Bonnie Blogs: BK Travel?

Hello Readers,

Remember me? It's been awhile since I've written one of these things, I know. You see, I've just returned from a 10-day vacation -- and I'm not the only one. Sure, summer is a time for travel, but never has it seemed so prevalent. While I was out of the office, so were several other BK staff members, and our numbers are dropping even further in the days to come. Friends of mine are on trips near and far, and my lucky sister is on a plane to Mexico as I type. What a bunch of voyagers we all are!  This line of thinking started out as mere observation, but in light of recent events it has taken on more weight.

Yesterday I enjoyed a quarterly check-in lunch with my boss, David Marshall -- yes, we're a little behind on the Q2 meeting, during which we reflect on the previous quarter and make some plans for the one ahead. During yesterday's lunch, much time was devoted to discussing my editorial career aspirations, with conversation covering the training required, a possible timeline, and even what sorts of books I would hope to acquire. Being the open-minded guy that he is, David even mused on the possibility of expanding BK's subject categories in an attempt to include the topics I've always pursued -- food, health, and animals.

After that conversation (and, I must point out, delicious meal), I found myself thinking of other agendas that could fit within BK's mission. It was at this point that these two thoughts -- travel and new books -- started to cross paths. Could Berrett-Koehler publish travel books aimed at creating a world that works for all? I think so. While there is no shortage of travel guides out there -- I'll leave that stuff to the professionals at Frommer's and Lonely Planet -- it seems there's a real space in the marketplace for travel writing that does good -- at individual, organizational, and societal levels. Seem wild? Hear me out.

Now, my trip to the East Coast was certainly for "pleasure." Yet, visiting friends and family is about more than just having fun. In essence, I was traveling as a direct function of, and in service to, my important relationships. Building and sustaining interpersonal bonds is an important part of life, but it's not always easy to do. Today social networks keep us in touch with those who are far away, but that's not always an effective substitute for face-to-face connection. Hence, we travel to one another, but that is often a difficult and daunting prospect. Coordinating schedules, calculating costs, and even the simple act of 'catching up' can all be very taxing processes. As such, is it so hard to picture BK books that tackle these obstacles?

Remember how I mentioned other BK staffers being out of town? Well, not all of them were on vacation. As evidenced by these Facebook photos, a group of them were away on business, working the BK booth at the Academy of Management conference in in San Antonio, Texas. And, if your organization is anything like this one, you know what that's all about. BK staff members are always on the go, mining conferences for potential authors and customers, visiting partners where they work, and even attending book fairs in foreign countries (those lucky 'Global Gals' in International Sales/Business Development)! Again, travel in this capacity is in direct pursuit of business success and, therefore, should be aided. What could BK bring to the table? I, for one, was terrified on the eve of my first business trip. Any guide would have been welcome in that situation, but specifically one that emphasized balancing professional success with personal comfort and safety. Any other ideas? Don't hold back.

And, of course, this wouldn't be a BK book blog without the societal angle -- the one that seems most promising to me. As it states on the BK website, "At the societal level, our books advance social and economic justice, shared prosperity, sustainability, and new solutions to national and global issues." Sure, much has been written about the negative impacts of world travel, but there aren't many books out there attempting to provide any prescriptions. In my mind, travel is a tool which can serve to make the world more of a global community, introducing people to new customs, cultures, and innovative ways of looking at things. Where are the books on this? Where are the books on travel in the name of service? I don't know where they are...but I know where they could be.

So, stay tuned for updates on this front. And, I promise, this isn't just my sly play for some BK-funded furloughs!