Episode 226: Around the World

This week, Chief Victory Officer Eric Guy is joined by Brian Fabbri, a world-traveled economist and author of Around the World Through a Child’s Eyes. From decades advising global financial institutions to a deeply personal mission of showing his daughter the world, over 40 countries before age 18, Brian shares heartfelt stories and wisdom on parenting through cultural immersion. In this rich and reflective conversation, Eric and Brian explore the transformative power of travel, the value of discomfort, and how raising children with a global perspective builds empathy, resilience, and curiosity.

Takeaways:

The Transformative Power of Travel: Lessons Beyond the Classroom: Travel is more than a change of scenery, it’s a powerful teacher. For Brian and his daughter, traveling together became a meaningful path for learning, growth, and connection. What began as family adventures soon turned into life-shaping experiences that helped his daughter see the world, and herself, through a broader, more empathetic lens.

Travel Teaches Perspective: One of the most impactful lessons travel offered Brian’s daughter was perspective. Visiting different countries and communities opened her eyes to the many ways people live around the world. Whether it was walking through the bustling streets of Cambodia or observing daily life in a rural Cuban village, she quickly realized that not everyone shares the same access to resources or opportunities. Yet, despite the differences in wealth, language, and environment, she also saw how much we all have in common: the desire to belong, to love, to laugh, and to create a better future. This deeper awareness taught her to appreciate her own life while cultivating empathy and compassion for others.

Experience Over Comfort: Stepping outside the comforts of home wasn’t always easy. There were unfamiliar foods, awkward language barriers, and moments of discomfort. But with each new destination came growth. Traveling challenged Brian’s daughter to be open, flexible, and present. She learned to embrace the unknown with curiosity rather than fear. From learning how to navigate unfamiliar streets to connecting with people from vastly different backgrounds, she developed gratitude, maturity, and resilience. These lessons didn’t come from textbooks or lectures but from lived experience—moments that left lasting impressions on her worldview.

Educate Through Exploration: Brian saw travel as a living classroom. History, politics, and economics weren’t abstract concepts but living realities woven into the fabric of everyday life in the places they visited. A visit to a war memorial opened a conversation about conflict and peace. Observing the effects of tourism on local economies sparked questions about global interdependence. Whether discussing colonial history in Southeast Asia or witnessing how different countries manage resources, Brian used these moments to foster critical thinking and awareness. Through exploration, his daughter connected classroom learning to real-world contexts, making the lessons more meaningful and memorable.

Embrace Cultural Differences: Travel also introduced Brian’s daughter to the beauty of cultural diversity. She made friends across borders, sometimes without sharing a common language. She learned that smiles and kindness often speak louder than words. Being immersed in different customs, beliefs, and traditions helped her learn adaptability and respect. Instead of fearing what was unfamiliar, she came to celebrate it. These experiences nurtured a spirit of inclusion and taught her how to move gracefully through unfamiliar environments, skills that will serve her for a lifetime.

Keep Moving Forward: Travel reinforced an important principle in life: growth comes from motion. Much like Albert Einstein’s famous bicycle analogy, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving,” Brian and his daughter discovered that taking the next step, even when uncertain, leads to clarity and development. Each journey, each challenge, each unfamiliar road built confidence and the courage to continue forward, no matter the terrain.

Take Your Kids With You: Whether it’s a journey across the globe or a road trip to a neighboring town, traveling with your children can be one of the most enriching gifts you give them. These shared experiences build bonds, spark wonder, and foster resilience. For Brian’s daughter, traveling wasn’t just about seeing new places, it was about discovering new parts of herself, understanding humanity, and learning how to engage with the world more thoughtfully. These are lessons that last a lifetime and ones that no traditional classroom can fully offer.

Links:

More of Brian: https://brianfabbri.com/

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