In the past two weeks I have been in four states, three timezones, on four planes, and two rental cars. Saying that the past 10 days have been a whirlwind is an understatement.
Traveling excites me. I love the smell of airports, perusing the little souvenir shops, drinking coffee and stealing wifi. I love the fluffy hotel pillows, the fitness centers, room service, and the hotel showers. I love dining out, immersing myself in different cultures, and exploring new cities.
Lucky for me, my job allows me to travel for business. I’ve been to Los Angeles a dozen times as it’s been my main destination. But as my role at Context Optional evolves, so do the destinations of my travel.
Last week, I was in Seattle. This week, I was in Chicago and Grand Rapids, MI. All visiting customers or potential customers. I’m hoping that it won’t be long until I travel to Austin and New York City to do the same.
While this sounds like a dream come true (and in many ways, it is), traveling for business isn’t always a breeze. In fact, it can be downright stressful (ask my boyfriend, who’s had to deal with me the past two weeks).
It’s exhausting.
Not only are you in meetings for the majority of the trip when you travel for business, but you also have to complete all of your regular work. You need to be just as efficient on the road as you are when you’re sitting at your desk in the office. Let me just say, thank God for my iPhone and wireless cards that let me have Internet almost wherever I am. Many times over the past 10 days, I’ve found myself completing an entire days’ worth of work in the “after-hours” from 6pm to 1am. Not to mention, you need to maintain and keep track of different timezones.
It’s inconvenient.
Obviously, traveling requires, well…travel. It requires coordinating rides to and from the airport, sometimes at unfavorable hours of the morning or evening. It requires all other work and meetings to be rescheduled or postponed if possible (and if it’s not possible, you need to figure out a way to be everywhere at once).
It’s NOT a vacation.
After my trip to Seattle, my boyfriend asked me, “Did you see the Space Needle? Did you visit the first Starbucks?” My answer, “No…I was working.” I saw the inside of my hotel room, the drive to the office of our customer, and then the inside of my hotel room. In fact, we didn’t even make it to the city of Seattle. Which is fine — sightseeing is not part of the agenda, despite me never having been to Seattle before.
There are misconceptions surrounding traveling for business, but I love it. I love packing my carry-on for a two-day adventure to meet with customers. I love talking social media with just about anyone. Despite me paying for it and just wanting to sleep the rest of the week 🙂
Of note, I think this mostly applies to startup life. Corporate life means travel allows for evening sight seeing in my experience.
sorry you’re so busy.
Even in India, you take the time to read and comment. I love you and miss you!!
One more downside to traveling for work: You don’t get to see my face! Should have been #1 on your list, but I understand…
<3
No kidding! That’s totally the #1 reason. One week apart was hard enough! 🙂
I’m like you, I love traveling. Seeing other areas of the country (even if it’s a hotel room) on someone else’s dime? And to chat social media?
Can’t beat it.
I love it when you travel to San Francisco, Ryan!!
Welcome to my life!!
You took the words right out of my mouth. The phrase, “No, I didn’t see the _____, I was working!” is my most-used phrase, I think.
Just wait until you start recognizing hotels by their scent alone. It’s a fun party trick. If I’m ever kidnapped and held captive in a hotel, I’ll at least know where I am.
Also, if you get airline status, let me know if you face ageism…
Ahhh, yes. It’s mildly annoying, right? I haven’t quite gotten to the point where I can identify hotels by their scent, but I’m sure I’ll get there soon.
Let’s just hope you don’t get kidnapped 😛
Yeah. I feel you here. Times a million. Sometimes I just want to sit in one room for a week straight to make up for all the crazy traveling. But that never works. WanderLUST!
Hi Lauren!
I love this post! It gives me such wanderlust since I used to travel a lot for work…
When I was traveling and pressed for time I always tried to get a good walk in around where I was staying. Even if for a few minutes you can discover really cool things about a town just by visiting a neighborhood cafe! 🙂
Thanks, Alexa! Glad you liked the post 🙂