The Surprising Gift of Travel – and Why Family Business Leaders Need It Now More Than Ever

I don’t know how it’s already July. Somehow, we blinked, and the year is more than halfway over. If your household looks anything like mine, summer means our regular routines are out the window. Maybe the kids are out of school. Maybe you’ve got family travel on the calendar. Maybe your workdays feel a little scattered or stretched across coffee shops, living rooms, or airplanes.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how much travel changes us – how it shapes us. And yes, even though this is a blog about family business, we’re going to talk about travel today. Because for me, and I know for many of you, travel has been one of the most unexpected teachers in business and in life.

I Didn’t Set Out to Join the Family Business – Travel Brought Me Here

If you’ve been around for a while, you might already know: I didn’t grow up planning to take over the family business. But travel changed that. My family’s company is in the airline industry – so naturally, travel has always been part of the story.

When I was graduating from college, my dad said, “We need someone to open a European sales office. We’ll send you to Europe for a couple of years.”I said yes. Not because I dreamed of running the company. But because… Europe. Travel. Adventure.

And that’s how it started.

Over the years, travel became one of the reasons I stayed in the business longer than I ever expected. And it’s also what helped me grow into the leader I am now.

We Don’t Need a Plane Ticket to See Things Differently

Last month, our family’s schedule was extra wild. Between end-of-school activities and my husband’s travel plans, I ended up working all over the place – anywhere but my office. Coffee shops. Friends’ guest rooms. The car. You name it.

And at first, it felt chaotic. But then I noticed something.

Getting out of my usual space gave me a whole new perspective. Even just being 45 minutes from home changed the energy I was working in. I wasn’t buried in the same routine. I wasn’t pulled into the mental to-do list that lives next to my desk.

It reminded me: you don’t need to hop on a flight to Italy to get a fresh perspective. Sometimes a new neighborhood, a different rhythm, or a solo morning with a journal can do the trick.

And that realization really opened something up for me.

Time Away Isn’t Always Easy – But It’s Often What We Need Most

Years ago, when I was the sales director for our airline company, I traveled internationally a lot. Europe, Asia, the Middle East. Trips that lasted 7 to 10 days. And I’ll be honest – I hated it when my daughter was little.

Leaving her was gut-wrenching. Every trip, I cried on the plane. Every time, I debated whether this job was worth it. And the only reason I stayed was because it wasn’t just a job – it was the family business.

I was caught in that classic family business dilemma: Do I disappoint my own little family at home… or my family of origin, who’s counting on me?

Eventually, on one of those flights – still crying – I had a shift.

I realized: I can spend the next 10 days wishing I were home, counting the hours. Or I can use this time intentionally. I can eat nourishing food. Read something inspiring. Reflect. Walk. Sleep.

And then, when I go home – I’ll be better. Calmer. Clearer. More present.

That one shift changed my entire relationship with travel. And, honestly, with leadership.

We All Need Time in Our Own Energy

Fast forward to this June: My husband went on an eight-day boat trip with my brother (his version of heaven). Our daughter, nearly a high school senior, was busy with her own summer plans. And for the first time in a long time, I had the house to myself. Quiet mornings. Quiet evenings. Stillness.

It reminded me of the old rhythm we had before the pandemic – when business travel naturally gave each of us time in our own space. And it made me realize: that time apart, that solo energy, was part of what helped us thrive both at home and in our business.

Now that we’re not traveling as much, we have to intentionally create that kind of space. It doesn’t happen on its own anymore. But the need? It’s still there.

So, Why Does Time Away Matter So Much for Family Business Owners?

Here’s what I’ve learned – and what I want to share with you as you navigate summer and think about the second half of your year:

1. Perspective lives outside your routine.

Whether it’s a two-day solo trip, a coffee shop across town, or a structured retreat, getting out of your usual space opens doors in your mind you didn’t even know were closed.

2. Leadership clarity needs quiet.

As leaders – especially if you're sensitive or intuitive – you need space away from others’ energy to hear your own thoughts clearly. That doesn’t happen when you’re constantly “on.” Real clarity? It needs stillness.

3. Retreat is not a luxury. It’s a strategy.

This isn’t about a vacation with your girlfriends (though I highly support those, too). A true retreat – where you’re unplugged, intentional, and reflective – is one of the most powerful things you can do for your business. It’s not a break from leading; it’s how you lead better.

Create the Space You Deserve

So here’s my invitation: Look at your calendar. Where’s the space for you?

Not the family vacation.

Not the work conference.

Not the girls’ trip.

I mean the quiet, spacious, deeply personal kind of time that allows you to realign, reset, and lead from your fullest energy again.

If you don’t have that space yet, maybe it’s time to create it. And if you’re looking for a container that supports that – one that’s specifically designed for women in family business – the Legacy Women’s Retreat might be exactly what you need.

📍 October 17–19

🌿 Unity Village, just outside Kansas City

👭 Limited to just 10 women for deep connection and reflection

It’s going to be a weekend of nourishing meals, intentional movement, quiet mornings, beautiful conversations, and expansive visioning.

You can learn more or apply here:👉 www.thelegacyevolution.com/retreat

However you do it – whether through a retreat, a weekend away, or a few quiet mornings alone – I hope you give yourself the space.

Because you don’t just deserve it.You need it.

And so does your business.