“The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton, Born May 29, 1874.
The trite way to look at this quote is to see it as a claim by the traveler of superiority over the tourist.
But what I want to tell you is that there are times where you want to make yourself into either one or the other, depending.
But the primary one to use if you want to be seen as an original – an innovator, is that of a TRAVELER.
So let's say that in this metaphor, information is geography, okay?
Are you creating content and messaging for your audience?
Are you brainstorming and researching to create something brand new?
Or perhaps you’re trying to curate a unique perspective on something old?
Then you need to think like a TRAVELER. You must “see what there is to see.”
Don't approach the material with a closed point of view, because being open minded and curious and observant HERE will yield dividends.
Fresh perspectives and observations and realizations come from exploring like a traveler does. Explore without preconceptions. Don’t try to validate your expectations. Catalog what you find as if you’ve never seen it before. Describe it as though it is brand new to you and follow where it leads.
There is no such thing as too much or too deep, because this is how you find things to share that people just can't get from anyone else.
Finding undiscovered parallels, and hidden gems – a traveler finds those, but a tourist never would.
Everyone else who comes in like a tourist is MISSING the true value to be found here. Which is how you can come into a tired, boring, well trod niche that others have been into for years and suddenly make it seem intriguing and fresh and exciting again.
Think like a TRAVELER and report back to those who want to follow in your footsteps in the tourist role, and you’ll always have work as a guide.