Unlike leisure trips, business travel doesn’t allow much room for flexibility because delays can negatively affect you, your superior, and the company as a whole. It can be a stressful endeavor to make sure everything goes according to plan and accomplish all the goals of the business trip. So we asked experienced business travelers what advice they would give for someone who has never done it before and this is what they said:

#1 Have a clear picture

Once the business trip is assigned to you, start to plan it step-by-step, as far in advance as possible. Download apps to help you plan your route, organize your schedule, and keep track of all reservations. Synchronize the tool with your email and calendar, so you will never risk forgetting a meeting. Also, create a detailed list of your activities and specific places you want to visit.

Most importantly, you should always have in mind the goal of your business trip. What is the ultimate aim? Who are the key people you need to meet? How much time do you have to fulfill all of your tasks? Address these questions early on so you can prioritize your time and make the most of your business trip.

#2 Put Together a Detailed Itinerary

As soon as you find out about your business trip, no matter how far in advance, you should immediately start organizing your itinerary. Complete a day-to-day schedule with all information including transportation times, contact details of your associates and addresses of your hotel and meeting places. When you finish preparing your schedule, check if you left enough time between appointments so you won’t run late and that you also gave yourself time to eat and rest.

#3 Arrange Travel and Accommodation

Arranging travel will look different for every company, but it’s usually up to you to decide how you will get to the airport – by car, taxi, or public transportation? For many business travelers, driving to the airport is the easiest option but parking at O’Hare Airport can be a hassle. It’s better to make a reservation online so your parking spot will be waiting for you when you arrive.

When it comes to flights and accommodations, you may not have many choices depending on your company’s travel policies. Many businesses have exclusive deals with certain companies, so you don’t get to pick the hotel or airline that you prefer.

However, if you have some flexibility with your travel plans, then it’s a good idea to compare your options in advance. Check the legroom, add-on conveniences, and luggage requirements for the airlines. For your hotel room, book one that is in a convenient central location and offers amenities like breakfast, health club, sauna, and pool.

#4 Packing List

When putting together the list of what to pack for a business trip, the first thing you should consider is the length of the trip. Of course, packing light is always smart and handy. You don’t need more than what you’ll end up wearing. You already know what the dress code is in your field, so you should know what’s expected for you to wear. Keep your ID or passport, other travel documents, tickets, cell phone, and laptop or tablet in a safe place at all times. Don’t forget your work-related documents or presentation kits, too. In fact, those should be the first items you pack in your bags.

#5 Network

If you are attending a group meeting or conference, then you should do a bit of research on the people you are meeting with before the event. Start networking before your business travel, so you can connect with them when you finally see them in person without losing precious time.

With networking platforms, such as LinkedIn, and other social media platforms, you can contact these people and let them know that you’re going to be there as well. Tell them about the company you’re representing and share some personal information about you to give a more intimate touch to your conversation.

If you’re traveling abroad, it’s best to learn about the local customs and social etiquette so you don’t insult someone without realizing it.

#6 Keep Track of Expenses

Most of the time, your company will compensate you for expenses, such as transportation, accommodation, and food but will require you to keep track of expenses. Take pictures of all receipts and organize them into an album on your phone.

Also, if you are a regular business traveler, then you should start looking for membership programs at hotels, rental car companies, and airlines that offer promo codes for business class customers. You can also ask the human resources department of your company if there’s a credit card that grants travel expenses points. Membership programs can make travel a piece of cake, and they also provide other benefits for as long you remain a loyal customer.

#7 Deal with Unexpected Delays

Becoming an experienced business traveler is a self-taught skill. Unexpected situations and delays will happen but it’s all about how you deal with the things that are outside of your control. Whether it’s a late train or heavy traffic, you have to keep your cool and adjust. If you are running late for a meeting, then notify them immediately and thank them for their patience when you arrive. Over time, you will learn from your mistakes and grow as an individual and as a business professional.

Like other football stadiums across the state, O’Brien Field in Charleston remains silent for the most part in a month that normally features Saturday games.

There have, however, been workouts for second-year Eastern Illinois head coach Adam Cushing’s Panthers. In the midst of a fall camp that resembles traditional spring practice, Cushing and his staff forge ahead.

“I’ve talked with a number of coaches around the country and I think the overarching issue is there’s still a bit of uncertainty of what’s next,” Cushing told Prairie State Pigskin. “All of us in this role are trying to create that long-term plan and reverse engineer it to get yourself to exactly the right place. We’re in that space where we’re getting week-to-week information.”

Despite the uncertainty, Cushing and his staff have a plan in place.

“So, using that as a preface, what can we accomplish? What does this make possible? We can get really strong. We’ve got a young offensive and defensive line. We’re going to play football again, and we’re going to play football this spring. Let’s get real strong. We’ve taken that and allowed our strength coach Joe Orozco to run with it.

“But we’ve also said okay, since we’re in the novel situation with the 12-hour rule different than the (traditional offseason) eight-hour rule, what else can we also incorporate football-wise? Normally we’re not into this football-wise. Twelve hours is brand new to everybody. It’s trying to find a balance.”

Youth being served

EIU’s roster has been remade significantly since Cushing took it over from Kim Dameron, who coached the Panthers from 2014-2018. In fact, the official EIU roster lists nearly 80 players that are either true freshman, redshirt freshman, sophomores or redshirt sophomores. In addition, a significant number of the remaining players labeled as upperclassmen are either transfers or players with limited game experience.

Adam Cushing (photo courtesy of EIU Athletics)

Like other coaches with youth-laden teams, Cushing strives for the future.

“Let’s get strong,” he said. “We know we’re going to win games on defense by running to the ball. Make them snap it again. Run to the ball; get ‘em down. We can work on that right now. That’s not hard if that’s our key to victory.

“Then, on offense, let’s protect the football and there’s a million things that go into protecting the football. It’s pitching and catching very cleanly. That’s suffered the most when our players were apart. That timing. That detail of that route to catch it. That dragging of the foot so it’s inbounds versus it’s out of bounds. Center-to-quarterback exchange. Handoff exchanges. It’s all those little things that add up to protecting the football. These are all possible for us to work on.”

Cushing, a former Northwestern assistant under both Randy Walker and Pat Fitzgerald, also sees the value in simplifying the message to a young team.

“Keep the main thing, the main thing. Coach Walker would say that all that time. Everybody always took it as he meant the football; he meant it in everything,” Cushing said.

Lessons from the fall

Cushing has also tuned into the schools that are playing this fall, including Ohio Valley Conference opponents Austin Peay and Eastern Kentucky.

As with any football coach, he isn’t just watching as a fan; Cushing is trying to learn things that will help his team.

“The first thing is I see is how difficult it is to prepare for the game,” Cushing said. “I don’t care how many spring practices you had or how many fall practices you have with contact, the (actual) game is just different. You saw it in that opening game with Austin Peay and Central Arkansas. Sloppiness with the football. Because as soon as the lights go on, everything ramps up a million percent.

(EIU Athletics photo)

“So what have I learned? We have to put players in challenging situations. We have to do a little more unscripted. Not that it can ever simulate game speed. But, we have to push the envelope in that we have to create situations where everybody on the field has to react and just play. As controlled as you want to make practice, there’s a safety aspect to that too. If you don’t learn how to hit and be hit, come the first game, the ball is going to pop out or you’re not going to get that guy to the ground because you’re just not used to getting players to the ground.”

Cushing added that he might just spring a surprise on not only his players but also his assistant coaches in the middle of a workout.

“I might just put the ball down in a certain spot, rattle off the situation and see how everyone reacts in the moment. There are times you just can’t plan for; you have to be ready to go,” he explained.

Nevertheless, Cushing came back to player safety.

“We have to be extremely careful as coaches not to overdo the physical aspects of the game (this fall),” he said. “You can’t tackle every day (in practice). That’s not practical. But we have to do more than zero. We have to use the same appropriate ramp-up from the sports science perspective that we would from a conditioning perspective. We’ve got to do some of that hitting and tackling to learn how to play the game well.”

Falling forward into spring

When the Ohio Valley Conference made its decision to push its traditional fall football season to spring, EIU also made the decision to not play any autumn nonconference games. The annual Mid-America Classic rivalry game with Illinois State, for example, went by the wayside when both universities agreed not to play. This marks the first fall since 1943 —  when the nation was in the grips of World War II — that Eastern will not play football in a calendar year.

Yet, Cushing remains focused on the present and what he can do to prepare his team for the day when football returns to O’Brien Field with live games against actual opponents. Additionally, he remains steadfast in a goal he shared the day he was hired as the 25th head coach in EIU history.

“How are we going to win the OVC?” Cushing said. “We’re going to be really strong. We’re going to run to the football on defense. We’re going to protect the football on offense. If we keep those as the main thing, then whatever comes next —  all the uncertainty in the world —  if we get better at those things, then when I put my head on the pillow, I feel good.”