Tony Fernandes, the CEO of UEGroup, recently shared his experience of managing his company from a cruise ship for 21 days. Fernandes and his wife embarked on a trip that took them through Europe, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan. Despite facing challenges with slow internet and communication, Fernandes found workable solutions and plans to continue cruising in the future.
During the cruise, Fernandes emphasized the importance of creating a balance between work and leisure time. He and his wife developed a rhythm where they dedicated specific periods for work and play. This allowed them to stay productive while enjoying their travel experience.
One of the major hurdles Fernandes encountered was the slow internet service on the cruise ship. He discovered that the ship had only one satellite connection shared by thousands of people, resulting in oppressively slow internet at times. To address this issue in future trips, Fernandes is considering getting a data satellite phone with an antenna to improve connectivity.
Fernandes also highlighted the need for backup plans in case of communication challenges. Internet access can be unpredictable, so having backup personnel prepared for important meetings back at the office ensured that the company’s operations continued smoothly. However, there were instances where Fernandes and his wife had to go ashore and purchase local SIM cards to leverage better cell service.
Despite the challenges, Fernandes found value in being offline at times. The limited connectivity forced him to tune out and provided an opportunity to disconnect from work. As a result, he and his wife plan to continue cruising in the future and have even purchased a home in Portugal near a cruise port to facilitate their travel.
In conclusion, Tony Fernandes successfully managed his company from a cruise ship for 21 days, navigating challenges with slow internet and communication. He emphasizes the importance of creating a balance between work and leisure time and recommends having backup plans for meetings and communication challenges. Despite the hurdles, Fernandes finds value in being offline and plans to continue cruising in the future.