How Travel Impacted Our Family and My Career

Travel has always played a pivotal role in shaping my career and family life. During a recent podcast episode, I shared how travel influenced us unexpectedly. Here's a deeper dive into how embracing travel transformed our experiences and led to numerous opportunities.

Our journey with travel began with a desire to combine work with family time. My wife and I decided to homeschool our children starting in 1987, which allowed us the flexibility to take them on my business trips. This decision wasn't just about education but about enriching our kids' lives with experiences beyond textbooks.

• New York: During a six-month consulting gig, my children explored the city and learned about its rich history and diverse culture.
• London: We spent significant time in the UK, teaching our kids to navigate the London Underground and appreciate British heritage.
• Paris and Milan: These cities offered unique cultural experiences, from Paris's art to Milan's fashion.

This approach gave our children a worldly perspective, preparing them to navigate and appreciate diverse environments. It wasn't just about the destinations; it was about the journey and the invaluable life lessons learned along the way.

Travel has significantly impacted my career trajectory. Early on, I realized the importance of prioritizing experiences over immediate financial gains. This shift in mindset came from a profound piece of advice: focus on the value and experience you bring to your roles, and financial rewards will follow.

1. Adaptability: Traveling for work, whether for consulting or speaking engagements, taught me to adapt quickly to new environments and cultures. This adaptability proved invaluable in various professional settings, from high-stakes negotiations to collaborative projects with international teams.
2. Networking: Attending global conferences and events expanded my professional network, connecting me with experts and innovators worldwide. These relationships often led to unexpected opportunities and collaborations.
3. Work-Life Balance: I maintained a healthy work-life balance by incorporating travel into our family life. This approach ensured that I remained productive without sacrificing precious family moments.

In this episode, I shared insights on creating content, personal growth, and balancing positive and negative feedback. Our mobile studio, the Prevost bus, has been a game-changer. It allows us to travel and produce content simultaneously, ensuring we never miss an episode. The bus has impacted my career and our family priorities, enabling us to explore and learn together.

As has been the topic of recent episodes, listeners must prioritize their values and make career choices that align with them. The choice my wife and I made in homeschooling our kids back in 1987 allowed the family to travel extensively and gain valuable experiences. While my early career was as a consultant, my family benefited by traveling with me to major cities like New York, London, Paris, and Milan, providing our kids with a global perspective and their role.

Travel is more than just a career tool; it's a lifelong learning experience. It's about gaining insights, building resilience, and understanding the world from different viewpoints. Travel has been a way to stay connected, learn continuously, and grow personally and professionally for my family and me.

If we boil down my advice, it is vital to prioritize career and family goals, take breaks to recharge, and return from time away ready to change the world. Embrace travel, prioritize your values, and watch how it transforms your life and career.

Feel free to reach out if you have questions or topics you'd like me to address in future episodes. Here's to more adventures and continued growth, both on the road and in our careers.

The worst career advice I have ever received led me down a path that failed to result in success. Early in my career, I was advised to chase jobs based on salary and stability, with voices telling me to work for big, secure companies. However, I quickly learned there were better moves than prioritizing finances over family, personal growth, and gaining new experiences.

Many well-meaning people advised me to focus on jobs with the highest salary and the most stable environment. They believed that financial security would bring long-term happiness and career satisfaction. However, this approach stifled my growth and limited my opportunities to learn new skills.

One significant turning point came when I took a 30% pay cut to work at a company that promised invaluable learning experiences. This decision felt risky and counterintuitive, especially considering the prevailing wisdom to prioritize financial stability. However, it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my career. The new role accelerated my professional growth, and I gained skills that opened doors to more excellent opportunities.

Focusing on the value I could bring to an organization and the experiences I could gain proved far more rewarding than chasing higher paychecks. By emphasizing personal and professional development, I found that financial rewards naturally followed. My career flourished because I prioritized growth and learning over immediate financial gain.

This approach led me to adopt the principle of never negotiating my starting salary or asking for raises. Instead, I concentrated on how I could create high value and impact within the organizations I joined. This mindset shifted my focus from short-term financial gains to long-term career development and satisfaction.

If I don't prioritize financial gains, what do I prioritize? I follow five criteria: faith, family, friends, fitness, and finances. This framework has guided me for decades, helping me maintain a balanced and fulfilling life. When I keep my priorities correctly, finances tend to take care of themselves.

• Chasing salary and stability can lead to missed personal and professional growth opportunities.
• Focusing on experience and the value you can bring to an organization often leads to greater long-term rewards.
• Prioritizing key life aspects like faith, family, friends, fitness, and finances creates a balanced approach to career and life.
• Avoiding salary negotiations and focusing on creating high impact can shift the focus to more meaningful career development.

In summary, the worst career advice I received taught me the importance of prioritizing growth and experiences over immediate financial gains. I have achieved greater career satisfaction and long-term success by focusing on what truly matters.

During a recent lunch with interns, I shared the best career advice I ever received. Bob Davis, my mentor who hired me for my first job as a software programmer, imparted wisdom that has guided my career trajectory. Bob saw my potential and advised me to build more than technical skills. He moved me through various departments: IT, marketing, finance, and sales. Each rotation lasted six months, giving me insights into how different parts of the organization worked and how to communicate with non-technical people.

This experience broadened my skills and led to a T-shaped career. It would be best to have depth in one area and a broad understanding across fields and industries. This approach has helped me in various roles, from advanced microprocessors to artificial intelligence and mobile technology. The best career advice involves gaining expertise in one area while seeking broad experiences. This method proved invaluable in my career success at Hewlett Packard and CableLabs, where I interact with diverse professionals worldwide.

The second best career advice I received was to avoid frequent job hopping. A long-term commitment to one company can provide valuable networks and growth opportunities. If offered a chance to gain new experiences, and you feel it would build out your "T," say yes, even if you do not know how to do the job initially. Staying with one company long enough to gain in-depth experience and build strong relationships can offer a solid foundation for career growth.

1. Gain Deep Expertise and Broad Experience: Focus on becoming an expert in one area while acquiring knowledge in various job functions and industries. This dual approach prepares you to communicate and solve problems effectively at all levels.
2. Engage in Different Job Functions: By rotating through different departments, you can understand the inner workings of an organization and improve your ability to work with diverse teams.
3. Stay Creative and Dedicated: Continuously look for ways to innovate and improve your field. Dedication to your craft and a willingness to learn will set you apart in any industry.
4. Commit to Long-Term Goals: Avoid the temptation to switch jobs frequently. Instead, focus on building a career that allows for growth and development within one or a few organizations.

To build a T-shaped career, follow these steps:

• Seek Rotational Opportunities: Look for roles that offer the chance to work in various departments. This will help you gain a broad understanding of different functions within the company.
• Pursue Cross-Disciplinary Projects: Engage in projects that require collaboration across different fields. This will enhance your ability to work with diverse teams and solve complex problems.
• Invest in Continuous Learning: Take courses, attend workshops, and seek mentorship to deepen your expertise in your chosen field while expanding your knowledge base.
• Network Within and Outside Your Industry: Building connections with professionals in various fields can provide insights and opportunities you might not encounter within your immediate circle.

The best career advice centers around developing depth and breadth in your expertise. Embrace a T-shaped career by seeking diverse experiences and committing to long-term goals. This approach will make you a versatile professional and prepare you to tackle challenges and seize opportunities in any industry.

If you have questions or need further career advice, please share them at PhilMcKinney.com. Stay dedicated, keep learning, and pursue your career with passion and creativity. Cheers to your future success!