The travelling professional is a special breed of
person. To the average person, the
idea of jumping on an airplane and bolting off to a new place each week sounds
exciting. I always hear from
people, “I wish I could travel as much as you do.” I realized a long time ago that I couldn’t work a job that
doesn’t have perks of some sort. I
worked in the NBA and it was full of perks. I sacrificed a high income for a high fun level. I travelled, received free tanning,
hair cuts, food, club passes and spent most days deciding if a monster tricycle
or new multi-shot t-shirt cannon was a better expenditure. After being laid off by the Nuggets and
getting passed over by the Nuggets, Dodgers, and Jazz for Game Entertainment
Director positions due to what I deemed political missteps, I decided I needed
to go a different direction. The
opportunity fell into my lap to pack up the roller and head out on the
road.
I was hired by a seminar company as a sales rep selling
e-commerce websites and it started off well. Three months into it, the new president laid off the whole
sales staff. Layoff number 2! It’s old hat now. But I had been bitten. I liked the travel. I liked the travel benefits. I liked people asking me to where I was
off to. I was determined to get
hired by a new seminar company I had heard about selling real estate investment
training. Good fortune smiled upon
me and two months later I was back at the airport with a new roller bag and a
boarding pass to a new location.
The road has granted opportunities I probably never would
have had if I had not become a business traveler. In fact, I am writing this from my first class seat 35,000
feet up on my way to Denver. I
recently took a 12 day trip to Thailand.
My flight was free. My
hotels were free. I spent less
than $700 dollars total for an exotic trip to Asia. Skymiles and hotel points now come in droves. I spend my spare time researching
tropical locations I am going to visit on my weeks off. With my paycheck and travel rewards I
can pretty much go anywhere anytime I please. But, everything comes with a price.
I have sold my social life for perks. I have lost multiple dating
relationships because for some reason women actually want to see their
boyfriend. Strange! It has been hard on me. If you have read previous tracks, you
know that I actively looking for my “it girl.” It is going to be a challenge. I am home about 4 days a month. If and when I do have a family, will I be ok missing so many
milestones in their life due to my travel schedule? I’m not sure. I
have also been shopping for a house, which has been tricky in it self. I find a listing I am interested in and
by the time I get a chance to see the property, they are already under
contract. Finally, I had to send
Bella to live with her grandma and grandpa and I miss that little girl.
Why am I complaining?
I have no idea. I get a
kick out of being somewhere different each week. I don’t have a desk I am chained to and I get to check out
random locations. If that isn’t
enough, add the frequent traveler benefits and perks that go along with
it. I’m probably way over paid for
what I actually contribute to society.
I also don’t have to pay $4/gal gas and along with that I haven’t had a
speeding ticket in over a year and half, a new record I believe. So, for now, I am going to keep rockin’
the priority lines and laughing at the casual travelers as the fumble around
the airports as I head to my next destination and leave normalcy along with
liquids over 3 oz. at the security check.
