2010

If you’re like me and spend time traveling for business, you’re happy to find anything that makes the experience a little easier. This is especially true if you need to stay connected and take your technology along for the ride. I enjoy reading suggestions from other travelers and hope this brief list proves useful for you. Checkpoint friendly laptop bag: I like the Checkpoint Flyer from Tom Bihn. Design and construction of this bag are great and I enjoy the non-slip shoulder strap and file slip options. Checkpoint friendly backs like this let you sail through airport security by laying your bag flat on the x-ray belt instead of taking your laptop out. It’s quicker, less frustrating and you’re unlikely to forget your laptop on the belt. Organized Itinerary: If you’re still carrying a folder full of travel docs or trying to keep them in one email folder on your…

I’m finishing up People’s Tycoon, a biography on Henry Ford. The book details the story of three motor companies Ford helped start, the last being the only one we remember. What struck me about all three attempts was that in each instance, Ford found himself at odds with his key business partners, the guys with the money. The genesis of the conflict, at least regarding the business, was that Ford’s vision to provide mobility to the masses conflicted with his partners’ vision of selling higher margin luxury or performance cars (to be fair, Ford also seemed to lack some focus in the early years). The problem wasn’t that Ford’s vision was good and the others’ vision was bad. The problem was that they didn’t share the same vision or measure for success. If the people who run or own your organization have the same problem, debilitating conflict is inevitable. The…

How I pack my bag for business travel

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