Sitting in a hotel - how many wish they didn't travel so much?

Poor you, I 100 % understand, even if I don't share the same issue.

 

I feel your pain. I work as a fine art appraiser and have a heavy travel schedual. I got sick of the travel about 5 years ago and went and did real estate appraisals. I was home every night which was good as I am very close to my daughter. The last 2 years have been a disaster for the real estate appraisal business so last year I started back out on the road. I do enjoy it more now how ever this time as I have made some big changes in how I do it.

I cut out a lot of trips/shows and markets that were not really paying off. A good book to read is Living the 80/20 way by Richard Koch and The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris. With more focused objectives I am more productive. I also spend more time with friends on the road and have some fun. Last time I was in NYC it was fashion week and I spent 2 nights parting and staying out till 4 am. ( My wife hates this but tough) Do not make it such a grind. We try and do too much and most of it is not productive.

I now have multiple income streams with the several business I own so there is not so much pressure to be on the road 230 days a year. If one thing is making money and the other two are not no problem money is always coming in.

 

I used to have to travel a lot for my job. Houston-Dallas-Phoenix-Chicago-Detroit, round and round and round again. Fun the first two times. Hell for the rest. Was lucky enough to meet some like-minded indivifuals. Started our own gig. Work at home now and rarely have to leave the house for work. Much happier.

 

I like the travel. I do 2-3 day trips from N. CA to the PNW, BC and So Cal. Been doing it for years. Getting out of the home office 6-10 days a month is good for me. I stay at the better hotels and have three great Rep's that are doing well in my territories. I do miss my dog when on travel though.

 

My dad travelled throughout the week from when I was about 10 until I graduated. He was gone >15 nights/month. While I don't hold it against him, he did what he had to do, but I also vowed not to do that when I had kids. I know he regrets it, but isn't life all about choices and tradeoffs?

I could probably make more than now if I happily hopped on a plane whenever any of the incompetent bosses I had over the years took the notion to waste productivity sitting in airports, but I will hopefully never have to find out. Now I make more than I ever have and could work from home if I wanted to, so for me at least it has worked out <knock wood>

 

Same with my dad, ever since I was little. He lives out of state all the time, comes back about 1-2 months.