São Paulo people?

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Ok, with new jobs come new experiences. Such as, being 007-ed out to far-away cities on short notice.

Anybody?      


Jeroen

[Phil Bunch]

Jeroen,

Your query really triggered a cascade of memory flashbacks in me...

I had a very travel-intensive phase for a few years during my career working for a large multi-national company, perhaps not so different from your in-progress experiences in some ways.  

First, some background.  After working in an office/lab staff scientist postion for about 15 years, a new phase of my career began.  One of my roles role during this career phase was to help troubleshoot new product installations at customer sites, providing high-end technical support for instances in which the normal field staff couldn't deal with an installation, even after consulting with me by phone.  I felt I couldn't avoid providing my best efforts since I was a co-inventor of this product (a new x-ray film).  Especially for a new product introduction, it was very important not to lose any major customers or the loss of reputation for the product would likely be very damaging.  As difficult as this several year effort was, it worked very well commercially, and the field support staff were much more motivated by knowing that they had access to a staff scientist.  Ultimately, the product went on to gain a lot of international recognition within its market segment as he co-inventors also obtained recognition.  

Back to my personal saga - at one point in time, I would have to pack a suitcase for several days travel and take it with me to the office, not knowing if I would be coming home that night or where I would be going.  On good days I would have time to call my wife from the airport and let her know where I would be going.  Even then, my return date was uncertain as I might have to travel to another city from the original destination city.  I soon learned that if you're good at problem solving and troubleshooting, your employer quickly recognizes the sales-related dollar signs for using your services in this way, even if you were technically not part of their sales and customer support staff.  When needed, one should pitch in fully, I believe...or one should move to a different type of job.

Traveling a lot on an expense account was in many ways interesting and exciting, but the stresses soon built up, especially for my wife and children.  It also soon became much less glamorous and often became fatiguing for me, too.  Fortunately, this "road warrior" phase only lasted a few years for me, but the accumulated stress did play a role in the breakup of my marriage some years later.  Having one's spouse say they support and understand your work demands and that they too want the income from the anticipated job promotions, etc, isn't necessarily sufficient.  It's can be hard to figure all this out in real time.  Unless a family unit has grown up with such job requirements, as with pilots, long-distance truck drivers, etc, I'm not sure it is so easy for most people to adjust to.  It partly depends on how self-sufficient and self-contained one's family is, too.  

Some veteran road warriors advised me that if one can keep one's travel time down to less than 25% of one's time, things aren't too difficult, but that much depends on how many short-notice or no-notice trips one has to make.  Having to regularly cancel one's participation in family events isn't a positive thing, for sure.

It was enjoyable to see so many cities around the world, meet with important customers, etc, without question.  Yet how many great cities have I only or mostly seen from the back seat of a taxi? I also enjoyed solving technical problems, helping the company make lots of money, and I especially enjoyed helping the new products I had co-invented become successful.  After a while, the road warrior lifestyle may just become a difficult way of life, and the glamor one may perceive from the outside tends to fade out.  

Fortunately, one does become personally adjusted to a road life.  I even remember during a 6-week, 32,000 mile business trip that I almost forgot having a family, and felt like I could just live on the road indefinitely.  "If this is Tuesday, then this must be Bangkok", etc.  The international sales/marketing staffer told me the same things - they had their favorite bar in Singapore and their favorite hotel in Paris, and were really more living the road life than anything like a normal civilian life.  They said they would quickly become restless and anxious when they were at home for long periods of time.  

Later in my career, with much less intensive travel requirements, I would take my new life partner along on most trips, and she very much enjoyed traveling with me, seeing interesting cities while I worked, and we could usually schedule trips to include a personal vacation weekend or even more time if we wanted to.  But this is a very different situation from a situation where one has younger children or teen-aged children and a wife who would usually need to stay at home.

I hope that some aspects of this very personal saga are helpful.  If I can elaborate further, just let me know.  In the meantime, enjoy the ride and the adventures!

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Hi Phil (from São Paulo),

I understand the tricks of international business travel all too well. Although I have not (yet?) done a great deal of intercontinental travel, I've been around Europe a lot. Years of being one week per three weeks from home. So yes, "It is Tuesday, this must be Paris" is much too familiar. Same aircraft, same airport, same taxi, same hotel. You start identifying places using their coffee or simulation thereof.

My family is coping, sort of, and hauling them to the States of course also sends ripples through the water. But I have good hopes that it all will work out.


Jeroen, right next to SBSP

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

Interesting approach end 17R, especially at minimums. Add mandatory MAX autobrakes and Congonhas becomes a fun place to operate.


Jeroen

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

After working in an office/lab staff scientist postion for about 15 years, a new phase of my career began.  One of my roles role during this career phase was to help troubleshoot new product installations at customer sites, providing high-end technical support for instances in which the normal field staff couldn't deal with an installation, even after consulting with me by phone.  I felt I couldn't avoid providing my best efforts since I was a co-inventor of this product (a new x-ray film).  Especially for a new product introduction, it was very important not to lose any major customers or the loss of reputation for the product would likely be very damaging.  As difficult as this several year effort was, it worked very well commercially, and the field support staff were much more motivated by knowing that they had access to a staff scientist.  Ultimately, the product went on to gain a lot of international recognition within its market segment as he co-inventors also obtained recognition.

It is outright scary that I seem to be heading down this track as well. 15 years of academic trenches, accidentally invented stuff, it got picked up, and here I am doing advanced field support for airlines all over the world. I wonder where this will lead to.


Jeroen

[Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers]

It is also outright scary that they serve caipirinhas cachaça here in Hoegaarden glasses.