Putting Fuel Back in a Near Empty Tank: Leadership Lessons at 39K Feet

My wife and I were finally headed home, flying somewhere above the Turgay Plateau. After nearly a month of travel across four countries and multiple time zones, we were returning to the familiarity of our daily lives and the responsibilities and routines that come with them.

Our journey across the Subcontinent and beyond was spectacular, incredibly immersive, inspiring and admittedly, exhausting. But for those of us who lead, manage or make decisions in our professional lives, a trip like this was a complete reset. My experience offered a reminder that to lead well at work, it’s crucial to occasionally step away to see more clearly.

Clarity is how we, as leaders, grow, absent from our cares and concerns. And as my wife and I looked out the plane windows, thousands of feet above ground, I reflected on our month-long journey.

A Widened Perspective

Throughout this travel series, we’ve explored ideas inspired by the trip from branding in Jaipur to business design inspired by sacred spaces and the busy streets of Delhi. Each stop offered more than a spectacular scene, they offered perspective.

I recognized the role of presence as I got the chance to reflect on the entire experience. Not just physically but being mentally and emotionally engaged. This type of presence is nearly impossible to come by when you’re immersed in the daily buzz of the work day.

My time to reflect highlighted three important things:

• First, we are fortunate. We can expand our minds and gain a deeper understanding of others by seeing how they live while remaining in coddled comfort. Witnessing how others live, think, build, worship and work, on top of my accumulated knowledge from a lifetime of reading and conversation adds a third dimension to the experience. It’s impossible not to absorb something deeper spending one day in a palace courtyard and the next in the oppressive air of the Changi Prison Complex. Life is too short and resources are too scarce to see everything, but we are fortunate for the opportunity to see any of it.

• Second, connection can be found anywhere. Whether over cups of chai or in impromptu conversations, connection is found through comparing our pasts and sharing our visions of today. Traveling with others, talking and laughing with them, added layers to the entire journey. It reminded us that relationships are the bridge between difference and understanding.

• Third, travel changes your outlook. Seeing the palaces of the truly wealthy beside poverty, modernization alongside ancient systems, and a respect for tradition amid innovation forces reflection. It alters your view of success and allows you to reconsider what you care about.

What business leaders can bring

When executed with intention, travel is not just a change of scenery, it can influence how you look at life when you return. For business leaders, that clarity is worth its weight in gold. Here is a recap of the ideas and business lessons we’ve explored in this series:

• Adapting to Change: Business Lessons from the Hustle of Delhi’s Streets Delhi’s busy street reminded us that navigating chaos depends on being responsive and adaptable.

• Thoughts from Abroad: Singapore’s Path to Financial Powerhouse Singapore’s transformation to a financial powerhouse in just 60 years since achieving independence showed how disciplined, thoughtful strategizing can build sustainable success.

• Mastering Sales: Lessons from a Pashmina Shop A pashmina performance-like sales presentation in Jaipur proved that expertise, trust and experience are powerful sales tools.

• Business Tips from the Oberoi Hotel Our welcome into the Oberoi Hotel highlighted the importance of first impressions and an experience that follows through on it.

• The Pink City’s Lessons in Branding Jaipur’s nickname The Pink City set high expectations, but the city’s authenticity proved that authentic branding is about exceeding expectations, rather than inflating them.

• Course Correction vs. Control in Business Strategy Watching our pilot land an air balloon near the Aravalli hills, I was reminded that much of business is about skillful course correction over control.

• The Art of Saying No A moment to pause one morning in Jaipur served as a reminder that saying no can protect your energy and sharpen your focus.

• How Sacred Spaces Remind Us to Build with Purpose From double-layered walls to silent ventilation systems, India’s sacred and royal spaces showed that systems built with purpose can withstand the test of time.

I was physically tired by the time we touched down, but mentally I was rejuvenated. For those of us who lead, manage and make decisions in our professional lives, that clarity is a gift. It’s a reminder to look up from the screen and ask more questions. As I wrote somewhere between India and home, the true benefit of travel is the contrast and connection. The shared laughter with strangers, the tension of pace and being immersed in culture and history are what really fills the tank.