Many of us travel for work and know sometimes it doesn’t feel productive and it can be really lonely. Our business includes speaking around the world visiting many airports, hotels and convention centers. This means I still have to be able to ‘run and grow’ the business from the road and still stay sane and connected.
Like many of you with big goals and big travel schedules, we need strategies to continue to grow our business, focus on personal development and stay connected to those we love.
We shared strategies in an interview for the speaking industry with Voices of Experience chair Theo Androus. He asked so many probing questions about how we can continue to focus on what’s important while we travel so much. Even if you are not in the speaking industry, you will find this interview helpful – full of strategies for anyone who travels. You can listen to our interview here or read the tips – June 2013 ‘Putting the PRO in Productivity’
Focus on business development– keep a business growth mindset while traveling in the airport or hotel. Schedule calls with potential clients, or follow up with existing clients. Stay connected with clients while you travel.
Focus on business proposals – continue to write, review and send proposals while you travel. Time in hotels can be quiet and undistracted and a great time for creating new ideas, content or strategies. Avoid the TV and stay connected to your business goals.
Focus on personal development – commit to reading a business journal or book, blog or article while you travel to make the most of the small increments of downtime while waiting to board, waiting to land, or waiting to check into your hotel. You can load your iPad or Kindle with a variety of books so you are always prepared.
Focus on relationships – reach out to friends you don’t make time to see and chat by phone or on Facebook, carry stamped stationery or cards with you and write a note of appreciation or encouragement to someone, send a text message surprising someone you thought of them, call someone you love when you arrive at your location so you can stay connected and they know you are safe and sound.
Focus on health – maintaining healthy eating, sleep and a workout schedule is tougher on the road (but NOT impossible). We travel with food, workout apps on our iPad and sometimes a resistance band. Find a workout you can do in your hotel room if you don’t want to use the gym, pack foods you enjoy that are healthy and travel well i.e. nuts, protein bars, Nashi Asian pears. We also LOVE the app Pzizz (it’s a power napping app) and find it really helpful for small naps (or deep sleep) when we travel. Check it out here
How do stay productive while you travel? We’d love to hear your thoughts, share your ideas with us here on our blog. We would love to hear your FAVE apps while you travel?
PS. If you want more ideas on how to increase your productivity – check out other blogs here and several eBooks you can share with your team.
