The Zen of Business Travel

I am a very calm traveler.

Despite the inevitable delays, idiots, and indignities, I rarely get upset.

How did I do it? I decided that it was the only choice.

When I was an angry traveler, I got upset, I stomped around, I complained, I yelled. And it made no difference to anyone. It changed nothing. But I was upset, yelling, and angry. And unhappy.

Now I realize that the only way to endure the indignity of travel is to float above it in my own little bubble of calm.

Remember that nothing you do will change anything, so save the energy.
The airline will get you where you’re going. They want to do it as efficiently as possible. They are on your side and they are trying.
Bad stuff will happen. Stupid stuff will happen. Just like at your company.
Nobody wants it that way, especially the airline personnel.
Imagine if you were trying to do your job, and every three days a hailstorm closed your office and a government traffic controller told you to stop working and sit in the hall without food for an hour.

How to stay calm:

Expect the worst. Enjoy the moments when things go well.
Prepare for the worst. Bring lots of music and books so you can enjoy the free time a delay gives you. Make it your “me” time.
Every airport has one great restaurant or sandwich shop, usually a little local place that you never noticed. Make it your special place.
Keep plenty of good food and drink in your bag. Treat yourself.
Pick an airline. Everything’s easier when you figure out one system and how to work it.
Give yourself extra time. Much travel stress is cause by time pressure. Better to do an hour of work at the airport than an hour of work before you leave and then freak out at the airport because you’re lost, hungry, rushed, and have to pee.
Never complain, never get angry. Only you suffer.
Get away from complainers and screamers. Don’t let them suck you in or ruin your calm enjoyment of your free time.
Treat the airline folks with respect and sympathy. They get paid very little to deal with everyone’s crap. They’re trying.
Help someone else. Lift their bag, hold a door open, smile at them.
Buy professional-grade soundproof headphones.

Those are my tricks. How about you?

Andy Sernovitz is an over-traveled keynote speaker and consultant who teaches Word of Mouth Marketing around the world. Learn more about him and his book at http://gaspedal.com, and read his blog, Damn, I Wish I’d Thought of That.

TAGS: travel tips

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Comments (7)

by Dana VanDen Heuvel / November 10, 2008

Andy,

Well said and what a great perspective. I’ve always felt the same (I see it from the “law of attraction” perspective” as well… I don’t even think about bad travel experiences - don’t want to attract them and rarely have them). Travel has become some of my most productive time, just by rethinking how I do it, why I do it and what I can to do make the best of it - no matter what the weather or airlines have in mind.
by david in portland / November 10, 2008

Totally agree and have tried, in roughly the same words, to explain to people about being in a nice, comfy bubble of calm when you’re reckoning with taking off your clothes, having your bags scrutinized, having your new bottle of water taken from you (because you were dumb and forgot), etc … and remembering it’s not personal. Everyone gets the same treatment and too many people get angry. You will be so much happier if you go through those tortures of the damned smiling, thanking each person who asks for your ID (because it’s for your own good), thanking them for inspecting your bag, thanking them for reminding you to have your boarding pass, etc. They remind us, because way too many people forget.

Great post.
by Dave Cynkin / November 10, 2008

Andy,

Great travel tips. The “Give yourself extra time” one is key for me. If I’m late, everything gets a little nutso. And I’m often running late, hehe. But I’m trying to improve. Last week, I arrived to the gate with 1hr+ to spare, made a few calls, had a relaxing bite to eat and read the paper for a change. Everything was easy-going and I arrived home in a nice, calm mindset.

Another trick I have is this…well, not actually a trick, a habit:
Communicate with others and turn the drudgery of travel into an enjoyable socializing/networking event. Make conversation with people around you instead of dwelling on the travel task itself, and try to learn something about those in the same boat…er, plane in my case. Share info and insight if it can help them, travel tips about where you’re from if they have plans to visit your area, and if there’s an opportunity to make a business connection for either, the dialogue will naturally lead to it. I’ve met so many nice people on planes, learned about other areas which I’ll visit in the future, given travel and business guidance, made business connections and otherwise just enjoyed the journey through rich conversation.

Air travel for me is less about sharing a vehicle, it’s more about sharing ideas, thoughts and experiences.

Best,

Dave Cynkin
Co-founder, CMO, Sleep Deprivationist & Thrill Seeker
BlogWorld & New Media Expo
by Sheraan Amod / November 10, 2008

Absolutely loved this post, Andy. I am usually very calm at airports, but your articulation of the (apparent) problem and (mental) solution is wonderful. I can think of a few other situations where I will keep this post in mind!
by Gadi Evron / November 10, 2008

Great post, I maintain a level of calm that comes with acceptance–took me a while to get here… and yet I strongly disagree with your other statements.

They do NOT have your best interest at heart, they will NOT do everything to get you there as soon as possible and you CAN impact what’s going on.

Staying calm is one thing, but the above in my experience is not true–if you can do something about it. will you? Is it worth it?
by Daniel / November 23, 2008

Well said.

Daniel