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- Wise Words -
The Mile High
Early Stage Professional

by yahya altaf 

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The Dream of Mile High
In college, I idolized the corporate road warrior. Whether it was sales, consulting or even bloggers, I saw those professionals as the pinnacle of Early Stage Professional success. The monotony of driving the same route to work, greeting the secretary at reception and having to look forward to Taco Tuesday from the same cafeteria was just not appealing to me. I wanted change. I heard stories of burnout and monotony from superiors and knew that in order to be happy in my career I needed a healthy amount of variety.
 
Some people agonize at the slightest sign of change. But for many go-getters, adapting to dynamic environments and breaking the figurative shackles of the cubicle is the very thing that ensures long and satisfying professional lives. I wanted to make the type of living where I met new people, gained perspective from different geographies and cultures and had meaningful takeaways each and every day.
 
By now you’ve probably deduced that I indeed travel for work!  I am remote for 100% of the time and travel 60% of the time.  I debate its pros/cons often (I have a lot of time for this: I fly a lot and so not just spend time on a plane but also at the airport waiting for one!).  It's either an extremely beneficial perk or an exhaustive task added to general operation. You can travel for the length of your career, and will want to, if you do it right. Here are just a few of the things I’ve learned in my journey from the back of the plane to the more comfortable middle (thank heavens for the status upgrades).
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Plan ahead and book travel as early as possible, ideally 3 weeks or more.
Keep your calendar updated and know what the next day has to offer. When you travel, the hustle and bustle of running from gate to gate and city to city often leaves the unorganized dazed and confused. When I first started traveling, I checked in at the Delta counter and the representative asked, “Where to today, sir?” I had to pull out my phone and catch myself several times before I pulled up the right itinerary and answered him accurately. The guy thought I was a mad man for not knowing my destination! Don’t let that happen. Know where you’re going and prepare to put your best foot forward, whether that’s New York City, New York or Mobile, Alabama.​

Plan attire for the entire trip and be prepared for delays.
Like I said before, your attire is important. Looking good, feeling good and performance are interconnected. Always be on top of your game (especially if you deal with clients regularly). I know that my confidence is always at its peak when I’m comfortable and prepared. Plan for the delay or the cancelled flight and ensure your checked bag or carry-on is equipped to handle such inconveniences. When you travel, you’re at the mercy of someone else’s timeline, more than likely Mother Nature or mechanical failure (that’s always reassuring to hear). Always prepare for the worst but expect the best.
 
Don’t procrastinate.
The snowball effect is a real phenomenon. Prioritizing while traveling is of utmost importance and keeping up with expense reports, time-sheets and other minuscule tasks ensures more time for meaningful responsibilities, such as that email to your manager about your career and developmental goals or adding to your diabolical plan of world domination. Putting off tasks loads everyone down and is simply not a good look. Bite the bullet and buy in-air Wifi (try and expense it if possible) and utilize your down time wisely.

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Eat healthy and hydrate.
Be the best version of yourself, even when you’re at the mercy of the airport. Electing healthier meals is definitely more difficult on the road but choose the salad over the burger if you can and use snacks to breakdown urges. Greasy food before flights is never a good idea, especially if you get queasy at take-off and landing. Also, cabin air isn’t the best (often it is quite humid which leads to dehydration). My policy is always to have a water bottle at arm’s length.
 
Give yourself recovery time.
For all the reasons above, extensive travel is exhausting so if you travel frequently give yourself some recovery time.  To maintain a sane mindset and reset for the next round of travel, try to work from home some of the remaining time (it is easy for me to do this as my company headquarters are in Texas and I live in Minneapolis).  Utilize the time spent at home to prepare for on-trip success, follow-up from latter visits and complete other tasks such as expense reports and regular debriefings with your team and don't feel guilt if you have just got off a red eye and are not going to head into the office.  Pace yourself and focus on the quality of your output not being the jaded warrior who can't function in the office!

Stay loyal to one airline, hotel.
Commitment is everything. In this model, putting all your chips in one basket is definitely the way to go. It gets you through the tiers (i.e. bronze, silver, gold) much faster to take advantage of the benefits. Often airlines, hotels and even car rentals will form alliances with one another to attract a broader customer base, so align to 1 group as much as possible (you can transfer points between them as well).  I have had free vacations based on my loyalty and hope to
 
I've been a mile high now for almost three years and am still not peaking.  Hopefully these tips will help you maximize your cruise speed if your career takes you "up, up and away"!
​

​Like this section?  Why not send your own "Early Stage Professional:" advice and experience in? Just email it to: fergus@whattheferg.com

More Wise Words...

Achieve: Focus on Results
​
Achieve: Leading from the Start
Achieve: Small is BIG
Achieve: Take Action
Career Management: Annual Review. A "How To"
Career Management: Annual Review. As Career Plan
Career Management: Choosing a Mentor
Career Management: Careers Happen
Career Management: Career Journey
Career Management: Mentorship Explained
​
Career Management: Post Graduate Degrees
Career Management: Promotion Frustration 
Career Management: Moving up by moving out
Career Management: Selecting Your Company
Career Management: Understand Yourself
Finances: Retirement Saving (1)
Finances: Retirement Saving (2)
Hindsight: Balance the short- with the long-term
​Hindsight: Embrace learning and your manager
Hindsight: Focus at Work
Hindsight: Millennial Reflections
Hindsight: Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
​Hindsight: Take Advice Sparingly
Hindsight: Take a Career Mulligan
​
Hindsight: Transition from College
Hindsight: Winning Nicely
Hindsight: Work hard, network, be honest. Have fun too!
Managing Up: Manage Up to Move Up
Managing Up: Manager As Partner
Managing Up: New Manager
Managing Up: Questions for your manager
Managing Up: Secret Skills for Managing Up
​
People & Teamwork: Be A Giver
​
People & Teamwork: LinkedIn As Networking
People & Teamwork: Networking Hacks
People & Teamwork: Networking as a Relationship
People & Teamwork: Networking Simplified
People & Teamwork: Teamwork As Leadership
Speedbumps: Chutes & Ladders
​
Speedbumps: Laid Off? Take A Breath
Speedbumps: Layoffs. The Afterlife
Speedbumps: Owning Mistakes
Work Life: Work Culture. America vs. UK
Work Life: Ask Why
Work Life: Be Yourself. Be Genuine
​
Work Life: Browned Out?
Work Life: Business Travel Guide
Work Life: Calendar Management
Work Life: Difficult Situations
Work Life: Focus on Fiyah!
​Work Life: Ghosting
​
Work Life: Help the Early Stage Professionals
Work Life: International Remote Working
Work Life: Pre-Vacation Checklist
Work Life: Smartphones & The Office
​Work Life: Start-Up Glamor
Work Life: Stress Management
Work Life: Take a Walk
​
Work Life: They Quit
Work Life: Unlimited Vacation
Work Life: Welcome the Newbies
Work Life: "Work" from Home

Crushing It @ Work

What Time Should I Start? 
What If I am Running Late? 
Taking Vacation
Sick Days 
Working Outside Office Hours
​
How to prepare for One/Ones
Making Meetings on Time 
Business Presentations 
Social Media, Personal Email and Hanging Out on the Web
Give it Six to Nine Months to Feel @Home
Be Your-professional-self
Staying Positive

Job Search Must Do's

Resume
The Application Letter 
​
The Free Conundrum: Should You Take an Unpaid Internship?
Informational Interviews 
Taking a Shortcut: Using Your Network 
Dealing with a Low GPA
​Responding to Recruiters
The Job Interview
Interview Questions
Questions You Should Ask
Simulations 
Interviews with Other Applicants
Dealing with References
Negotiating Your Salary
How to Resign (if you already have a job)
​
The First Week
You Don't Get the Job: Getting Feedback
​Keeping Motivated Through the Search

USA Today Columns by Fergus Mellon

How to get started on LinkedIn: Do this, not that
Warning: Avoid smartphone shame at work.  Keep them out of sight
To succeed, be a Giver in the workplace, not a Taker
4 ghoulish personality pitfalls to steer clear of at the office
​
How to coach today's not so entitled Millennials as they join the rat race

Crushing IT

Money

Library

WISE WORDS

Bureaucracy

Copyright © 2016 - 2020
  • Home
  • Getting a job
    • Must Do's - Resume
    • Must Do's - Application Letter
    • Must Do's - Internships
    • Groundwork - Informational Interviews
    • Groundwork - Your Network
    • Groundwork - GPA Issues
    • Groundwork - Recruiters
    • Dealing with Rejection - Feedback
    • Dealing with Rejection - Keeping Motivated
    • Closing the Deal - The Interview
    • Closing the Deal - Interview Q's
    • Closing the Deal - Your Questions
    • Closing the Deal - Simulations
    • Closing the Deal - Group Interviews
    • Closing the Deal - References
    • Signing On - Salary Negotiation
    • Signing On - How to Resign
    • Signing On - First Week
  • Crushing It
    • The Hours - What Time Should I Start
    • The Hours - What If I Am Running Late?
    • The Hours - Taking Vacation
    • The Hours - Sick Days
    • The Hours - Working Outside Office Hours
    • Professional Skills - One/Ones
    • Professional Skills- Making Meetings on Time
    • Professional Skills - Business Presentations
    • Professional Skills - Social Media, Personal Email
    • A Level Head - Feeling @ Home
    • A Level Head - Be YourProfessionalSelf
    • A Level Head- Staying Positive
  • Wise Words
    • Achieve - Focus on the Results
    • Achieve - Leading from the Start
    • Achieve - Showcase Your Work
    • Achieve - Small is BIG
    • Achieve - Take Action
    • Achieve - Your New Job. A Plan
    • Career Management - Annual Review
    • Career Management - Annual Review Feedback Meeting
    • Career Management - Annual Review: How to Guide
    • Career Management - Career Contentment
    • Career Management - Careers Happen
    • Career Management - Career Journey
    • Career Management - Choosing a Mentor
    • Career Management - Discomfort Is Good
    • Career Management - Freelancing and Employment Gaps
    • Career Management - Mentally Healthy Choices
    • Career Management - Mentorship Explained
    • Career Management - Post Graduate Degrees
    • Career Management - Promotion Frustration
    • Career Management - Promotions. Move out to move up
    • Career Management - Selecting Your Company
    • Career Management - Understand Yourself
    • Finances - Preparing for a Downturn
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (1)
    • Finances - Retirement Saving (2)
    • Hindsight - Balance the Short- with Long -term
    • Hindsight - Embrace Learning & Your Manager
    • Hindsight - Focus at Work
    • Hindsight - Millennial Reflections
    • Hindsight - Regrets: Time, Money & Pride
    • Hindsight - Take a Career Mulligan
    • Hindsight - Take Advice Sparingly
    • Hindsight - Transition from College
    • Hindsight - Winning Nicely
    • Hindsight - Work Hard. Be Honest. Have Fun
    • Managing Up - Manager as Partner
    • Managing Up - Manage Up to Move Up
    • Managing Up - Mastering Your Manager
    • Managing Up - New Manager
    • Managing Up - Questions For Your Manager
    • Managing Up - Secret Skills of Managing Up
    • Managing Up - Yes Power
    • People & Teamwork - Be a Giver
    • People & Teamwork - First Time Manager
    • People & Teamwork - LinkedIn as Networking
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Hacks
    • People & Teamwork - Networking as Relationship
    • People & Teamwork - Networking Simplified
    • People & Teamwork - Reputations Travel
    • People & Teamwork - Teamwork as Leadership
    • Sliding Doors - Decision Paths
    • Sliding Doors - Success Requires Luck
    • Speed Bumps - Chutes & Ladders
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs & Survivors Guilt
    • Speed Bumps - Laid Off? Take a Breath
    • Speed Bumps - Layoffs. The After Life
    • Speed Bumps - Owning Mistakes
    • Work Life - American Work Culture
    • Work Life - Ask Why
    • Work Life - Be Yourself. Be Genuine
    • Work Life - Browned Out?
    • Work Life - Business Travel Guide
    • Work Life - Calendar Management
    • Work Life - Change is Certain
    • Work Life - Difficult Situations
    • Worklife - Focus on Fiyah
    • Work Life - Ghosting
    • Work Life - Help the Early Stage Professionals
    • Work Life- International Remote Working
    • Work Life - In the Zoom
    • Work Life - Mom Skills
    • Work Life - Office As A Stage
    • Work Life - Office Ghouls
    • Work Life - Pre Vacation Checklist
    • Work Life - Returning to Work
    • Work Life - Smartphones & The Office
    • Work Life - Speak Up
    • Work Life - Stage Fright
    • Work Life - Startup Glamour
    • Work Life - Stress Management
    • Work Life - Take A Walk
    • Work Life - Tasks We Hate
    • Work Life - They Quit
    • Work Life - Unlimited Vacation
    • Worklife - Vacation Overview
    • Work Life - Welcome the Newbies
    • Work Life - "Work" From Home
  • Money
    • Money - The Basics
    • Money - Saving for Retirement
    • Money - Retirement Saving
  • Library
    • Book Reviews
    • Webinar Hub
    • USA Today Columns
    • Buy Early Stage Professional
    • Bureaucracy
  • Help Center
    • Annual Reviews
    • Career Speed Bumps
    • Managing Up
    • Promotions & Career Planning
    • Stress Management