When I took a sabbatical a few years ago, \u00a0I set off for Europe with no itinerary, but plenty of notebooks and eyes wide open.\u00a0Anything and everything that caught my fancy was recorded and composted.<\/p>\n
Long term travel isn’t the only option, of course. Taking regular jaunts to inspire yourself is good for your creative spirit. Even a day trip can yield results if you are open to it happening.<\/p>\n
Here are a few of my favorite ways to recharge and refresh my entrepreneurial self.<\/p>\n
\u00b0 Visit a legendary business.<\/strong> Long before I set foot in Rejuvenation, a lighting, salvage and home furnishings store\u00a0in Portland, I was a fan. I’d been getting their catalogs and loved their storytelling as much as their merchandise.<\/p>\n Seeing the business in person did not disappoint.<\/p>\n Another happy visit took place on a trip to Minneapolis when Alice Barry suggested we pay a call on Wild Rumpus<\/a>, the imaginative children’s bookstore. Somehow I had never managed to get there when I lived in the area.<\/p>\n These kinds of places don’t always show up in guidebooks, but savvy entrepreneurs who are willing to scout them out, often find ideas and inspiration that they can synthesize in their own operations.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Browse at a flea market.<\/strong> Whether or not you’re shopping for anything in particular, a couple of hours chatting with entrepreneurial sellers can be a fine way to invest some weekend time.<\/p>\n If a seller isn’t busy, ask about their business. Why did they choose the merchandise they sell? Where do they find things they market?<\/p>\n For some sellers, it’s a little sideline, while others travel the country marketing antique, art or clothing. Most sellers are also social beings and love to share their stories.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Make a pilgrimage.<\/strong> The moment that I heard that the deYoung Museum<\/a> in San Francisco was hosting the largest display of Dale Chihuly’s<\/a> work ever gathered in one place, I knew I had to go. I have been tracking down his work in cities I’ve visited for the past several years, but never attended such an abundant exhibit.<\/p>\n I have, however, flown across the country and across the ocean with the intention of attending a special exhibit of the works of artists I love or to hear a performer or author I admire.<\/p>\n It’s always special to visit an exhibit or attend a concert or seminar that only exists for a brief time. Making the effort to admire creativity enriches and enhances your life.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Visit an entrepreneurial city or town. <\/strong>When my friend Chris Utterback was alive, I always looked forward to my visits to her in Connecticut where one of our regular amusements was to visit our favorite shopkeepers in neighboring villages.<\/p>\n Like flea market sellers, shopkeepers who specialize in selling things that they love are frequently eager to talk about their passions.<\/p>\n Large cities, too, often have neighborhoods where locals run quirky little businesses. Scout them out.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Be a tourist in your own hometown. <\/strong>During my days living in Santa Barbara, I always enjoyed visits from out of town friends with whom I could share this lovely spot.<\/p>\n After one of these visits where I played tour guide, I realized that I wasn’t taking advantage of interesting things in my own backyard.<\/p>\n Every so often, get off your beaten path and go see something a visitor wouldn’t dream of missing if they came to your part of the world.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Go on a treasure hunt.<\/strong> If you’re a collector, you already know the fun of treasure hunting, but if you aren’t so inclined, invent a project and see where it leads you.<\/p>\n Find the best taco or creme brulee within fifty miles of home. Or see if you can discover the most eccentric business in your area.<\/p>\n Entrepreneurial excursions can inspire and inform, of course, but the best part of taking such a trip is the possibility of encountering someone who is genuinely doing what they love.<\/p>\n As Danny Gregory reminds us, “When you are in the deep end of the creative pool surrounded by others full of energy and ideas and examples, you learn to swim a lot better.”<\/p>\n \u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0\u00b0<\/p>\n Bonus Excursion<\/strong>:\u00a0In Seth Godin’s LINCHPIN he writes eloquently about the importance of creative thinking. “Art isn’t only a painting,” he points out. “Art is anything that’s creative, passionate and personal.” Like being Joyfully Jobless. And the upcoming Idea Safari can help you spread your art. There’s still time to join the exploration.\u00a0http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/3w9yxq3<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When I took a sabbatical a few years ago, \u00a0I set off for Europe with no itinerary, but plenty of notebooks and eyes wide open.\u00a0Anything and everything that caught my fancy was recorded and composted. Long term travel isn’t the only option, of course. Taking regular jaunts to inspire yourself is good for your creative…<\/p>\n