The honest truth is that entrepreneurship takes lots of work. It takes lots of brain power, energy and focus to create a successful empire that will last. As a businesswoman myself,  I get lots of emails and DM’s from people saying how they’ve experienced burnout, fatigue and have lack of creativity in their business over time. I honestly believe this happens because of lack of exposure and inspiration on a consistent basis.

I’m a firm believer that the more you do, see and experience, the more you will be able to produce in your business and life overall. That’s why travel has become such a huge part of my life. I can honestly say that I’ve built a successful brand over the years and seeing the beauty of this world played a major role in that.

I could go on and on, but I’ll share more about it below. Here are 5 ways in which travel can boost your business and cause you to be more creative and productive …So let’s go!

1. Travel exposes you to new things

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably have heard me say this a million times, but travel really does expose you to new things. You can only produce at the level you’ve been exposed too. The more you see and experience in life, the more knowledge and opportunities you are able to attain. There is always something new to be discovered and travel helps to expand your knowledge base, because you learn something new you did not know in the past.

Many times, entrepreneurs feel stuck simply because they don’t know there is another option for them to go to the next level. It doesn’t mean that the option wasn’t there, it just means they weren’t exposed to it, so they only saw things based off of their experiences. That’s why it’s so important to get around the right people, read books and get outside of your comfort zone, so that you can see what’s out there and add that inspiration to your life and business.

2. Travel increases your social media engagement

Whether I travel nationally or internationally, my social media engagement increases significantly during that time. Though I am very consistent with posting on a daily basis, I’ve noticed that people are more engaged with me during my travels. The same is most likely true for you; you get more comments and likes when you are discovering new places, and that’s because it makes your profile a lot more interesting. Just like how you are many times discovering a new land, so are your followers along with you. It causes them to be more engaged with you, which creates a great opportunity for you to sell your product or service to them. You can do this in a way without being super pushy, by simply adding in posts or stories in-between captures of your travels, that inform your audience of what you do or offer.

I know for me, my sales increase every time I travel. I take time to create discounts and specials I can offer my audience when I go on a trip. Why? Think of social media as your audience. When you get the chance to get on stage with all eyes on you, it’s a great time to show them why and how your products or services can be beneficial to their lives.

3. Travel sparks creativity

When you are stuck in a daily routine, it can be hard to stay creative in your endeavors when you aren’t exposing yourself to new things, people and places. Marketing and branding all comes down to your selling creativity. Can you catch your ideal customer’s eye? That may mean you need to go out and see what they like, where they go and what they do, and you don’t have to go far to do so. It’s about getting out and seeing new things that spark your creativity.

I remember going to Europe for a study abroad program and saw a lot of students lose their passports while away. It was such an inconvenience to them and the entire group, but instead of getting mad, I was inspired to create passport cover holdersintended to help you stay organized and keep all your travel documents safe. If I would have never gone outside of my comfort zone, I would have probably never took the leap of faith to create Style & Travel Girl.

Next time you go on an adventure, think of ways you can be inspired to create new products or even add to your current business.

4. Travel expands your conversation

Simply put, the more you see, the better your world view. Travel is known to expand your conversation and knowledge, which can open you up to amazing opportunities and deals. I remember talking with a lady about my experience in France, which later lead to a week-long sponsored trip to London. How awesome is that? I’ve even gotten business deals from having the right conversation with the right person, that started with being able to share my world view and experiences. I said all this to say that your experiences can lead to your next level. The more you have, the higher you can go.

5. Travel refuels you

Last but not least, travel refuels and rejuvenates you. Like I mentioned above, so many entrepreneurs rightfully complain about losing their fuel for business. When that happens, it begins to slow down sales, marketing efforts and brand awareness. When you get out from your everyday routine, it shakes you up. I know every times I go on a trip, whether in the US or internationally, I find myself excited, giddy and ready to go harder in my business. Why is that? It’s because you gain a sense of wander, which makes you happy because you are doing something new that’s outside of your norm.

So I want to challenge you to get out and see something new. You can start in your own city or state or go straight to international. Whichever you choose, it’s important that you as an entrepreneur stay innovative and on the cutting edge. Exposure really does create desire to do more, have more and be more. So let’s be great!