✈️ Go-to-Market on the Go: Why International Travel with Kids Is the Ultimate GTM Bootcamp

Running a startup is a lot like traveling internationally with young children: there’s a plan, sure — but the moment you step into the airport, you realize you’re not the one in charge anymore.

Recently, I packed up the kids and set off on an international adventure. Between jet lag meltdowns, misplaced loveys, and negotiating dinner with an exhausted three-year-old in a foreign language, I had a lightbulb moment: this is exactly what go-to-market strategy feels like.

You prep, you research, you map out the perfect itinerary — and then life hits. Or in our world: the market shifts, a competitor pivots, your messaging doesn’t land, or your “ideal customer” goes radio silent. What gets you through it? Snacks, flexibility, relentless prioritization, and knowing which battles to pick.

Over the next few posts, I’ll share a series of GTM lessons inspired by this trip abroad. We’ll cover:

• Why snacks matter more than assumptions (yes, really)

• How even familiar destinations require fresh strategies

• What happens when maps lie, but real voices guide you

• The power of pivoting with grace (and a backup plan)

• Why buyer delight — like vacation joy — is the real endgame

Whether you're bringing a product to market or just trying to survive a layover with two kids and a stuffed giraffe named Barry, the truth is: success rarely comes from perfection — it comes from preparation, empathy, and a whole lot of improvisation.

So buckle up, bring extra Goldfish, and let’s hit the road.