Where do you have your greatest ideas? I used to think the shower. Yes, I still have some great ones there, but something about flying on Southwest seems to garner some BIG ideas.

Not everyone is a fan – but I LOVE Southwest airlines. The no change fee, 2 free checked bags and the option to automate my check-in early (so I get that aisle seat in case I forget to check in even when my app reminds me) are just the top things. Even recently I found a direct flight to Indianapolis to visit my daughter – and was able to check-thru my bag to SFO on he way back for business  – even though the round trip flights were booked separately. But I digress.

When we step into a space without all the distractions, our mind frees up. While a shower is typically free of distractions (but not always), I can begin to daydream ideas and solutions. But on a flight, more then once, as I begin to relax and doze off, BAM, I’m hit with an idea – a BIG scary risky exciting idea – for myself and my clients. What’s that all about? I don’t know, but I didn’t have any great BAM ideas on my recent 11 hour flight to London on a different airline. Just sayin….

I firmly believe we need to get out of our usual space and work ON our business and life goals regularly – not in them and certainly out of the daily grind. I’ve just spent the last weekend holed up at the posh Four Seasons in Palo Alto California, working on my 2019 plan with my accountability partner. Being the CEO, having the vision, creating the plan and mapping out the strategy takes focused time and energy.

But even as we work through the day – that shower (daily I hope) or the occasional flight. might lead to some big ideas and breakthroughs. Pay attention, listen up. Remember the quote – A change of place + a change of pace = a change in perspective. Take that to heart in your business as well as your personal life.

P.S. Interested in my FREE planner pages? I have my designers putting them together now – but click here to get them as a downloadable pdf the minute they are ready!