20 lessons learned from 20 years as a travel writer: A TravelCon keynote

“Embrace your travel mistakes. You can’t ‘fail’ at travel; you can only learn from travel.” –Rolf Potts

In this episode of Deviate, which excerpts a keynote talk from TravelCon, Rolf talks a bit about his background of growing up in Kansas and dreaming about travel, his earliest vagabonding travels, and his first forays into travel writing (3:30); then Rolf shares his “20 lessons learned from 20 years as a travel writer,” (7:30).

Notable Links:

• TravelCon (travel-media conference)
• ​Don George​ (travel writer)
• Rolf’s ongoing travel writer interview series
• Eva Holland (travel writer)
• Bachata (Dominican dance style)
• Merengue (Dominican dance style)
• Omo Valley (tribal region in Ethiopia)
• Mursi people (ethnic group in Ethiopia)
• Ranong (town in Thailand)
• Gringo Trails (2013 travel documentary film)

Podcasts and essays alluded to:

• Nomadic Matt Kepnes on travel (Deviate episode)
• Van Life before #VanLife (Deviate episode)
• A Trans-Siberian story (Deviate episode)
• No Baggage Challenge (round-the-world video series)
• The wrong town in Morocco (blog/video dispatch)
• Up Cambodia without a phrasebook (travel essay)
• Cowboys and Indians, Thai-style (travel essay)
• Going Native in the Australian Outback (travel essay)
• A Vagabond Finds a Home (essay)
• Toura Incognita (Conde Nast Traveler article)

20 lessons learned from 20 years as a travel writer

1) Relationships count more than platforms

2) Distinctive content counts more than self-promotion

3) If in doubt, ask for help

4) If in doubt say yes

5) There is always more to learn

6) Don’t postpone things

7) Be an expat at some point in your travel career

8) Take it slow

9) It’s OK to make mistakes

10) Don’t set limits

11) Walk until your day becomes interesting

12) Meet people

13) Report back on the human world

14) Try something different

15) Actively learn new skills

16) Dare to be lonely, lost, and bored

17) Remember the ethical dynamic of travel

18) Develop a notion of home

19) Success is a matter of doing it long enough

20) Make the lessons last a lifetime

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This episode of Deviate is brought to you by Tortuga Backpacks, which set the standard for the best, most durable, organized, and comfortable travel backpacks. Tortuga products also include daypacks, duffels, and other travel accessories, which are all made with the traveler in mind and have been featured by Wirecutter, The New York Times, Travel + Leisure, Business Insider, Carryology, and many other industry outlets.

The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.

Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.