When I was looking for inspiration to write this blog, everyone kept telling me to write about SoulCycle — how I’ve convinced so many friends and colleagues to go to class with me and how to create that type of cult like following to drive innovation. (It is SOUL good and you should all come to a class with me!) But, that didn’t feel right this time.
Then, in a team meeting, it came to me when we were challenged to think about what we love.
What I love, what truly makes me happy? To travel, to see the world. Most people that know me probably would have guessed that but I’ve only recently come to realize it. Despite having an International Business degree and traveling to at least one new country every year, I just thought of it as a hobby.
Some opportunities only come once, seize them.
Studying abroad in Australia, swimming with dolphins in Mexico, seeking warmth in a snowy mountain town in Japan where nobody spoke English, finding people with my last name in Norway, eating at every pink Instagram worthy restaurant in England, pouring the perfect pint of Guinness in Ireland, and making pasta in Italy are just some incredible experiences I’ve had.
Open your mind, arms, and heart to new things and new people.
But, why do I love to travel? A little background on me. I grew up in a nice suburb of Philadelphia, attended private, Catholic school then went to the University of Delaware. I had been surrounded by people just like me for a lot of my life. It was all great but looking back, there was a lack of diversity. These days, it seems like many people are happy with their limited knowledge and understanding of this big world but I’m not one of them.
By traveling the world, I get to learn about other people, cultures, and history, experience how they live, and gain new perspectives. I can get lost in cities, chat with the people that live there, people watch at cafés, and join people in their homes to learn how to cook their traditional meals.
Our team practices human centered design and all these things are part of being human centered — you need to understand the people you want to help!
As I’m sitting here, 36,998 feet up in the air, heading home, I think back to this meeting. When everyone in my group dug deeper into what they love, empathy was the common thread. Maybe that’s how we all ended up on this amazing team, doing human centered design, and practicing empathy in our every day. It’s the soul of all the things we love.
What do you love? What makes you happiest? More importantly, why?
I hope you’re doing what you love but if you’re not, I urge you to read The Holstee manifesto for some inspiration — pieces have been sprinkled throughout this post.
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