St. Louis arch
Podcast

Episode 28: Visiting St. Louis

What else have you done that’s entertaining while in STL?

  • Union Station – restaurants, new giant ferris wheel, aquarium, hotel
  • Cathedral Basilica
  • Magic House – children’s museum in Kirkwood, MO, not far from downtown
  • Outdoors
  • Forest Park – what do you recommend people do there?
    • Art Museum, mentioned already above, has a nice restaurant
    • The Zoo – one of the best in the US and it’s free
  • MO Botanical Garden, Laumeier Sculpture Park, the Arch
  • The Arch is a must see!  It is now designated as a National Park and was recently completely renovated with a fantastic museum below ground.  You should definitely take a ride up in the Arch, however, things to know before you do:
    • The “elevator” is the same that was initially installed.
    • It is small.  We are big.  It is a cramped and a bit of a confined space.
    • You will be up high!  The windows are small.
  • Local wineries –
    • Try the MO wine.  There are some good ones, but you may have to try a few first.
    • Hermann, MO– great wineries (Hermanhoff and Stone Hill) with wonderful bed and breakfast options

     Foodie recommendations –

Hiring leader episode
Podcast

Episode 25: Tips for Hiring Leaders

Special Guest: Michelle King

Tips:

  • Aim to ask specific questions to candidates so you get a real-life example of what actually happened and not a theoretical reply to how the candidate might handle the situation
  • Use follow up questions to probe on responses that are too vague to give you the level of detail you need
  • Assessments can help sort out some cultural elements but should be factored as only one of many data points in selection
  • In order to have legally defensible assessments in selection, there are a couple things to consider:
    • You have to use questionnaires that have been validated for selection. Most personality assessments are not a fit for selection assessment.
    • You have to show the characteristics you are measuring are job-specific.
  • Talk to everyone who has had contact with the candidate during the process. You might learn a lot from how the candidate has treated the receptionist.
  • Consider flexibility and remote options for the open role. Today’s workforce and talent supply requires us to be more creative in our thinking.
  • It’s now illegal in many states (e.g. California, Colorado, Illinois, etc.) to ask what a person is currently making in order to form your offer. You can ask the candidate’s expectations, but you should have knowledge of what the position is worth in the market in order to make the best compensation and total rewards strategy.
  • Pay transparency is a new trend but needs a lot of consideration around your culture and legal implications. There are many factors that influence pay and most often people are not informed on them.
  • Market data is worth investing in. Some websites also have credible salary information for free, but you have to use judgement on which to use.
pen holding place in Bible
Podcast

Episode 20: Spiritual Gifts – Part 1

In this episode, the Lead.Travel.Pray. team discusses ways to create habits around prayer, gratitude and attending church. We offer suggestion based on what we have tried…and are often still failing to do. Ultimately we believe each person can and will find the spiritual discipline that fits them.

Helpful apps for prayers and devotions:

black car interior
Podcast

Episode 17: In transit – Renting a Ride

  • How to decide if you should rent:
    • Consider what mass transit and ride share options are available
    • If trying to cover a lot of ground and see a variety of sights, you will probably want the convenience of having your own car.
    • Costs can also be a factor. Sometimes it is cheaper to rent a car to get to and from your destination than ride share or taxis.
  • Rental tips:
    • Loyalty programs can have advantages for rates and efficiency – often getting to skip past the rental counter and go straight to the car
    • Cars may also be cheaper through 3rd party booking sites like Orbitz, Priceline & Expedia
    • Prices can fluctuate so it is worthwhile to look frequently in case a better deal is now available. Most reservations can be cancelled ahead of time with no penalty so you may decide to rebook a cheaper rate or to upgrade to a larger car class.
  • Reservation tips
    • Never pay full price – look for coupons (like in the Entertainment book)
    • Pay attention to what kind of deposit the rental car company expects – this can vary greatly when you travel global
    • Research the baggage space to know you have enough space
    • Smaller cars generally work better in Europe
  • Check the car before you leave the lot
    • Take picture of any damage on the car before you leave the lot
    • Don’t sign a damage form before looking the car over
    • Adjust your seat, mirrors, etc. before you leave the rental lot
    • The gas gauge tells you which side to pump the gas

jeep on a road
Podcast

Episode 16: In Transit – Road Trippin’

  • Planning:
    • Plan your route ahead of time
    • Leverage GPS
  • Entertainment:
    • Audio book options- Libby & Overdrive
    • Movies
      • Renting movies & TV shows is also an option on iTunes
      • Download movies before your trip – you’ll likely need WIFI to do the download
    • Road trip games – apps & bingo cards
  • Food:
    • Snacks – we like a variety of healthy (nuts & fruit) and unhealthy (soda & candy)
    • Yelp & Open Table are good for restaurant recommendations
    • Each kid might like their own snack bin – like a personalized kid bento box
    • Starbucks has nice protein snack pack options

Safety tip – For long trips, you might want to get a tune-up and have your car checked over by a professional before heading out.

More #roadtrip posts from our #100days100traveltips series.