"Seek out people with kind eyes. If you are lucky enough to sit next to one of them, your trip can be a wonderful experience. These people invariably make good company. You may meet people who can literally open your eyes to facets of life you may never have imagined, had you not met them. My best tip for a smooth trip would be, get your attitude right, live for now, anticipate meeting a wonderful person, smile easily, and never be a sourpuss."
- Claude "Don" Clifford
Technical/Support
Laser Calibration
Lakehills, Texas

TEST ME
"I thrive on the many different challenges I face. This may be getting a cab when there are few available; changing my agenda on 15 minutes' notice when someone unexpectedly cancels a meeting; learning a new colloquial expression in Portuguese and using it for the first time; trying new menu items at my favorite restaurant in Sao Paulo; and, most of all, closing a deal with a company I set my sights on."
- E. Fernando Gonzalez
Executive/Managerial
E.F. Gonzalez & Associates
Boca Raton, Florida

ADVENTRUE AHEAD
"See yourself as a modern-day explorer. If I go to a coastal city, I try to walk on the beach, not just see it. If I'm in a city with a baseball team playing (even minor league) I make a game, to get a feel for my destination. If I go to a place I've been before, such as San Francisco, this time I might visit the waterfront of Oakland or another nearby city. And I always sample the regional cuisine."
- Phillip Smart
Sales/Sales Management
Gregory, Buhler, Kansas

ALL FOR ONE, ONE FOR ALL
"Keeping the right attitude and perspective is key. Not everything is going to go smoothly, that's a fact. You just have to savor the small victories and keep a sense of humor to get over the bumps. A big part of this has to do with teamwork. I like to think of myself as part of a travel team composed of flights attendants, pilots, and customer service. We depend on each other for ultimate success. I'm sensitive to the logistics of operation and flow with it. Mutual respect goes a long way."
- Glenn Raines
Technical/Support
Citicorp Diners Club
Chicago

NO EXCESS BAGGAGE
"What do I leave at home? I leave my prejudices, my preconceived notions, my rigidity, and my tension. Travel offers unique opportunities to learn. If you eliminate stereotypes and enjoy the process of meeting people, you gain insight into yourself. I have met many wonderful people in totally unrelated fields and with wildly diverging opinions and principles. My business travel has helped to keep my perspectives open and globally insightful."