Does your career involve a lot of travel?

Then you can probably relate to this situation. Your suitcases are piled at your feet and they come in handy for propping your elbows as you try to sleep hunched next to 500 other people whose plane is late. The clock seems to click endlessly as the hours crawl by. It's now delayed for eight more hours.

Here you are, sitting inside the airport, late for your business meeting in Paris! It's snowing outside, which normally you would enjoy. With the flight delay, it is not pleasant at all. The only thing that matters to you is that big account that you probably blew by missing the flight, hence, the appointment. This big account is out the window.

Your mind wanders to thoughts of the bills you could have paid when this business account would have padded your bank account...the mortgage paid off five years early...money for your three children's college funds......retirement accounts built up...that car payment is finally caught up and the credit cards, now they could be paid off in two years....

.....if only that plane was on time......sigh.

Well, here you are, living life in the fast lane. Crawling along at jet speed your life is filled with boarding planes, waiting at airports, hotels, restaurants and many nights not snuggling next to that person you married when you were young and in love.

You tell yourself, after all, a career is what life is about. Right? The money will take care of the necessary things, and then I can retire early, and really enjoy my life with that nest egg I saved from making such a good income.

Get a good career. Invest the time. Spend the energy. It will pay off in the end.

The children are getting older, so they can fend for themselves. They can help each other with homework. When I pay for college, my son won't mind so much that I missed that big basketball game where he made the perfect winning score for his team. It's on video so I can watch the movie of my life and its moments, when I retire.

Ahhh....life in the fast lane.