any professionals in our industry spend a large amount of time traveling, either by plane, car or even train. When they do, this post-Sept. 11, 2001 world, with heightened security measures and increased screening requirements, can often create plenty of opportunities to feel inconvenienced, hassled and just plain fed up.

While the knee-jerk reaction to a traffic jam or delayed flight might be annoyance or anger, it's not the best way to respond. Why? Simply put, it's not worth it. Your safety could be at stake, and things could always be worse.

It's Not Worth It

If the airline cancels your flight or you have to spend 15 minutes or more going through an airport security checkpoint, you might get angry. However, it's better to remain calm, cool and collected, and ride it out. Getting angry won't change the situation; it might make it worse.

Even if you think there's reason to voice your anger, be polite and respectful instead; you'll get better results. If you need to work with airport personnel to get through security or reschedule a flight, they have no desire to assist someone who is nasty or rude. If you are respectful and polite you have a better chance of getting better service.

Another reason to keep cool is your reputation. Getting angry in a public place or making a scene is never a good idea. It's especially risky during business travel. Almost every flight goes through a major hub, so there's always a chance that a client or co-worker will see you. Do you want them to see you acting unprofessionally?

Your Safety Could Be at Stake

A long security line or a flight cancellation caused by poor weather might annoy you, but would you rather the plane fly in dangerous conditions? Instead of getting upset, consider the cause of the problems and the alternatives.

If the airline cancelled the flight because of fog or snow, would you rather the pilot attempt to fly in risky conditions? If the aircraft has a mechanical problem, would you prefer to fly on sub par equipment?

Realizing that your life literally could be at stake puts a delay of any length of time into the proper perspective.

It Could Be Worse

No matter how many inconveniences or hassles you face when traveling, remember things could always be worse.

Sometimes it helps to look at the brighter side. If you have car trouble and you think the mechanic is taking too long to repair the problem, be happy that you aren't on a dark road with a flat and no spare tire.

If your flight is delayed and you have to wait a few hours for the next one, be grateful that it wasn't the last flight of the day and you don't have to spend the night in the airport.

If a traffic jam delays you for hours, be thankful that you weren't in the accident that caused the backup. No matter how badly your day has gone, it could always be worse.

Being successful in our industry often requires a lot of travel. Unfortunately, it's inevitable that at some point something will alter, delay or cancel your travel plans. When faced with these unexpected delays, try to keep them in perspective and maintain composure.

A missed meeting might seem monumental at the time, but if it's really important it will be rescheduled. No matter how important a scheduled event is, no one wants you to risk your safety trying to get there on time.

If your being delayed leaves clients hanging, they'll understand because they've probably faced a similar situation. When traveling, it's best to accept the situation and focus on the factors you can control: your attitude and behavior.