Comments on: Advice to a young consultant

By: Paul S

Paul S — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:55:47 +0000

Every frequent flyer has a story. My own ties neatly with some of the advice found here. Recently flying from Paris back to the states I did the following as the plane began cruising altitude. 1.) Carefully opened the Bose headphone case, 2.) Hit the sound cancelling switch, 3.) Placed headphones on (over my ears), 4.) Plugged headphones into my Zune, 5.) Played with menu to select Mahler’s 8th, 6.) Opened book of short stories, and 7.) Hit switch over seat for reading lamp. The fellow sitting next to me “engaged” me in a 3 hour monologue about his work. He gave me his card (I did NOT reciprocate). At least he didn’t try to read my book over my shoulder(as a prior passenger did) or ask what I was listening to (it appears he was unaware that I was listening to anything).

By: Michael Powell

Michael Powell — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:18:19 +0000

Wait, now about rule #1. You’re saying that bringing your own soap is all that it takes? Last week I was in Phoenix, mid-level hotel with one of those a/c units under the window. The desert dryness combined with that unit just about killed me. My skin was bad enough, but I don’t think my own soap would’ve helped my sinuses. Any ideas about that?

By: Anthropology.net

Anthropology.net — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 10:39:34 +0000

Where is Anthropology going?

Grant McCracken, of This Blog Sits at the Intersection of Anthropology and Economics, has used Google Trends to portray the depressing lack of interest in Anthropology compared to economics. The post, Anthropology, sleeping giant or just sleeping?&q

By: MEL

MEL — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 21:11:59 +0000

When I was considering entering the consulting biz, a relatively seasoned veteran gave me some additional advice:

1) Go out and buy a second set of toiletries. Pack your kit with this second set. When you need to travel, you won’t have to think “did I pack the deodorant?” Just grab and go.

2) Never drink the coffee they serve on the airplane.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 21:13:20 +0000

There is a great German movie, from the eighties think, called “Enlightenment Guaranteed” (directed by Doris Dorrie: It is about two Germans in Japan who do indeed forget the name and location of their hotel, lose or leave behind their money and passports and are left to fend for themselves with nothing in Tokyo. Since they are on their way to a Budhist retreat there is a certain degree of appropriateness to all this. On VHS only.

By: debbie millman

debbie millman — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 18:11:47 +0000

another rule:

make two copies of your passport.
keep one with someone at home you can reach in an emergency, and keep one hidden away in your suitcase in your room.

By: (insert title here)

(insert title here) — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 17:47:47 +0000

’tis the season for traveling

…and the good Dr. McCracken has some world-class advice. It’s geared towards the young consultant, but contains some good general principles for international travel, such as:

By: Mick

Mick — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 16:46:08 +0000

“rule 2: always pick up a book of matches from the hotel. Because you never know.”

Or, have the concierge write the name of your hotel in Chinese on a piece of paper that stays on your person. Preferably have them write the cross streets too – it happened to me once that the Shanghai hotel in which I was staying was newish and my taxi driver didn’t recognize the name.

By: Zimplr

Zimplr — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 12:50:36 +0000

http://www.zimplr.com/2006/06/20/22/

Grant McCracken, anthropologist, academic and business consultant, has some brilliant and funny travel advice to young consultants.

…