Why I’m on the road indefinitely — and how I’ll know when I’ve “arrived”
Someone I greatly admire tweeted a prescient slogan a few short hours before we rang in the new year, and it resonated deeply:
Hopefully this rings true for many of you as you barrel headlong into 2019, fresh-faced and starry-eyed about the prospect of realizing long-held dreams and pressing play on emerging opportunities.
One of my closest confidantes and I spent a lot of time together over the December holidays, brainstorming and scheming on myriad possibilities for “Unusual Life Plans.” We dubbed one of these trajectories stable nomadism — a mobile lifestyle with built-in focus on community-building and holistic wellness that supports the growth of a young, global consulting business.
Stable nomadism, by our definition, involves spending 2–3 weeks at a time in a given geography (rather than the typical 2–3 days business travelers have in cities they travel to for client visits, conferences and meetings).
For my company Lahayim, this pursuit provides a tremendous opportunity — for our team and for our communities. We’ll have just-in-time access to emerging global trends, open up new networks, and build robust relationships with people all over the world around shared values and goals. This isn’t just theoretical, it’s data-driven: travel and exposure to unfamiliar people and places accelerates learning, boosts creativity, cultivates curiosity, drives diversity, elevates health and fosters resiliency.
So where to first?
I’m kickstarting this multi-month journey off with a three-week stay in Austin, Texas. In addition to its exploding startup and tech scenes, ATX prides itself on
- a storied, subversive arts culture;
- balmy weather year-round (fare thee well, “winter”); and
- incredible integrations between campus and community.
For prime prototypes of the latter, look no further than UT Austin’s Division of Diversity & Inclusion, anchored by fellow Global Shaper Virginia Cumberbatch. Under Virginia’s direction, UT has worked diligently on local and national dialogs around and re-negotiations of institutional and political practices of equality, fairness and access.
Just across campus, UT’s Office of Inclusive Innovation focuses on creating strong networks through which new for-profit sustainable ventures can be built in overlooked communities. The center provides access to education around tools of wealth creation, innovative thinking, community stewardship, and social impact. Their work is a powerful exemplar of what I was charged with building at Davidson College from 2015–2017, and what our team at Lahayim daily aims to create.
And what’s the plan?
I’ll split my time between work, community-building and learning. Next Sunday, a great friend will help bring a long-standing dream of mine to life as we co-host the inaugural Family Dinner: a space for radical dialog, hospitality, story-sharing and vulnerability. In my collaborator’s kitchen, we’ll break bread with comrades new and old over unique experiences of and questions about spirit and justice. This meal will be the first of many Family Dinners I’ll co-convene as a means to build and actively contribute to community in the cities, states and countries where I’m spending time.
If you’re interested in learning more, I’m on the hunt for Family Dinner co-hosts in Athens, Denver, Durham, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego and LA later this spring. Reach out directly for dates and details.
So how can we stay in touch?
Besides leaning into digital dexterity and scheduling calls, Skypes or FaceTimes between bus rides and planes, I’m partial to old-fashioned post and would like nothing more than to write you a letter from time to time and place to known (or unknown) place. Message your address if you’re keen on finding sweet (and sometimes-sappy) surprises in your mailbox. Beyond that, keep in touch intentionally! While I’m a very proactive communicator, occasional “hellos” or words of encouragement go further than you know.
To life, and to you!
Hannah
Want more regular updates? Keep up with me in your inbox here.
