As a seasoned communications professional, I believe in the power of ideas to change the world. Yet, I am often reminded of the limitations of my field, as every day brings a new cautionary tale of hype and hubris. No lesson is more timely than Britain’s exit, or “Brexit,” from the European Union. As Prime Minister Theresa May seeks to convince her party and the nation that she is delivering the European divorce that she promised at the beginning of her term, she is struggling to live up to her own spin. This is a classic tale of tactics winning out over strategy.
One of the lessons you learn very quickly when you travel is how little you actually know about the world. No matter how much you’ve read or how many travel shows you’ve watched, or how well-traveled you are, life on the road is a humbling reminder of one’s place in relation to the world. We are small specks or blips on the radar of life. Our past doesn’t matter as much as our present or our future. Life has to be lived in the moment, as every problem is new and every decision is significant. Since our return, we have been peppered with questions about our experience, so I thought I should share our key insights.