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The rain in the past week disrupted all my travel plans in Taiwan.
...and it's been great!
I had planned a long hike on the Caoling Historical Trail (草岭古道) to see the seasonal silvergrass,
But as I was preparing to leave the hostel, it started drizzling, and the staff warned me against hiking in such a weather.
So, after a quick 15-min Google and ChatGPTing, I pivoted and set off to explore the nearby towns of Dongshan and Luodong.
What followed was a day of unexpected discoveries:
☀️ I tasted the most amazing mochi and tofu pudding in Dongshan
☀️ I learnt about Tai Ping Mountain's logging history at the Luodong Forestry Culture Park
☀️ I had long chats with the museum curators who gave me insights that I could not have known just by browsing the exhibits
Reflecting on it, I realized how travel is a lot like entrepreneurship.
Both are full of uncertainties, and here's my takeaway of how to embrace them:
.
1️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
At the start of the trip, I told myself there is no “must-see.” In business, too, having a flexible outlook helps us navigate changes more easily.
2️⃣ 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬
I packed for all weather, including a windbreaker and waterproof shoes. In business, too, we prepare for the unexpected by equipping ourselves with the right tools and skills.
3️⃣ 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐬 = 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬
Rather than lamenting about missed plans, I looked at the new itineraries as fresh opportunities to explore places that I would have never gone to under normal circumstance. In business, such shifts in thinking can open doors to unexpected innovation, partnerships or growth opportunities.
Have you ever had an unexpected change turn into something memorable?
I first published this reflection on the "Innovation Made Simple. Growth Made Real” series on LinkedIn in Dec 2024.
Pictures taken around the townships of Dongshan (东山）and Luodong (罗东).
