 September 11 has changed many things in the air travel industry. Heighten security and checks on passengers and luggage have added many inconveniences. One has to resign to this fact. Long queues at the airport is now part and parcel of air travel. That fateful day has also made in indelible mark on the mind of many American.
That Fateful September Day
Since that fateful September day, I struggle each time my business dealings lead to air travel. For several months after September 11, I stayed away from flying. I tried to run my business through telephone calls, conference calling and emails. I even looked into getting a teleconference system installed. My vice president, on hearing my predicament, came and had a meeting with me. He said that he was concerned that our business was declining and he attributed that to the lack of personal contact with customers and potential accounts.
He felt that it was imperative that we resume the face-to-face personal contact, that our company and business, had been founded and grew on. He was very frank when he stated that my fear of air travel had cause our business to decline. He volunteered to be the one to go to the meetings. The fear of air travel had not affected him, and does not want to see the terrorist win. He conclude that this is what was happening. It had stripped me of my confidence in flying and is destroying my business.
Discussion Group on Fear of Air TravelHis words made a great impact on me. I knew that he was right, and I also knew that I had to overcome this fear if the busines is to be saved. I decided that if air travel was the only way to restore my business I was going to have to overcome my fears. I called my secretary and told her to book me on a flight to the west coast. I also had her make arrangements with our business associate to meet with me in person rather than the teleconference I had been trying to set up. Later that day my secretaru came into my office and asked if she could have a word with me. She shared that she knew about my fear of air travel and that she had heard that the airlines was running a group for people who were afraid to fly. This group was to help people discuss their fears with others that had similar ones. I immediately had her sign me up for the group.
I found the focus group very enlightening. In listening to others with fear of air travel, it helped me realize I was being irrational. Some how hearing to others expressing the same thoughts helped me to realize how silly I have sounded to my colleagues. After a few sessions, I am now back to air travels in by business routine.
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