Go There to Know There
Choosing Chaos Over Convenience
In this hyper-connected, info-overloaded world, it’s easy to think we "know" a place, a culture, even a person just from a distance. We scroll through photos, check reviews, watch a few videos. But here’s the thing: no amount of screen time can ever match the impact of a real-life, firsthand experience. To truly understand—to gain proper insight and form real connections, there’s just no substitute for actually going there to know there.
Breaking Out of the Comfort Zone
Immersing yourself in a place or an experience is a bit of a different beast from just showing up. It takes a bit of nerve and a willingness to get uncomfortable. Meeting people, having real conversations, letting yourself be a little uncertain, that’s when the gold comes out. Let’s face it: static images and curated content can’t hold a candle to what you learn when you’re right there in it. Whether you’re a creative, an entrepreneur, or just anyone looking to get under the skin of something, you’ve got to step outside your comfort zone. And let’s be honest, it’s not just enriching; it’s essential for growth.Look, I’ll admit, I love a good hotel buffet as much as the next person. But after a few days of the same setup, you start craving something with a bit more oomph, right? That’s when I start thinking of a busy food market, packed with colours, noise, smells, all of it just waiting for you to jump in. The buffet has its conveniences, sure, but the market has an energy that just grabs you. It’s got that unpredictability, that charm of discovery, and a dose of "decisive chaos" that nudges you out of your well-worn preferences. Say yes to what’s in front of you—a new flavour, a surprising conversation, and suddenly you’re in a world of unexpected delights.
Living the Experience, Not Just Observing It
Living an experience means properly diving in, letting yourself feel the rhythm of it, picking up on the quirks, letting go of what you think you know. When you’re fully immersed in a new place, each detail of that space starts shaping your perspective. The smells, the sounds, the comings and goings all of it combines into something way more powerful than any slideshow or Instagram post. It’s a reminder that, when it comes to creativity and the work we do, depth always trumps breadth, and genuine encounters beat convenient facts.Take Rosie Lee Creative, for example. Getting out into the world, exploring cities, meeting locals—these experiences always spark ideas that you just don’t find in a brainstorm session. The time I spent travelling with Run Dem Crew, or Russell’s deep dives into the local scenes in his projects, brought us ideas and insights that would have been impossible from a distance. Being there doesn’t just inspire; it helps you actually understand things on a different level.
You might wonder, what’s the worst that could happen by throwing yourself into something new? Embracing this mindset has led me to explore things I’d never normally encounter. When Russell and I were in Tokyo, we had this pact of sorts—to just say "yes" to whatever looked interesting, unexpected, or that one of us wanted to try. Food-wise, this was a bit easier for Russell, as I have a food sensitivity and am not the biggest fan of fish!
From strange foods to new activities, we left Tokyo with a fresh perspective on the culture and ourselves. We weren’t "too cool for school" about any of it, either; the aim was just to have a go. I sampled everything from urchin to octopus balls, went to a bar with some really angry music playing (we were the only ones in there), and even tried sneaking off with the odd glass as a souvenir (just kidding). Each moment added another layer to our understanding of Tokyo.
Those moments also gave us new ideas we can pull on for future projects, not to mention a stockpile of stories to share.
Breaking Free of the Algorithmic Mindset
These days, algorithms shape what we see, hear, and think more than we realise. Our feeds are filled with more of what we already like, which builds this digital echo chamber that keeps our world pretty narrow. But when we step outside the algorithm, we open ourselves up to different opinions, new sounds, odd flavours, perspectives that don’t always match up with ours. It’s like ditching the buffet and jumping into that lively food market—suddenly every encounter, every unfamiliar idea, just opens you up a little more and enriches your world with new layers of understanding.
Learning Through Debate and Discomfort
Growth isn’t exactly cosy. You’re going to meet people who challenge your ideas, and get into places that make you rethink your assumptions. But trust me, this is where the best stuff happens. Through those debates and uncomfortable moments, we question our biases, and we’re forced to come back with new ideas—and maybe even a bit of humility.
Debate isn’t just about winning an argument; it’s a chance to stretch our own thinking. For people working in creative or brand-driven industries, this is how real authenticity is born—not in tidy focus groups but in raw, sometimes messy, human interactions.
"You Had to Be There"
There’s a lot of truth in the phrase "You had to be there." Some insights, whether from a bustling market or a quiet forest, just can’t be put into words. These are experiences that connect on a deeper, almost indescribable level. That’s why brand experiences work best when we’re all-in: real people, real conversations, and real spaces that bring a whole new layer of authenticity to what we do.In business, we call this thought partnership, an approach where we get right into the client’s world. It’s not just about delivering solutions; it’s about embracing that blend of discomfort and excitement, creating something alive, evolving, and based on genuine, shared experience.
From Knowing to Understanding
If we want to understand and not just know, we have to be ready to actually go, engage, and experience. Travelling isn’t just movement; it’s a commitment to learning and being changed by what we find. The richest insights come from these firsthand experiences, and the most impactful work usually has roots in that real, lived experience of going there to know there.In a world that increasingly privileges the digital, let’s remember the irreplaceable value of personal presence, real experiences, and the powerful insights that can only come from stepping out, meeting people, and actually being there.
In this hyper-connected, info-overloaded world, it’s easy to think we "know" a place, a culture, even a person just from a distance. We scroll through photos, check reviews, watch a few videos. But here’s the thing: no amount of screen time can ever match the impact of a real-life, firsthand experience. To truly understand—to gain proper insight and form real connections, there’s just no substitute for actually going there to know there.
Breaking Out of the Comfort Zone
Immersing yourself in a place or an experience is a bit of a different beast from just showing up. It takes a bit of nerve and a willingness to get uncomfortable. Meeting people, having real conversations, letting yourself be a little uncertain, that’s when the gold comes out. Let’s face it: static images and curated content can’t hold a candle to what you learn when you’re right there in it. Whether you’re a creative, an entrepreneur, or just anyone looking to get under the skin of something, you’ve got to step outside your comfort zone. And let’s be honest, it’s not just enriching; it’s essential for growth.Look, I’ll admit, I love a good hotel buffet as much as the next person. But after a few days of the same setup, you start craving something with a bit more oomph, right? That’s when I start thinking of a busy food market, packed with colours, noise, smells, all of it just waiting for you to jump in. The buffet has its conveniences, sure, but the market has an energy that just grabs you. It’s got that unpredictability, that charm of discovery, and a dose of "decisive chaos" that nudges you out of your well-worn preferences. Say yes to what’s in front of you—a new flavour, a surprising conversation, and suddenly you’re in a world of unexpected delights.
Living the Experience, Not Just Observing It
Living an experience means properly diving in, letting yourself feel the rhythm of it, picking up on the quirks, letting go of what you think you know. When you’re fully immersed in a new place, each detail of that space starts shaping your perspective. The smells, the sounds, the comings and goings all of it combines into something way more powerful than any slideshow or Instagram post. It’s a reminder that, when it comes to creativity and the work we do, depth always trumps breadth, and genuine encounters beat convenient facts.
Take Rosie Lee Creative, for example. Getting out into the world, exploring cities, meeting locals—these experiences always spark ideas that you just don’t find in a brainstorm session. The time I spent travelling with Run Dem Crew, or Russell’s deep dives into the local scenes in his projects, brought us ideas and insights that would have been impossible from a distance. Being there doesn’t just inspire; it helps you actually understand things on a different level.
You might wonder, what’s the worst that could happen by throwing yourself into something new? Embracing this mindset has led me to explore things I’d never normally encounter. When Russell and I were in Tokyo, we had this pact of sorts—to just say "yes" to whatever looked interesting, unexpected, or that one of us wanted to try. Food-wise, this was a bit easier for Russell, as I have a food sensitivity and am not the biggest fan of fish!
From strange foods to new activities, we left Tokyo with a fresh perspective on the culture and ourselves. We weren’t "too cool for school" about any of it, either; the aim was just to have a go. I sampled everything from urchin to octopus balls, went to a bar with some really angry music playing (we were the only ones in there), and even tried sneaking off with the odd glass as a souvenir (just kidding). Each moment added another layer to our understanding of Tokyo.
Those moments also gave us new ideas we can pull on for future projects, not to mention a stockpile of stories to share.
Breaking Free of the Algorithmic Mindset
These days, algorithms shape what we see, hear, and think more than we realise. Our feeds are filled with more of what we already like, which builds this digital echo chamber that keeps our world pretty narrow. But when we step outside the algorithm, we open ourselves up to different opinions, new sounds, odd flavours, perspectives that don’t always match up with ours. It’s like ditching the buffet and jumping into that lively food market—suddenly every encounter, every unfamiliar idea, just opens you up a little more and enriches your world with new layers of understanding.
Learning Through Debate and Discomfort
Growth isn’t exactly cosy. You’re going to meet people who challenge your ideas, and get into places that make you rethink your assumptions. But trust me, this is where the best stuff happens. Through those debates and uncomfortable moments, we question our biases, and we’re forced to come back with new ideas—and maybe even a bit of humility.
Debate isn’t just about winning an argument; it’s a chance to stretch our own thinking. For people working in creative or brand-driven industries, this is how real authenticity is born—not in tidy focus groups but in raw, sometimes messy, human interactions.
"You Had to Be There"
There’s a lot of truth in the phrase "You had to be there." Some insights, whether from a bustling market or a quiet forest, just can’t be put into words. These are experiences that connect on a deeper, almost indescribable level. That’s why brand experiences work best when we’re all-in: real people, real conversations, and real spaces that bring a whole new layer of authenticity to what we do.
In business, we call this thought partnership, an approach where we get right into the client’s world. It’s not just about delivering solutions; it’s about embracing that blend of discomfort and excitement, creating something alive, evolving, and based on genuine, shared experience.
From Knowing to Understanding
If we want to understand and not just know, we have to be ready to actually go, engage, and experience. Travelling isn’t just movement; it’s a commitment to learning and being changed by what we find. The richest insights come from these firsthand experiences, and the most impactful work usually has roots in that real, lived experience of going there to know there.
In a world that increasingly privileges the digital, let’s remember the irreplaceable value of personal presence, real experiences, and the powerful insights that can only come from stepping out, meeting people, and actually being there.