November 28, 2025

Podcast 23: None of Their Business!

40 minutes

Marcie Muensterman - https://www.facebook.com/MarcieMuensterman
Propose to Close Course - https://www.facebook.com/groups/proposetoclosewithmarciemuensterman/
Maximize Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/maximizeyourtravelagentbusiness/

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Show Notes

How to Leave Your Host Guide: https://marciemuensterman.mykajabi.com/offers/Q8QLQSFJ/checkout

Join Maximize Your Travel Advisor Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/maximizeyourtravelagentbusiness

In this solo episode of the No BS Travel Advisor Podcast, Marcie goes all in on a topic most host owners hope you never fully understand: what actually is and is NOT your travel agency owner’s business when you’re a 1099 independent contractor.

If you’ve ever:

Called your owner “boss”

Felt nervous to share an idea in your host group

Overshared how you run your business

Thought you “owed” two weeks’ notice to leave

…this episode is your wake-up call.

Marcie shares her own journey from straight-A, gold-star, Dairy Queen rule-follower to overachieving travel advisor who trained for free, ran social for free, and bent over backwards to be the “favorite” in a host environment where she was never actually an employee. She unpacks how that people-pleasing, “don’t rock the boat” conditioning bleeds into the travel industry, keeping advisors small, scared, and dependent.

Inside the episode, you’ll hear:

The difference between wanting support and mentorship vs. wanting supervision

Why your only real “boss” is your client, not your host

The legal and practical line between a W-2 employee and a W-9 independent contractor

What your host can reasonably require (IC agreement, commission tracking, basic policies)

And what is absolutely none of their fucking business:

Your CRM, workflows, systems, automations, templates

Your website, email list, social media, funnels, and lead magnets

Your fees—what you charge, when you charge, who you charge

Your networking, BDM relationships, fams, and community marketing

Marcie also breaks down why you do NOT have to “give notice” to a host, how to transition quietly without drama, and why any owner who wants complete control (over your trainings, fam photos, content, and even which coaches you listen to) needs to switch to a W-2 model and put people on payroll.

If you’re feeling stuck, codependent, or low-key terrified to leave a misaligned agency, this episode will remind you: You’re the CEO. You pay for your independence. And most of what you’re building is none of their fucking business.

Chapters / Timestamps

00:01 – When You’re in Marcie’s DMs, It’s Probably Time to Go
Gut feelings, toxicity, and why deep DMs about leaving are the final sign.

02:10 – You Signed a W-9, Not a Job Offer
Jumping in without vetting, not reading the fine print, and what it really means to be a 1099 IC.

04:20 – Your Only Boss Is Your Client
Wanting “family,” belonging, and why you don’t owe performance energy to your host.

06:10 – Support vs. Supervision: They Are Not Your Boss
Meetings, trainings, fam expectations and the difference between guidance and micromanagement.

08:30 – Gold-Star Girl: Marcie’s People-Pleaser Origin Story
Latin exam 50¢, Dairy Queen, loving rules, and being obsessed with being the best.

14:10 – Challenging the Status Quo & 24/7 Hustle Culture
Indoctrination, “falling in line,” and why the 24/7 grind model is bullshit.

18:40 – You Are a Business: LLC, E&O, EIN & Independence
Why your own structures matter even under a host; starting scared, confused, and learning as you go.

20:55 – Who Are You Overachieving For?
Clients vs. owners, designing your own life, and the “who are you showing up for?” gut check.

23:20 – W-2 vs W-9: Where Control Crosses the Line
What hosts can require, what they can’t, and why control + risk don’t mix.

25:40 – What Is None of Their Business (CRM, Systems, Fees)
Internal operations, separate CRM, website, workflows, seller of travel, and fee freedom.

28:35 – Stop Telling Them Everything
Fam photos, social media access, lead magnets, networking leads—why oversharing gives away your power.

30:40 – BDMs, Fams & Industry Relationships: You Don’t Need a Gatekeeper
The “you’re not allowed to talk to your BDM” myth and reclaiming your industry connections.

33:05 – You Don’t Have to Give Notice to a Host
Ending contracts vs. quitting jobs, dual-hosting quietly, and why “notice” is a corporate concept.

36:00 – Some Hosts Melt Down: How to Protect Yourself
Petty reactions, cut-off access, delayed commissions, and why you leave quietly and clean.

39:05 – How to Actually Say ‘I’m Done’ (Without a 14-Paragraph Goodbye)
Simple offboarding language, no emotional essays, and no exit interview required.

41:40 – If They Want Control, They Need a W-2 Model
Controlling training, social, fam content, and even which coaches you follow—why that screams W-2.

44:00 – Stop Oversharing & Start Acting Like a CEO
Mistakes vs autonomy, finding mentors with no stake, and making friends outside your host bubble.

46:20 – Your IP, Your Independence, Your CEO Era
Not signing away your creations, paying for independence via splits/fees, and standing Wonder Woman-style in your own business.

49:10 – Final Pep Talk: They’re Not Your Boss (And Please Stop Calling Them That)
IC laws, covering your own ass, DM’ing Marcie if you’re in a toxic situation, and remembering most of your business is none of their fucking business.

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By Marcie Muensterman

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