This is the 3rd and final installment of a three-part series by guest blogger, Mike Neumann.  He shares tips on how to make business travel more organized and less stressful. Click here to read Part I and Part II.

Now that you’ve finished your trip, it’s time to prepare to come home.  If I’ve brought a bag to check, I try to load this bag up with as much as possible, keeping in mind the typical 23Kg (50Lb) weight limit for checked bags.  Going home is when I dress casual.  Jeans and a long-sleeved shirt w/pocket (for boarding pass/passport) are the usual.  Keep your carry-on bags light, because…

Return Airport

Airport and airlines rules and practices vary widely around the globe.  Everything from expectations of the security personnel (shoes/no shoes, belts on/off, passport in shirt pocket ok/not ok) to the baggage policy (carry-on and checked) of the airline will impact your experience at the return airport.

Some airlines, for example, Qantas Airlines, have very strict carry-on restrictions that involve not just size and number of bags, but weight as well.  I wasn’t prepared for this on one of my trips to Oz and was required to check my “heavy” roller briefcase and most of its contents and purchase a small, disposable bag for my computer, music player, and other things that I didn’t want to check, but were under the 7Kg (15lb) limit per bag.

“Debrief”

Sometimes, there is only a very brief period before heading out on the next business trip; every now and then, less than 24 hours.  Aside for the expected laundry gymnastics, there are a few things make the next trip much easier.

1) Get all of those receipts in order. Even if I don’t have time to finalize the expense report, I will make certain to have all of the receipts in the envelope sorted in chronological order and add slips of paper for the minor (<$10) expenses.

2)  Clean out the “cruft.” I go through each pocket of my backpack removing loose change, re-group the currency Ziploc™ bags, and if its not already in there, put the itinerary and hotel information for the next trip in to the travel folder.

3)  Finish the quick “ToDo” list for follow-up. Business cards, follow-up emails, etc., that must be completed in the next few days – that all goes on to a list while it’s fresh in my mind.

The Bottom Line

Plan to be flexible.  “Semper Gumbi” should be your motto.  Remember that you’re not that big a deal, getting there tomorrow really won’t be the end of the world, and that a smile and a “Thank You” no matter the circumstance will make everything much, much better.

About the Author

Mike never planned to launch Agile Set, LLC and consult to smart card clients worldwide.  He planned to be an astronaut.  Now, he is a Certified GlobalPlatform Trainer and editor of ISO/IEC 24727-3, a standard poised to influence future card and system architectures.  After earning his MSME from Virginia Tech, Mike intended to play for a year, and then get serious.   Seventeen years and two kids later, the serious part has yet to kick in.

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