Get in Touch, Enjoy Business Travels
I do quite a bit of traveling for business. I travel to LA and then San Francisco at least three times a year. I travel to New York more times than that. I also have people in Florida, so I make it there several times a year too. It’s basically what turns out to be an average of over one business trip a month.
And I hardly ever need a vacation. My business trips are more like vacations. Out of D.C. for four or five days a month and one or two meetings within that time. Oh yeah, life is tough.
I’m not sure what the average business person travels a year, but that’s good enough to qualify as a guy who travels enough to know the ropes. In fact, I’ve traveled so much that it’s almost like the big game. After all the practice I’ve put in, the game comes natural. I go through the motions and everything just comes that easy.
But, you would never know I’m traveling on business. If you saw me walk through the airport, you would think that I’m traveling leisurely. That’s because I have a way of thinking that could really benefit you if you paid attention.
- Life doesn’t have to move as fast as you think it should.
- You are allowed to relax a little.
- You should try to enjoy your travels.
But, how does that apply to the business person? That’s easy.
Life Doesn’t Have to Move as Fast as You Think it Should
When I travel to meet with a client, I always have at least a day before and a day after so that I have downtime. You can’t just keep going and life shouldn’t be moving that fast. If it is moving that fast, you need to slow it down so you can enjoy it a little. Otherwise, you’re missing the point of working so hard.
Always make some extra plans while you’re in another city. Give yourself a chance to do some fine dining. Check out the nightlife. Of course, keep that part until after the meeting so that you don’t ruin the meeting hungover, tired or just plain out of sorts because you partied too hard. Do the fine dining the night before the meeting. Do the partying the night of the meeting and you should be right on schedule.
“People who jet off to a meeting and leave right after aren’t taking advantage of the opportunity they have been given.”
You Are Allowed to Relax a Little
Why travel in a business suit? Won’t you have enough time to change when you get there? Plus, is a business suit really all that necessary in today’s world?
These business people who dictated years ago that a business suit is the look of a professional were really too stiff to walk down the street comfortably. Since women already know how to dress the way they want when they present themselves in a business capacity, I’ll just address the guys for a second. Dockers have become the trademark pants for more and more people like me traveling on business. I should get some kickback for that plug.
A nice shirt with the company logo and a jacket for colder weather is all you need. Even when you get there, you should be able to present yourself just fine in a casual fashion. The founders of such companies as Microsoft and Apple used to walk around in shorts and sandals. So, take that into account what kind of world this should be.
“People who are so stiff they think wearing a suit is the sign of success will literally explode one day as they melt down from burnout.”
You Should Try to Enjoy Your Travels
This is a special subject for me because of the surreal emotion I feel everywhere I go. I keep thinking that for any place I am, it might be my last time. So, enjoy it while you’re there.
Slow down and take a look around. Get into the culture a little. Sit down at the outdoor cafes. Take in a game for a few hours. You’ve been to your meeting and already justified your presence in this new strange place. In other words, you’ve made your money for the day. Reap the benefits of the life you’ve paved for yourself.
The first time I went to California, it was to San Diego. We stayed in a hotel downtown and to this day I have no idea which one. But, it was overwhelming. The first time ever on a real trip and it was to California. I thought I would never be back and I hardly got a chance to make the most of it. As I was leaving, I thought of all the things I should have done while I was there.
Two years later, I was being stationed in San Diego where I spent a year and a few months. So now all of a sudden, I’m living in San Diego. I visited the hotel. I visited the restaurant. And soon, it wasn’t so special anymore. San Diego was awesome. But, that feeling was gone. I had become a world traveler and it would take a few years before I learned to cherish it all.
“The places you cherish most, you’ll hardly ever see while the places you take for granted, you will always be.”
You work hard. Play hard. Get in there, roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty making the path you’ve chosen for yourself work. Then, learn how to enjoy it a little. That’s what it’s all about!
This entry was posted on Thursday, August 30th, 2007 at 4:24 pm and is filed under cafe, nightlife, fine dining, D.C., business trip, Appel, Microsoft, business suit, hotel, San Francisco, San Diego, LA, Florida, Business, New York, travel.
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