Travel Agent Achievers - To Educate, Encourage and Empower Travel Professionals

It's time. Time to Learn from the past and move forward. Really you ask? Well, In my opinion, we don't have any other choice.

As business owners, no one ever said the road would be easy and we do what we love for a reason. Owning a travel business has its current challenges, though this is also an exciting time as we move into a new year.

In this episode, I reflect on the year we had - but not in terms of the loss of business, more the lessons learnt. Looking at how we came through and what I believe some of the reasons are. Plus then looking at 2021. What can we do, where are we looking to work and what opportunities do we have in this new time.

Myself and the Travel Agent Achievers team will continue to support you in every possible way that we can this year and beyond. Even though you may feel a little sluggish to kick off the year, don't worry - we are here to prep you up and he; you move forward.

If you are looking to surround yourself with the right people that get you, understand your business and you want to build your travel business, make sure you sign up to be notified of the upcoming start in our 6 Week Travel Business Foundations program, starting in a few weeks. Be on the waitlist for first access and special bonuses.

Make sure to sign up here: www.travelagentachievers.com/rebuildrunway

Join the community of like minded travel professionals on Facebook in our Achievers In Travel Group.

If you haven't already, make sure you subscribe to the Travel Agent Achievers podcast. We are here for you!

You know that spring in your step you may get after a coffee in the morning? Or the drive to power through your to do list or action list each day?

Do you still have that? Or is it lacking at the moment and you are wondering what is going on…..

I was recently talking with my Mum (a chaplain and counsellor) about the loss and feelings that I was having and I was hearing within the travel agent Achiever community.

She identified it as grief. Grief and loss of a business we have grown. The stages of grief and how it may pop up at random times and we may also revisit the stages at different times.

As small business owners and the impact COVID-19 has had on our industry and businesses, I wanted to address this today and the feelings that we have experiences and then things that you can do to help right now within your business.

If you are feeling any of the emotions and feelings we discuss, please first and foremost seek help from either a professional or close person to you. You are not alone and I want you to know that you are worthy and you can do hard things.

One thing that we have always been talking about inside our Travel Agent Achievers group is the process of grief. Dealing with the current situation as small business owners, I know we may have experienced this.

Not knowing who to talk to or not even sure how to open up are ok. I'm no expert but I've had my fair share of personal experiences to know when to seek help and support, and I encourage you to do so as well.

So in this episode, I will be sharing with you my own experiences with these different stages of grief. Some of my personal challenges and how I managed to move forward. Not to ask for sympathy but to let you know that you are not alone.

As you're listening to this episode and happen to find yourself in one of these stages, I want you to acknowledge that and know you are ok. Everyone deals with grief differently and whatever you decide to do for your business, the journey is one you can take.

If you want to invest in yourself and your travel business, know we have different levels of support for you as well here at Travel Agent Achievers.

We want to support you now and always into the future, so please plug into the community and share.

To help you make your first step, join us in our upcoming 5-Day Social Media Challenge. I want you to come through this time stronger than ever and this is a small but mighty step in that direction. 5-Day Social Media Challenge

Make sure you join our email list to get an EXCLUSIVE bonus just for Travel Agent Achievers listeners. Sign up for this bonus HERE

Do you want to get yourself known, but not sure how to do it? Known as in, have media exposure that can help build your business?

If you want to build your personal and business profile, I have an absolute treat for you in this podcast episode!

I firmly believe that you are already the expert in what you do as a travel professional. You know how to book travel, take care of your clients and you also want to build your travel business in a way that doesn't suck up all your time.

However, how can you build your profile, without spending hours posting on social media, when you don't even know if people are looking at your content? You can't afford to put an advertisement out telling people about your business and you don't even know where to start if someone told you, you could get FREE publicity (without it being A Current Affair having a go at you at the moment.) You want the GOOD publicity right?

But, how do you do this and where do you even start?

I have brought back our PR and Publicity Expert onto the Podcast. Christina Lenkowski. She is not only an expert on this topic, but she also 'gets' the industry. For years she has specialised in the tourism sector and she knows, lives and breathes who we are and what we do.

I asked her to come onto the episode to discuss how right now, we can gain FREE publicity to an audience we WANT To talk to. The right clients for us and how we can start building our own email lists with clients who want to book with us in our area of expertise as we can travel again.

Bring in Podcasting… more specifically - being a Podcast Guest!

She gives away Why we should be doing this, what sorts of podcasts we can get on and also some tips as to how we can connect with podcast hosts.

If you want to become known, showcase your expertise and get FREE media exposure, make sure you listen to this episode and check out Christina and her awesome resources.

Make sure you join our email list to get an EXCLUSIVE bonus just for Travel Agent Achievers listeners. You WANT this trust me! Sign up for this bonus HERE

Over the last 6 months, I have shared my journey with you. How my team and I have worked through the struggles, challenges and moments we faced. As a team and also individuals.

I want you to hear, that you are not alone.

With support and guidance you will come through this time stronger and more resilient than ever.

The roller-coaster that has been will come to an end and hopefully, you will have hung in there and be ready to prosper, even if a little wary.

I know that you want to hear from others… SO - This week we have another special guest with her own story.

The voice of a consultant - who has also lost her "biggest year yet" worth of bookings, but has used the last couple of months to work on her business, once she worked through the initial pain.

Annette Fyfe is just like you in the travel industry. She was caught off-guard with the pandemic, has taken a big hit more than once yet chose to take action.

She has a mobile (work from home) travel business called "Thai the Knot Weddings" which has a unique niche itself. She helps Aussie brides have amazing destination weddings in Thailand!

"2020 was going to be our biggest year for weddings in Thailand", she said.

Even though her business ground to a halt, when the shock and main activity subsided, she did not let emotion and challenges bring her down.

She has worked on what resonated with her and has taken action working ON her business. Given the greatest gift of time to get organised.

Annette is also part of our 6-Week Rebuild Your Business Program. I have seen her grow, learn and implement her training. I know that with the solid foundations she is putting in place, her business will soar when we are once again allowed to travel.

To ensure you are moving forward in your business and also getting any additional advice, tips and help, make sure you join the upcoming 6 Week Build your business Foundation program.

The Waitlist is currently open - if you want VIP Access, Special Bonuses make sure you sign up VIP Waitlist

We'd also love to have you in the Achievers in Travel - Facebook group, make sure you join the FREE community. Achievers in Travel - Accountability group.

Writing comes naturally to some people. Others the words are harder to come by and especially when you have to write about yourself. Argh.

Emily and Ros dive into the world of copywriting this week and as you will find out, there are things that we ALL need to write about and the specific pages we should have on our website to ensure we attract the right clients to our very own niche.

Whether you have a website already, or are still working out what and how, this episode is perfect for all levels. Not just about websites, we also discuss the importance of having an audience that we can connect with through other channels too.

For more information and links to all the things discussed, check out: www.travelagentachievers.com/Emily

Have you changed your perspective on things lately? Last weeks episode really resonated with so many of you. It was like a fresh wave of fear, anxiety and frustration came out of nowhere. Was there something happening in the cosmos? I don't know. But do know how it shook a lot of us.

I'm currently working with an amazing bunch of Travel Consultants in the 6 Week Rebuild your travel business program. Not only have they made incredible progress with the foundations of their businesses, but they have also had some incredible wins! The program and community is supportive, collaborative, educational but also the perfect timing for where each and every one of them are right now. Join the waitlist to be the first to know when we run it again.

Listen in as I share the love with you and give you ideas on how to share the love with your existing clients.

Make sure you visit the Travel Agent Achievers Website for all the latest information, freebies and news.

We all experience tough times. We all have bad days. When do you allow yourself or give yourself permission (or I will if you need someone to give it to you) to take care of yourself?

It feels like we have regressed a bit this past week with changes, cancellations and refunds coming around again, I wanted to address the issue of taking care of YOU! Letting yourself know it's ok to feel all the feels and also take time out for yourself.

You are ok. You are awesome. You are strong. You will get through this.

If you need some additional support, please reach out. Our Achievers In Travel - Accountability Facebook Group awaits you. facebook

Make sure you check out the Travel Agent Achievers website for a ton of resources to help you in your travel business and connect with us. We are here with you.

As travel business owners, it is crucial for us to know how to handle our finances or know the right people to talk to to help us. In this episode, we will be talking about money and business finance. Now is really an important time for us to be getting a handle on knowing our numbers.

Do you trust, know and really like your accountant? Victoria and Ros discuss the importance of the relationship with your accountant and bookkeeper plus how you need to remain in contact with these key partners in your business, especially when things are tight.

Manage your business and manage your bank accounts! Victoria walks us through the "Profit First" Money management system created by Mike Michalowicz.

I'm certainly not a finance expert and there is no way I ever will be, but I do know we need the right people in our corners to ensure we have solid foundations in our travel businesses and especially finance moving forward.

I recommend you reach out to your accountant, ensure you are getting the entitlements you are eligible for and also check your cashflow. Ensure you are in a position to remain afloat in these uncertain circumstances.

Our Supportive Travel Agent Achievers Group is here with you - Check out our Facebook Group to get additional advice, tips and help, stay on track and focused and be ready when the borders open. Achievers in Travel - Accountability group.

Grab all the latest resources at: www.travelagentachievers.com

A Knock from a travel client recently made me think deeply about the future of our roles as travel advisors. I still remain optimistic and positive we will get through this time and know our role is valuable.

There are a few things though that have worked for me in the past that I want to help you with in your travel business.

This week I share with you a conversation I had with a now ex-client (after I fired them) and how I was so confident in my conversation with them that has spurred me to make a bigger difference in the industry sharing with you my knowledge.

If you feel like you want to reach out, please connect with me on socials @travelagentachievers on both IG & FB. If you want the insider knowhow and be prepared for when things turnaround, check out our 6 Week Rebuild you travel business program (with some exciting bonuses - as its my birthday month and I am showering you with gifts ;-))

www.travelagentachievers.com/6weekrebuildrunway

If you want some additional accountability to take action, make sure you check out our Facebook Group specifically for travel agents. Achievers in Travel - Accountability group.

Imagine working with your favourite people. People who become your biggest advocate in business. Those who time after time make your life easier, more enjoyable and are less stressful than others.

Knowing and understanding our IDEAL clients helps get more leads and more business.

Why?

Because once you understand whom they are, you can 'talk' to them much easier than someone that you know nothing about.

Understanding who they are is the key to giving them great service. The way you then take care of these clients will develop and build stronger relationships. It can also lead to more referrals, more repeat business and a stronger bottom line financially for you too.

The purpose of a business is to create a customer who creates customers, right? However, the question is do you really know WHO your customers are?

Those clients who love you and you love working with. Those who can see your value and are considered as the right people to talk to. They are your best clients, your favourite ones, avatar, or to me, your IDEAL clients.

Do you already know who they are? How do you describe them?

You all know I am all about creating value, having systems and processes and also being real and vulnerable with your clients. Being honest and creating incredible memories for them, so today we are going to dive deeper into what is the best client for you to work with in your own business and why you should identify them.

Ensure you download the FREE worksheet with this episode, so you can fill out and answer the questions and to add your own information as well. (GRAB your worksheet here)

To ensure you are moving forward in your business and also getting any additional advice, tips and help, make sure you join the Achievers in Travel - Facebook group. Achievers in Travel - Accountability group.