Travel for Success

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Travel for Success

Helping entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals boost productivity through purposeful travel every 6 weeks. Work smarter. Live better.

Welcome to Travel for Success – where productivity meets purpose. I’m Jim Carmichael, a commercial real estate entrepreneur, author, and business owner who discovered something powerful:
🔥 The most productive weeks of my year happen right before and after I leave town. In 2022, I committed to a strategy—leave town every 6 weeks, reset, recharge, and come back sharper than ever. Since then, I’ve grown multiple companies, improved my health, and helped others do the same. This page is dedicated to helping you:
✅ Build a business that runs while you’re away
✅ Reclaim your energy and mental clarity
✅ Use travel as a strategic tool to level up your life
✅ Learn how to plan trips that fuel success (not drain you)

If you’re an entrepreneur, executive, or growth-minded professional, this is your space. Whether you're looking for tools, inspiration, or proof that stepping away can actually move you forward—you’ll find it here. Because success doesn’t come from grinding 24/7—it comes from stepping back, refocusing, and showing up better than ever. Let’s travel for success—together. 🌍✈️

11/04/2026

Here's something I've learned after more than 25 years in business.

Just because you're capable of doing something doesn't mean you should be the person doing it.

That's a difficult lesson for entrepreneurs.

Most of us built our businesses by doing whatever needed to be done.

We made the sales calls, handled the customers, solved the problems, paid the bills and worked whatever hours were necessary.

That's how businesses get started.

But it's not necessarily how they should continue operating.

Eventually, your experience becomes more valuable when you're making important decisions, developing relationships and identifying opportunities than when you're handling every routine task.

The problem is that we get comfortable being needed.

People call us because we have the answers.

Employees come to us because we're willing to make decisions.

Clients want us personally involved because that's what they've become accustomed to.

Before long, we're involved in everything.

And we call it leadership.

But is it?

I've come to believe that effective leadership includes developing people who can make good decisions without constantly asking for permission.

That doesn't mean abandoning responsibility or becoming unavailable when something important happens.

It means recognizing the difference between leading an organization and personally operating every part of it.

One of the ways you can evaluate your leadership is by leaving.

Not permanently. Just long enough to see what happens.

Does your team know what to do?

Can routine issues be resolved?

Do people have the authority and information they need?

Are you interrupted constantly because nobody else can make a decision?

The answers are worth paying attention to.

This is one of the reasons I advocate intentional travel.

Getting away isn't simply about relaxation. It creates opportunities to evaluate the business you've built and how you're leading it.

That's part of the philosophy behind my book, Travel For Success.

If you're a business owner who wants more freedom without sacrificing the success you've worked to achieve, I encourage you to read it.

https://amazon.com/author/jimcarmichael

Question for the business owners and managers reading this:

What's one responsibility you still handle personally that someone else could probably manage just as well?

11/03/2026

You don't have to wait until you're completely worn out to take a break.

In fact, I think that's one of the worst ways to approach travel.

Most people plan vacations around whatever time they can get away from work.

They look at their schedule, see what's available, and try to fit something in.

Business owners are particularly bad about this because there's always something happening.

A transaction closing.

An employee issue.

A customer who needs attention.

A project running behind.

If you wait until nothing needs your attention, you'll probably never leave.

My approach is different.

Start by scheduling the trip.

Then work backward.

Let's say you decide to leave town six weeks from today.

During the first week, identify where you're going, how long you'll be away and what responsibilities might interfere.

During weeks two and three, decide what can be delegated, what needs to be completed and what can wait.

During weeks four and five, make sure the people covering for you have the information and authority they need.

During the final week, handle the critical items and communicate your availability.

Then go.

It doesn't have to be complicated.

You don't have to fly across the country or spend thousands of dollars.

The important part is intentionally removing yourself from the daily routine.

Sometimes a change of scenery gives you the opportunity to think about things you haven't had time to consider.

Sometimes it reminds you why you're working so hard in the first place.

And sometimes it simply gives you time with the people who matter.

That's the principle behind Travel For Success: How To Increase Productivity By Leaving Town Every Six Weeks.

I believe travel should be part of your success strategy, not just a reward you receive when everything else is finished.

Here's today's challenge:

Open your calendar and count forward six weeks.

December 15.

Could you arrange to be away for a few days around that time?

If not, what's preventing it?

That's where your planning should begin.

And if you want to understand the philosophy behind building regular travel into your life, get a copy of Travel For Success.

https://amazon.com/author/jimcarmichael

Live Life Abundantly.

11/02/2026

Let me ask you something.

When was the last time you had an entire day when nobody needed anything from you?

No clients calling.

No employees asking questions.

No problems requiring immediate attention.

No emails that absolutely had to be answered.

For a lot of business owners, that day doesn't exist.

And many have convinced themselves that's just the price of success.

I disagree.

There's a difference between being responsible for a business and being personally responsible for every decision that gets made in that business.

I've been involved in multiple businesses and understand how easily everything can start flowing through one person.

At first, it makes sense.

You're building something. You're making decisions. You're developing relationships. You want things done correctly.

But eventually, what helped you build the business can become what prevents it from growing.

You become the bottleneck.

And the busier you get, the harder it becomes to recognize the problem.

That's why I believe getting away from your normal environment is so important.

When you plan to leave town, you start asking different questions.

Who can handle this while I'm gone?

Why am I still personally doing that?

What happens if a client calls and I'm unavailable?

Which decisions really require me?

Those are valuable questions, whether you're leaving for three days or three weeks.

Travel forces you to confront weaknesses in your systems that you might otherwise continue ignoring.

It doesn't automatically solve those problems. You still have to do the work.

But it gives you a reason to start.

My book, *Travel For Success*, is built around the idea that intentional travel should be part of how you approach success, not something you occasionally squeeze into your schedule.

If your business can't function without you, buying another productivity app probably isn't the answer.

You may need to change the way you're running it.

Get the book and start looking at your business differently.

https://amazon.com/author/jimcarmichael

Here's a question worth discussing:

If you disappeared from your business for seven days, what would stop working first?

11/01/2026

Every year about this time, people start talking about what they're going to do differently next year.

They're going to work fewer hours.

They're going to take more time off.

They're going to travel more.

They're going to spend more time with family.

They're going to stop letting their business control their schedule.

And then January arrives.

Nothing changes.

Not because they don't want those things, but because they haven't changed the way they operate.

I've spent more than 25 years building businesses, working with clients, managing responsibilities and trying to accomplish more than most people would consider reasonable.

I understand what it means to have a demanding schedule.

I also understand something that took experience to appreciate: Being busy doesn't necessarily mean you're accomplishing what matters.

You can work 70 hours a week and still be neglecting the things that would make your business and your life better.

That's one of the reasons I wrote *Travel For Success: How To Increase Productivity By Leaving Town Every Six Weeks.*

The concept is straightforward.

Instead of waiting until you're exhausted to take a vacation, build intentional travel into your schedule.

Ideally, every six weeks.

Not necessarily an expensive vacation. Not necessarily an international trip. Sometimes a few days away is enough to interrupt your routine and give you a different perspective.

But there's another important part.

You have to build your business and your responsibilities so you CAN leave.

That means better planning, better delegation and recognizing what actually requires your personal attention.

Here's my challenge for November.

Before this month ends, identify a time during the next six weeks when you can get away. Put it on your calendar. Then start figuring out what needs to happen to make it possible.

If that sounds difficult, you're exactly the kind of person I wrote this book for.

Don't wait until January to start living differently.

Get your copy of *Travel For Success* and start putting the philosophy to work.

https://amazon.com/author/jimcarmichael

Live Life Abundantly.

10/31/2026

Tomorrow is November 1.

Another month begins.

Before we get there, I want to ask you a question.

What are you going to do differently?

Throughout October, I've been challenging you to think about how you manage your time, structure your business and create opportunities to experience life outside your everyday routine.

We've discussed traveling every six weeks.

We've talked about delegation, productivity, relationships, financial planning and the importance of putting personal commitments on your calendar.

But here's what I don't want to happen.

I don't want you to read these posts, agree with the ideas and then continue doing exactly what you've always done.

That defeats the purpose.

You don't have to completely reorganize your life tomorrow.

You don't have to sell your business, retire early or book an expensive international vacation.

Start with something manageable.

Schedule a weekend away.

Delegate one responsibility that's been consuming too much of your time.

Make plans with your spouse or family.

Identify a place you've always wanted to visit and determine what it would take to get there.

Do something that moves you toward the life you want.

For me, Travel For Success has never been about collecting passport stamps or competing to see who can visit the most destinations.

It's about making deliberate choices.

I enjoy business, and I intend to remain active in the opportunities that interest me.

But I also want to continue traveling, spending time with Stephany, developing relationships and experiencing everything life has to offer.

That's my definition of living abundantly.

Yours may look different.

And that's perfectly fine.

The important thing is figuring out what matters to you and making it part of your life now, not someday.

If you've enjoyed this month's conversations and want to explore the philosophy in greater detail, I invite you to read my book, Travel For Success: How To Increase Productivity By Leaving Town Every Six Weeks.

You can find it at amazon.com/author/jimcarmichael.

Here's my final October challenge: Before November 1 is over, take one specific action toward your next meaningful experience.

Then keep going.

Live Life Abundantly.

10/30/2026

We've spent October talking about travel, productivity, entrepreneurship and making time for the things that matter.

We've discussed scheduling trips, establishing budgets, delegating responsibilities and building businesses that don't require our constant presence.

We've also talked about something that I believe deserves more attention.

The difference between being successful and actually enjoying your success.

I enjoy working.

I enjoy commercial real estate, investing, developing business relationships and pursuing new opportunities.

I have no intention of slowing down simply because I've reached a particular age or professional milestone.

But I also believe that success should create opportunities to experience life.

That's the philosophy behind my book, Travel For Success: How To Increase Productivity By Leaving Town Every Six Weeks.

I didn't write it because I believe everyone should become a full-time traveler.

And I certainly don't believe you need to abandon your career to enjoy life.

I wrote it because I believe there's a better way to approach the relationship between work, productivity and personal experiences.

For me, intentional travel is part of that approach.

Leaving your normal environment can provide opportunities to develop relationships, learn something new, experience different perspectives and examine how you're spending your time.

But those opportunities don't automatically produce results.

You have to be intentional about what you're doing.

And you have to put what you learn into practice.

That's why I've spent this month sharing practical exercises rather than simply asking people to buy my book.

If you've found these conversations valuable, I hope you'll consider reading Travel For Success.

You can find it on Amazon at amazon.com/author/jimcarmichael.

And if you've already read the book, I'd appreciate an honest review on Amazon.

Reviews help other readers determine whether a book is worth their time.

I'd also enjoy hearing how you've applied any of the ideas we've discussed.

Have you scheduled a trip, delegated a responsibility or made a change to your calendar?

Tell me what you've done.

Because ultimately, that's what matters.

Not just reading about a different way to live.

Actually doing something about it.

Live Life Abundantly.

10/28/2026

I want you to think about a place you've always wanted to visit.

Maybe it's somewhere overseas.

Maybe it's a national park you've talked about seeing for years.

Maybe it's a city a few hours from home that you've never taken the time to explore.

Now ask yourself something.

What's stopping you?

I'm not suggesting everyone has the money, time or circumstances to travel anywhere they want whenever they want.

That's not realistic.

But I do think we sometimes create obstacles that are bigger than they need to be.

We tell ourselves we'll go when business slows down.

When the kids get older.

When we retire.

When we have more money.

When everything is just right.

There's always another condition that needs to be satisfied before we allow ourselves to do something we want to do.

I've reached a point in life where I look at time differently than I did when I was younger.

At 58, I've had a full life. I've built businesses, served in the Navy, developed relationships and experienced places I might never have imagined visiting when I was younger.

And I still have plenty of things I want to accomplish and places I want to see.

I'm not interested in spending the next several years waiting for the perfect circumstances.

That's one reason Stephany and I make travel an important part of our lives.

We both have professional responsibilities. Our schedules can be demanding. There are always things competing for our attention.

But we also recognize that experiences don't simply happen because we want them to.

We have to make plans.

Here's what I'd like you to do today.

Think about one experience you've been postponing.

It doesn't have to be an expensive international trip.

Just something meaningful to you.

Research what it would take to make it happen. Determine the cost, identify possible dates and start working toward it.

You may not be able to do it next month.

But you can begin making it a real objective instead of another conversation about someday.

What's one place or experience you've been putting off?

I'd like to hear about it.

Live Life Abundantly.

10/27/2026

I want to ask business owners a question.

Why did you go into business for yourself?

Was it to create financial independence?

Have more control over your schedule?

Build something meaningful?

Provide a better life for your family?

Maybe it was all of those things.

Now here's the more difficult question.

Has owning your business actually given you more freedom?

Or have you created a job that demands more of your time than the one you left?

There's nothing wrong with working hard. I've spent my career doing it, and I don't intend to stop pursuing opportunities.

I enjoy business.

I enjoy solving problems, meeting people and putting transactions together.

But I also enjoy traveling, experiencing new places and spending time with the people who matter to me.

I don't believe those interests need to compete.

The real challenge is building a business that supports the lifestyle you want.

That requires systems, planning, relationships and sometimes the willingness to let someone else handle responsibilities you've always managed personally.

It also requires being honest about what success means to you.

A business can generate significant revenue and still leave its owner with very little control over their time.

Is that the outcome you wanted?

When I wrote Travel For Success: How To Increase Productivity By Leaving Town Every Six Weeks, I wanted to challenge the idea that we must postpone living until some undefined point in the future.

Travel is the vehicle for the conversation, but the principles reach into leadership, productivity and personal priorities.

I'm not suggesting you abandon your responsibilities.

I'm suggesting you examine whether the way you're operating is producing the life you intended to create.

If you're an entrepreneur, business owner or professional who's been asking that question, I encourage you to read the book.

You can find it at amazon.com/author/jimcarmichael.

Here's my question: Has your business given you the freedom you originally wanted?

Or is that still something you're working toward?

10/26/2026

Every January, people make resolutions.

They're going to exercise more, spend more time with family, take better care of themselves and finally start traveling.

By March, many of those commitments have been pushed aside.

Business gets busy. Life gets complicated. Something unexpected happens.

And before they know it, they're making the same promises the following January.

I've never been a big believer in waiting for a particular date to start living differently.

If something is important, why wait?

That's one reason I advocate traveling every six weeks.

It's not about taking six or eight elaborate vacations every year. It's about establishing a recurring commitment to experience life beyond your everyday routine.

When you schedule travel regularly, it becomes something you plan around instead of something you hope to squeeze in.

Think about how we manage our businesses.

We schedule recurring meetings, establish deadlines, review financial performance and make plans for future opportunities.

We understand that important things require consistent attention.

Why should our personal lives be any different?

I've spent much of my career in commercial real estate, investing and entrepreneurship. I understand that business doesn't always cooperate with our plans.

Transactions change. Problems arise. Opportunities appear unexpectedly.

That's reality.

But if we allow every unexpected development to cancel our personal commitments, those commitments will never become priorities.

The solution isn't rigid scheduling. It's creating a structure flexible enough to accommodate business while still protecting the experiences that matter.

Here's my challenge.

Don't just plan your next trip.

Look beyond it.

Identify the approximate dates for the following two trips as well.

You don't have to know where you're going yet. Just begin creating the rhythm.

The objective is to stop starting over and start building a lifestyle you actually want to maintain.

Have you scheduled your next trip? What about the one after that?

Live Life Abundantly.

Address

Covington, KY

Website

http://jimcarmichael.com/

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