When traveling for business, there’s a need — in fact, a sense of urgency — to quickly connect once you arrive at your destination. Connect with the car rental company, hotel, colleagues, the office, clients and of course, your loved ones at home.
Today, on my 3rd day of a business trip to Jacksonville, Florida, I bridged the distance of my trip and reconnected with my fiancé, mother, sister, brothers, brother-in-law, niece, nephews, cousins, colleagues, co-workers, and several friends. I used many methods to reconnect: telephone, cell phone, conference call, email (through three different accounts), SMS, MSN, Communicator, Skype, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Foursquare.
I also consider myself fortunate to have made some new connections today with several clients, colleagues, and some strangers. These new connections were in person, sans technology, and I look forward to reconnecting in the future.
I also received a long distance call today from someone trying to connect by selling me something. Honestly, I didn’t listen long before I choose to disconnect.
Sometimes making a connection is more about connecting the dots. These can be sentimental connections. As a child the only connection I had with the state of Florida was that I knew that this is where the Space missions originated. From the Apollo missions, which saw the first man step foot on the moon, to the Space Shuttle missions which sadly will soon will be finished. These historic and optimistic endeavours all made a profound connection with me. Also, watching these missions was a shared interest and connection my mother and I have.
There are geographical connections; when travelling to and from Jacksonville this week, I will use connecting flights.
Then there are also poor, broken, bad and lost connections. Some by distance, others by time constraints, some by choice, and luckily, only a few by life’s final destination. For these, theirs will be a lasting connection.
There’s a saying that your happiness is determined by the connections you make in your life. Today, I find my life richer, more informed, more connected… happier, by making the choice to stay connected with the people in my life no matter where I am. And yeah, the technology helps.
