Read More Than A Page (The Friday Ficks S5 E28)

The summer solstice - our annual signal that summer has officially arrived - is often called “the longest day of the year.”

That extra daylight? It’s not just for dancing in the streets, as Martha and the Vandellas famously sang.

I’d argue it’s the perfect invitation to travel.

And it doesn’t have to be a luxury safari or a two-week Mediterranean cruise. I’m talking about a deliberate pause. A change of scenery. A break from the inbox and the never-ending to-do list.

A day trip to the beach. A weekend in the mountains. A visit to a national park. A few days unplugged at the lake.

These aren’t indulgences. They’re investments.

Because great leaders aren’t forged in back-to-back Zoom calls or 60-hour weeks.

They’re shaped by perspective. By clarity. By moments of stillness and awe.

Travel delivers those gifts. Every single time.

When you travel - even briefly - you allow your mind to rest and reset. That pause creates space for reflection, creativity, and fresh insights. You return not just rested, but sharper. More present. More effective. More you.

Relax. Reflect. Recline. Rest. Rejuvenate. Recharge. Reassess. Recommit. Restore.

These aren’t just vacation buzzwords. They’re leadership strategies in disguise.

St. Augustine once wrote that the “world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”

So read more than a page this summer. Flip the script. Turn the page. Step away, if only for a moment.

You, and your team, will be better for it.

Own the day. Own the weekend.

Carl