Success ... The Definition

Yes, I know … I haven’t blogged in forever and it gets even worse, because I’ve already been on another business trip. And guess what? I just got home from yet another trip but this time it was vacation!

Here’s the long and short of it … it took two weeks to dig out from the Atlanta trip. Why? The reason is the same after each trip; it was a success! Between following up that can only be done from the office to the proposals that needed to be written even my uber organized self was barely able to keep my nostrils above water.

Next trip was to Fort Lauderdale and Miami for 3 ½ days of meeting after meeting thankfully at the majority of which there was food (and yes I did work out each day). Again, days upon days to dig out which equaled success!

By the way, are you beginning to wonder if all my business trips are a success? If you define success strictly in $$$$, then the answer is no. I define success as long-term relationships (some of which over the years have turned in to amazing friendships) that ensue on a level only face-to-face time can build, nurture and sustain … the $$$ follows simply because I put first what truly matters … genuinely caring/wanting to help my clients/potential clients. How do you define success?

So fast -forward to here and now, the much awaited trip to Vegas (and no I didn’t get married). This 5-day/4-night trip was my gift to my pretend husband Mark for his 50^th birthday. If you know me, you know how I feel about Vegas so when I say we had a BLAST, it’s not because I’m suffering from sunstroke but because we really had a BLAST! I’m actually almost looking forward to going back as much as he is.

Next on the itinerary in about a week or so is South Carolina … can’t wait for those fried pickles!!!!

On angel wings,

T

To exercise or not exercise?

Do you pack your workout clothes when you travel? Better still, if you do, do you actually work out?

I’ll raise my hand here and admit that I’m one of those that will pack those workout clothes but somehow never actually find the time to work out. That’s one of the reasons I still haven’t lost those 50 pounds I really need to lose (and I even have the nerve to worry that my $100 sneakers make it home safely in my luggage).

This trip has been no different than any other except for one thing … I actually worked out! What was my motivation? I wanted to figure out why I didn’t follow through on exercising while I travel so I decided to do a “science” experiment. On my first morning in Atlanta, I got out of bed at the usual time I would get up at home, 5am, after which I dropped $1.50 for bottled water, made my way to the hotel gym and walked 3 miles on the treadmill. Afterwards I rewarded myself with a Grande no-fat Misto from Starbuck’s.

Know what? That first full day in Atlanta was amazing! I was more alert, focused, ate healthier and had slept better that night than I have ever slept in a hotel room. Needless to say that motivated me to do it again, day after day until my last day in Atlanta. Of course I had to get on the scale and I’ve lost 3 pounds despite enjoying some wonderful southern food!

Now that I love how I feel when I exercise while on the road, you can bet I’ll continue to do it!

On angel wings, T

Anticipation, Apprehension and Clarity

I have to come clean. In the preliminary phases of mapping out my travel I get really excited. All the places I’m going to see, the people I’m going to meet and oh the delicious food I’m going to eat! Then about two weeks before I leave that voice in my head starts saying things like “are you insane? You’re going to be gone an entire week! Just imagine how far behind you’ll be when you get back and how long it’s going to take you to catch up!”

Well let me tell you, this time around it hasn’t been like that all. Even that voice in my head has been wonderfully silent. So why is this travel season different?

It’s different because I’ve missed it, I’ve missed Atlanta and all the other places my travels will take me between now and the end of September. Sure there’s no place like home and I’ll still have massive catching up to do but it’s a trade off with an incredible payoff the majority of which is not defined by $$$$.

On angel wings, T

Let Travel Season Begin!

So it’s kind of like this … over the past ten years I’ve done my fair share of traveling from coast-to-coast and everywhere in between. I’m convinced that during this time my luggage should have received frequent flier miles considering the number of times it was lost and the number of connecting flights it took to finally make it back to me. Can you relate? So who am I? Well, my name is Theresa and I live in Upstate, New York with my pretend husband, Mark (yes, you read that right … some things I’m too young for and other things I’m too old for and calling Mark my boyfriend is one of the things I’m way too old for). We share our home with two dogs, Ellie and Bentley plus our cat Shiloh. The month of April 2011 marks my 10-year anniversary working as a saleswoman for NextStepU, a multi-media company (my official title is Director of Results but I’m better known as the Velvet Hammer and some even call me Lady T!). For the most part, my travels have been work-related, each trip being commemorated with the obligatory number of postcards and the odd magnet or two. As I embark on year number 11, I wanted to do something more, something different than buying those postcards and magnets so this blog was born! Honestly, I don’t know what shape or form it will take but if nothing more hopefully it will be fun to read, entertaining and maybe even helpful (plus it indulges my need to get my creative on and write)! So where am I going next? It’s Atlanta or bust! I leave this afternoon, Saturday, April 9 from the Greater Rochester, New York Airport. I’ll be in Georgia almost an entire week, touching back down in Rochester on Friday, April 15th. Keep an eye out for updates and let me know how I’m doing with blogging 101! On angel wings, Theresa