In the spirit of grabbing every chance that comes your way, I want to share one of photography’s most fundamental maxims: if you want to get great shots, bring your camera with you, everywhere.

One of my photographic mentors, the late Galen Rowell, went for a run every morning no matter where he was in the world and always took his camera—whether he was in downtown New York or on an African plain. Sure, it was a bit of a hassle to lug the heavy thing around. And yes, most days he shot nothing. But every now and then a spectacular sunrise or captivating scene would unfold, and when it did, he was ready.

Given the increasingly light and compact point-and-shoot models today, it’s easy to have a camera handy at all times. The real key is simply to be there, and be ready.

Don’t waste your time worrying about quality, either. Legendary Canadian photographer Pat Morrow can no longer be bothered to lug around a big DSLR. Today he shoots exclusively with small point-and-shoot cameras. And his results, from Rocky Mountain summits to temples in Tibet, speak for themselves.

So whether you are on a business trip, at dinner with friends, on a Sunday stroll or waiting in the airport, make sure there is a place in your knapsack or briefcase for your point-and-shoot camera… and make sure it’s always there. You just never know what you’ll want to bring back from the road to share with others.