Oh the Places You’ll Go: Using Travel to Your Advantage
Do you know which day is the busiest travel day of the year? According to Fortune.com, the busiest travel day of 2017 is actually going to be the Sunday after Thanksgiving -- November 26th. While the days leading up to Thanksgiving usually prove to be the busiest (our guess was November 24th, the day before Turkey Day), this year, industry trade group Airlines for America projected November 26th to be the most jam-packed day of travel with an estimated 2.88 million people will be taking to the skies to return home.
All this anticipation of travel got us thinking -- how does travel affect your business? Or your daily routine? Do you use it as a tool to help your business grow? For some people, travel is just part of the job, especially for executives and those in sales, but as a new business owner or for the self-employed, “travel” can mean many things -- and we’re not just talking about road trips. Working remotely, using co-working spaces, and traveling for company retreats are all methods that you can use to your advantage. Let’s break them down:
Working Remotely
The digital era has made it easier than ever for employees to work remotely. All you need is a computer! Years ago, working from home may have been a luxury of C-level positions or business owners, but nowadays many companies are taking advantage of the digital landscape and granting employees the work perk of working remotely. So much so, that there is a growing industry of “digital nomads”, usually content creators, marketers, writers, who work as they travel abroad.
Allowing employees to work remotely does require a level of risk, after all you no longer have the same level of supervision as if they were in the office. It requires a certain level of trust and reliability, but granting employees the benefit of working from home can also prove to be beneficial in the long run. Flexibility often creates better work output and long-term investment in the company.
And, let’s not forget the ladies. With more and more women in the workforce, there has been a growing need for flexibility around maternity leave and working around child care schedules. While the U.S. is still a bit behind when it comes to maternity leave, working remotely is a work perk that can help new and working mothers manage both their workload and their families.
Co-working Spaces
Co-working spaces are like coffee shops, but with more entrepreneurs and less college students. Many new business owners can use co-working spaces as both a place to get work done and meet new, like-minded entrepreneurs. If much of your work involves working alone, or if you’re just starting out, a co-working space gives you the formality of an office but with the flexibility of working by your own schedule. DBI also offers a setup similar to a co-working space, but even more flexibility and anonymity if that’s what you’re looking for. Are you looking to open a Delaware LLC, but lack a physical address to move forward with the process? You can read up on our Delaware virtual office options.
Company Retreats
A colleague recently shared that their company is sending them to Madrid, Spain for a company retreat to celebrate exceeding their yearly goals. Talk about a celebration! Or should we say, fiesta? While we may not all be able to afford international excursions for our company retreats and celebrations, the idea of getting out of the office every once in awhile is a great alternative to the usual conference room gatherings. The next time you’re planning a retreat for your team, consider a change of scenery. Sometimes getting out of the office setting is just the boost your team needs to get back to work.
Whether you’re flying, driving, or taking the train, we hope that you have safe travels this holiday weekend. And remember, travel doesn’t have to be restricted to time off, it can be a great tool to generate productivity, team building, and company investment. Safe travels, and Happy Thanksgiving!