Karen Post and the Oddpodz team are back on American soil, had a great time and took away many lessons learned. To view last weeks wrap up, click here.

1 – An airport restaurant so good, you will beg for a longer layover. Great food in Atlanta, only a plane ride away.
2 – Last minute gigs, Nigeria, branding adventures in Africa. Part 1 of a global branding adventure.
3 – Paparazzi, plantains and petrol. Part 2 is packed with lessons learned.
4 – Do you hate computerized customer service as much as I do? Make sure your phone system isn’t annoying your customers.

Also, be sure to check out:
our Get publicity Ta-Do list
I’m going to Saudi, join me!
Creative warrior goes to Memphis

Traveling through Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport? Here’s something you should know.

I never thought I would ever in my life want to schedule extra time at an airport so I could dine at amazing restaurant.

It happened. I was on my way to Africa this week to speak on branding for government programs at the Brand Journalists’ Association of Nigeria awards dinner. The event was honoring two extraordinary branding enthusiasts and leaders: the Governor of Imo, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, who has pioneered branding in government programs and Professor Dora Akunyili, former Minister of information and communications for the country, who is dedicated to changing the perceptions of her land.

In route, my cinematographer Andrew and I had a three-hour layover and accidentally stumbled upon One Flew South, a brilliant eatery that touts travel-inspired provisions. This restaurant is located at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport in the international flights section at Gate E and is so worth every visit and unlike any airport food experience I’ve ever had.

They break all the rules and create a memorable food journey.
To start with, One Flew South doesn’t look like it belongs at an airport. Created by Johnson Studios, the very hip, contemporary look and the design elements are all direct from Georgia, blond distressed, wooden floors, marble table tops and a wall to wall mural of the state’s finest forest and trees.

And they have an executive chef too. That’s right, Duenne Nutter masterfully creates some of the most interesting flavors combing his heritage cuisine of Louisiana with good southern classics.

Since we knew we would soon be on the plane eating our 5 courses at midnight, we ate light and sampled four appetizers. They included: smoke trout bruschetta with goat cheese, sweet potatoes, peas and aged balsamic vinegar, pecan dusted scallops with cranberry hash and arugula sauce, lamb sausage and soy bean succotash.

The seating offered is ideal for the solo traveler and the groups of foodies.  Service is also stellar and lead by John, who is part of their management team.

This total experience is a nice surprise and was an excellent diversion to start our overseas adventure. What are you doing in your business that is unexpected?

We are onward to Lagos, Nigeria an 11-hour flight, more soon.

For more on restaurant branding, view:
Size can matter. 4 ideas to help your brand impact measure up.

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

Next week I’m headed to Africa for five days. I’m addressing the Branding Journalists of Nigeria. The event is honoring two distinguished leaders, Governor Ohakim as the Most Visionary and Brand-Friendly Governor of Imo State and Professor Dora Akunyili as Most Noted Brand Ambassador and a pioneer in marketing and country improvement.

Turns out our American bodies are at risk to a bunch of nasty stuff. So I visited the health department today to be ready and on the offense.

If you are traveling abroad, you can do most of the research online. If it looks like a high risk area, go to your local health department as soon as you lock down your gig.

Also, secure a budget for some bucks and time. Unfortunately, I did not. So I’m out of pocket around $650.00, I got 4 shots, it took three hours and cost just under $300, plus I need to fill a prescription for some Malaria pill that I need to take when I get there. Times two, because I have a my videographer trailing with me. I chalk it up to the cost of business. I value my life and have no time to be sick.

Turns out I needed a Hep A, Tetanus, Yellow fever and Typhoid shot. In the ideal world, you need to get these 4 weeks before you travel. YIKES, more on the edge living for me. Anyhow, the staff at the health department was great. The educated me on the risks and simple ways to protect your self while there.

Warning: The shots hurt to get and both my arms feel like a truck ran over them several times. I suppose this is better than vomiting and dying from a Mosquitoes bite.

Some other tips:
Buy extra health insurance
As an added precaution,  I also bought a health insurance package from American Express. It’s $7.50 for a month, you can cancel after your trip, but it will give you some extra comfort, should something happen to you while you are out of the country. $50,000 and emergency transportation etc.

Use a Visa expediter
I use A1 Passport & Visa Express. Today, I finalized my passport renewals and got Visa almost complete. When you are going to abroad, in most cases your passport needs to have at least 12 months on the back end before it expires or you can’t fly.  All of these little things take time. Plan for it. But being an entrepreneur sure is fun and I can’t wait for my African adventure!!

Be safe when you get there
Pack light colored clothing items, not all black. Black attracts mosquitoes and mosquitoes can carry deadly diseases. Don’t wear any scented anything and hit mosquitoes with DET.

Want more on global travel and marketing read my past blogs too.

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.