How Traveling Changed My Hustle

Originally published in November 2016; updated in July 2023

“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world." – Mary Anne Radmacher

We often envy the stories of those like Elizabeth Gilbert in "Eat, Pray, Love" or Cheryl Strayed in "Wild," when reflecting on how personal travel journeys can change the trajectory of our lives forever. We see countless stories of lives, in the mainstream media, that have been forever changed by a complete leap of faith into a life of long-term travel. We forget that we don't need to travel for months or years to reap the benefits of self-discovery. By taking advantage of opportunities (big and small), whenever and wherever they arise, and by remaining open to the lessons learned along the way, our lives – and our 'hustles' – can change forever. 

Growing up in the U.S. capital of Latin America, also known as Miami, Florida, my fascination with foreign cultures started at a young age. I learned Spanish, Salsa, and the importance of a good chancleta all before graduating from high school. Through this exposure to a foreign culture and constantly learning things outside of a typical Americanized bubble, I assumed I had all of the tools necessary for wherever the world would take me. I had no idea how much I had left to learn. 

My first trip abroad took place by way of a 4-hour boat ride to a tiny island in the Bahamas called Cat Cay. It was there at age fifteen that I realized (while sitting at a bar, sipping on a virgin daiquiri,) that 'hustle' looks different to everyone. I observed, as my dad connected with our bartender - a complete stranger - over shared experiences of living in Nassau. I longed to experience similar connections and conversations, and this would motivate many of my future adventures and successes to come.

As I grew, my passion for exploration did too. I found small and large ways to make travel part of my life. In college, I volunteered in Australia during my freshman year, studied abroad in Spain as a sophomore, and as a graduation gift to myself, I backpacked through Costa Rica and Europe. In between jobs, I visited friends in Korea and Thailand. Throughout Grad school I completed projects in Luxembourg, Israel, Uruguay, and Argentina. So far, I've seen 33 countries, on 6 continents, and made hundreds of new friendships since that first trip in the summer of 2005. I am constantly thirsting for more (Iceland is up next)!

Travel challenges everything. It forces us to question opinions, beliefs, privilege, and everything we think we know, all while taking us completely out of our comfort zones and allowing us to view the world through new eyes. The following are the ways in which I've discovered traveling has changed and strengthened my hustle:

It has changed the way I communicate. 

Sometimes when meeting people who look, speak, or think differently than us, it’s inevitably difficult to find common ground. All of the friends that I’ve made from different cultures and backgrounds have translated into my ability to walk into a room and connect with each and every person with whom I talk. If I can connect with people who do not speak my language, there is no reason I cannot connect with people who do - simple.

It has made me more comfortable with the unknown. 

When visiting a country with no common language, culture, or customs of yours, is literally impossible to plan ahead for every contingency that can arise; you have to be confident in your own ability to figure things out along the way. I now have the tools and grit to power through any obstacle or unexpected deviation from my original plans in my daily life and work. Just like I know I'll always be able to find my way (with or without the internet) in a foreign place, I know I can overcome any challenges that arise back home - personally or professionally.

It has taught me to celebrate diversity.

Every role I've had, has involved working on (or with) diverse teams of people. To me, 'diversity' no longer exclusively means a variation in race, sex, religion, gender-orientation, age, etc. The definition of diversity has expanded to diversity of culture, upbringing, and ways of thinking. Traveling abroad has given me the upper hand in being open-minded to these differences. Upon returning to 'real life' after a trip, we bring with us a better understanding of who we are, as well as a stronger appreciation for all things different. More often than not, we don't just appreciate them - we celebrate them. 

It has helped me to embrace opportunity.

The more places that I visit and the more people that I meet, the more I see that opportunity does not knock on every door. If you are lucky enough to have an opportunity to travel, pack your bags. Go after your dreams and passions with everything you have, and follow it up by paying it forward - help create opportunities for those who may not be as fortunate, in any way that you can.

Growing up, 'hustle' simply equated to 'hard work' and 'long hours.' But the more of the world I see, the more I understand how limited that view really is. Hustle, like success, means different things to different people and one size does not fit all. Traveling has given me the tools to make my own hustle more efficient, so I can work hard at other things (like more travel), simultaneously.

Now, I work harder to keep my hustle as genuine and organic as the people I've met along the way, and I keep in mind that I did not get here alone; I learned something from every single soul I came across. I am excited to see how my hustle continues to change as I continue to transfer countries from 'To Visit' to 'Visited.' Thankfully, the world is large and I have plenty of opportunities left to tackle. 

Originally published via Babes Who Hustle in November 2016 (updated in July 2023), this article was the 1st article (of 18) that I published with the organization. I am currently republishing them here on LinkedIn, as Babes Who Hustle re-brands to it's new mission and name, under Each is Every.