QRCA Views

28 QRCA VIEWS FA LL 2 014 www.qrca.org Rules for ROAD WARRIORS C O N T I N U E D international travel today – 1) don't drink alcohol, 2) get a good night's sleep, and 3) eat a killer breakfast. We have to remem- ber that when we travel abroad, we repre- sent ourselves, our companies, and our cli- ents, so we want to put our best foot for- ward. We also serve as ambassadors for the US, so we want to make good impres- sions on our global partners. Falling asleep in the backroom does not reflect well on us or on our companies. Traveling to a succession of countries can be very physically demanding. When you have a trip like this, how do you take care of yourself ? What tips do you have for first-time travelers? Pat: Sleep is my number-one priority! I always travel in economy and am no lon- ger able to sleep on planes because there are no rows to stretch out on any more. I always arrive on the continent a day earlier than expected. Contrary to conventional wisdom, I immediately go to bed to sleep six hours. Since 1994, I have relied on temazepam (a prescription sleeping medi- cation, with none of the side effects of newer brands). I get up to have a lovely dinner, and take another pill to sleep the night away. I never wake groggy, but feel very well rested and ready to work. Getting enough sleep also means I don't have to overeat to keep my energy up. Dave: See my three Rules for the Road above, which I think will be particularly important for a neophyte Road Warrior. I also recommend utilizing multiple meth- ods for wake up – e.g., wake-up call, cell phone, etc., to avoid the potential for sleeping through your alarm. When you are working on the road in a time zone that is many hours different from your client's, how do you keep them up to date in a way that works for both your schedules? Susan: Don't be afraid to be honest and upfront with all your clients (especially those who are not connected to this proj- ect). If I am going to be doing interna- tional travel that involves significant time zone changes, I proactively notify my other clients that I will be traveling and therefore there will be a time zone differ- ence and there might be a communication delay. Pat: I find the time difference (once I've calculated it correctly) is really helpful. I know when my U.S. clients will be awake and only answer or initiate emails with them then. I like to focus on one thing at a time, so I'm not checking email more than a couple of times a day. This is espe- cially true when traveling in faraway lands for pleasure. I never leave a message on my email saying I'm on vacation or not World Class Nationwide Recruitment & Transcription Services When you don't need a facility for your project, trust us – the qualitative recruitment experts. The leader in nationwide recruiting for urban, suburban and rural markets across the US for all types of in-person and online research. Recruiting from our database, your list or purchased sample, everything you could possibly need is done right here by us. We aren't just recruiters – we are marketing research professionals who make the fi eld process an easy experience. Your clients don't like to wait and neither do you! With turnaround in as few as 24 hours and meticulous accuracy, Focus Forward is emerging as the leader in global transcription services. To ensure the highest quality standards, every completed transcript is audio checked and proofread. Available 7 days a week, relax as our team of 400+ US-based transcribers expertly handle your project. www.focusfwd.com · 212.626.9060 · RFP@focusfwd.com Focus Forward Focus Forward Focus Forward Be a HERO to your clients transcription

• Cover