Travel so often requires us step outside of our comfort zones– in everything from finding our way in unfamiliar neighborhoods to experimenting with new foods to dealing with (alas) lack of Internet service.  But this process of discovery and risk-taking (however small those risks!) is part of why travel also inspires us and helps us grow.   Oftentimes, it’s the same with our careers: you have to step out of your comfort zone– and be courageous–  to grow in your profession. GGG Alisha Davis shared some great insights on this topic when we chatted a few months back.

Alisha, as you may know, graduated from Harvard and reported for Newsweek before being tapped for an on-air gig with CNN Headline News. Then came stints with E! News Live and MTV News. Now, she’s a freelance anchor for ABC News Now, covering everything from pop culture to international news, as well as a freelance writer for GMA. 

You came from a print news background. What was it like transitioning to on-air?

The first time I [did a guest appearance] on CNN, they could tell it was my first. I basically froze and hyperventilated. Jim Clancy, the anchor doing the interview, was just terrific. He turned to me and asked me one or two questions and said I was going to be great. That calmed me down.  

Once you got the full-time job with Headline News, how did you get over your fears?

You know, I’m not really a “fearless” person. I actually get incredibly terrified, and ironically that’s exactly when I know, okay, you really have to ‘go for it’– in spite of the fear.  [Learning to do on-air work] was scary, but I realized that at the end of the day, if you’re trying something new, there is a first time. If you’re paralyzed just because of that, you’ll never do it at all! You can come back five years from now, and it’s still going to be the first time. I remember interviewing Brian Williams early in my career. I got up the courage to put the mic in his face and ask him the questions. Then I realized I was holding the mic upsidedown. He said he did the exact same thing on his first interview. I told him, “I know you’re lying, but thank you so very much!”

Is being a news anchor difficult?

I wouldn’t call it difficult. Medicine is difficult–surgery is difficult! But it would say it’s not as easy as one would think. Anchoring is about being able to speak and hold a conversation, essentially at the same time as you’re figuring out the information to give and the questions to ask when, say, news breaks on the air. It’s more than reading the teleprompter. 

You say your parents taught you to focus more on effort than results. What did they mean?

Growing up, it was always about whether you did your best, not how you did. I remember times I did my best and failed, and they said, ‘that’s okay, we saw how hard you tried.’ Then, there were times that I did really well– say, got straight A’s– but they weren’t impressed. It was always about how hard I worked for something, not the end result. As I’ve gone along in my career, I’ve realized that sometimes we succeed and sometimes we fail. But if I feel like I did my best, I can be happy with either. 
 

Who hasn’t battled a few extra pounds after a whirlwind business trip or vacation? Below, some of my favorite secrets GGGs have shared for how to NOT gain weight when traveling. Of course, I’m no nutritionist, so take these with an, um, grain of salt (or some other pun), but I’m just passing along the GGG gospel!

1. Don’t eat on the plane. In French Women Don’t Get Fat, author and former Veuve Clicquot CEO Mireille Guiliano, who globe-trots regularly, writes that she always packs her own little sandwich and bottled water and never eats a bite of airplane food.  While it is sometimes nice to  eat the meals onboard (it gives you something to do; the food can sometimes be pretty tasty; etc.), Guiliano’s point is well-taken: particularly if you’re going trans-continental, it’s pretty easy to rack up the calories when you’re going through different time zones, eating multiple, off-scheule meals, and why mess up your healthy eating plan before the trip has really begun? FWDGF, btw, is a good book to put on your GGG reading list. Maybe  read that on the plane instead of snacking! 
2. Snack less (or not at all). Unless you packed ziplock baggies of, say, raw nuts, it’s typically harder to “graze” healthy snacks when away from home.  Especially if you’re going to a locale with great cuisine, save up your calories for those yummy restaurant meals (which we all know contain bigger portions!)
3. Workout for 20 minutes a day. Even if the hotel doesn’t have a gym, GGG Lesley Hatfield (a personal trainer turned sleepwear designer) says you can stay in shape on-the-go by doing a few sets of lunges, pushes, crunches, and arm curls in the comfort of your hotel room. Darn, forgot the free weights? Use one of those stretchy resistance bands… or make some light, makeshift weights with the little water bottles in your suite.
4. On that note, bring along your exercise gear. Several GGGs I know bring their running shoes and even yoga mats on every business trip!  Fond of exercise videos? Try Tracy Anderson’s Mat workout; it’s super effective, and you can leave it in your laptop DVD and take it with you on every trip!
5. Walk everywhere.
6. Limit alcohol consumption. Much more effective strategy for business trips than vacay… what would a vacation be without a few tasty cocktails?!

As many of you know, I’m currently in the beautiful, majestic city of Istanbul, Turkey! Here are a few pics from our hotel, which overlooks the glittering Bosphorus Strait. 

So I thought this week I’ll post some travel-related GGG tips.

Today, the best travel guides. Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, consulting the following three guides—which overlap a bit but have distinct specialties—will give you a great overview of any major city’s must-visit sites, dining bests, and essential Zeitgeist.

Luxe City Guides: Kind of like Daily Candy for travel, Luxe acts as an uber-hip concierge for in-the-know vacationers and business-travellers alike. You’ll grow to love the “Luxe-isms” and made-up words (e.g., phrases seen in the Istanbul guide: “Ready, jet set, go!” and “Cocktailvenient!”)

• Best for: Perfect neighborhood shopping/dining excursions; swanky nightlife (expect a bunch of unmarked bars); insider spa and salon recommendations
• Drawbacks: Sometimes a tad too hipper-than-thou; particularly in the restaurant recs, “scene” can trump quality/tastiness. Plus, there are limited suggestions for the “budget” traveler in general.

Smart Travelling: The nifty online guides by Smart Travelling (which also has brick-and-mortar travel gear shops in certain cities) provide convenient, well-edited listings of distinctive places to visit.

• Best for: Dining recs. A great mix of upscale, relaxed, and neighborhood gem restaurants (along with savvy observations on the crowd).
• Drawbacks: Membership fees. Unless you’re going to Berlin, Zurich, or Vienna—whose guides you can access for free– you’ll have to sign up for a membership (19 Euros for all cities/one year; or 9 Euros for two cities/one year) .

Fodor’s: These tried-and-true guidebooks offer the most comprehensive information, plus trustworthy “Fodor’s Choice” highlights. Look for the more abridged editions (e.g., “Madrid’s 25 Best”).

• Best for: City and street maps; historical overview and geographic/cultural orientation
• Drawbacks: A bit generic; reviews occasionally seem written from a press release, and can lack need-to-know info (e.g., X place only takes cash, or is really difficult to locate).