This technique will work in all arenas of life, I assure you.  

Second, asking questions about the "have to check out" parts of town will break any ice still leftover from the smile-and-nod approach. No matter the size of a town, you will always find some gems by asking the locals. This is especially key if you typically come across as elitist. The majority of places I travel to are blue collar, so any feel of arrogance and you'll ruin the interaction. 

Third, you'll definitely get time to unwind and decompress. The majority of my travel is alone, and based on my size and appearance people typically leave me alone. This can be nice as these times I get to reflect on my thoughts (like now) and can dive into a book or podcast. Many of the leadership books I've read or listened to happened while traveling. 

Fourth, you get to see the world! It's a huge place, and I'll never see 80% of it. That doesn't mean I won't try, and it's especially nice when you have a travel companion. My favorite is my wife :)