Have tech, will travel

My last post was almost a year ago.  Makes sense as about this time last year I began the hunt for a career move.  Countless phone interviews later (the strangest was with a popcorn seasoning company) I was newly employed as a National Account Manager for a world-renowned data storage company.  Day 1 on the job I flew from Chicago O'Hare to San Diego and my frequent-flier miles have been adding up ever since. 

Aside from the numerous travel tips I have acquired in the past 8 months (carry on, don't check - pick up  sample jars from department store cosmetic counters for all your toiletries to fit in to a quart-sized baggie) I have also learned how to maximize flight time and productivity while on the road.  
Here are some of my tips:

1. A smartphone is key.  With my iPhone I am almost always accessible (damn it).  The Mail function is great.  Sure, I can't open and view spreadsheets easily, but I can address important issues while waiting in the TSA security line.  (I can address several issues during that time.)  I love the Mail feature on iPhone because it consolidates message trails so I can go back to all related messages and see the path it has taken since it started.  I also love the tap to dial feature within Mail.  No fumbling for a piece of paper to write the number down and then dial it, just tap and call.  Last but not least, when going to the airport starts to feel like the movie Groundhog Day I use the camera on my iPhone to snap a pic of my parking location so I can always find my way to my car in the lot.  Wasn't I on the Bears floor, row 17?  No, that was last week!
2. Flight time is not nap time.  I cannot sleep on planes, no matter how tired I am.  So, I plan ahead and have productive things to do when "all electronic devices must be turned off" and when "it is now safe to use approved electronic devices".  During take-off and landing good old printed documents come in handy, it's a great time to review industry reports, price list and roadmap updates, etc.  As soon as I get the green light though, my 13" MacBook Pro is up and running.  It fits nicely on the tray table in coach, although if the person in front of me wants to recline it's not so great (note to self: write business case for iPad and submit to corporate).  The magsafe airline adapter is great to keep me charged, though not all planes have the feature.  Some flights also have go-go in-flight wireless now, which, let me tell you is not as great as it seems.  I prefer to use the time to catch up on my inbox by drafting responses to send as soon as I land.  I can knock out so many without the interruption of more messages coming in.
3. Prioritization has never been more important.  Sure my Out of Office reply says I am not available, but, people still think I am.  Replying to every little thing while on the road sets an expectation that I am accessible at all times.  Instead, I handle the most important issues and respond to only my key constituents while on the road.  Everything else is handled on the flight home (draft, save, send when home!) or when I'm back to the office.  As my manager says, "There is no way you can get everything done in one day." so I pick and choose to feel accomplished and let others know I am responsive when really needed.
4. Be aware of your surroundings.  Ever talk about someone in the bathroom only to have that person walk out of a stall and glare at you?  Fortunately I've never had to learn that lesson.  You never know who is around you, especially when traveling.  There are many roadwarriors in my industry and it is not uncommon for us to be on the same plane or sitting next to one another.  (Great networking opportunity!)  I am careful of what is on my MacBook screen while I'm in flight.  I haven't picked up a privacy screen as the glare on my glossy finish works well, but maybe I should.  One can never be too careful!  I also don't wear anything with a company logo on it or offer up information on what I do to chatty travelers.  "I'm in sales for a tech company." suffices and protects my identity as well as that of my company.

What tips, tricks, and "can't live without" tech to you use when on the road for business?


Photo All rights reserved by CubaGallery http://www.flickr.com/photos/cubagallery/

Keeping up with the KidTECHians

“Santa brought me an iPod!” exclaimed my two and a half year old son James on Christmas morning.  Either Santa’s toy shop has become increasingly advanced over the years, or I splurged a little.  Some might question giving technology to a toddler, however I’ve only delayed giving it to him in order to wait for the holidays.  Truth is, he was ready for it at two.  Technology is as much a part of my child’s life as his daddy and me.

I am a Gen Xer who considers myself an honorary member of Gen Y (given my very late in the year birthday in, gulp, 1978).  I vividly remember playing Reader Rabbit on our first computer, a Commodor 64 with cartridges and 5 1/2-inch floppy disks.  We had a “Go Phone”, a microwave, and remote controls.  As I went through my education, my use of technology extended to a dial-up connection in my dorm room to download music from Napster.  Revolutionary!  I remember getting my first cell phone like it was my first time at prom.

Fast forward to the world my child is living in.  He knows how to open the DVD player and insert a disc, turn on the TV and phone, play on the computer, listen to music on an iPod - all before he’s fully potty trained!  Tech is completely engrained into the world around him and it scares the crap out of me.  Sure there are parental controls and being involved is the best prevention, but therein lies the problem - the rate at which new technologies enter our world and become ubiquitous seems overwhelming even for a “technophile” like me. 

How is it possible to keep up on technology and protect our children when we don’t know what to protect them from?  As parents we have to do our best to embrace technology ourselves and leverage it to ensure our kids’ safety.  Stay informed, and stay connected.  There are several sites available - get an RSS reader  and subscribe to them.  Do some research and do it daily.  Check out Safe Kids.com - a site dedicated to internet safety and civility and, if you’re considering a Mac for your home computer have your local Apple Store employee show you the built-in parental controls, or watch a short video online.


While it seems overwhelming, know that the President is working to ensure our kids' safety online too - the Online Safety and Technology Group (OSTG) was established in April, 2009 as part of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act.  However, you have to be an active participant too.  What steps do you take to ensure you’re kids’ safety online and while using other technologies?