Today I happened to catch a bit of the George Clooney flick "Up in the Air". And it got me thinking; this is my life. I spend 80-90 percent of my time away from my home. And this has been going on ever since i got my first job. During my career stint in the US, I spend the majority of my Monday mornings and Thursday evening on airplanes. I racked up enough airmile points to travel around the world ... in first class !!! I move to Canada and they got me flying again!!
Travelling for work has become the norm these days. But what is the impact that it has on the personal life? If your constantly traveling for work there cannot be any work life balance. But is there really any work life balance. I am of the opinion that a work life balance is a management of priorities (personal stuff and work stuff). If your work priorities wins then you stay back after 6pm and work the night away. If your personal priorities wins you leave work at 10 am. Thats what work life balance is to me. And sometimes my personal priorities could be as simple as i just need a break now. And if the company or boss does not get it, they are just going to loose a good employee. But i digress ..
Is travel really all that necessary with all the modern technology that is readily available to us these days. Is it absolutely necessary to be physically present to get the job done. Wouldn't a video conference meeting serve the same purpose as a being physically present for the meeting. And think about the amount of money the company can save by limiting the travel. They could save on air fare, hotel, meals, various misc expenses. Of course for the sake of relationship management some travel is necessary. But weekly is probably unnecessary.
In either case, i am of the opinion that constant work travel is a single man's game. There is no way you can maintain a relationship with constant travel. And if you are married, i think constant travel will have to be a family decision. A while back, a friend had asked me what my professional ambitions were; he was surprised when i told him that i was only interested in rising the corporate ladder upto a vice president level and no higher. When pressed for an explanation, i responded saying that at a certain point you will have to make a choice between family and career. You will not be able to satisfy both masters and for me i feel that point is at the vice president level. Any higher and you on the road a lot and will miss out on family engagements and thus, sacrificing family for work.
Just my thoughts on work travel situation as i pack a bag for my trip tomorrow morning.
Travelling for work has become the norm these days. But what is the impact that it has on the personal life? If your constantly traveling for work there cannot be any work life balance. But is there really any work life balance. I am of the opinion that a work life balance is a management of priorities (personal stuff and work stuff). If your work priorities wins then you stay back after 6pm and work the night away. If your personal priorities wins you leave work at 10 am. Thats what work life balance is to me. And sometimes my personal priorities could be as simple as i just need a break now. And if the company or boss does not get it, they are just going to loose a good employee. But i digress ..
Is travel really all that necessary with all the modern technology that is readily available to us these days. Is it absolutely necessary to be physically present to get the job done. Wouldn't a video conference meeting serve the same purpose as a being physically present for the meeting. And think about the amount of money the company can save by limiting the travel. They could save on air fare, hotel, meals, various misc expenses. Of course for the sake of relationship management some travel is necessary. But weekly is probably unnecessary.
In either case, i am of the opinion that constant work travel is a single man's game. There is no way you can maintain a relationship with constant travel. And if you are married, i think constant travel will have to be a family decision. A while back, a friend had asked me what my professional ambitions were; he was surprised when i told him that i was only interested in rising the corporate ladder upto a vice president level and no higher. When pressed for an explanation, i responded saying that at a certain point you will have to make a choice between family and career. You will not be able to satisfy both masters and for me i feel that point is at the vice president level. Any higher and you on the road a lot and will miss out on family engagements and thus, sacrificing family for work.
Just my thoughts on work travel situation as i pack a bag for my trip tomorrow morning.
