Lessons from the Road to Rishikesh
I'm writing this from the backseat of a sedan, somewhere between Delhi and Rishikesh, India. The city gave way to towns, towns to farmland, and now I’m cruising through what can only be described as the middle of nowhere. So why am I here?
The short answer: circumstance and opportunity…
The longer one: a friend read A Journey Home, a memoir about a spiritual pilgrimage across Europe and Asia that ends in awakening in Rishikesh. The book impacted her so deeply she decided to visit, and her stories convinced me to do the same. When an invitation to a wedding arrived, taking place just an hour from the “home of Buddhism,” I saw my opening. This would be more than a trip. It would be an intentional reset. A growth experiment.
About an hour ago, during a quick stop for gas, it hit me how real this is. I’ve known my driver for two hours. I have sparse cell service. The signage is unfamiliar, and so is the language. Yes, there’s risk. But I also feel oddly confident. I’ve traveled extensively for the past decade, and situations like this, ones that stretch you, have become strangely familiar.
Like the moment earlier today when I laughed walking into a roadside restaurant, instantly reminded of a nearly identical one from my last India trip, it built trust. Or when my driver got back in the car with all my stuff, and for a split second, I thought, "If he drives away right now, I’m truly stranded." I’ve been here before. Africa. China. Southeast Asia. Each time, I’ve learned, adapted, and grown.
And that’s the through-line. If you’re wondering how this connects to product development, the usual core of this newsletter, it’s this: I am a product.
I’ve treated my personal growth with the same intention I’ve applied to building tech or teams. Every journey, challenge, and misstep has been a test. What did I learn? What would I do differently? How can I iterate?
From these experiments, I’ve built systems. Always keep my essentials (passport, phone, cash) strapped to me, thank you, Beijing incident. Never go too far off-grid without a local contact, a rule hard-earned in Fiji. These aren't just travel hacks. They’re lessons in design, resilience, and self-awareness.
When I was younger, I dreamed of world travel. I didn’t leave the U.S. until I was 19. Now, I’ve visited over 30 countries across six continents (Antarctica I’ll see you soon). Travel isn’t a break from life, it’s a core part of how I build my life.
Because with each trip, I grow in ways that ripple into everything else:
As a researcher and community builder, I connect with people faster, understanding nuance across cultures.
As someone who lives with anxiety, I’ve learned to let go, because sometimes you simply have to.
As a person, I’m reminded what truly brings me joy, and the importance of pushing my own perceived boundaries (within limits) .
Everything is a product. Everything can be deconstructed, analyzed, and improved. Including ourselves.
Thanks for joining me for this special edition. Next week, I’ll be deep into this journey and will share more reflections from the road. We’ll return to our regular format the week of May 4th.