Business trips are back, and I went too hard

Business trips are back,?and there’s a tendency to go too hard, when you can finally be out and about meeting people.

I know this because that’s exactly what I did this week in Singapore ????

?The previous week I was in Sydney and while I was with people most of the time, it wasn’t lots of different people. I went to bed (mostly) at reasonable times and fitted in some exercise. There was one silly night with too much wine on a lounge late into the night, but let’s not talk about that.

Singapore was a whole different situation.

It started with meeting people the night I landed (when I potentially should have had a shower and gone straight to bed). Then I thought it would be a good idea to have meetings and deliver work from 6am to 8 and 9pm on a couple of days. Actually, more than a few days. Then some additional meetings and social activities and by the time I got to the end of the week I was done. As in done in.

This has meant that the last couple of days I haven’t been much use or very effective. I had to cancel some meetings, and to top it off on the last night, there was a food poisoning situation.

I’m writing this newsletter, hobbling back home to Auckland after a red eye flight that goes through Sydney.

I really wanted to make the best of my time in Singapore, but I can see that a business trip that is so chock full of everything, is not sustainable.

So how can I make sure I don’t do this again? Well sometimes I don’t learn but here’s what I’m thinking:

• I will be saying no to doing anything at 6am, 7am and potentially even 8am?in whatever time zone I’m in. I didn’t leave a global role to create meetings at the same time I was doing in a global company. This is not the flexibility I was looking for.
• Recognise that I can’t possibly see everyone I want to see.?This is unrealistic. I know this because I have tried. I just need to stop this behaviour.
• Cut down on the late nights being out in the heat.?If you need to know how to get dehydrated quickly, I got you. (Not really. Don’t do this)
• Limit the length of the trip. By the time I return home I will have been away 2 and a half weeks. It’s been far too long and my energy is completely depleted.

So what’s the good stuff I will continue?

• Keep running events?to bring people together, create community and connect with people. The events I ran this trip were so full of energy.
• Create spaces in my diary?to, well just breathe, and catch up on bits and pieces. I will manage my calendar like I do when at home. Generally, I don’t have meetings on Monday’s and Fridays so I have time to write my newsletter (yes I missed a week), manage my social media (yes this is behind too) and have space to think about where I need to focus, and plan.
• Meet current and potential clients.
• Prioritise the people I love seeing. I missed a few this trip ???

Are you back in the world doing business trips? How’s it going?

Lisa xx

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