What if corporate asked you to be a....

[birdiesunshine]

corporate trainer for the company and they wanted you to be in charge of all of New Enlgand. They would pay your airfare and all of your expenses, but you were terrified to fly alone

Would you drive? fly anyway? or bow out of the whole offer even though it's a great opportunity and you may only have to go twice a month for 2 days at a time and the pay was great??!!??
I forgot to mention that I live in New England so I don't think there would ever be more than a 5 hr drive anywhere.

I need some advice.

Thanks.

 

[danacara]

Sounds like a great opportunity. But may I ask, what is it about the flying that scares you? Is it the flying itself, or the being alone?

 

[TLinden16]

I would say go for it. New England is so small that I can't imagine that they would actually fly you between cities anyways.

Karen

 

[birdiesunshine]

I'm afraid to die alone! When I fly I'm always afraid we are going to crash, but when I'm with my family I know we would all die together. Does that sound stupid???

 

[CEDmom]

I'm sure a part of you knows that you're at a much greater risk of dying in a car accident than you would be in a plane crash. We all have irrational fears so don't think you're weird or something. However, try not to let these fears rule your life.

I'd say take the job. As a previous poster pointed out you probably wouldn't need to even fly at all if you're staying w/i NE.

 

[orvilleair]

Agree with everyone else. It looks like a great opportunity. How long would the flights be since it's around New England. Talk your boss into an occasional flight to Orlando.

 

[castlegazer]

Funny, I prefer flying alone for the same but opposite reason. I don't want a disaster to strike my whole family all together, I want to be alone and have it happen to me, not my children or my husband.

I travel for work in NE and am very very rarely flown anywhere. I get to rent cars to get from here to there. I only get to fly to NY and further. But if you think about it, to fly around NE, you would waste half your time getting to and from the airports.

TAKE IT!

 

[oogieboogie]

take the job. Think about it this way... there's a greater chance getting into a car accident than a plane accident. If I'm not mistaken, the chance of getting hit by lightning is also greater than a plane crash.

 

[Galahad]

Funny, I prefer flying alone for the same but opposite reason

Me too.

 

[birdiesunshine]

Originally posted by castlegazer
Funny, I prefer flying alone for the same but opposite reason. I don't want a disaster to strike my whole family all together, I want to be alone and have it happen to me, not my children or my husband.

Hmmm your post makes me feel like an ogre. Just to clafiry, I don't want any of my family members to die.

 

[DoeWDW]

Birdie, I never thought your original post made you sound like an ogre. I can see both sides of the coin.

I think it's OK to be afraid and fly anyway on the odd occasion that you'll need to fly. I'm guessing you won't have to fly often though. Like another poster said, you'd spend all your time getting to and from airports - usually you can drive it faster.

Go for it! Who knows - you may face your fear and even conquer it - that would be a real confidence booster!

 

[castlegazer]

I didn't mean to. I only found it funny because I get whigged out flying my whole family anywhere - and for that matter traveling in a car together. But not scared enough not to go. I can see your point too.

 

[Amberle3]

I love to fly alone. I fly about every 6 weeks or so. For some reason when I fly with other people I'm always the one that has to do stuff, like get coffee or lunch. And I'm always the one that ends up being stuck in the middle.

When I fly alone I sit where I want on the plane, I take my books and read, and I get some time to myself.

The only thing I miss about flying by myself is someone to watch my bag while I run to the washroom in the boarding area. It never fails that I haul my bag with me, and even if I'm amazingly quick by the time I'm out of the washroom someone has taken my seat.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Take the job.

And check out www.fearofflying.com

It helped me out tremendously. I used to actually cry a lot when I was on planes. This site has been a wonder and now I actully look forward to flying.

I understand your fears, but I also know it IS possible to get past them. Sounds like this opportunity is the perfect reason to try.

 

[trola2]

In my "past life" I was in a corporate position that covered a small territory from Maine to Texas. I was in each location I covered at least once every 4-6 weeks.

Only you can know if you can overcome the flying/driving aspects.

Here are a few questions that are really more important...

Business travel is ALWAYS in imposition on personal time. Any perks that you earn from that travel (frequent flyer miles/free rental car days) are they yours to keep or will your company expect you to use them for business? (May sound silly but it can be significant)

If you car travel will you be required to use your own car? Is there any $$ above standard mileage rate for that? When you literally wear out a car years before it is paid off, that can be an issue.

Finally, how will expenses be covered? If you must submit them for reimbursement, how quick is the turn around? This can be MAJOR. If you travel for a week on YOUR credit card and submit the expense that takes 10 days to be paid for, then you may likely be charged interest for part of those purchases before you ever can get a payment to them. If you must use your own card for travel, be sure to apply for a new card now so that you can use one with a zero balance to front the travel money...and NEVER charge anything personal on there...that way should there be issues with interest, then you can submit that expense as well.

Ok...I'll jump off my soapbox now. I just spent a few years in that type of a position and know that as great as the positions seem (and also as much as I miss them from time to time!) that business travel does have its downside as well.

Good luck!! Sounds like a great opportunity if you can work out the logisitics!
~~Beth

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by castlegazer
Funny, I prefer flying alone for the same but opposite reason. I don't want a disaster to strike my whole family all together, I want to be alone and have it happen to me, not my children or my husband.

I travel for work in NE and am very very rarely flown anywhere. I get to rent cars to get from here to there. I only get to fly to NY and further. But if you think about it, to fly around NE, you would waste half your time getting to and from the airports.

TAKE IT!

I would rather fly alone too just so disaster wouldn't strike my whole family. I would think it selfish to want the family dead along with you but that's just me. LOL!

 

[birdiesunshine]

Originally posted by skiwee1
I would rather fly alone too just so disaster wouldn't strike my whole family. I would think it selfish to want the family dead along with you but that's just me. LOL!

Might it be possible to stop assuming I want my family dead. Please read MY previous post about this and let's move on. This has nothing to do with my original question. You write LOL but I don't find it funny. Someone asked why I am afraid to fly and I answered honestly if that makes me a bad person so be it. I love my family and don't ever want anything to happen to them and I don't believe I am justifying myself to you. So back to my OP I am asking if people would take the job or not and that's all I'm asking.

 

[doxdogy]

I would definitely take the job. Especially if you would have the option of driving instead of flying. I am the exact opposite of you. I have no problems flying alone, driving to strange cities by myself would terrify me.

 

[trola2]

If there is additional pay for the position and you feel compensated well enough to be away from home, then go for it. Do make sure you understand the way expenses are handled. That can be anightmare if you are not prepared!!

Also, if it ends up being more time away than what they say, will you still be Ok with that?

Congratulations on being in a position to make this decision! Yor company obviously thinks highly of you!
~~Beth

 

[Micca]

I think you have a multi-tiered opportunity here: 1)You're getting a great job with good money and perks, 2)You're advancing in the company 3) You may work to overcome your fear of flying alone, and 4) If they allow you to drive to some of the locations you will probably be a hero to management for keeping travel expenses down