The Business Travel Executive Buyer Think Tank is a new voice for guidance, insight and thought leadership
For many of us who make our living with words, the most alarming thing we face is the prospect of writer’s block. Inspiration flees, and the dreaded blank page stares back at us, stubbornly refusing to yield even the first syllable, let alone an entire coherent thought.
Some in the writers’ profession characterize this as a cop-out for a lazy wordsmith who hasn’t stoked the flames of his imagination’s forge adequately. These naysayers maintain that ‘writer’s block’ doesn’t exist – it’s actually just a catch-all phrase that describes any of several brain-locks that prevent the words from flowing.
Often the creative bottlenecks are self-inflicted; the author just cannot seem to muster the discipline, energy or enthusiasm to tackle the assignment. Sometimes it’s the words themselves; a writer spends hours searching for the perfect turn of phrase, or recasting an awkward sentence that somehow just doesn’t work.
A more serious occupational hazard for a writer is intellectual blockage, which can manifest itself as either a complete dearth of any ideas at all, or too many good ideas, leading to a sort of paralysis of thought. These conceptual creative speed bumps are more difficult to overcome. The problem can be divided into pretty much two categories: Either “I have nothing important to say to my readers,” or “I have so much that seems important, I don’t know which my readers are going to find most useful.”
However in the deadline driven world of journalism, there isn’t much time for this kind of contemplation. The presses don’t stop, nor the voracious appetite of the web rest, just because we can’t make up our minds about what we should write.
The good news – at least for those of us on the Business Travel Executive editorial team – is we have always been able to turn to our readers for purpose and guidance. You keep us focused on the matters at hand, issues that are important to you that impact your programs, your careers and the growing discipline of managed travel. For your quarter-century-plus of unwavering support, we thank you.
With that foundation of knowledge and insight, we’re taking the next step up as we introduce the Business Travel Executive Buyer Think Tank. In this more structured setting, individuals from across the spectrum of managed travel provide advice to BTE’s editorial team on pertinent and timely industry topics, contribute insights into content, and help steer the strategic direction of the magazine.
Spearheaded by Jennifer Steinke, who is senior manager, corporate travel for ACT, Inc., and a long-time contributor to BTE, the group includes Chris Brockman, travel manager – North America, Electrolux Major Appliances North America; Valerie Fender, corporate travel manager, Tribune Media; Rosemary Maloney, account management specialist – Jarden, Egencia; Kevin McDonald, senior director, strategic procurement, PPD; David Smith, regional travel manager, Americas, Amdocs Global Services; and Mark H. Ziegler, senior travel manager Americas, Global Travel Services, NetApp.
You can catch a flavor of how members of the Buyer Think Tank think in their inaugural contributions, found in this issue’s cover story, Wheels of Progress (page 20). Rest assured, there will be plenty more from them in the months to come, as we tap into the experience and expertise this group offers.
Welcome, Think Tank.