I’ve come back from my trip to New Zealand, Australia and the Philippines. However, I still have thoughts spurred by my recent adventures that I’d like to share.

This couple is from Great Britain. I ran into them at the rooftop pool at the hostel in El Nido, Philippines where we all stayed. They worked their jobs at home for several years and saved their money. Then they quit their jobs, sold everything and are now traveling for a couple of years. Occasionally they supplement their savings with work they are getting along the way.

Hostels have a different culture than a hotel where everyone stays in their own rooms and wants to maintain privacy. In hostels, people meet at the pool, in the downstairs TV rooms or game rooms or the open lobby. Total strangers eat with each other, share their travel experiences, decide to do activities together. Many times you find out that someone is in your dorm room with you. I’ve learned so much about apps I need to download, best tours, other cities/countries that are recommended, good restaurants, etc. It’s a very open and sharing culture. I’ve met people I’d consider traveling with in the future. I’m hooked on hostel traveling.

How about at your company? Do you have an open sharing culture that fosters employees trying things without retribution if they fail? Do you have a more restricted culture where everyone has to perform a certain way? Is it customer-centric or organization-centric? Is it focused on sharing, trusting and working towards a vision? Or more practical goals and short-term thinking? You as the owner get to set the culture based on your personality and what you want to achieve. Accept the responsibility and proactively grow the culture that will allow you and your employees to be your best  selves.

#travelingwhileworking   #workingwhiletraveling