If your business has grown to the point where you need to travel abroad, then good for you! Taking a business global is a huge step. But if you travel a lot for work or pleasure, you might forget about important things at home or at work. Try out my camping adventure journal with a sketchbook and write about your trip for a little bit of fun. Even if you are always on the road, you don’t have to fall behind in any part of your life. If you’re new to business travel, read these 7 tips.
Don’t forget about your home life.
Being blessed enough to travel with work often means leaving your partner and kids behind. If you’re not used to being apart for long periods of time, it can be very hard on your relationship. Even though you don’t want to forget about your home life, it’s easy to get caught up in what you’re traveling for. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t travel for work either. You’ll have to learn how to travel for work (and excel your business) without neglecting your home life or the people that make it matter.
Ensure that you devote quality time to staying in touch and feeding those relationships so that the voids are minimized.
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Use video calling apps like Skype or FaceTime if both of you have iPhones so you can see your family instead of just hearing them. Seeing the person you miss can transform your mood and perspective about being gone. You’ll remember why you’re doing it, and talking to your loved one will make you feel less lonely.
You should get your children a keepsake from each trip so they have something with which to look forward to when you return home. While not like home, it’s a delight after each trip.
Schedule video chat time reading to your kids so they can spend time with you if you’re not present.
Plan something fun to do when you get home from every business trip. Everyone (including you) will be excited for your return.
Help your business even when you’re on the go.
Your business is the main reason why you have to travel. This could be at a conference or in a pitch to investors. But why only do one business-related thing when you travel? Use the time you spend traveling to finish up some work you’ve been putting off for weeks or to answer all the emails that have been piling up in your inbox.
You could also go to business-related events. If you were in the UAE, you might visit expo firms in Dubai to learn how to hold your own events and build your business. Use your time away from home wisely if you’re traveling far.
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Travel safely.
You’re more at risk in a strange country, especially if you’re alone. Some countries don’t have hospitable civilians, especially if they’re poor and meet lots of businesspeople. Check out at these safety tips before you travel:
A GPS tracker should ALWAYS be in your phone and share your location with a trusted loved one. If something happens, your business or family can find you quickly. If you haven’t checked into specific venues, someone should check on you.
Bring things with you that could support you out if you get into trouble. Things that help you protect yourself, like mace, will continue to be useful.
Have someone waiting to pick you up from both the airport and your hotel. This will make sure you don’t meet any sketchy people along the way.
Whenever you can, travel in pairs. You’ll feel safer, and the whole trip will be a lot less lonely.
Find out about the place you’re going.
Try reading up on where you’re going so you understand what to anticipate. Also, many nations all over the world have various beliefs and customs that you ought to learn about so you don’t offend anyone by accident. After all, it’s their home, and if you treat them badly (whether you realize it or not), you’re less likely to get the deal you came to get. Always keep these things in mind when you travel:
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- Religion and common faith. This is simply a matter of respecting yourself, the culture that you are engaging with and the people involved.
- Mannerisms and gestures. In some places, shaking the head means yes and nodding means no. This might not get you in trouble, but if you know customs of the country you are visiting, it’ll just make your life a lot simpler.
- Be aware and research the crime levels and places you should avoid so that you don’t become a victim.
- Discover the ideal locations for meeting, eating, drinking, and any other needs you may have while there. TripAdvisor is a great way to learn more about places you don’t know much about.
- Depending on the airline or travel company you use, you might also be able to get rewards points.
Use your time on the road to prepare and practice important presentations.
As we’ve already said, you probably have a reason for going away. To land a transaction or pitch to investors. Use travel time to do administrative work, prepare presentations, and practice them. Many people use travel time to finalize presentations and speeches. You might also say the appropriate things to your clients.
If you’re traveling on a business trip with a coworker, make sure they hear your pitch and observe how you give it to ensure success. If you’re traveling alone, use the commute to prepare and free time at your hotel to practice. Use your leisure time effectively for your business and sanity.
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Consider it a break.
Why think of business travel as something unpleasant? You have the chance to go all over the world and see new things. Time to leave the guilt at the door, and make your business trip feel like a vacation. Bring your camera so you may share your moments with friends and family. Don’t forget that you need to keep a balance between working and taking a break while you’re away — so you don’t lose track of what you’re doing.
Technology may make your vacation easier.
The internet puts the world in our pockets these days. You can also get online in more places than ever before across the world. This can make traveling easier. And it is now easier for you to do things like book a taxi or meet a client for dinner, since so many businesses have websites and let you book online. Make your everyday tasks as easy as you can so that future business trips won’t seem so complicated.