Do you always tell co-workers where you go on leisure trips?
Jun 2, 2011, 3:04 pm
#61
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: United, American, Southwest, USAirways, Delta
Posts: 1,874
Some interesting comments here. My thinking has always been I don't keep secrets from people and I don't lie. Makes life a lot easier that way. This is true whether with family, friends or business relationships. If I share info that someone doesn't like, so be it. Their problem, not mine.
I work for myself so I don't have co-workers to share info with. My "co-workers" are my clients. They know how much I bill an hour so they know I can afford to go nice places.
As far as not telling where I go for fear that someone will call me in the middle of a vacation...I don't see how the destination is a factor. If I go to a 5 star hotel in Fiji or a Motel 6 in Daytona Beach, if someone wants to interrupt my vacation they will do so either way. They'll call my cell phone or email me which doesn't change based on my destination.
I work for myself so I don't have co-workers to share info with. My "co-workers" are my clients. They know how much I bill an hour so they know I can afford to go nice places.
As far as not telling where I go for fear that someone will call me in the middle of a vacation...I don't see how the destination is a factor. If I go to a 5 star hotel in Fiji or a Motel 6 in Daytona Beach, if someone wants to interrupt my vacation they will do so either way. They'll call my cell phone or email me which doesn't change based on my destination.
I guess you could say "I don't care about that one client." But what if more than one behaved that way? It most likely doesn't make sense for you to "fire all your clients" that behave unreasonably in some situations. You have to adapt, to a certain extent.
Jun 2, 2011, 3:31 pm
#62
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,508
Not telling people all of your personal business is not "lying or keeping secrets." Some information is not to be shared. Imagine a client of yours who upon hearing about your "exotic" vacation, severely scaled back the amount of hours he purchased from you. In the future, would you be so quick to tell clients about your upcoming plans?
I guess you could say "I don't care about that one client." But what if more than one behaved that way? It most likely doesn't make sense for you to "fire all your clients" that behave unreasonably in some situations. You have to adapt, to a certain extent.
I guess you could say "I don't care about that one client." But what if more than one behaved that way? It most likely doesn't make sense for you to "fire all your clients" that behave unreasonably in some situations. You have to adapt, to a certain extent.
My point was that any client who is so irrational as to fire me because I went on a nice vacation is probably not a client worth having. Most people are rational. Most people couldn't care less where I go on vacation. They care what I do when I'm working for them not what I do in my spare time. If someone fires me for going to Hawaii chances are they'd fire me for some other stupid reason as well, like my shirt was the wrong shade of blue or something. And someone so irrational is more trouble than they're worth to work for, vacation plans or no vacation plans.
Jun 2, 2011, 11:25 pm
#63
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
I agree it's very difficult to explain the fruits of loyalty programs to people who don't understand them. I have family members I've stopped discussing this stuff with. When I fly myself or my family first class they either think I stole it, or I'm rich and I should be buying them F tickets too. So now they don't find out what I'm doing.
Today, I told my brother about Amex Platinum Aeroplan Plus card.. and told him if you sign up, you can redeem 3 shorthauls with the 50K bonus, get one complimentary short haul.. charge 5 nights Fairmont and become a Platinum member.
He didn't want to do it because the annual fee is $499.
Jun 3, 2011, 11:02 am
#64
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA LT Gold; BA Silver; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,081
Jun 3, 2011, 11:40 am
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Formerly HPN, but then DCA and IAD for a while, and now back to HPN!
Programs: Honestly, I've been out of the travel game so long that I'm not even sure. Maybe Marriott Gold?
Posts: 10,677
Not telling people all of your personal business is not "lying or keeping secrets." Some information is not to be shared. Imagine a client of yours who upon hearing about your "exotic" vacation, severely scaled back the amount of hours he purchased from you. In the future, would you be so quick to tell clients about your upcoming plans?
I guess you could say "I don't care about that one client." But what if more than one behaved that way? It most likely doesn't make sense for you to "fire all your clients" that behave unreasonably in some situations. You have to adapt, to a certain extent.
I guess you could say "I don't care about that one client." But what if more than one behaved that way? It most likely doesn't make sense for you to "fire all your clients" that behave unreasonably in some situations. You have to adapt, to a certain extent.
Jun 3, 2011, 11:43 am
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Formerly HPN, but then DCA and IAD for a while, and now back to HPN!
Programs: Honestly, I've been out of the travel game so long that I'm not even sure. Maybe Marriott Gold?
Posts: 10,677
Funny.. same thing is happening to me..
Today, I told my brother about Amex Platinum Aeroplan Plus card.. and told him if you sign up, you can redeem 3 shorthauls with the 50K bonus, get one complimentary short haul.. charge 5 nights Fairmont and become a Platinum member.
He didn't want to do it because the annual fee is $499.
Today, I told my brother about Amex Platinum Aeroplan Plus card.. and told him if you sign up, you can redeem 3 shorthauls with the 50K bonus, get one complimentary short haul.. charge 5 nights Fairmont and become a Platinum member.
He didn't want to do it because the annual fee is $499.
Jun 3, 2011, 11:45 am
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Formerly HPN, but then DCA and IAD for a while, and now back to HPN!
Programs: Honestly, I've been out of the travel game so long that I'm not even sure. Maybe Marriott Gold?
Posts: 10,677
I was referring more to the comments that when asked where they're going said I don't know or gave a vague, non-descript answer.
My point was that any client who is so irrational as to fire me because I went on a nice vacation is probably not a client worth having. Most people are rational. Most people couldn't care less where I go on vacation. They care what I do when I'm working for them not what I do in my spare time. If someone fires me for going to Hawaii chances are they'd fire me for some other stupid reason as well, like my shirt was the wrong shade of blue or something. And someone so irrational is more trouble than they're worth to work for, vacation plans or no vacation plans.
My point was that any client who is so irrational as to fire me because I went on a nice vacation is probably not a client worth having. Most people are rational. Most people couldn't care less where I go on vacation. They care what I do when I'm working for them not what I do in my spare time. If someone fires me for going to Hawaii chances are they'd fire me for some other stupid reason as well, like my shirt was the wrong shade of blue or something. And someone so irrational is more trouble than they're worth to work for, vacation plans or no vacation plans.
Jun 3, 2011, 11:54 am
#68
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Jun 3, 2011, 12:10 pm
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Formerly HPN, but then DCA and IAD for a while, and now back to HPN!
Programs: Honestly, I've been out of the travel game so long that I'm not even sure. Maybe Marriott Gold?
Posts: 10,677
Nope. I've run a successful business based on honor and integrity - mine and my clients'. It's never too expensive to let a petty client go. If I'm worried that they are going to cut back on using my services because they don't like when or where I go on vacation, what else are they apt to threaten or do?
Jun 3, 2011, 3:03 pm
#71
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 6
I'm glad i don't work where some of you work. I never think twice about telling anyone at work where I am going on vacation. I guess if people are scared to share vacation plans for fear of some sort of negative job impact they must also worry about what they wear to work. Can't wear anything too nice or they might think you are rich but can't wear anything to cheap or they might think you don't fit in with the company. Can't have a nice watch for the same reason or eat an expensive lunch. If you drive to work can't be seen in too nice of a car. Just seems crazy to have to worry about all that.
I hope the people who do work in places like that get paid very well because a company like that doesn't seem like a nice place to work.
I hope the people who do work in places like that get paid very well because a company like that doesn't seem like a nice place to work.
Jun 3, 2011, 3:06 pm
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Formerly HPN, but then DCA and IAD for a while, and now back to HPN!
Programs: Honestly, I've been out of the travel game so long that I'm not even sure. Maybe Marriott Gold?
Posts: 10,677
Jun 3, 2011, 3:12 pm
#73
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
My co-workers are surprised when I am NOT going somewhere...
Living on this side of the Pond makes going to new places easy. For accountability purposes they do have contact info for me just in case.
Living on this side of the Pond makes going to new places easy. For accountability purposes they do have contact info for me just in case.
Jun 3, 2011, 9:32 pm
#75
Suspended
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Location: Calgary, Alberta
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, Fairmont Platinum, Aeroplan Diamond, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 18,686
I obviously know nothing about your brother and his travel habits/interests, but I can see where a lot of people would be turned off by a $499 annual fee if they don't see the value proposition involved. If someone doesn't travel or isn't interested in travel, I'll bet they can think of a lot of other good uses (to him/her) for $500. It's easy for those of us on FT to get jaded to this fact.
But in reality.. I'm flying on points.. getting the low cost on vehicle rentals.. and I'm able to get luxurious accomodations wherever we go..