Four ways travel can make you a better entrepreneur

Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy. In fact, it’s one of the hardest journeys on which one can embark. There are plenty of tips on how to find success in business, but I want to talk about one that isn’t mentioned nearly enough: how travel can help you be a better entrepreneur and therefore, more successful in business. Your business is going places, and so should you!

Sparks Creativity

Sitting at your desk and staring at the same scenery day after day will do little to spark your creativity. If anything, it can lead to burnout, and have a negative impact on your performance and business.

Successful entrepreneurs are good at handling unexpected obstacles and solving difficult problems. Traveling keeps your mind sharp and, in a new environment, you may find that your creativity really spikes.

Personally, some of my best ideas have come while traveling. Being exposed to new cultures, foods and environments have inspired many of my beer and spirits products. Going to India, visiting my father’s ancestral home, and taking in the local sights and sounds inspired me to bring back my family recipe for whiskey.

A great tip for business travellers is to take advantage of airport lounges as a place to relax, reset and get those creative juices flowing before or after a trip. The Scotiabank Passport? Visa Infinite Business* Card makes it easy for me to use these lounges as it comes with six free visits per year to over 1,200 airport lounges around the world. To find out how to take advantage of free lounge visits, click here!

Ability to adapt

Travel, like business, involves changing plans and finding ways to adapt to new environments. Flights get delayed, bags get lost, hotels are hard to find, language is a barrier –the list continues. While these issues may seem like hindrances at the time, they can actually serve as teachable moments.

As an entrepreneur, you’ll need to be flexible, and situations will arise when you’ll be forced to pivot. The experiences you have while traveling will shape how you handle these situations in the workplace.

Time management

Logistically, traveling is all about time management. From planning ahead to ensure you get to the airport on time to catch your flight, to making time to experience all the things you want to see, ambitious travelers know that time is precious.

This skill translates back to business and instills an appreciation and understanding of time management for entrepreneurs who have extensive experience traveling. Time management is so important for all aspects of business.

Working within constraints

Traveling teaches you how to work with what you’ve got, which can sometimes mean limited resources. When traveling, you’re often limited to what fits in a single suitcase, meaning you have to be smart about what you bring.

Travellers must also be savvy with their money, as trip expenses and exchange rates can really add up. With my Scotiabank Passport? Visa Infinite Business* Card, I can spend money knowing I’m not getting charged foreign transaction fees.

There will be many situations in life that will force you to stretch your resources and you’ll need to learn to adapt. As an entrepreneur, you won’t always have everything you need to launch a new venture; whether it’s a lack of funding, human capital or technology. Successful business owners and travelers learn to work with what they have.

I hope that these insights will inspire you to get out and travel!