For the last few weeks, if you’ve been following me on social media, you would know that I’ve been on a 24-night transatlantic cruise.
Next, I’m about to embark on a private wine tour in the Rioja region with my husband.
Along the way, I’ve had a number of experiences that reminded me of some important lessons in business.
I wanted to share a few of them with you.
1. Don’t let the opinions of others limit your experiences.
When we were about to dock in Lanzarote, someone on the cruise said, “there’s nothing to see there,” and I couldn’t disagree more.
Paul and I did the volcanic tours and had an exceptional time.
It struck me that too often we listen to the opinions of others instead of trusting our own instincts on what might be good for us, and we miss out on the greatness of life.
You may love something that someone else isn’t impressed by, and that’s okay.
This is true in life and business.
Some people have great experiences with a business coach, while others flounder.
Why?
Because we are all different, and we respond to different things in different ways.
Your job is to figure out what’s right for you and not to let others limit what you feel drawn to.
2. You find what you focus on.
Do you believe in the power of manifestation?
I decided when docked in Santa Cruz that I was determined to have at least one interaction with a dachshund.
I set my sights on finding one, and lo and behold, I saw three real-life dachshunds (one got away without a photo) and a ton of other dachshund signals around me.
When you focus on what you want instead of what you don’t want, it’s amazing the opportunities you’ll find.
It works in business, too. Try it.
It’s become a fun game, and now everywhere we go, we’re always looking for the dachshunds.
3. If you want to grow, you have to expand.
How often do you try new things?
I attended a caviar and vodka tasting on our cruise.
I’ve never had caviar, and I’ve only ever drunk vodka in a mixed drink.
I was a bit apprehensive that I might not like it, but I decided to try and see what the experience was like.
It was amazing.
Now, because I tried something new and outside of my comfort zone, I’ve expanded what I enjoy in life.
Who knew vodka and caviar could taste so good?
Too often, people do the same things over and over in business, expecting to expand when they have failed to expand their own knowledge and experience.
Do something you’ve never done before and see how it changes you.
Whether it’s hiring a coach, attending an event, or taking a course.
All of these experiences shape who you are becoming, and who you become has a direct correlation to the results you get.
4. High touch matters more than high tech.
Tech should enable your customer experience.
Relationships should make it memorable, recommendable, and referable.
While you can automate a nurture sequence, that sequence will never replace caring, true conversations, and making a lasting impression on a customer.
AI is a tool, not a replacement for what matters.
The moments that have stood out the most on this trip haven’t been because of technology.
They’ve been because of people.
And that’s something worth remembering the next time you go to automate a meaningful touch point in your process.
At the end of the day, your results aren’t just shaped by the strategies you follow, but by the decisions you make, the experiences you choose, and how you show up in your relationships.
Live your life and run your business in a way that keeps you growing and connected to the people you help.
If you’d like to see photos of the trip and all of the dachshunds I’ve spotted along the way, you should follow me on Instagram.
A LIVE 5-MONTH COHORT WITH LISA LARTER · STARTS AUG 4, 2026