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000 – The Unofficial 1st Episode of the Elite Road Warrior Podcast

 

Welcome to the Elite Road Warrior Podcast where we believe you can leverage the road to transform your work, health, and home life while on business travel. And my challenge is to help you master the business travel life.

I’m your host, Bryan Paul Buckley and welcome to the unofficial 1st episode of The Elite Road Warrior Podcast. This is the prequel, 411, the backstory, and off the record episode designed to give you the purpose and focus of this podcast so you know what to expect moving forward.

In this episode you’ll learn:
Who I Am and why you should consider listening to me in future episodes – 1:42
Ideal Listener – 3:31
Topics – 4:31
Rhythm – 5:12
Length – 5:49
Tone – 5:52
Future Episodes – 7:47

Let me answer a question you may be asking right out of the gate (and it just may mean airport gate) depending on where you’re listening to this episode right now.

Bio – 1:42
Been a business traveler more years than I’ve not with a heavy focus as a Road Warrior over the past decade
I’ve been primarily a North American traveler and done my share of international working for companies in Australia and Spain
My travel is mostly planes and rental cars
I grew up with a father who was a Road Warrior and gone around 35 of 52 weeks of the year so I get the good, the bad, and the ugly of business travel and especially how it affects the family
Husband of 1 / Father of 5 and live in the Chicago land area (with children of all ages!)
Avid Sports fan (especially Chicago teams)
I have an eclectic education in business, psychology, religion, and believe it or not, music
Health Nut (now) and quite a story to get me there
I’ve been 40 lbs overweight on the road from eating the best of the king’s food and drinking the best of the king’s wine
I’ve had and recovered from major health and energy issues from business travel
Most of all I’m passionate about helping Road Warriors become elite by leveraging the road to transform their work / health / and especially their home life all while on business travel and master the business travel life

Ideal Listener – 3:31
Your day job’s focus is traveling for work
There’s a term in psychology called an Egoic Label which simply means you ARE or you ARE NOT that person. For example, you’re pregnant or you’re not. You’re a father or you’re not. In this case you’re a Road Warrior or you’re not. If you travel once or twice a year, you’re not a Road Warrior
Ideal listener is also someone who could be just starting out with business travel, who strong desire to constantly improve, but often the road has just plain beaten you up and you want and need to make some changes

Topics – 4:31
Anything that affects the effectiveness of a business traveler
But specifically The Elite Road Warrior concept centers around the Six Energy Habits which we’ll get into the weeds in future episodes.
Topics we’ll frequent: productivity on the road / sleep / your health from what you eat and drink to how you move (or don’t move for that matter). We’ll talk about professional and personal development, connecting back home with those you love, and so much more.

Rhythm – 5:12
I have high variety needs so most things I do have an element of variety. As a result, this podcast will have this rhythm:
Odd Numbered Episodes – content driven from me
Even Numbered Episodes – interviews with subject matter experts and road warriors that are excelling that we can learn from their practices and habits

Length – 5:49
Well, I’ve done extensive research in this area and have determined with incredible accuracy the sweet spot for this type of podcast is exactly (drum roll please) exactly two hours.
A HUSH comes over the crowd / dramatic pause
Laughter track
I could NOT be more kidding
20-30 minutes tops is the ideal time
The only letters at the back of my name do not consist of PHD or MD but ADD and ADHD so we’ll get in and out with valuable content so no one gets hurt

Tone – 5:52
I’m a challenger / motivator / but also can be sarcastic so buyer (or in this case listener) beware
In the end, I want you to think about your Road Life and want you to walk away challenged and motivated to make the necessary changes to stop limiting the road and what it can’t do for you but learn to leverage the road and what it can give to you

Preview of Future Episodes – 7:47
001 – Five Reasons Why You’re Not an Elite Road Warrior Yet But How to Become One
002 – Interview

So this pre-episode is complete. We were in and out and no one got hurt. I hope this gives you a feel of where we’re headed with this podcast.

I challenge you to join THIS Road Trip and come back for episode 001.

If you’ve not subscribed, do so right now at no additional charge. Just the kind of giver I am.

Until then, do your part to become an Elite Road Warrior today!

Key Links Mentioned in This Episode:

Road Warrior Assessment Link

 

How You Can Dramatically Increase the Success of Your Business Trip In Just One Day

I’m on a flight right now and eating homemade scrambled eggs, sautéed spinach and kale, cut up bell peppers and cucumbers with cherry tomatoes.

I do this every flight out of town.

On the other hand, I’m sitting next to Ed McMuffin Man. Have you seen him?

Right now he’s inhaling an Egg McMuffin, two hash browns, and washing it down with a jumbo Diet Coke. Diet, of course.

Does that make me better?

Well… I’ll let you be the judge.

Get to the Point

The point is we’re both on the 1st day of a business travel trip and we both made an anchor decision on how we’re starting off our trip.

He’s now in a coma while his phone is still on playing a movie. It’s not pretty.

I’m choosing to write. Again, you are the judge.

Unknowingly, he’s making decisions that are setting the tone for the rest of his trip.

I see this kind of guy ALL of the time when I travel. And there’s a reason he’s overweight, marginally effective, and lacks energy.

Daniel Pink in his latest book, WHEN, talks about Beginnings – Starting Right, Starting Again, and Starting Together.

His premise is what he calls False Starts, are MORE due to WHEN than WHAT.

If we do certain activities at the wrong time no matter if they’re the right activities, they simply will not have as strong as results.

For example, the 1st day of the year, or month, or week are what social scientists often call a “temporal landmark.”

Just as we use landmarks to guide us as a visual marker, we leverage these “Stand Out Days” from what Daniel Pink calls, “the ceaseless and forgettable march of other days and their prominence helps us find our way.”

 

Research to Prove It

In 2014, three scholars from the Wharton School of the University of Penn published this breakthrough paper in the science of timing that opened up our eyes to the understanding of the use of temporal landmarks and how we can leverage them for new beginnings or fresh starts.

These scholars analyzed 8.5 years of Google searches. They found that certain word searches spiked dramatically on key “fresh start days” and triggered a predictable motivation in people.

Daniel Pink noted there are two types of Temporal Landmarks: Social and Personal

1. Social – those everyone shared: Mondays / New Month / New Quarter / Holidays

2. Personal – unique to the individual: Birthdays / Anniversaries / Job Changes

Interestingly, two things happened whether social or personal temporal landmarks were used:

1. They allowed people to open “new mental accounts” in the same way a business closes the books at the end of one year and opens new books in the next year.  It’s a break from the past mistakes and imperfections and leaves us confident about “what could be”. Key Marker: New Years Day or Birthday.

2. They also interrupt attention to the everyday minutiae causing people to take a big picture view of their lives and focus on achieving their goals.

As the Wharton scholars concluded, “People can strategically create turning points in their personal histories.”

 

I call this concept Anchor Days and here’s my definition of an Anchor Day:

“Key behaviors done on a specific date to serve as a kickstart for a period of time”

 

The power is in the word: ANCHOR.

What does an anchor do? The trusty dictionary defines an anchor as “A device used to prevent the craft from drifting (due to wind or current).”

We’re the Craft in the analogy and the drift is ANYTHING that takes us where we DON’T want to go!

You think about an Anchor. When it drops and takes hold, you don’t go anywhere or anywhere soon.

And since we’re notorious for drifting especially if we don’t start out strong hence the Power of an Anchor Day.

Let’s break down the key aspects of an Anchor Day…

There are THREE Key Aspects of an Anchor Day to be effective and be powerful:

1. Set Date – there must be a CLEAR starting date – This is the WHEN – a “specific day”

2 Catalyst Behavior – Key actions you need to do – This is the WHAT

3. Specific Triggers – reminders or cues / IF this, THAN that = WHERE

 

All three aspects are critical for an effective Anchor Day that gives you sustainable energy and incredible results.

Ideally, you combine the specific day/catalyst behaviors / specific triggers into a plan to make the most of the Anchor Day.

Anchor Days require Intention and Discipline.

They don’t “just happen”.

Did you catch that?

Anchor Days require Intention and Discipline.

You must INTEND to do them and they cause you to exert effort which requires discipline.

But the payoffs are absolutely huge.

So few people do them that when you create and implement an Anchor Day you’re already in a very elite group of high performers who are living with an Energy Edge.

Now, the goal is to find what potential days could be your own Temporal Landmarks and for business travelers, there is an obvious one.

 

Here are my own personal on-going anchor days on a consistent basis:

1. Mondays

2. New Month

3. New Quarter

4. 1st day of a business trip

Now, if you’re a business traveler there is an obvious one. Let me drill down on one that makes the biggest impact for me on a consistent basis:

My work is business travel a majority of the time and every trip has one major thing in common: the 1st day.

As a result, having an Anchor Day is absolutely key for me.

I’ve learned through the years the MOST IMPORTANT day of business travel for me is the 1ST day of the trip.

Why?

It’s rather simple. Because how the 1st day goes, the rest of my trip usually goes. A creature of habit.

If I can establish an “anchor” of certain behaviors on my 1st day, they will be my anchor keeping me grounded for the rest of the trip.

On the flip side, I witness first-hand business travelers with shallow or no anchors and their 1st day of the business trip is inconsistent and all over the place.

And I’ve learned, once the train leaves the station, or in my case, the plane leaves the airport, I need to work my Anchor Day Plan.

Not going to be THAT guy anymore. Sorry Ed McMuffin Man (not really).

 

Personal Example…

So, let’s work through the three aspects of an Anchor Day in my example of a Road Warrior:

Set Date – 1st day of my business travel – this is my WHEN

Catalyst Behaviors – What I EAT / How I MOVE / When I Sleep

 

And here are some examples for me personally:

1. Taking my Breakfast with me – I no longer leave this chance (AND if I have a healthy breakfast I’m FAR more likely to have a healthy lunch/dinner)

2. Movement – When I choose to stand more than sit, walk every chance I can, and get at least a few minutes of exercise no matter what and where I will feel so much better

3. Develop – I make sure I carve some time to develop both professionally and personally (which usually means reading)

4. Connect/Check in with Home – this is done by early morning videos/audio/text messages so my family has them from me before they even wake up

5. Rest – Early Bed Time – this is SO key the 1st day because most of the time I have an early flight and changing time zones

 

Now, remember, after the Set Date and Catalyst Behavior, is the 3rd aspect of the Anchor Day which is…

Specific Triggers – reminders or cues / IF this, THAN that = WHERE

Water bottle / Tupperware / snack bag out the night before
Apple Watch alarms – stand/drink water
Book in my work bag on the flight

What This Means to You…

What if you created your own Anchor Day on business travel? You have the same thing in common as me that every trip has a 1st day.

Here’s the challenge, what behaviors could be a catalyst for the rest of your trip’s success?

And what triggers could you put in place to make them a reality?

Let me give you some key areas:

Food
Movement (standing/walking / working out)
Personal and/or Professional Development
Checking in back home
Proper rest

The Challenge – Find a way to leverage the 1st day of your trip focusing on catalyst behaviors and creating specific triggers to make it happen. You got this.

 

 

 

 

Why Doing This One Thing Has Saved Over a Hundred Travel Hours

I am in an airport as often as some people go to the grocery store. It’s just the nature and reality of my job.

Any given day an airport can be busy at the oddest times and for the strangest reasons. And of course it’s ALWAYS when I’m running behind and in a hurry.

But there was this one lane that always went quicker than the other. I’ve found this line “just knows” when I’m running behind for whatever reason and I’m at its mercy. I personally don’t prefer the stress of possibly missing a flight. Not a good or suggested feeling.

Each person that went through this “special line” I disliked, no despised every single last person with this special privilege. And the entire time I promised and swore to myself I would be one of those coveted and privileged people.

Then I arrived at my trip and forgot all about it until I arrived at the airport again. And more of these privileged people snubbed their noses at me as they raced right by me. They knew exactly what they were doing and you know who you are…

Then I arrived home and didn’t have a passing thought about the airport until…

I almost missed a flight due to airport security and this was going to change. Finally, I had enough. You know, sometimes you just need to have enough. I was so there.

But I really didn’t understand the process that was involved and had I realized just how quick and easy it was to get this magic Fast Pass like at Disney World that would allow you to go to the front of the line, I would’ve done it a long time ago.

So, what is it?

 TSA Pre-Check – TSA stands for Transportation Security Administration

My simple goal of this post is to let you know of this easy process and convince you to join the other side. Now, my motives are out there.

Here are some details about the program directly from their website:

Why should you join TSA Pre✓®?

  • TSA Pre✓® provides trusted travelers with expedited security screening for a better travel experience.
  • Plan your travel with confidence and enjoy a more predictable experience.
  • It’s a convenient, more efficient security screening process.
  • It’s available at more than 150 airports with 12 participating airlines.

The following airlines offer TSA Pre✓®:

Air Canada / Alaska Airlines / Allegiant Airlines / American Airlines / Delta / Hawaiian Airlines / Jet Blue / One Jet / Southwest / SunCountry / United / Virgin / WestJet

No need to remove:

  • Shoes
  • Laptops
  • 3-1-1 liquids
  • Belts
  • Light jackets

Personally, I absolutely love not having to untie my shoes and walk on that nasty floor in my socks, whip off my belt, yank out my toiletries bag, and pull my MacBook Pro out of the work bag.

If you’re eligible and approved for the TSA Pre✓® program you will be given a known traveler number “KTN” to use when making flight reservations. Participating airlines will print an indicator on your boarding pass. When you arrive at the airport, look for signs for the lanes.

You can find a list of the Frequently Asked Questions for TSA Pre✓® by clicking HERE.

So, I chose to pay $85, which gave me the ability for TSA Pre for five years. Can you say absolutely no brainer?

Here’s the catch: it takes some initial planning and work on your part but SO minimal compared to the return on the time and effort. And this post is designed to let you know exactly what to expect and how little effort is actually required.

Here was my five-step process:

  1. I filled out the online application HERE
  2. I chose to find a local Application Center to complete my process by entering my zip code HERE. You do have the option of a walk-in at any participating airport but I found I just never had the time for the airport process and always prefer a scheduled time.
  3. Since I chose the Application Center, I was given a specific date / time. I was literally in and out in ten minutes.
  4. In less than ten business days, I received my Known Traveler Number in the mail
  5. I called each major airline I use on any consistent basis to have them enter my Known Traveler Number into my profile so I didn’t have to think about it when I need to change airlines

Note: you can go through this process at the airport but it’s based on a first come / first serve basis. I found myself at the airport when the line was too long or most of the time the office was closed.

I truly wish I could get a commission for each person I tell about TSA Pre because it has paid for itself almost every single trip. If you fly often, I HIGHLY suggest you take the time and effort using my five-step process to getting TSA Pre.

 

Closing Challenge…

Did it work? Have I convinced you of the benefits of this program? Now the real test is if this is something you’ve considered and not done yet, will you actually do it…?

As a traveling professional, we need to find the small things to change that will yield big investments back to us and this is definitely one. Even if I only traveled a few times a year, I would still pay the $85 a year and the program lasts for five years. Serious no brainer.

You now know the benefits, the cost of the program, and the process with the links. I can only take you this far.

I challenge you to take the few minutes today to work through the five step process. It will be worth your time. Either way, I can promise you one thing: you will think of this post the next time you’re in line at airport security. And you will either thank me or be the old me…

 

Closing Question…

So what is stopping you from taking a few minutes today to sign-up for TSA Pre-Check?

Three Action Items to Creating Needed Change When You Travel

The more I travel, the stronger my road habits become. I find I’m less flexible and rely on my road routine more than ever.

My first year or so of travel, I didn’t know any better. I loved the uncertainty that would come with travel. Not so much anymore.

The good that has come is I’m definitely a seasoned traveler and there is little that I’ve not experienced so far aside from an emergency landing or major car accident. (insert WHEW here)

The bad is I’ve become very rigid and have lost that willingness to change even the things that are not good in my road routine.

Let me ask you a question. Before you read it and answer it quickly, really think about it. My hope is it’s a response that if you do, could literally change your travel life or possibly your whole life.

Here’s the question:

If you could change one thing, anything about YOU when you travel, what would it be?

Click To Tweet

I’ve asked this question to SO many people as I travel and here are the top five responses:

  • I need to eat healthier on the road. I’m embarrassed by the weight gain and I’m less disciplined when I travel.
  • I drink too much on the road (and I don’t mean water). It’s easy to justify but I definitely need to cut back in this area.
  • I need to exercise more on the road. I seem to be allergic to the hotel fitness center and need some type of activity other than eating and drinking.
  • I need to sleep more on the road. I go to bed late and get up early then come home from my trip and just crash.
  • I need to check in more at home. I could but simply don’t saying “I’m working”.

And as I push further in my questions it leads to this last question:

Why don’t you change this one thing that is an obvious pain point for you?

And sadly the answers are simply excuses. I don’t know if most eventually change but I can usually tell in just a couple of moments if they value their excuses more than this pain and change rarely happens.

I’m for the person who is willing to make the change and if this is you, here are three action items to make this change a reality:

 

1. Determine Your “WHAT” to Change

What is your answer to the question: “If you could change one thing, anything about you when you travel, what would it be?”

The first critical action item is to determine WHAT you want to change. What is it? Is your answer one of the top five or something different?

Then ask: will it move the needle and make some real change in my life? If your response is yes or definitely, you’ve found a strong WHAT.

For example, you want eat healthier on the road. Good start. But specifically you want to lose 20 pounds in the next six months and unless you get your act together on the road, the only change will be one word: ADD instead of LOSE.

 

2. Determine Your “WHY” to Change

Your WHAT is the easiest of the three action items. But WHY do you want to change this one item?

This answer is beyond the surface so you need to dig. Your WHY is your motivation.

For example, you want to lose 20 pounds in the next six months. But WHY? I’m overweight. Yeah, true, obvious, heavy (pun intended) but WHY do you want to lose the weight?

Real answer: I’m embarrassed by my weight and lack of energy and hate my lack of self-control. This MUST change.

Now you know your WHY.

So, what is your WHY behind your WHAT?

 

3. Determine Your “How” You Will Change

Once you have your WHAT and your WHY, lastly you need to determine your HOW.

This is the take action part of the program. You obviously know how NOT to do it and possibly great at it. So, now look through what it would take to make it happen.

Back to our example, HOW will you implement your change of eating healthier on the road. You may start by setting some rules:

  • ALWAYS starting with a healthy breakfast
  • Limiting the amount of sugary drinks
  • Substituting a vegetable for fries
  • Cutting out dessert at dinner
  • Stop choosing restaurants with a DRIVE THRU!!!

You know the Road You so fill in the HOW blanks. This is a must for you to change.

Once you know your How, you definitely need to set the tone for your next trip with these changes. Read more about it HERE.

Future Watch – I’m developing an online training course for this very reason called The Traveling Professional’s Nutrition Course: Four Healthy Strategies to Avoid Going Off Road On the Road.

If you’re interested in joining the pilot program, email me directly: Bryan@BryanPaulBuckley.com and I will respond. I will be taking a limited number through the 1st round.

 

Closing Challenge

Change is hard. It requires effort. It requires breaking our normal, comfortable routine and doing something different.

And this is why your WHY is critical to your success.

We’re all motivated when we hear the amazing story of how someone lost 40 pounds and you want to know HOW. But the story almost ALWAYS starts with the WHY.

You can become this person. You can do it! Find your what, your why, and your how and start today.

I hope this question, (If you could change one thing, anything about you when you travel, what would it be?) absolutely owns you, consumes you, and motivates you to change something about the Road You.

Be better than average. Average is easy. Average is unsatisfying and leads to regret. Work these three action items and make the change.

 

Closing Question

What do you need to change when you travel that will make a major difference in your life if you just do it?

 

How to Effectively Close Shop at the End of the Business Day

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How to Effectively Close Shop at the End of the Day

 

Jay runs at 100 mph. He’s productive for the most part but by the end of the day, he doesn’t know where the day actually went and just cannot wait to finally leave the office.

The problem Jay finds is his mind is unsettled on the way home randomly thinking about the day. He also finds the next morning feels like a week ago when he tries to remember where he left off from the day before.

If Jay has applied the Half Day Evaluation process, this will improve his odds but there is also an end of day solution.

 

First, two quick reasons why to close shop at the end of the business day:

Wind Down – closing shop allows you to wind down quicker because the events of the day have been processed properly and hopefully let go

Ramp Up – closing shop will create an organized process for the next morning to review to make planning more efficient and effective

So, what exactly is “Closing Shop” at the end of the day?

If you’ve ever worked in retail or a store that had normal business hours, there is a process to prepare the store to close. This process allows the store to be organized and cleaned along with the cash drawer reconciled to officially end the day and prepare the business for the next morning.

What if we adapted this same process that EVERY business applies to be personally effective?

Here are five ways to officially close shop at the end of the day by using the acronym of CLOSE:

 

C – Clean Your Area

If you simply did this and nothing else, it’s amazing how much better you feel especially for the next morning.

But if this became the 1st step in closing shop for your day, it will give you a sense of organization and order for the next day.

This could mean finding your desk from the past day, organizing, and closing down certain open applications on the computer. Sounds quick and simple but oh, what a difference it could make for you!

 

L – Look Back

After you’ve cleaned your area now it’s time to review your day by looking back at what happened.

Where did your day go? Did it match your original plan for the day? This is your time to reflect and do a quick post mortem of the past 8+ hours of how and where you spent your time.

You may get a fresh perspective analyzing where you were effective and where you lost time within this day.

 

O – Open Issues

After you look back, you’ll notice the open issues that did not get resolved. Why? Do they need follow-up? This is a perfect time to determine what to do with these open issues tomorrow or another time.

If you’re anything like me, I quickly mentally move on and often forget these important details that are critical down the road. And why? Because I didn’t remember them let alone create a plan what to do with them the next day.

Find the open issues in your day and move them forward. One of the best ways is to consistently use the Master Task List. Check it out HERE.

 

S – Schedule Ahead

Here is your chance to give your tomorrow a head start by listing what a possible plan may be tomorrow while today is fresh in your mind.

After you’ve looked back at your day and then found the open issues, you could create a rough draft of a plan for the next day.

Sometimes we don’t plan because we feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to even begin. But what if we took care of that the day before by closing shop?

Give your next day a chance by having a soft game plan to work from the moment you walk in the door.

 

E – Explore the Wins

Most of the time we just cannot wait to leave the office and have something that bothered us within our day follow us all the way home.

But what if we found the good in the day and celebrated the positive? There is almost always little wins throughout the day but we often never reflect and celebrate the win.

It may be as simple as feeling good about completing your Most Important Tasks or nailing a presentation.

Explore the wins within your day and leave finding and celebrating the good you accomplished.

 

Closing Challenge…

Ending your day is one of the best ways to increase your tomorrow’s success.

Click To Tweet

Hopefully by now you see the benefit in Closing Shop at the end of your day. Now it’s a matter of taking these ideas and implementing them within your day.

Motivated professionals who want to reach their full potential need to find small tweaks that produce major results. And Closing Shop is one that could make a huge difference in the quality of your next day.

I challenge you to begin by carving your last five minutes of today to implement …

Clean Your Area

Look Back

Open Issues

Schedule Ahead

Explore the Wins

 

Closing Question…

What do you feel will be the most effective of the five Closing Shop action items for you?