San Francisco, Ft. Lauderdale, Phoenix, Orlando, Albuquerque, Tampa, Minneapolis. These are among the many U.S. cities I have traveled to in the past couple of years. Additionally, I traveled to South Korea with my family. When I began traveling I was truly a novice and stumbled my way through all of the various activities related to flying: checking in, getting through security, and flying. However, after logging thousands of miles to a variety of locations, I have learned how to travel as efficiently as possible.
In this post, you will find my tips for checking in and preparation on your day of travel.
Check in online 24-hours in advance. Most airlines permit you to log on to the respective airline website and use your flight identification number to check in 24-hours in advance of your flight. The websites are exact on the time, so that if you check in 24 hours and one minute before your flight you won't be able to check in. Checking in T-24 hours is essential if you are using Southwest Airlines as your carrier because seat assignments are prioritized based on when you check in.
Get your boarding passes. After checking in online, you can choose to print your boarding passes, have them e-mailed to you for printing, or use an electronic boarding pass (e-boarding pass) using your smart phone. Showing a PDF or e-mail version of the boarding pass is different than an e-boarding pass. The e-boarding pass looks similar to a QR code, the square code with three smaller squares in the corners.
Look for the baggage-only line. Frequently, airlines have a waiting line for people to check in, people who need to make changes, and a line for those who already have boarding passes and just need to drop off bags. If you are not taking your luggage as carry on, be sure to look for the baggage drop line. There won't always be one - every airport is different - but if there is, it can save you some time.
Verify the gate and time of your flight. Once, when I was traveling from Washington, DC to my home city, an Israeli diplomat also happened to be leaving at the same time. He was so politically connected that the Presidential limo and connected security vehicles transported him to his plane. As a result, no other planes could leave the terminal until his plane had taxied to the runway. A delay, weather event, or even a medical emergency can affect airline travel across the country.
Download the airline travel app. Most airlines offer a smart phone app that can be downloaded from the app store for your device. These apps are extremely convenient because you can check for flight delays, gate changes, and, possibly, even change seat assignments. On one trip, while waiting at the airport, my smart phone app was updated to show a delay before the display at the gate. If you are changing planes at an airport, you can also use the app to check for changes as soon as your plane lands.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Quotes from 2013
As I wrote about in a previous post, I utilize a paper planner (a Moleskine squared). One of my goals, as I begin each year, is to note quotes or inspirational thoughts.
Below are some of my favorites from 2013.
Below are some of my favorites from 2013.
"Don't postpone joy." Joyce Mills
If you were given 3-6 months of paid vacation from work, how would you utilize the time?
"No civilization has ever been destroyed because citizens got too much truth." Robert McKee
Whether on paper or electronically, I encourage you to save quotes you come across during your journeys.
Is it the mountain that needs to move or you?
"Logic is the instrument of demonstration, intuition is that of invention." Henri Poincaré
"Most people, in fact, will not take the trouble in finding out the truth, but are much more inclined to accept the first story they hear" Thucydides
Don't take anything personally.
"Create a vision that inspires the team to work as if the fate of civilization rests on getting its project out the door." Amy Fries, Daydreams At Work
"The writer's object should be to hold the reader's attention. I want the reader to turn the page and keep on turning until the end. This is accomplished only when the narrative moves steadily ahead, not when it comes to a weary standstill, overloaded with every item uncovered in the research." Barbara Tuchman, historian
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Seth Godin - All Marketers are Liars (Visual Book Review)
While browsing in the marketing section of my favorite local bookstore, I came across All Marketers Are Liars by Seth Godin. On the front cover, "Are Liars" is crossed out and "Tell Stories" is written in.
The book is a fairly quick read and provides many helpful points when crafting a message, from promoting your yard saleto planning multinational marketing campaigns.
Below is a visual summary of the book. A PDF of the summary is available for download.
The book is a fairly quick read and provides many helpful points when crafting a message, from promoting your yard saleto planning multinational marketing campaigns.
Below is a visual summary of the book. A PDF of the summary is available for download.
Monday, December 9, 2013
Mind Mapping by Hand
A few months ago I shared a post on applications for mind mapping. Today's short post features mind mapping by hand.
I use mind mapping frequently to capture ideas and to plan presentations, blog posts, and details for projects. I use a small notebook to record ideas, occasional shopping lists, and ideas that might result in posts. At the time I am ready to create a post, I will create a mind map.
For me, the mind mapping technique is more creative than simple outlining. Part of the power behind mapping is that you can jot down ideas as they come to without needing to be in sequential or organizational order. The mind maps below are very simple for illustrative purposes. After determining the Topic and Subtopics, I can jump from idea to idea, so that I might think about Idea A then Idea G followed by Idea B, etc.
EXAMPLE 1
This style of mapping, with a different color for each level is typically how I draw mind maps. I usually have a pen with me and use highlighters to color the different levels. This mind map was drawn using the Adobe Ideas app for the iPad.
I use mind mapping frequently to capture ideas and to plan presentations, blog posts, and details for projects. I use a small notebook to record ideas, occasional shopping lists, and ideas that might result in posts. At the time I am ready to create a post, I will create a mind map.
For me, the mind mapping technique is more creative than simple outlining. Part of the power behind mapping is that you can jot down ideas as they come to without needing to be in sequential or organizational order. The mind maps below are very simple for illustrative purposes. After determining the Topic and Subtopics, I can jump from idea to idea, so that I might think about Idea A then Idea G followed by Idea B, etc.
EXAMPLE 1
This style of mapping, with a different color for each level is typically how I draw mind maps. I usually have a pen with me and use highlighters to color the different levels. This mind map was drawn using the Adobe Ideas app for the iPad.
EXAMPLE 2
This next mind map was drawn in the traditional style with one color per subtopic. This mind map was drawn using the UPAD note taking app.
For more on mind mapping, I recommend Tony Buzan's Modern Mind Mapping.
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Patience
JURY DUTY
Some years ago, I was called for jury duty. At the time, I was busy working as a therapist at a mental health center, and didn't want to take the time I thought would be needed for jury duty. My supervisor wrote a letter to the judge asking for my release from duty.
I drove to the county courthouse and gave the letter to the judge's secretary. She asked me wait until the judge was available. From my vantage point in the waiting room, I could look directly into the judge's office. His back was to me and I could plainly see that he was working on his computer. Upon closer examination, I noticed that he was playing Solitaire! Two of his assistants were helping him.
As a side note, if you're ever stranded on a deserted island, start playing Solitaire, because someone will come along and tell you how to play.
As the judge was playing his computer game, I watched as the secretary approached him and told him about my request (the entire office was fairly small). He nodded his head and kept playing Solitaire! He kept playing the game until he won!
Needless to say, I was a little frustrated at having to simply wait while someone finished a game. What kind of situations frustrate you? What are potential ways to reduce the frustrations that you experience? I believe that increasing our levels of patience can at least help us tolerate frustrating situations.
COMMUNICATION SPEEDS
Until the mid Nineteenth Century, the process to mail a letter or package from one location to another could take from weeks to months. The only way to send a letter to another part of the world was by ship. In the United States, the Pony Express and stage coaches were used to transport mail. From the invention of the telegraph until today, the speed with which we expect to receive information has decreased substantially.
Today, if we don't receive a text message back from someone or a confirmatory e-mail, we wonder if they received our messages or are ignoring us!
AN ATTITUDE OF PATIENCE
How does one develop an attitude of patience? How can we demonstrate patience to others? I believe that we can find encouragement from the Bible to help us become more patient.
The key word that is included in most of these texts is "long-suffering," which is really a synonym for "patience." The dictionary definition of patience is "1) an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay, 2) quiet, steady perseverance."
Another favorite text of mine is Galatians 5:22, 23:
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
To me the secret for an increased level of patience is attitude of forgiveness and lack of expectations about the behaviors of others. When someone does something that I don't like, I must remember that I can only control my own actions, and then forget about their actions. If I had contemplated this years ago when waiting for the judge to finish his Solitaire game, I would have been more content with my wait.
When you find yourself becoming impatient or frustrated with others, I encourage you to think about the "fruits" listed above and how God is patient with us. I believe you will experience less anxiety over situations and become more patient.
Some years ago, I was called for jury duty. At the time, I was busy working as a therapist at a mental health center, and didn't want to take the time I thought would be needed for jury duty. My supervisor wrote a letter to the judge asking for my release from duty.
I drove to the county courthouse and gave the letter to the judge's secretary. She asked me wait until the judge was available. From my vantage point in the waiting room, I could look directly into the judge's office. His back was to me and I could plainly see that he was working on his computer. Upon closer examination, I noticed that he was playing Solitaire! Two of his assistants were helping him.
As a side note, if you're ever stranded on a deserted island, start playing Solitaire, because someone will come along and tell you how to play.
As the judge was playing his computer game, I watched as the secretary approached him and told him about my request (the entire office was fairly small). He nodded his head and kept playing Solitaire! He kept playing the game until he won!
Needless to say, I was a little frustrated at having to simply wait while someone finished a game. What kind of situations frustrate you? What are potential ways to reduce the frustrations that you experience? I believe that increasing our levels of patience can at least help us tolerate frustrating situations.
COMMUNICATION SPEEDS
Until the mid Nineteenth Century, the process to mail a letter or package from one location to another could take from weeks to months. The only way to send a letter to another part of the world was by ship. In the United States, the Pony Express and stage coaches were used to transport mail. From the invention of the telegraph until today, the speed with which we expect to receive information has decreased substantially.
Today, if we don't receive a text message back from someone or a confirmatory e-mail, we wonder if they received our messages or are ignoring us!
AN ATTITUDE OF PATIENCE
How does one develop an attitude of patience? How can we demonstrate patience to others? I believe that we can find encouragement from the Bible to help us become more patient.
The key word that is included in most of these texts is "long-suffering," which is really a synonym for "patience." The dictionary definition of patience is "1) an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay, 2) quiet, steady perseverance."
Another favorite text of mine is Galatians 5:22, 23:
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
To me the secret for an increased level of patience is attitude of forgiveness and lack of expectations about the behaviors of others. When someone does something that I don't like, I must remember that I can only control my own actions, and then forget about their actions. If I had contemplated this years ago when waiting for the judge to finish his Solitaire game, I would have been more content with my wait.
When you find yourself becoming impatient or frustrated with others, I encourage you to think about the "fruits" listed above and how God is patient with us. I believe you will experience less anxiety over situations and become more patient.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Meeting an author-Garrison Keillor
As I was driving around town on Oct. 24, I heard an advertisement on the public radio station for Salon@615, a lecture series sponsored by the Nashville Public Library. On a regular basis, Salon@615 hosts authors who discuss their books and inspiration for writing.
The events are free, but require tickets. A few advance
tickets are sold 2-3 weeks prior to the event, and the remaining tickets are
available to those willing to wait in line, a couple of hours before the 6:15
show time (the library's address is also 615 Church Street).
The event that piqued my interest was author and entertainer
Garrison Keillor. Best known for creating and hosting the weekly radio program
A Prairie Home Companion, Keillor also hosts a daily 5-minute program, TheWriter's Almanac, which includes author trivia and a poem reading. Keillor has
written a number of books from biographies to poetry.
Because I only learned about the event a few days before, I
had resigned myself to waiting in line for tickets. At the time I arrived there
were already a few people waiting. As I waited, watching the time slowly pass,
a woman sat down beside me. She had advance tickets and soon realized she was
in the wrong line. However, before moving to the special line for advance
ticket holders, she gave me an extra ticket that she had reserved.
Promptly at 6:15 the mayor of Nashville, Karl Dean, stepped
to the podium and introduced Garrison Keillor. Keillor walked out carrying a
copy of his book and some notes.
Keillor spoke for about 90 minutes, regaling us with tales
and backstories for some of the poems from his new book. He also answered
several questions ranging from "How do you come up with new ideas?"
to "What is your weekly schedule like?" In responding to the
observation, "How do you keep up with all you do?" Keillor responded
with his characteristically wry sense of humor, "Well, I didn't realize it
was a problem until now."
Douglas G Pratt, 2013Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Complete training before you join the war
Tonight I was reviewing documents that I created and saved in Google Docs, Google's online equivalent of Microsoft Office. I found this short story and decided to use it as this week's blog post. The first part of this was written in 2010.
PLAYING WAR
My twelve-year old daughter, Erika, likes to play with a group of other neighborhood girls. Yesterday, after returning home after several hours of play, she explained to me that the girls were playing “nerf war.” Erika looked more like a football player than a warrior with football-like stripes on her cheeks.
In order to prepare for the “war,” the girls devised an obstacle course, utilizing existing playground equipment and fences, as obstacles to go over, under, or around. The goal was to successfully complete the obstacle in sixty seconds or less. As of last night’s report, only one girl had completed the course within the target time.
This morning we continued discussing the obstacle course. The girls are apparently focused on meeting their time goal on the obstacle course prior to resuming the nerf war. Erika commented, “You have to complete training before you join the war.” This reminded me of one of my early work experiences that taught me the importance of proper instruction or training prior to joining “the war.”
DOMINO'S PIZZA
After graduating from high school, I secured a summer job at Domino’s Pizza delivering pizzas. I had no experience in the pizza or delivery business. Once I was outfitted with my blue and red Domino’s shirt, I was introduced to my trainer. The plan, I was informed, would be to ride with my trainer for the entire shift, and then begin delivering independently the next night.
I accompanied my trainer for about an hour. As we walked back into the store after completing a delivery, the manager said, “Doug, do you feel comfortable going out by yourself? One of our drivers called in sick and I need a driver.”
Being the confident 18-year old that I was, I said, “Sure! I’d be happy to.”
I strapped the triangular Domino’s sign on my car, a 1972 Pontiac Ventura II, and readied for my night of deliveries. Driving around with the sign prominently displayed atop my car translated into a significant increase in my wage, an extra $1.50 per hour! I wondered at the time why some drivers opted out of utilizing the sign, but I needed all the extra income I could easily earn.
I spent the rest of the evening trying to find streets and addresses in a town that I thought I knew a town I had lived in for six years! It was amazing to me how many streets were drawn on the large map displayed at the drivers’ entrance to the store. I was even more surprised at how many new subdivisions and streets existed that were not on the map! When the additional confusion of darkness was added to the mix, it really complicated my first shift!
TRAINING IS IMPORTANT
I have seen the same scenario played out in business as well. In a rush to complete tasks or improve efficiency, adequate time is not allowed for training. Especially with software, there can be an expectation that users will learn from others or use the help function.
If you are in a leadership position, take the time to ensure that your staff is trained on whatever new processes, procedures, or tools (including software) you are implementing. If you are not in a leadership position, take the assertive action of requesting training.
PLAYING WAR
My twelve-year old daughter, Erika, likes to play with a group of other neighborhood girls. Yesterday, after returning home after several hours of play, she explained to me that the girls were playing “nerf war.” Erika looked more like a football player than a warrior with football-like stripes on her cheeks.
In order to prepare for the “war,” the girls devised an obstacle course, utilizing existing playground equipment and fences, as obstacles to go over, under, or around. The goal was to successfully complete the obstacle in sixty seconds or less. As of last night’s report, only one girl had completed the course within the target time.
This morning we continued discussing the obstacle course. The girls are apparently focused on meeting their time goal on the obstacle course prior to resuming the nerf war. Erika commented, “You have to complete training before you join the war.” This reminded me of one of my early work experiences that taught me the importance of proper instruction or training prior to joining “the war.”
DOMINO'S PIZZA
After graduating from high school, I secured a summer job at Domino’s Pizza delivering pizzas. I had no experience in the pizza or delivery business. Once I was outfitted with my blue and red Domino’s shirt, I was introduced to my trainer. The plan, I was informed, would be to ride with my trainer for the entire shift, and then begin delivering independently the next night.
I accompanied my trainer for about an hour. As we walked back into the store after completing a delivery, the manager said, “Doug, do you feel comfortable going out by yourself? One of our drivers called in sick and I need a driver.”
Being the confident 18-year old that I was, I said, “Sure! I’d be happy to.”
I strapped the triangular Domino’s sign on my car, a 1972 Pontiac Ventura II, and readied for my night of deliveries. Driving around with the sign prominently displayed atop my car translated into a significant increase in my wage, an extra $1.50 per hour! I wondered at the time why some drivers opted out of utilizing the sign, but I needed all the extra income I could easily earn.
I spent the rest of the evening trying to find streets and addresses in a town that I thought I knew a town I had lived in for six years! It was amazing to me how many streets were drawn on the large map displayed at the drivers’ entrance to the store. I was even more surprised at how many new subdivisions and streets existed that were not on the map! When the additional confusion of darkness was added to the mix, it really complicated my first shift!
TRAINING IS IMPORTANT
I have seen the same scenario played out in business as well. In a rush to complete tasks or improve efficiency, adequate time is not allowed for training. Especially with software, there can be an expectation that users will learn from others or use the help function.
If you are in a leadership position, take the time to ensure that your staff is trained on whatever new processes, procedures, or tools (including software) you are implementing. If you are not in a leadership position, take the assertive action of requesting training.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)