Having had experience as a "Road Warrior" one of the questions always asked at an interview is, "Do You Travel Well"? The short answer usually given is Yes, I love to travel to different and exotic places, experience various cuisines and meet new people. It is so exciting. The interviewer will look at you with a puzzled look and simply say, how do you handle travel stress? The short answer is and you answer, NO PROBLEM!
But the reality is the interviewee has skirted the issue and answered positively to get the job. They usually land the job because of their enthusiasm but on their initial assignment, the truth unfolds. A typical day in a "Road Warrior's" life begins with a reveille to make the plane, they are in a rush, racing to the airport, only to find out their flight is delayed by 40 minutes. They check in for their flight and check their bags.
Two hours later they arrive at their destination only to realize that their luggage did not make it and is virtually lost. The first encounter with the baggage agent ensues. They literally give the baggage agent hell, how could you loose my luggage, don't you know I have an important meeting tomorrow at 9:00 AM? The luggage agent, speaks in a consoling voice and says, we will have your luggage delivered to your hotel, later tonight and silently laughs hysterically as you do you imitation of Rumplestiltskin's dance, while walking to the car rental kisosk.
When you get to the car rental counter, the agent informs you that there are no cars, due to the Shriners convention in town and says all he has is a sub-compact car, you weigh 280 and are 6 feet-four. You do your yoga exercises to get in the car and drive off to the hotel and finally arrive at your hotel, totally exhuasted and cramped up. You order room service, two beers and settle in for the night. Just as you are about to get into your rem sleep, the phone rings, it is the airlines, they say the good news is they have found your luggage but it is in Cozumel, Mexico and they cannot get it to you until tomorrow at noon. Remembering your meeting is at 9:00AM, you really loose it and let the airlines clerk have it. You...#$%!!!. Then you get up and go to Walmart for a tie, shirt, change of underwear and toletries. You get back to the hotel and finally get to sleep at 12:30 AM.
The wake up call summons you at 6:30 AM. You put on your high fashion duds, have breakfast and are off to your meeting. When you arrive, everyone is professionally dressed, suit, tie, and shoes shined. They ask you how was your trip and where the accomodations satisfactory. You lie and say excellent and just casually mention that they lost your luggage, to explain your apperance and you give your best presentation ever and land the contract.
You head back to the hotel to get your luggage and call the airlines to confirm your reservation and find out that your flight has been cancelled. You #**^%@@!!! You have three cocktails and go to bed and count your blessings because you do have your luggage. and you did land the contract. Just before you drift off to sleep, you remember your interviewer's question, Do You Travel Well? You scream, hell no and go to sleep.
In time, you will bcome a seasoned traveler and realized that there are certain aspects of travel, that you have absolutely no conttrol of and there is no need to stress out about it because there is nothing you can do about it. Just relax, have another drink, laugh at the people who are stressing and enjoy the journey. Now you are traveling well!
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