Working Wounded: Road Rules

Q U E S T I O N: I’ve just started to travel for work and it’s driving me nuts. I read in your book that you’ve earned over a million frequent flyer miles. What tricks have you learned for staying sane?— Jet Lag

A N S W E R: My mom was a brilliant backseat driver. Whenever she drove with someone she considered a “speed demon,” she would sit directly behind the driver. Then, when the speedometer crept too high she’d hit the spot where the driver’s seat belt fastened to the floor. Invariably her “braking” left the driver gasping for air.

Unfortunately, those of us without private jets don’t have that kind of control on the road. But there are things we can do to make business traveling saner. Below are some tricks that work for me. You’ll find more at www.inc.com/roadwarrior, developed by Jeff Seglin and Inc. Magazine.

Try these tricks and you’ll have an easier time going from point A to points B, C, D, E …

Weekly Poll and Contest Here are the results of a recent workingwounded.com/ ABCNEWS.com online ballot: What would your current boss say about your performance?

Thumbs down, 6.6 percent

I don’t have a clue (and neither does my boss), 24.9 percent

Thumbs up, 68.4 percent

Winning Strategy

Our winning strategy for dealing with a boss who’d give a lousy reference comes all the way from Middle East, from Dubai, United Arab Emirates to be exact. Paul S. writes: ”I’d tell the person I was interviewing with, ‘Considering that I have worked for Mr. X for the last 10 years and we have been really close, it has hurt him terribly to see me go. So you may or may not get a favorable reference. However the very fact that I have worked for so many years is proof enough that I was good for him else he would not have kept me for so long.’ I am sure honesty at a time like this would not only clear the air but would also tilt his assessment of you in your favor.”