The Strategic Business Traveler

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Hey all you high volume, frequent flying, business travelers! You might want to hear this story about the ability to apply some strategic thinking principles in everyday scenarios.

I had an interesting conversation last night with an acquaintance who works in the Salt Lake City Airport as a baggage handler. I was telling him that I travel enough and I have strategically figured out when I need to leave my office or home in order to be able to get the airport and catch a flight and that I usually push it to the last minute. I am sure many of you out there have a similar approach.

If you are like me, then the routine may look like the following:

1. Print off boarding passes beforehand.
2. Throw the bags in the trunk and hit the gas pedal as I push to beat a yellow traffic light.
3. By checking road signs for closures and accidents I know which freeway is going to the fastest route. I always have at least two options in mind.
4. As I pull into the airport entrance, I glance at my watch and decide if I have enough time to do long-term parking vs. short term parking.
5. I do the coveted speedy walk through the First Class/Frequent Flyer line while I look at maybe 100 or so people corralled like cattle in the coach line. I think to myself “I am going fly through security and should be able to grab a bottle of water and quick snack before the boarding beings.”
6. I proceed to get undressed in front of the crowed of 100 onlookers in the other security line. As I buckle up my belt and slip on my shoes I notice security took longer than anticipated and that I may have to do some running. I digress back to my college football days and impersonate a Heisman like running back while I weave in and out of “wandering” travelers. This is when I wish had a 250 lb. fullback in front of me to just throw a few body blocks!
7. I reach the gate and relax as the gate agent says “We will now begin boarding flight 278 with non-stop service to Neverneverland”
8. I board the flight and off we go. Amazing how many times this works out just right!

Well, this baggage handler related an incident where there were a few sorry passengers and even “expert travelers” missed their flights. There happened to be a huge business conference in town. At the end of the conference it added thousands of extra travelers that were trying to get out of the city. Because of the huge volume of travelers, it meant that many people like me who have strategically mapped out our flight travel routine, were thrown a huge curve ball and as a result, many people missed their flights.

Fortunately for me, I wasn’t traveling that day, but it served as a good reminder. It reminded me that even after we have done something for a long time and that we have it fine-tuned down the minute details, there are often little things going on in our world that can have a big ripple effect on us and many people around us.

If we don’t keep a strategic eye open to what is happening around us, we will be hit with a negative outcome. I am suggesting to everyone that you keep strategic eye open to everyday events. It is a good way to learn and practice strategic thinking. If we get in the habit of doing it on a daily basis with many small things, it will soon feel like second nature. Before your next flight, think what might affect your schedule on this next trip.