Måns Grünberger

Flying to Oslo recently me and my colleague found ourselves in the first row of Economy seats, just behind Economy Extra which of course is a little bit nicer. However, a couple of seats in the Economy Extra row in front of us were free and as we were squeezed in three in a row behind. My friend made a quick switch for one of the free seats in front of us. Still on the ground, a couple of minutes later, the Stewardess approached my colleague: - You are in the wrong seat. This is Economy Extra! - But this seat is free and we are a little bit crowded back there, my colleague replied. -Well, said the Stewardess. - This is another product! My friend swallowed his pride and moved back into his Economy seat.

I guess this story is down to the point on service in business today, not just flying. It can be applied on any business with different service levels. You get what you pay for. You can go for the "plain vanilla" product, standardised at a low cost or you can add on the whole service package with customised service, but at an extra cost. What you prefer is up to you as the buyer of the product.

I am used to a quite hectic life. With 4 kids and a dog at home it feels kind of mentally relaxing to come to work on a Monday morning where I can focus on Trade Finance. On the other hand the working day can be pretty hectic as well with a constantly ringing phone and e-mails popping up every other minute.

Actually, the only time I get for myself in a day is on my bike, commuting to work. For me the 35 min workout is what I need to gather my thoughts. Somehow the physical effort clears your mind and after a quick shower you are ready to get going again. Right now Stockholm is covered in snow, (this is the "worst" winter in 10 years) which makes life on a bike very challenging.

Still, warm clothes, winter tires on the bike and a determined mind gets you to your destination. And when you meet another cyclist on the road and get that understanding nod it feels good that someone else out there understands why you are doing this under these dark, cold and icy winter conditions.

Sort of like theBenche, a perfect place for people who share the same interest/work. Here you can be sure to find someone who understands what you are doing and help you out if you have any questions about Trade. Or, if you just like to chat about best airports in the world or what do during the weekend.