Hi All,I am a fairly junior consultant (4 years exp) having joined my latest company (second company from grad scheme) 4 months ago. I have been on the bench since joining as they await security clearance for a specific role and although I have been getting worried about not being billable I have been told not to worry about it and have been working on bids/business development and networking.I recently had a call from a very senior partner in my service line asking for me to undertake a key assignment in the far east for 6 weeks which really compliments my experience/skills while I wait for SC. Sounds great right, but...I am new father with a 4 month old baby. My wife is struggling tbh and with another two children at home I really don't want to leave the country. I have asked if there are options for me to come home at weekends and have been told that is not viable, as the client in question work 6 day weeks. I have asked the partner if I can discuss with my wife and she has said ok but wants a answer tomorrow!I know full well my wife will go spare about this (and I do not want to leave her on her own, its not just her resp to bring up the kids) and I need advice to how I go about saying no without jepordising my future in the company as I am still under probation.Can anybody give me advice please?

OK, do you have family that lives nearby? Can you get them to help out?Does the Partner know about your personal situation? She'd have to be a heartless witch to send you to the middle east for a month and a half with no returns home at all, knowing anything about your personal situation.Can you explain to the partner that, right now, you just have a very tricky personal situation, and whilst normally you'd have no problem with it, right now you would be very very grateful if you could minimise any long stays away from home. Ask her if there's any way you could support the project from your home office - maybe doing research or analysis to support the team remotely rather than being on-site?Failing that, would your partner tolerate it more if you paid for a cleaner and got her as much home help for that period as you could. Maybe arranging for a baby sitter twice a week just to give her a little break or something?Travel is to be expected somewhat in consultancy, but being shipped to the middle east for an extended period when you have a baby at home is heartless. If the Partner does not show any understanding or compassion when you try to have a conversation with her about it, then my suggestion would be to try and get a new job anyway... who wants to work for a company like that.This industry loses too many people because of cr@p situations like this.

It is always difficult to manage these sort of situations, especially with a newborn baby at home, but if I were you I would go.It does not sound like your firm has much work going on at the moment, so if you turn this down chances are you end up being benched again for a while. In two months, when your probation review time comes, you will have done nothing but turning down a project for the past six months. Not an ideal situation.I would much rather try to negotiate on the time that you actually need to spend there. Maybe there is no need to be there from day 1 (waiting for data, waiting for client sponsor to issue internal comms,..the first few days of a project can be quite slow at times) or perhaps you can come back early / have a break of few days in between.In any case, it is always good to give a call to your mentor/counselor, he/she might be the person best placed to advise you on your options.

Eek, if you mean the mentor/counsellor assigned to you by the firm, then treat them as if you were Joseph McCarthy slap bang in the middle of the cold war. In general, I wouldn't trust any firm-assigned "mentor" as far as I could throw them... especially if you are the new kid on the block.Your first port of call is to try and negotiate the terms that you spend on the assignment, in particular to try and minimise time spent on site. It sounds, however, like the Partner is a bit of a witch if she won't even let you come back home at weekends, just because the client works 6 days a week (are we to take this as meaning she expects you to work 6 days a week too?). I think we can take it as read that she's going to be uncompromising in what she expects you to do, despite your best efforts at diplomacy and reasonableness.In the interests of keeping the paycheques coming in, it may be that your wife has to take the strain on this one. Try to minimise the burden on her. In any event, get your CV out to some agencies asap is my advice. Who in their right mind wants to work for a company that abuses its junior employees like this.

Thanks for your comments. I will have to try and negotiate a more favourable approach to going on this assignment.[b]BEP:[/b] I appreciate your point regarding sending out my CV and I will start to do that. I think this may be some sort of loyalty test? I have been working on bids recently and none of them were successful so perhaps the pipeline has gone to s**t. The ironic thing was in the interview they asked me if I would go overseas and I pointed out that my family committments would make that difficult for at least the first year and they nodded and said they understood....yet this has happened.Unfortunately I need the money and am not in the position to resign so I very well may have to bite my tongue and do it. But being resentful will no doubt drive me away from the business.If I do start having interviews with other MCs how do I approach my reasons for leaving? They will no doubt suspect something as I have been in the company 4 months. Would honesty be the best policy or will they too think I am not committed and see me as a risk?

No, it's not a loyalty test. It's just an a-hole Partner by the sounds of it. You told them you couldn't do much travel for the first year or so, yet they immediately try and send you into a black hole in the middle east and cut you off from your family for 2 months (not to mention working you into the ground 6 days a week)? Get your CV out there pronto.As for other employers - just tell them the truth. Say that the current company expected you to much more travel and long-term stays from home rather than what was agreed during the interview. Also mention that they expected your standard working week to become 6 days per week and that they wouldn't let you come home even once during that extended period. Just say it hasn't worked out from your point of view and that you don't think it's a sustainable lifestyle working for that firm. They'll understand.

This isn't some loyalty test and the partner in question isn't being unreasonable. As much as we can all sympathise with your situation, the reality is that your family arrangements are nothing to do with your working ones, and if you cannot meet your working commitments you cannot do the job. Its that simple. You cannot have a career wherein the very nature of the business is to be a gun for hire, then refuse to travel because you have children. That's the blunt truth and you may as well face up to it now.

"I have asked if there are options for me to come home at weekends and have been told that is not viable, as the client in question work 6 day weeks."This bit really annoys me, by the way. I'm going to say to one of our senior associates that I've arranged a project for him in Kazakhstan for 3 months, starting tomorrow. And by the way, the client runs a 24/7 call centre so I'll expect him to work those hours too during those 3 months because that's what the client does. So no trips home. But only put 7 hours on the timesheet by the way. I think first however I'll make sure I've got a motorcycle jacket and crash helmet on, maybe also a riot shield to hand, in anticipation of a violent physical response from him.

[quote]You cannot have a career wherein the very nature of the business is to be a gun for hire, then refuse to travel because you have children.[/quote]Surely this situation deserves a bit more democracy? He did, after all, mention his personal circumstances during his interview and told them his availability to travel may be limited during the first year. Surely that has to be accepted and respected by the firm? Don't misunderstand my point I agree to a certain extent with your response but as a senior figure (and a decent human being), surely it's unreasonable to ask someone to partake in a 6 week project in the Middle East with no returns possibly on 6 days a week under these circumstances? Especially when he has been open about his situation.

The OP has been on the bench since joining this firm - there are organisations out there who would be preparing his P45 frankly. Businesses cannot just chop and change the work to suit everyones individual circumstances.

Feel I have to agree...take the role and the wife will have to take the hit on this occasion I think...although BEP has given some good advice above about ways to mitigate the impact on her.

In the longer-term, Freezing, I would suggest however that you look for an employer that is able to demonstrate a fraction more integrity and empathy.If you made it clear to them during the interviews that you can't do much travel for the first year, and then one of the firm's heavyweights calls you up and forces you to disappear into the far east for a solid 6 week block, then - accepting that they face commercial pressures - I think they're not upholding their promise nor are they demonstrating basic values of respect and empathy to their staff. It's simply not fair for a "very senior partner" to throw one of the juniors around in this way, having previously made a promise to be gentle with the travel for a year or so. At the very least, it lacks integrity... Partners are meant to keep their promises.The fact that you have not been billable for a while, especially whilst in a probation period and you are new and probably frightened enough as it is, is understandably causing you anxiety. But I don't think it's your fault that you've not been billable, it's a management problem! There are so many indicators here this this is a cr@p company to work for, that I would be getting my CV out to some headhunters. Put your family first. That may mean sucking this up in the short-term. But in the longer-term, it may mean finding a better company to work for. Cr@p companies come and go, families however are there for life.*********[b]Calling all you intellectuals and accomplished problem-solvers out there:[/b]What can this guy to do make it easier on his wife while he's away?My suggestions so far are:1. Get a cleaner2. Get a baby sitter to help one or two nights a week*********

That's all practical stuff and of course useful, but the more fundamental problem is that most families do not wish to be separated for 6 weeks at a time and no manner of practical support will change that.I don't think this is particularly reasonable. Yes you sign up for working away but in the majority of cases that is understood to be Mon-Fri. It is not the expectation (at least in my experience) that you work like a sailor or an oïl rig worker, not least because no consultancy I have worked for gives you the time off between such trips to compensate - such as is usually accorded to the sailors, oïl rig workers, military personnel etc). When such "exciting" and "challenging" projects overseas come up, there will usually be no shortage of people able and more than willing to go and the sensible partner / firm will try and match up project with the most suitable resource (taking into account personal constraints and preferences as well as professional skills).That said, if no-one or no-one else suitable is available to go then it falls to you to do so, and you have to hope it is less-than-ideal one off rather than the norm.Your fundamental problem - and here I am going to be brutally personal, but that's fine because you don't work for me - is that you are in the unusual and difficult position of having a large family at a young/junior level. This is the thing that is not working for you. At your level, in this sector, you need to have the flexibility / ability to take up such projects without too much thought. Generally the family comes later on when you have advanced sufficiently to have more control over your time and not to have to travel so much - director level and above.

[quote]*********[b]Calling all you intellectuals and accomplished problem-solvers out there:[/b]What can this guy to do make it easier on his wife while he's away?My suggestions so far are:1. Get a cleaner2. Get a baby sitter to help one or two nights a week*********[/quote]My suggestions are:1. You say your wife is struggling. You need to sit down with her and define why and how. Practicalities are much easier to address than emotional struggling. If necessary go to the GP with her so she has a support mechanism in place while you are away. Perhaps you or she has a family member who could come and stay for the duration while you are away, or even she and the children could stay with them (grandparent or parent maybe?)2. Set up Skype or suchlike if you don't have it and agree a schedule to talk over video conference. This will do wonders to ensure she does not feel isolated and will overcome some of the above. It will also help you maintain a feeling of being connected with your family.3. Focus on the outomes and why you are doing this. Reality is you can look at this as a partner in a hole and the business asking you for a pound of flesh, or you can look at it as an investment in building a future there which will be a profound benefit to your young family and will be an investment in the future your children will inherit from you. Focus on the positives to get through.4. Do your home admin - ensure bills etc are all up to date etc so there is no outside pressures/worries on your wife while you are away. Make sure car doesn't need a service etc. It all adds up to a sense of things will be manageable.5. Most important. Reassure them you love them, will talk regularly, and you are always at the end of an email/Skype/call/text if needed.

[i]Travel is to be expected somewhat in consultancy, but being shipped to the middle east for an extended period when you have a baby at home is heartless. If the Partner does not show any understanding or compassion when you try to have a conversation with her about it, then my suggestion would be to try and get a new job anyway... who wants to work for a company like that.[/i](1).It's the Far East - not ME.(2).I would hardly call 6 weeks an "extended period". I'm sure you know about billability/utilisation and the travelling nature of MC.(3).I assume you're in the UK? If so, coming home for the weekends is definitely not viable!!! I assume it's China? They are the only one I can think of who do 6 days (alternate weeks though).(4).This engagement is a good match for your skillset & experience. They hired you for a reason! Go and do the project. Do a good job. Build up your name. Then, you'll be able manoeuvre better within your firm.

[quote]"I have asked if there are options for me to come home at weekends and have been told that is not viable, as the client in question work 6 day weeks."This bit really annoys me, by the way. I'm going to say to one of our senior associates that I've arranged a project for him in Kazakhstan for 3 months, starting tomorrow. And by the way, the client runs a 24/7 call centre so I'll expect him to work those hours too during those 3 months because that's what the client does. So no trips home. But only put 7 hours on the timesheet by the way. I think first however I'll make sure I've got a motorcycle jacket and crash helmet on, maybe also a riot shield to hand, in anticipation of a violent physical response from him.[/quote]BEP,The project is in the Far East. The OP is in the UK (assumption). Of course it's not viable to be back on the weekends!On a more 'jovial' note.....Where's your colleague going? Almaty? Muahahahaha..... I know a lot of "interesting" places there. Astana and Aktobe too. Muahahahahahahaha................................I recommend this hotel:http://tienshan-hotels.com/?page_id=602They do a decent breakfast. The girls at the front desk are rather nice. Decent gym.

This was an interesting thread to read. I think there is some good advice from across the team;- You work in an MC, flexibility is part of what your clients expect- Ultimately at a junior MC you are expected to be uber flexible and be able to do projects wherever and whenever they may be, especially if/when you have just joined- Its only 6 weeks, not 6 months. If you have specific skills required for the role, I can see why they came to you as in the scheme of things its not a long time- Cost:Income. There is a lot to be lost by not doing this and then spending the rest of probation as not billed... you have a growing family and it is only 6 weeks away. Yes its horrible, but you have chosen an MC career- You are a Junior MC and they are expected to be able to jump 10metres when asked to go 5metres. Get higher up as quick as you can and that way you can be more a master of your destiny. When I was younger I was asked to work in Europe country x for 3 weeks at 3 days a week. It ended up at 5 days a week for 12 months (but I enjoyed it and asked to get further involved). Make sure this is not the case for you. Clamp down on six weeks and do a great job

Hi All,Thanks for your responses and understand the points made. Yes I have accepted the assignment as-is the partner (think female on dragons den surname meaden) has not been compromising, and am off in 3 weeks to Hong Kong (any advice on Hong Kong welcome).This is the first overseas assignment (or any assignment for that matter) I have taken which I do wish to go, that tells me that perhaps MC is no longer a viable career for me. I have discussed this in length with the wife and I am going to start looking to find a role in industry local to where I live (new FY should hopefully bring up a few vacancies). I was hoping for a good 10+ year stint in MC when I started but will have to settle for around half of that. Still I have no regrets and in reflection I am amazed to how I have developed in that time.Unfortunately its no longer live for work, its work to live and being around the little ones is my absolute priority (plus keeping the wife happy).Cheers all.

[quote]BEP,The project is in the Far East. The OP is in the UK (assumption). Of course it's not viable to be back on the weekends![/quote]I agree entirely, that's why I think they shouldn't send him on this assignment! These points were all discussed during the interview stage, apparently, so I do think they're being unreasonable here given that he was up-front about things before they made him an offer. Not to mention the point about expecting him to work 6 days a week - I wonder if that's included in his contract too.I know it's different for global jet-setters like you camster, but this guy needs to be at home right now. I think it's heartless to yank him away from his family at this time, especially as he has been up-front about it all. Plus having a "very senior partner" lean on a junior in this way just stinks in my opinion. I'd suck it up in the short term out of necessity, but I'd also start looking for a new job

[quote]Yes I have accepted the assignment as-is the partner (think female on dragons den surname meaden) has not been compromising[/quote]Now why doesn't that surprise me. [quote]This is the first overseas assignment (or any assignment for that matter) I have taken which I do wish to go, that tells me that perhaps MC is no longer a viable career for me. [/quote]Another one bites the dust... 4 months into the job an already rejecting this career path. fantaski, your current employer should hang their heads in shame.[quote]I have discussed this in length with the wife and I am going to start looking to find a role in industry local to where I live (new FY should hopefully bring up a few vacancies). [/quote]Good for you! I admire your guts, I can appreciate what you're going through right now. [quote]I was hoping for a good 10+ year stint in MC when I started but will have to settle for around half of that. [/quote]Well, it's still an option you know. Look into the industry route, but also check out smaller firms (anywhere from 10 to 75 staff). A smaller firm will value you as a person and may just be able to offer you that work-life balance that you deserve. Smaller firms are great![quote]Still I have no regrets and in reflection I am amazed to how I have developed in that time.[/quote]Probably only because of the hours they've made you work. During my first job I felt like I learnt 10 years worth of skills in the 3 years I was there. Then I realised that in those 3 years I worked the same total number of hours as my colleagues in industry would have covered in 10 years.[quote]Unfortunately its no longer live for work, its work to live and being around the little ones is my absolute priority (plus keeping the wife happy).[/quote]You've got your priorities right. Consultancy doesn't pay anywhere near as well as it used to, and the hours and travel can suck bigtime. The work isn't as interesting as it used to be either, and clients are increasingly treating consultants like hired hands. But, please do at least look into a couple of smaller firms... don't worry about "prestige" or "brand" (it counts for little) but focus on the people you'll be working with and whether what they do would suit you personally... despite your bad experience, consultancy is still an option for you!

Interesting thread and to be honest covers a range of issues. I have spent many months travelling the world - both as a single guy and being married. And then being married with kids. The travel when you have children is always, frankly, the worst. It's not just my wife I think about - but I miss my kids tremendously (and they me).As you've already made your decision, I won't try and persuade you. But maybe offer you some practical advice. > Plan a vacation with your wife (take the kids to the grandparents) when you get back - something she can look forward to> Invest in a iPad for you both, do Facetime calls your evening, when the kids wake up> Write romantic mails to your wife from the plane, the train, the hotel - she'll be touched to wake up reading what you wrote the night before> Make sure that you have a support structure in place (friends, family)> Never tell her how much fun you're having - tell her you miss her and the kids every day> Sign up for all the hotel points and air miles and use it to subsidize the vacationHonestly, your situation sucks - and I'm truly sorry for that. I don't quite agree with some of the more brutalist comments here that you should consider yourself lucky and damn well go anywhere. Consultancies need to value the people they have - personal life and professional life. In this business the two are rarely segregated as nicely as you would like them to be. I have always told my wife that if at any moment she wants me to leave, and she's prepared to accept less money, or potentially my being a bit more bored, then I would leave in an instant. :)Seriously though - glad you took the opportunity - think professionally it will benefit you. I don't think you're cut out for Consulting to be frank (plus the fact you've been on the bench for 4 months tells me your skills are probably not exactly "hot" where you are) - so agree your medium term strategy would be to move to a place where you can better balance your familiy life.But word of warning - don't discount the risk of post-natal depression or other blues. Your wife is liekly quite emotional, she will be very tired for those 6 weeks. You really need to make sure you're supporting her remotely and have that touch-point ever day.As you get more experienced you realize any job is so, so temporary. Your wife, your kids, have a lifetime commitment to you, and you to them, and they are worth more than absolutely any salary, anywhere, from anyone.Arby

[i]As you get more experienced you realize any job is so, so temporary. Your wife, your kids, have a lifetime commitment to you, and you to them, and they are worth more than absolutely any salary, anywhere, from anyone.[/i]Lovely words from Arby there, and I couldn't agree more. Beautifully put.

Hi..frankly I am surprised by most of the responses here other than the last quote of arby that BEP mentioned..It's not worth my friend OP..I have spent more than 10 years in consulting and believe me nobody can pressurise you to take up roles that do not suit your difficult family situation..We are not talking simple things here of not travelling more than 2 hours a day or spending every 5 days a week away from home..This is a difficult period with 4 month old baby..and whatever the boss says ..you WON'T get this time ever back in your life ..how much ever you earn in life or you yourself become an A.hole partner yourself one day ..It has no meaning if you did not spend this time with your kids ..Specially when you had explained your situation well before they hired you ..If a firm cannot give you a role that matches your skills and your reasonable work life balance requirements then there is no point working for them ..But I personally feel you should be strong enough to push back and be firm that you will not accept this role ..All these partners and all they are only thinking about them and their project profitability..nobody cares for you ..but if you yourself don't show the firmness it won't help you in your career ..You should have said no straight ..now that you have accepted it unfortunately you will have to be professional and do your assignment with full dedication ..but at least in future don't make any mistakes like this..Btw...Apologies for any spelling or other mistakes as I am typing on phone..and frankly wouldn't respond while travelling ..but just couldn't resist this thread ..its really unfortunate to see some of the responses which asked you to take up the role because that's how the MC life is...

I sympathise with all the points made and I agree that a change of career might be in order, but I still maintain he had to accept the role.I agree family should be the priority, but taking care of your family also means making sure that they paychecks keep coming in. Turning down a role during your probation period having spent extended time on the bench is not the best way to ensure that.I might be biased coming from a country with 40% unemployment rate for young people, but I would make sure to have other viable options before crossing a senior partner at my current firm during my probation.We are all fearless defiant heroes ready to take on the unfair system, when it comes to someone else's career.I agree with the course of action you have taken by accepting the role and start looking for a role in industry in the meantime - best of luck!

[quote][quote]BEP,The project is in the Far East. The OP is in the UK (assumption). Of course it's not viable to be back on the weekends![/quote]I agree entirely, that's why I think they shouldn't send him on this assignment! These points were all discussed during the interview stage, apparently, so I do think they're being unreasonable here given that he was up-front about things before they made him an offer. Not to mention the point about expecting him to work 6 days a week - I wonder if that's included in his contract too.I know it's different for global jet-setters like you camster, but this guy needs to be at home right now. I think it's heartless to yank him away from his family at this time, especially as he has been up-front about it all. Plus having a "very senior partner" lean on a junior in this way just stinks in my opinion. I'd suck it up in the short term out of necessity, but I'd also start looking for a new job[/quote]BEP,Didn't read anywhere about these points being discusses during interview. If this is true, then my apologies, the partner behaved badly. Please note that I'm not being cruel - just being honest about the situation.A friend (in industry) recently had a baby. In fact, it was yesterday, so sharing the same birthday with me :) We are talking about a respected UK company here. I remember his FB posts. He was away before his wife went into labour. Will be away again in a few months. Same situation, but he is not fretting. Why? Because he planned.The gist is, you need to plan. The OP (as he himself admitted that he will "just do the project") just can't leave. The OP needs the job, needs the salary. If you refer to the OP's first post, he joined this new firm 4 months ago. The OP has a 4-month old baby. I feel like the OP went into MC not truly understanding what was involved. When you're having a baby, you don't want to have the stresses of a new job, you don't want the stresses that come with moving house, etc. Seriously, I feel that the OP (1) didn't plan (2) didn't truly understand the nature of MC.The OP has had 4 months on the bench (since he joined). That's more time that most get. I am sure you will agree. How much more time should the OP be given (to not travel)? How long more should the OP not do projects that clearly match his skills and experience? My advice remains the same. Do the 6 weeks. Do a good job. Come back, spend more time at home. Having then built a bit of a rep, try to weave it in that you need some time at home.

+1 to Camster.Might sound cruel, but many people would put a new career move on hold if they knew they were going into a major period of "family time". I've had a number of approaches that would have been good for my career in isolation, but have had to be turned down because if impact on wider life.The milk has been spilled. Best to get on and deal with it....and being 100% candid, many consultancies are only in business because their staff are willing to do "silly hours/travel".Do you think consultancy fees are at current levels because consultants have insight that other people don't have? Or because they are the ultimate flexible, treat-em-mean resource?

[quote]Didn't read anywhere about these points being discusses during interview. If this is true, then my apologies, the partner behaved badly. [/quote]No prob at all, it was in the 5th post so was buried away a little ([i]"The ironic thing was in the interview they asked me if I would go overseas and I pointed out that my family committments would make that difficult for at least the first year and they nodded and said they understood....yet this has happened."[/i])I agree entirely with the point that, sadly, he just has to suck it up for now. As you say, it is not wise to tell a senior partner while you're still on probation that you can't work on their project for personal reasons.It is a shame if this guy were to leave consulting purely because of an incident like this. Yes, consultancy is tough and it does involve travel, but that doesn't mean that junior consultants should expect to constantly be getting beaten up in this sort of way. Some people love the travel and relish the chance to spend 6 months in singapore, then 3 in dubai, then 7 in munich, then 2 in new york, then 5 in nigeria and so on. Others (such as myself) would prefer "travel" to mean the odd trip to a client site, possibly staying overnight every now and then, mostly within the UK but occasionally popping over to see an overseas office for a one or two night stay. The latter type of travel is entirely achievable within consultancy . My advice to fantaski would be to look into smaller companies that do more of that sort of UK-based work... avoid the huge companies for which each project basically involves setting up a temporary organisation wherever the client happens to be based.

[quote]Hi All,Thanks for your responses and understand the points made. Yes I have accepted the assignment as-is the partner (think female on dragons den surname meaden) has not been compromising, and am off in 3 weeks to Hong Kong (any advice on Hong Kong welcome).This is the first overseas assignment (or any assignment for that matter) I have taken which I do wish to go, that tells me that perhaps MC is no longer a viable career for me. I have discussed this in length with the wife and I am going to start looking to find a role in industry local to where I live (new FY should hopefully bring up a few vacancies). I was hoping for a good 10+ year stint in MC when I started but will have to settle for around half of that. Still I have no regrets and in reflection I am amazed to how I have developed in that time.Unfortunately its no longer live for work, its work to live and being around the little ones is my absolute priority (plus keeping the wife happy).Cheers all. [/quote]Was thinking of ways to help you. At the very least, to try and shorten the duration of the project.I assume there is a project manager heading this engagement? Once it's all confirmed, the PM is in charge. Try and get details from this PM, e.g. your final deliverables, what you might need to produce at set milestones (e.g. an interim report on Week 3), etc. Truly understand your work package.Once you have done this, you will be able to figure out that you..... maybe don't need to be there the first week, if it's all about collating data and such.Also, try to find out who your 'counterpart' on client side is. If your workstream is.... I dunno.... finance, then maybe it's the finance director, if it's strategy, then head of strategy. Work with the PM and see if you can build up a relationship before going to HK.Also, if you are not making the final presentation, maybe you can leave a few days earlier and complete your word doc and slide deck and whatever else back in the UK? You have 3 weeks till the trip. Try and make sure there's no excuse for you to stay on longer in HK. Yes, try to up-sell and help look out for further opportunities with the HK client, but make sure you plan and sort yourself out.Prior Planning & Preparation Prevents Pi$$ Poor Performance.

[i]Some people love the travel and relish the chance to spend 6 months in singapore, then 3 in dubai, then 7 in munich, then 2 in new york, then 5 in nigeria and so on.[/i]If you're lucky! Might be more like..... 3 months in Mozambique, 3 months in Guatemala, 11 weeks in Argentina (not too bad), 2 months in Libya (after all, need to do something about all that oil), etc. LOL!!!

Hehe ;)