Preparing for a far away trip can be challenging. Karen Post and the Oddpodz team learn how to take a stressful situation and turn it into an achievement. If you missed last weeks wrap up, click here.

1 – Sponge Bob would be proud of me. I’m soaking up stuff at a very high speed. Traveling is only part of the adventure.
2 – Ouch! Global travel can hurt. How to manage your health on the road. An education on why to take extra precautions.
3 – Why being in the right state is critical. And I’m not talking about Florida. What happens when goofy thoughts enter your brain.
4 – How to reduce the sting in charging service fees. Being nickel and dimed may turn out to be a valued convenience.
5 – 18 steps toward stress-free, fast-lane, more fun and darn good writing. Tips that will make you want to dump your notes.

Be sure to also check out:
Are you brand battle ready at the frontline?
Top 10 best brand stories
How two websites almost killed a baby

Who would of thought that in the month of March 2011, I would be in Jeddah, Saudi, then NYC and then two weeks later in Lagos, Nigeria talking about branding. The world is getting smaller by the minute.

Yep, I’m going to Africa.

I’ve been invited by Brand Journalist’s Association of Nigeria. This is a group of writers who cover branding and marketing communications matters. They will be honoring the governor of Imo State as “the Most Branding Compliant Governor”. This is the based on his re-branding of his State to make him more investor-friendly and  Professor Dora Akunyili, a highly respected government and business leader as the “Most Distinguished Brand Ambassador”.

It’s very exciting and a bit freaky too.
Not the adventure part, I love that.  Not the travel, I’ve mastered that, but the prep for my program. I usually start working on my content at least 30 days out. This  event is in one week and I’m addressing a country that I’m not very familiar with.  And my brain has been deep in writing a book with a big deadline staring at me daily. YIKES!

So what do you do next?
1) You first thank Google, my massive pipeline for new business. The client is the government of Imo State. They found me because of my high ranking. Read more on how I earned the #1 spot.

2) Then you become a thirsty sponge and you soak up as much as you can as quick as you can. You ask questions, Google a bunch and use social media to further your insight.

3) And finally, you take a deep breathe and remind yourself how lucky you are to be an entrepreneur in America.  And that the principles of branding are in fact universal and being a quick study is a great skill to process.

I’m traveling with a Andrew a film specialist from Litewavemedia. They are the company that shot my videos. I negotiated my contract so I could bring a professional colleague, document my journey and not travel alone.

So next week I will be video blogging to you from Lagos!

For more on traveling, view:
Making history in Saudi and 5 lessons from the experience.
Less stress. More life. Tighter travel brand.

Being introduced to new experiences can change your perspective on life. They can also change your perspective on how to run your business. Karen Post and the Oddpodz team experienced many new things this past week and we’re sure you’ll enjoy the take-away.

1 – Miracle Whip and Cate Blanchett. What do these two have in common? Differentiating you brand will help you succeed in the long run.
2 – Making history in Saudi and 5 lessons from the experience. Being introduced to global challenges can be very rewarding.
3 – Size can matter. 4 ideas to help your brand impact measure up. Increase your brand memory with objects bigger than life.
4 – Waiting patiently. An oxymoron and opportunity. Don’t wait for your competitors to measure up to you, start creating a masterpiece now.
5 – Have an AT&T iphone? Don’t expect service in NYC. You’ll be disappointed. How some technology can’t always keep up to speed.

If you missed last weeks wrap up, click here.

Also, be sure to check out:
What Jimmy Fallon taught me about marketing.
5 promotional ideas to earn serious visibility for your venture.
Facebook, I’m just not that into you.

This week, I’ve been blogging from the Middle East. I was invited by the Saudi Arabian Airline to address their corporate conference on Branding. It’s been an incredible experience. Today, I learned that I actually made history. I was the first women to ever address the group as a keynote speaker.

If you are not familiar with Saudi traditions, women do not had the same rights as men in their culture. They cannot drive, have limited leadership and governing roles, have strict dress codes and do not mix with men in dinning and many public places. I knew accepting this invitation would be an experience. I was aware of their traditions and values, but until I arrived had not fully realized that I was making history.

Doing business globally introduces many challenges to a day’s work, from the work product you deliver to how you communicate, to respecting their culture and protocols. Read the story in New York Times on my travels.

Here are 5 important lessons I learned from my trip.
1) The world is very small.
Even if you are a small business you can earn rewarding and exciting global assignments. And a single project can develop into a long term cross the pond relationship too.

2) High Google search results are equal to an elite global sales team.
The client found me because of my high Google ranking.

3) A strong and professional website presence can project as much credibility and capability as a firm ten times your size. If you want big projects, you need to practice smart marketing and can’t look like a small potato.

4) Assume presenting your offering to a foreign culture will come with significant challenges. From technology glitches to communications differences, don’t fall short of delivering the best. You may think it will all be like it is back home. It won’t be. Do your homework, plan well and be prepared for travel bumps.

5)  Global adventures can teach you so much and open unexpected doors too.
This trip connected me and my firm not only to this client, their industry, and unique culture, but to other entrepreneurs involved in the project that can be a source of business, knowledge and world friendships.

I’m headed back to New York City tonight.  A thirteen hour flight, and then I’m in Manhattan for a week. While in the big Apple, I’ll be working on client projects, writing my new book, conducting some business meetings and having some fun.

More soon!

For more lessons, check out: I’m going to Saudi, join me!

This week, Oddpodz shares the reality of keeping a business together while getting ready for an important trip. If you missed last weeks wrap up, click here.

1 – I’m going to Saudi, join me! Get the inside scoop of marketing, communication, travel & cultural lessons.
2 – Blog breakthrough – What does it really take? And what is the magic move that turns pondering into reality?
3 – How to get unstuck on a writing project – 10 ways. Learn to practice what you preach in a stress-free way.
4 – Forgive me, I’m using an excuse card tonight. Use these funny excuses if you’re having an off day.
5 – A road warrior’s check list, so the journey is a joy. What to pack when you’re always on the go.

For more on-the-road lessons view:
Networking in the sky. How to turn a seat mate into a good connection.
5 inspirational ideas and 2 revelations from an adventure to Chicago
What I learned from going to see Oprah

This week I’m headed to two extreme cultures and climates, Manhattan, New York (low 20′s) and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (low 90′s). Both should be an adventure. But to prevent any undo stress, I’m working from a detailed traveler’s checklist.

The trip will not only be long, but it has some unique elements.
My Saudi excursion is a speaking engagement in a country that adheres to very traditional Islam values. This means respecting their code of dress for business women. Women wear an abaya – which is the black floor-length coat associated with Muslim women that covers everything. I purchased one online and Edith, who works at Walgreens, also brought me a couple others to take on my trip, with some scarves and a list of etiquette dos and donts. Who would have thought that the quiet women who helps me select lipstick would be giving me cultural and wardrobe advice for my Middle Eastern trip. There are many kind people in our world.

Wardrobe
PJ’s, robe, flip flops.
Work out clothes (for my room, not sure women can go to the gym).
Secure travel pouch.

All hygiene items
+Sleeping pills for plane.
+Asthma and other meds.
+Sun screen.

Other items I’m packing per Edith, my resident Islam adviser:
Light make-up.
Several changes of dark colored, no skin showing, long sleeved, high neck clothing to be worn with my abaya.
Close-toed shoes and black socks.
Assorted head scarves.

Don’t pack
Any fashion magazines with sexy images, they will be seen as porn.
or wear any religious symbols.

Office equipment:
Two computers (these computers with non removable batteries suck).
Nightlight for reading.
Chargers and conversion adapters.
Cell phone with international service activated.
WiFi card.
Ether net cables.
Flash drive with presentation on it.
2 Back ups of presentation on DVD. One in carry on, one in suitcase.
2 Print outs of presentation. One in carry on, one in suitcase.
2 Print outs of speaker intro. One in carry on, one in suitcase.
Camera.
Batteries.
Legal pads.
Journal.
Computer remote.
Bose head phones.
Power pens.

Other:
Passport and Visa.
Business cards.
Gift for host.
Sunglasses.
Reading glasses.
Distance glasses.
Watch and minimal jewelery.
Couple copies of my book.
Energy bars.
Provide travel itinerary to my assistant and family members.
Travel folder with print outs of all travel and meeting details.
Neck pillow.
Cash/travelers checks.
My good luck charm.

New York City Trip
Drop off extra suitcase with winter clothing, boots, coats at FedEx to ship to NYC hotel.

I’ll be covering my trip in the Oddpodz marketing blog too. So check it out for some global trends and ideas.