Business Traveler Interview: Cliff Rogers
This is part of a new series here at WhyGo Business Travel featuring brief interviews with people who travel for work, asking them about what they do and some of their favorite travel tips. This way, if you’re looking for a career that will require travel, you’ll get to read about people doing some of the jobs you might consider – and you’ll also learn a few great travel tips from the travel pros!
What do you do?
Our business provides mining and resource companies with real-time fleet management, production, maintenance and safety systems. I’m responsible for Sales & Marketing and apart from business development, I work with client businesses at all levels to ensure that our solutions match their requirements.
What kind of travel do you get to do for work? Do you get to choose where you go?
I travel regularly within Australia, with some travel also to Indonesia; the Brisbane, QLD – Perth, WA flight is the longest non-stop domestic sector anywhere in the world, generally 5½ hours there and 4¼ hours back (due mostly to the prevailing Westerly head/tail winds).
Typically my travel is driven by client requirements. Mining in Australia is conducted mainly in central and northern Queensland, the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, and northern and southern Western Australia, so this is where I spend most of my time.
Do you add any extra “fun” days on to work trips? Why or why not?
Mostly it’s business only when I travel – fly in, get business done, fly out. This is mainly because of family commitments back home in Queensland, and because when you’ve travelled as much and for as many years as I have, eventually you get to the point where you’ve seen most everything there is to see if you’re going to the same places.
How often do you get to travel for work?
I spend between a third and a half of my time travelling for work.
Did you choose your job at least in part because you love to travel? Would you make the same job choice again, knowing what you know now?
No, and yes! I chose the job because I love working with people, and being presented with the opportunity to problem-solve on a whole-of-enterprise level. I’d definitely make the same choice again; it’s a great business, and I enjoy the travel.
What are some of your favorite travel tips that you’ve picked up?
- Travel light! Several advantages here – if you take carry-on luggage only the airlines can’t lose your bags, and there’s no waiting at the luggage carousel at the other end.
- Get on-board with airline and hotel loyalty programs; you’ll generally be better looked after, and if you structure them right you can enjoy some or all of the benefits for private use!
What one travel tip would you, as a business traveler, pass along to someone who doesn’t travel as often?
Think about personal security before you travel: where are you going to carry passports, tickets, cash, credit cards, travellers cheques, etc? How are you going to keep these critical documents safe during your trip? Good advice for guys in particular is to keep your wallet in your front pocket, not the back – much harder for pickpockets to steal.
What advice do you have for someone who’s interested in doing what you do?
Think value rather than price, think client rather than product, and think communication rather than promotion. Oh, and enjoy being challenged!
Find out more about Cliff by checking out his website ivolve.com.
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