Reprogram your thinking

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to spend a long weekend with some girlfriends of mine in Portugal. We have been talking about a girls’ trip for a very long time and I was so excited it was finally happening. While I am no stranger to traveling and neither to Europe, this was my first time in Portugal. It was an absolutely lovely experience! Lisbon is just cool. From the tile on the front of the buildings to the insane scenic vistas to the delicious food and adorable shopping, we all thoroughly enjoyed our time. 

But what was truly refreshing about taking a break from my routine was a chance to reprogram my brain. Traveling can be such a reminder on how to think outside the box, put yourself in another person’s shoes, and then take what serves you. I often meet leaders who follow a rigid routine and then never change it. And then turn around and expect their reports to be creative thinkers. In this world where innovation and creativity is king, it is up to the leaders to start first.

Here is how my thinking was tested in just a long weekend:

Almost all the sidewalks in downtown Lisbon are made of small, smooth, white cobblestone. Some sidewalks in the more touristy areas have more elaborate designs that are geometric in shape, while others have beautiful curves or stars. It would have been so much easier over the years to replace the walkways with cement blocks. You would avoid the constant cost and effort in upkeep from the millions of footsteps each year. But the city maintains them because beauty in detail is important to them. I found this attention beautiful and such an inspiration. It is no wonder (anymore!) that our art director of 10 years is Portuguese. He is impeccable in his work, caring about each font choice or each color composition, and from the very first designs to the new refresh he has crafted, he delivers elegance. 

Takeaway: Take care of the smallest details – they can and should be beautiful.

I was expecting Portugal to be a little more loosey-goosey with the rules in the same vein that its Mediterranean neighbor, Italy, is. I learned quickly – even before we departed Miami – that that was not the case. When we were refueling the plane, our flight attendants made sure no one was using their phone, and I mean no-one. In my experience, when you fly business class you are awarded some privileges like scrolling when you aren’t supposed to. Not on TAP, Portugal’s state-owned airline! And that continued throughout our trip, from being timely with dinner reservations to following to the letter what a particular service included or not. So while things looked Italian, they did not function in the same way, which as a rule breaker myself, I found slightly annoying, but also as a type A personality who steers a tight ship at caa, I respected it a lot.

Takeway: There are other ways to do things – be open to new experiences and ideas.

Finally, unlike most Americans, I do like to take my time to eat, but only when I am with great company, enjoying great good, and with nothing else on the docket. Otherwise, my lunches during the working week are maybe 10 minutes, and my dinners are not far behind. And while I have spent lots of time in Spain and Italy and have accustomed myself to a longer dining experience than most North Americans, the Portuguese take it to a new level. Not one of our dining experiences was under three hours. And we were just three people, all of whom have known each other for years. It was the speed of service that slowed us down and while that might make some annoyed, we rolled with it, and rolled with it well. Why not? The waiters were delightful, the food delicious, and I was in the company of some of my favorite women in the world. I was able to make so many more observations about where we were, the decor, the flavors of the food, and enjoy deep conversation with my friends (yes – we could still find loads to talk about!)

Takeaway: It is ok to slow down and enjoy the journey. It will open your mind and bring you joy.