On The Road Again

November 30, 2023

When you hear the word “road trip,” it gives off the energy of adventure and exploration. But in reality, road trips are gauntlets— From packing to driving to finding hotels to eating too much fast food, it’s a blur of chaos couched in the romanticism of being “On the Road.”

This past month, my husband Joey, our pup Luigi, and yours truly, road tripped from NYC to Chicago. Even though we’ve done this drive at least half a dozen times, it still tests our sanity, communication, and coordination. Every. Dang. Time.

As an operator, you would assume I would eat this challenge for breakfast. But, the truth is, I hate planning trips. As a traveler, I prefer to fly by the seat of my pants. See where the wind takes me. Let inspiration take the wheel. But, I’ve learned that this style is not for everyone. In fact, it’s not for most.

So for this trip, Joey took the lead. From renting the car, to pre-planning the hotel stays, to even having puppy-xanax to calm Luigi during the drive, he was the real all star. He made a daunting experience fun and seamless, which I’m eternally thankful for.

But I do have a confession. Despite my immense gratitude, part of me feels guilty for not being the one to take the lead. Naturally, my skill set leans more towards this kind of thing, making me the obvious choice to coordinate everything. The thing is...I just didn’t have it in me.

This is when I need to take some of my own advice— A key ingredient to being a good operator is knowing when you aren’t the best person for the job. Instead of saying “yes” to leading every project or fixing every problem, sometimes the best thing we can do is to support others who are better equipped to deliver results.

There’s freedom and joy in letting others take the wheel, while you support as the co-pilot. Just remember, being a co-pilot requires serious dedication including frequent snacks, no naps, and solid DJ abilities.

—Ariana