Originally posted on the Geeks on a Plane blog
While traveling on a 4-hour journey from Berlin to Prague, we had a lot of down time to think, write, talk, read and listen to music. Inspired by my book, White Tiger and the Black Eyed Peas, The E.N.D. album, I consistently found myself thinking about how grateful I am to be healthy, happy and part of the GOAP family. I am grateful for GOAP.
This trip has offered a lot of eye-opening experiences and learnings. The ones that stand out the most include:
1.) Never underestimate the power of “adapting”: You’re traveling around Europe for over 2 weeks, it’s important to keep it cool, adapt to the diversity of personalities and characters on the trip and enjoy people. This will make it easier for people to connect, understand each other and develop flexibility throughout the journey.
2.) Less is more. This is important however you interpret the statement. Less is more when it comes to luggage, conversing, being “that American traveler,” bringing boat-loads of money, spending that money on unnecessary souvenirs that your friends and family will throw away eventually.
3.) Down time is important. It is crucial that everyone take time out of each day to have their own “quiet time”. This time will help you reflect on the day’s activities, learnings, experiences and also think about what you miss from back home, what you’re grateful for, your family/friends, etc.
4.) Keep the curiosity going from the moment you land to the moment you leave. Be very curious. As much as I love GOAP for allowing me to learn about the tech industries throughout various cities in Europe, it has, more importantly, enabled me to learn about new cultures, see new places, meet new people – opening eyes to creating connections on a global level and providing a platform for us to serve as “ambassadors” for the tech community, abroad. The power to change the world through social influence, social good and social entrepreneurship is upon us. We can only create a massive impact if we continue to be curious, learn and grow with our brothers and sisters around the world.
5.) The DMC Factor. I had to add this to my list because I’ve had some time to observe a certain character, Dave McClure, throughout the Geeks on a Plane Asia and Europe trips, and I’ve got to give some props. He’s a flip-flop sportin’, casual person, proud of his risk-taking abilities, his witty story-telling and geeky/x-rated jokes (not sure how those can mesh, but somehow he pulls it off). Nevertheless, Dave McClure continues to be our teacher, a stellar entrepreneur, investor, presenter and that “smart guy that everyone wants to know”. I truly appreciate the opportunity he has provided me by exposing me to the Geeks on a Plane excursion. The connections that I’ve made, information that I’ve collected and ideas that have been shared or generated make every second of this trip worthwhile. Thanks Dave.
Europe. After participating in the last Geeks on a Plane trip to Asia in June, I just had to do it again. The excursion was awesome on many different levels – we really bonded with the geeky travelers, met a lot of innovative entrepreneurs in Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai and learned about trends, market structure and cultural nuances in the internet space. A valuable experience any way you look at it.
