Shalom Lamm on the Solo Journey: Why Every Entrepreneur Should Travel Alone at Least Once
In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, founders often wear countless hats—strategist, marketer, manager, and firefighter. The demands can be so overwhelming that personal clarity gets buried beneath to-do lists and investor meetings. But what if the clarity you’re looking for doesn’t come from another business book or conference—but from a passport, a backpack, and time alone in a new place?
Entrepreneur Shalom Lamm is a strong advocate for solo travel—not as a luxury, but as a transformative tool. “Traveling alone strips away the noise,” Lamm says. “You stop reacting to everyone else’s expectations and finally start listening to your own.”
Let’s explore why every entrepreneur should travel alone at least once, and how this simple act can redefine your leadership, creativity, and resilience.
1. Solo Travel Forces Self-Reliance
When you’re alone in an unfamiliar city or culture, there’s no one to defer to. Every decision—where to stay, how to get around, how to solve a language barrier—is entirely yours. This kind of real-world problem-solving sharpens your instincts.
Shalom Lamm recalls a solo trip where a delayed train forced him to completely reroute his plans on the spot. “In business, surprises are constant. Travel teaches you to stay calm, assess quickly, and move forward without panic. It’s a resilience builder.”
Just as startups rarely go as planned, neither does travel. And both require a cool head and a confident hand.
2. It’s a Creative Reset
Many entrepreneurs suffer from what Lamm calls “mental claustrophobia”—the inability to think freely because you’re surrounded by the same environment, ideas, and pressures every day. Solo travel breaks the pattern.
“There’s something magical about walking through a new city with no agenda,” Lamm shares. “Ideas start to flow again—not because you’re working harder, but because your brain finally has room to breathe.”
Whether it’s observing street vendors in Morocco or sipping coffee alone in a Paris café, solo travel invites quiet moments where inspiration can strike naturally, without force.
3. Clarity Comes in the Silence
Entrepreneurs are often praised for how much they can do in a day. But rarely are they encouraged to sit still. That’s where solo travel comes in.
Alone, away from your normal responsibilities, you’re confronted with your own thoughts—not your team’s feedback, not investor updates, not Slack notifications. Just you.
“Most founders don’t realize how much noise they’ve allowed into their lives,” Lamm says. “Solo travel is a reset button. It’s a rare chance to ask yourself: Do I still love what I’m building? Am I building it the way I want to?”
Many life-altering business pivots—or even complete redirections—start during these moments of solitude.
4. You Rediscover Who You Are Without the Title
Being an entrepreneur can become your entire identity. But traveling solo reminds you that you’re more than just your business card.
Lamm encourages founders to embrace that identity shift. “When no one knows who you are or what you do, you’re just a person. You get to rediscover your curiosity, your spontaneity, and even your playfulness.”
That rediscovery doesn’t make you less of a professional—it makes you a more human leader. And the best companies are built by leaders who know who they are beyond the job.
5. You Come Home a Better Entrepreneur
The impact of solo travel doesn’t end at the airport. You return with more than just souvenirs:
- Clearer thinking
- Stronger decision-making skills
- Renewed creativity
- Increased emotional intelligence
- Greater appreciation for your team and mission
Shalom Lamm compares it to recalibrating a compass. “We all drift sometimes—away from our vision, away from ourselves. Traveling alone helps you find your true north again.”
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been grinding nonstop and feel like you’re running out of creative fuel or personal clarity, it might be time to press pause—not to quit, but to step away and see your path with fresh eyes.
Take a week. Pack light. Pick a destination that excites or challenges you. Go alone. Turn off your email. And see what happens when you reconnect with yourself outside of your business.
Because as Shalom Lamm wisely reminds us, “Sometimes the best way to move your company forward is to step away from it—and go discover the entrepreneur you forgot you were.”
