What I learnt this week. Oh, two weeks ago now.

Done is better than perfect, and late is better than never.

This blog was supposed to be up last Friday, as a hot round-up of what I learnt at WTM in London.?

But… life happened! Between running my own business, handling an errant decorator, a dog with itchy red paws and a husband on two back-to-back business trips, I just didn’t have time.

And that’s ok.?

Too often we put pressure on ourselves to do something perfectly or quickly, when in reality most other people would totally sympathise with you, or not even notice it wasn’t done.?

Is there an area where you are putting undue pressure on yourself? Perhaps you could take a step back and see if it’s needed, or if you can cut yourself some slack?

And with that, here is my imperfect and late summary of what I learnt last week:

Most people are just doing their best (but some are showing their true colours)

I bumped into an ex-boss. The one I didn’t want to see. I had a tough time working under him, and although we reached a point of understanding each other better, we never saw eye-to-eye.?

It was a revelation.?

He spoke highly of me to his colleague, and admitted that he had been difficult to work with.?

He spoke with an air of regret about “how tightly he held on” to his work at that company, and that it hadn’t been worth it for him in the end.

It brings me back to a perspective I try to keep: “Maybe they are doing their best”.?

Most people aren’t intentionally being mean, or hard to work with. Most of us are muddling through imperfectly, with the tools we have available to us. Seeing people through these admittedly rose-tinted glasses takes away a lot of potential bitterness and anger (neither of which help us).?

HOWEVER, some people are showing their true colours.?

Just one day after the US election, social media was awash with comments by the likes of Andrew Tate and Nicholas J. Fuentes. You can imagine they weren’t saying anything good.?

They made it explicit that the campaigns against women’s rights and immigration were never about the economy, or family values. The election results gave them permission to verbalise what they were always thinking: that women should be property, and that immigrants are sub-human.?

It makes me furious, and it makes me scared. It also makes it more important than ever to speak up against oppression of all kinds, and join together as a community.?

Just like Brits did this summer when they rallied round to clear up the mess left by fascist rioters.?

Those of us who want freedom, peace and equality for all number more than the others. We need to get louder, and we need to stay connected.?

What privileges enable you to speak up as an ally for someone else?

On that note, I watched an amazing panel led by Alessandra Alonso of Women in Travel CIC, about male allyship.?

She positioned privilege as a tool which can help you to speak up on behalf of someone else, not a burden or something to be ashamed of.

And their Male Allyship program aims to enable exactly that, by connecting (mostly) male mentors with younger mentees (women and non-binary folks).?

They have found that the program has improved workplace culture in both directions, with mentees and mentors alike getting new perspectives, becoming more open and vulnerable, and learning new things.?

You can find out more here.

Set-jetting

A huge trend in recent years! Like a lot of travel trends born of modern media, it has the potential to cause over-concentration of tourists in one place.?

Think of Barcelona, or Bali. The most instagrammable spots are overwhelmed, while other areas nearby long to have more tourists.?

Kathryn Davis FTMI from Visit West spoke about how they work with the producers of Bridgerton to do something different. They have been planning the set locations to disperse tourists away from the traditional tourist hotspots in Bath, and to widen their radar bringing them out to quieter areas.?

Personally I would love to see more of this. Have you ever booked a holiday based on a movie or show??

It’s not just about your company?

This was the first WTM I’ve ever attended where I had time to attend panels and talks. They were so interesting, I regret not doing more of it earlier.?

So my challenge to you is to make a portion of your trade shows and business trips about you, not just your company.?

Yes, you need to meet your clients. But can you take 1 hour a day to do something that will further your career?

• Can you watch a panel about a topic that interests you?
• Can you network with someone who could become a mentor??
• Can you speak to someone who can support you with your career?

Human connection is the best

I mean, I already knew this.?

But after filling my cup with 80 IRL conversations (yes I was keeping count), it reconfirmed it and made me excited to have more.?

I’d love to have a chat with you – fancy it? You can book it in here.?