11 Days, 3 Time Zones, and 6 Airplanes: Why the Friction of Travel is Always “Worth It”
“Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.” — Psalm 92:14
Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
Good morning, friends! I am writing to you today fresh off an intense 11-day road trip across the country.
When you look at the stats on paper, it was an absolute whirlwind:
- 3 time zones
- 6 airplaness
- 4 different beds
- Elevation range: From 8,150 feet in Park City, Utah down to 13 feet in Stockton, California!
Road trips like this disrupt your sleep hygiene, throw off your physical conditioning, and strain your daily habits. It isn’t always easy. In fact, travel comes with real trade-offs—like missing my son Brendan’s 30th birthday while I was away.
But as I reflected on the trip while drinking my morning coffee in my home office, I came back to a single overarching truth: The friction of the journey is hard, but the memories, relationships, equipped learning, and Kingdom impact are ALWAYS worth it.
Here is a glimpse behind the scenes of what those 11 days looked like in the trenches:
The Journey in Moments
Setting expectations for the future: We kicked off the trip in strategy sessions with a great client team, diving deep into current-year Key Performance Indicators and mapping out high-impact expectations for next year. 
A quiet moment of reflection: Right at the client site, I visited a beautiful memorial garden built in honor of one of the owners who lost his son in a tragic car accident. It was a sobering, powerful reminder of what truly matters.
Taking the stairs at 7,000 feet: When you talk about Rory Vaden’s “Take the Stairs” philosophy as much as I do, you have to live it! At Red Rocks Amphitheatre, at over 7,000 feet in elevation, we tackled hundreds of steep concrete steps. The lungs were burning, but the view from the top overlooking the amphitheatre was unbelievable. Absolutely worth it! 
Stacking family time with business: Between client weeks, I got to spend quality weekend time with my son JoJo and daughter-in-law Amy—including a special meal JoJo cooked for us at home (you don’t always have to go out!) Sitting at a cool pub table covered in dollar bills, catching up, and sharing time together made the travel friction evaporate. Anytime you can stack family time on top of business travel, grab it! 
Equipping & Kingdom Impact at FCCI: At the FCCI Gathering, I had the privilege of speaking on how leaders must intentionally grow themselves, their teams, and their processes to drive lasting Kingdom impact. Starting each day with corporate worship alongside hundreds of business leaders was deeply moving. 
Learning and sharpening: Conferences aren’t just about output; they’re about equipping. Sitting in on sessions covering artificial intelligence and industry trends reminded me that we must continually learn from others, choose what to apply, and share that wisdom with our teams. 
Losing (and finding) my sunglasses: I thought I had lost my sunglasses on Day 1 of the conference. On Day 2, the emcee walked out on stage wearing them—a hilarious moment that had the whole room laughing!
Unreasonable Hospitality: The hotel housekeeping staff noticed my laptop power cord was tangled on the desk, so they carefully coiled it and tied it neatly with a black ribbon. That level of small, intentional detail is the very definition of Uncommon. 
Views from 8,150 feet to Charlotte sunsets: Whether looking at the golden autumn ski slopes in Park City, Utah waiting for winter snow, or capturing a brilliant sunset on the tarmac in Charlotte during the final flight leg home, the journey provided unforgettable views. 
Sharing 8 Common Practices: I was humbled and grateful for the clients and leaders who grabbed signed copies of my new book, 8 Common Practices of Uncommon Leaders, to share with their organizations. 
Fueling the vessel & guilty pleasures: Eating clean on the road is tough, but finding a tasty protein bar helped bridge the gap. And yes—if there’s a sleek, custom pen at a resort, I am an absolute sucker for adding it to the collection!
Quote of the Week
“Travel isn’t always easy, but when you invest in relationships, Kingdom impact, and multi-generational memories, the returns far outweigh the friction.”
Being the Uncommon Leader means looking past short-term discomfort to see long-term value. It is the “huddle room” of intentional stewardship—the space where you choose connection over convenience. Common leaders complain about delayed flights, missed workouts, or chaotic schedules. Uncommon Leaders lace up their shoes, climb the stairs at Red Rocks, cherish family dinners, soak in morning worship, and squeeze every ounce of joy out of the trip.
Email me at coachjohngallagher@gmail.com with the subject line “WORTH IT” to share how you stack family or personal growth into your busy travel schedule!
What You Need to Do
The Experience Audit
Whether you are traveling this month or navigating a packed schedule at home, execute these three steps to keep your focus on what matters:
- Identify Your “Worth It” Moments: Look back at your past two weeks. What was one difficult or tiring experience that yielded a memory, relationship, or lesson that made it all worthwhile?
- Stack Your Priorities: The next time you plan a business trip or a busy workweek, ask yourself: “How can I intentionally stack a relational, spiritual, or family touchpoint into this schedule?”
- Reset Your Baseline: Once you arrive back home, don’t dwell on the disrupted routine. Ditch the guilt, unpack your bag, open your book, and lock right back into your daily disciplines.
Growth is the only guarantee that tomorrow will get better, but memories and relationships are what make the journey sweet. Embrace the travel hits, cherish your people, and keep climbing.
It’s an honor to be your trusted Friday Coffee Guy. It feels great to be back in the home studio with a hot cup of coffee, ready to dive into the work ahead and keep growing together. If this edition inspired you to look past the hassle and embrace the memories, SHARE it with a peer on the road, then click SUBSCRIBE. Let’s grow Brew Nation together!
Until next week—take the stairs, stack the moments, and go grow champions!
