My Summer Road Show

Everyone has decided they need training this summer. I started the year off slow and hung out for several months waiting for my prospects/clients to get their time, budget and mind around training. And then it all started happening at once like it always does. This is the part of my work that many outsiders find glamorous- the travel, the intense training schedule, the audience, the managers, the presentations- it’s showtime!

However, traveling can be very isolating and disorienting. When you are in training mode, you need to keep yourself in shape, get sleep, eat right, make sure you have all your materials in place and basically be “on” at all times. Whenever I get to a new city, I try to get my bearings and look for the local Kinko’s, Starbucks, Whole Foods, Yoga Sudio, you know the usual…..Yeah right! Today, I lost my patience when circling my car during lunch looking for a place to eat. My choices were Wendy’s, McDonalds, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut. Mmmm, let’s see, tough decision.

Luckily, I get to travel to some cool international spots like Paris and Amsterdam and domestic spots like Austin, Colorado, Utah and North Carolina. Some areas, I need to tone down my California or “Frisco” demeanor. It’s the humbling part of my work where I take a back seat and watch different cultures at work. On the other hand, when I’m traveling internationally, I can put my French and Italian to work and feel like some international diplomat.

The cool thing is the respect and acknowledgement I get for my work. When I walked into my clients yesterday, in the lobby there was a sign that said, “Harte-Hanks welcomes TeleSmart” and I felt welcomed.