I have had different
relationships with business travel over different stages of my life
At certain times when
kids very little and demanding was a treat and an escape if not very frequent .
In other stages of kids being in middle school ,I resented it as clashed
with family
commitments and school activities , and now at its all time high I usually
quite like it or at the least am very neutral about it and barely even notice I
am in planes hotels and airports quite often
It also helps that
now with consulting they are billable hours as don't get paid for travel hrs
ever but do get
paid for any work I do during that time and when you are pitching and
presenting to big groups like I do it is certain that when you are not sleeping
on the plane you are definitely working ( or blogging ! )
The hotel makes a
huge difference too . We are spoiled in Pharma and have awesome hotels but when
not a Pharma company booking .. hotel experience is not always great . The
hotel and surroundings make it or break it . Last week in Atlanta I got bumped
from my hotel bc over double booking for hurricane and let's just say the
" hotel " reminded me of a very shabby nursing home . That was fine
though as with hurricane all was chaotic and I preferred to have the poor
families who left their vacations and homes with family have the coziness and
luxury instead of me who was working and going straight to bed anyways
I much prefer the 5 star
with the heated pools ( and I don't feel bad saying it given that business
travel is demanding especially internationally
when Peru or Russia
so I feel very entitled to my comfort)
It's fun though when
not too much and I have my certain rules when I business travel :
-I always try new
foods that make that place unique ( is it my fault that last week in Atlanta I
had to eat all fried food for southwestern cuisine? Fried green tomatoes and
hush puppies and peach cobbler made me feel slightly nauseated but were yummy
in a unique way )
-I always buy a little
souvenir for myself . I splurge on a nice pair of sunglasses once a year and on
a normal month a pair of spanx tights or a new book
-I also use the time
to have great texting conversations with my three kids and hubby and mom and
friends and get caught up . This trip was cool as hubby in Peru and so we
texted like crazy in transit
-I never bring luggage
to check if under a week and have a very stuffed carry on ( lost luggage too
many times ) I am now an expert
-I also try to get on
plane in first 20 mins before people to ensure enough in overhead bin for luggage . They
never ask me why I get in line in the wrong order . I am so not a rule person and has led to alot of success for me! (don't read this part children)
-I always have a
bathingsuit and a cute dress as you just never know what lies around the corner
for fun if a free moment for leisure . Rare but can happen and I like water
-I am Comfy all the way .
So I never wear my high heels in airport and bought the best shoes I could find
to go
With business suits
and be very comfy ( still look like an idiot but worth it )
-It's all about the
bags so I buy stuff that is classy and cool and in style but easy to carry for
my back . And I always have a small Purse with phone and passport lipstick and
hand sanitizer very accessible
-Always a hair elastic
around my wrist , lululemon pants , a pillow , my agenda , eos Lip balm , hand
moisturizer and a good book for before bed
-I never watch tv in
hotels but read and work and plan my whole life just like on vacation . I never
make airtime a waste of time
-I always forget my travel
pillows on the planes
and am sad because
I love them
-I have Nexus and it
is amazing and let's me pass all the lines and feel important ( except like
this time that nexus or not i got the lucky 1/1000 random search of body and
all electronics ! )
-For business
presentations I try to look really put together and have nice clothes hair and
makeup and change into a different evening business casual outfit for evening
team events
-On plane the way
there I wear lululemon and casual ( even though some say that
need to be ready for business on plane too ,I have enough business and need
comfort more ) on way back I wear my business suits
and funky comfy shoes and still look like a loser without proper shoes but at
least my ankles are not twisted and I can run for connecting flights
-I bring my own snacks
of 100 calories so I am not too tempted by airplane snacks ( and often I just
eat those and my own snacks and end up double
the calories so
maybe need to change this tactic ! )
-I always plan my next
vacations on the plane and calculate with money earned how to pay for them or
which line of credit to use
-I always pray for
safety in a plane and say a note of thanks when I land safely . I always clap for the
pilot when the plane lands . Even if sometimes I am the only one
-I try and get Chase
to pick me up as I am scared of taxis and we have our little airport routine
down pat him and I
-When I get home from
trips I relax and take it easy and often go to bed . Business trips tire me
-I try to make people
who don't travel for business ( ie my family ) understand that it is often
exhausting and similar to 16 hrs days at office . I happen to often be in nice
places but often don't even get to see them . I try to make them see that I need
to go to bed and can't be doing dishes cooking and laundry after " my
break "
-I have no system to
my suitcase and usually roll up clothes in a ball and deal with them at home
except for one outfit on a hanger that I put nicely in dry cleaning paper
-I always have an
extra business skirt and shirt and pair of business shoes in case zippers break
or stains get on them .Trust me on this one when you have one pair of boots
with a suit and the zipper breaks and you have to wear running shoes to give a
keynote speech - it helps you learn this lesson
-In case any of that
may have helped .. Happy business travelling !
