Airport Shops

Since I had to travel to Wisconsin this week, I decided to venture into the realm of post-security airport shops.  I always seem to get to the airport early anyway, and this way I can grab a bite to eat, a cup of coffee and perhaps something to read on the plane, all on someone else's dime. 

The first thing I found out is that if you're going to do (post-security) airport shops, you need to know what areas of the airport you will actually have access to.  In some airports, you can go anywhere once you have a ticket.  In other airports, there might be separate security checkpoints for different terminals.

After signing up for three airport shops at Orlando International Airport, I quickly learned when I arrived that while I could access "Airside 2 and Airside 4," I could not get anywhere near "Airside 1."  It was only by sheer luck that all three shops I had accepted were in Airside 4.  Phew!  In this case, I was lucky enough to grab my caffeine, something to eat, a bottle of water, a puzzle magazine and a new pack of batteries without spending a dime.  I received generous payments on top of the goodies I was able to buy.  I think I'm going to like this airport shopping!

Since the company I'm consulting with has decided to send me to Baltimore (yay!) instead of back to Orlando on Thursday, I quickly signed up for some more airport shops ... but not before checking the airport map this time.  I was able to score another cup of coffee and a dining shop.  Needless to say, if you are a frequent traveler, this is a gold mine.  The competition is scarce since only ticketed passengers or those shoppers with permanent access can complete the shops.  Even if you are traveling for pleasure rather than business, depending on where you are going, it is completely feasible for airport shops to pay a substantial portion of your travel expenses.

So check it out, travelers!  Sign up for some airport shops at http://www.ishopforyou.com/ (Ann Michaels and Associates), http://www.bareinternational.com/,  http://www.intellishop.com/,  http://www.marketforce.com/.  I am sure there are other companies offering airport shops, so feel free to add to the list if you are reading this!

Happy New Year! And the answer is "NO!"

Welcome to 2012!  I learned a long time ago not to make resolutions, but I do have some goals for the new year.  Many of my goals revolve around greater organization and less procrastination, but I'm also going to focus on "me time."  After all, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, right?  Or at least that's what it said in The Shining, and I don't think anyone wants me to turn out like Jack.

Everyone knows I'm a work-a-holic.  What some people do not realize is that on top of my editing, training, coordinating and other responsibilities at A Closer Look, I also took a second editing job at Sentry Marketing.  I've been doing this since July.  As if that wasn't enough, I recently added a third job as a Care Partner Consultant with Baird Group, the same company I do medical mystery shopping for.  I am also holding an editing and recruitment workshop at the Chicago IMSC Conference and will speak at this year's conferences in Reno and Las Vegas, as well.  Which leads me to the point of this post.  I will learn to say, "No," a word clearly left out of my vocabulary prior to 2012.

So, unless the question involves a beach, warm tropical waters, a hammock and a fruity cocktail, the answer this year is, "No."  Enough said.

Happy New Year!