“How can I get into consulting and travel like you do?” I get this question a lot, especially from friends who hear about my fun travel stories. Although the road life has ups and downs, meeting new people and exploring new areas and events can feel pretty glamorous. Especially these days when I escape Boston’s dreary spring every week for San Diego.
I can’t say this was always the case and I can understand when others are wary of the drawbacks of being a road warrior. When I first started my career as a consultant, I didn’t enjoy the thought of traveling four days a week, living like a nomad and being away from my family. But as I got into the zone of travelling, it became a routine and I started seeing it from a different perspective.
So, what makes traveling fun for me?
Points, points, and points – I believe this is one of the biggest perks of traveling for work. Building status with airlines and hotels has so many benefits when you want to plan a vacation with your family. Two years ago, my husband and I went for a 13 day trip to Europe, all on airline miles and hotel points earned from the road warrior life. We explored six different cities: Paris, Zurich, Lucerne, Venice, Florence and Rome with upgrades at some of the best hotels in each area we explored—all on points. If you enjoy traveling, investing in the road warrior lifestyle is a bit like compounding interest…the more miles you log, the more miles you can spend (and log miles on).
Networking – At home, many of us have a habitual relationship with our TV remote, but business travel gives me the opportunity to break away from the screen and network with new people, clients, and colleagues. It’s a little easier to get the motivation to join others for drinks or an event when I’ve already stepped outside my comfort zone. And beyond the typical office or city scene, spending a lot of time in transit means that I often network with fellow airline passengers and airport staff. Having same schedule every Monday and Thursday (and also same seat most of the time) means I see familiar faces every week and build new relationships.
Traveling with family – My husband and I love to travel and explore new places which means that he often joins me during work travel so we can extend a trip together or easily head to one of the destinations on our bucket list. Recently, he joined me in San Diego and we spent the week trying out new restaurants, hole-in-the-wall diners, chic rooftop bars, and beautiful beaches. After the work week, we spent the weekend in SFO and Napa Valley visiting vineyards and sipping amazing wines.
Continuous learning – We consultants are always on our toes, whether it’s working through client challenges, staying on top of industry trends, or dealing with delayed or canceled flights. Travel problems pop up frequently but I’ve found that this lifestyle has helped me develop a personality of problem-solving and flexibility. Many of you will agree with me that delayed and cancelled flights are all part of our routine and I have one motto to be patient with it: “There’s always a next flight, and if not, there will be a bar or a casino around.”
Being a road warrior may not be for everyone but as the adage goes: “There are always two sides to every coin.” If I hadn’t taken a chance on the road warrior lifestyle, I’d have missed out on new experiences, friends, and a whole lot of airline points. If you’re making the leap to consulting and are open to new experiences, I wholeheartedly recommend that you hit the road.
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