Life Lately: Overwhelming, Scary, but Also Really Good

Hi friends! It’s been a minute since I’ve just chatted with you. A lot is happening in my little corner of the world, so I thought it was time to catch you up on life lately.

2023 was a big year. Not in terms of new countries I traveled to (although I did have an incredible adventure on a Southwest road trip!) but in terms of the work I did behind the scenes. Toiling away at my desk, day after day, putting together the pieces of a puzzle that had eluded me for the longest time, but suddenly came into sharp focus.

I like to think that my years of soul-searching, reading self-help and motivational books, listening to podcasts, and taking online courses led to this moment. It’s also ironic, or highly fitting that this significant change in my life happened the year I turned fifty.

Thank you, Universe! The message is certainly not lost on me. After you read this post, I hope it isn’t lost on you either. We can make significant changes in our lives at any age if we have the will and the relentless passion to keep moving forward, one step at a time.

So What Is the Big Change That Warrants This Life Lately Post?

After 25+ years of working and building a successful career in the TV industry, I am moving on to an endeavor in a completely new industry. In September, I officially became a travel advisor with Fora Travel!

This won’t be a surprise for those of you who have been reading the blog for years. If anything, it’s a no-brainer. But for me, it was!

As a 20-something-year-old, I got into the TV business because I wanted the opportunity to travel. Over the years, as I worked hard to hone my experiences and make it to the executive producer level, I still chose projects that allowed me to visit every corner of the world.

TV was the career I had committed to as a life-long profession, but travel was my passion from day one.

As much as I always loved writing about travel and sharing my tips and recommendations on this blog, I never dreamed I could make a living doing what I love most. But when I first read about Fora, a modern travel agency for our tech-driven world, the puzzle pieces finally fit. I knew that the combination of Fora’s technology and resources and the skills I learned in TV production would give me everything I needed to create unforgettable travel experiences.

I’m unsure why I had so much self-doubt about making a career shift to do something I love. Why do we doubt anything? I guess it has something to do with the default settings of our prehistoric brains. They are still attuned to weed out danger and uncertainty at all costs. And starting a new business in a new industry at fifty? Yeah, there’s a lot of uncertainty with that!

But when the opportunity showed up to become an independent travel advisor, supported by Fora, my gut told me to go for it. I knew I would always regret it if I didn’t at least try.

So here we are.

(I would be remiss if I didn’t also thank my husband. He has always been my champion and has fully supported my desire to make this big career change. I’m also lucky he has a successful career to help sustain us while I get this new business off the ground.)

Why Am I Sharing This Life Update?

Now that I’m on this path, I want to share an auspicious detail. I hope it gives you faith if you’re still struggling to find the right path.

When I started this new job in September, I set an end-of-year sales goal for myself. I have never worked in sales, so this goal didn’t seem attainable, but hitting it would mean that I would reach the next level with Fora and become a pro-advisor. So, why not at least try?

I put my head down. I studied. I learned. I asked a lot of questions. And I shared my new business venture with anyone who would listen. And one by one, I started building up my client list and booking trips. Some of these bookings were small – one night in a hotel room in Baltimore. Others were big, like a two-week trip to Argentina and Uruguay.  

I treated every client the same. Their time is valuable, and I wanted to help alleviate their stress about booking travel. I made the process seamless for them, so they could just enjoy their trip.

At the end of December, I hit my sales goal in less than four months! I have made over 70 bookings, have 30+ clients, and reached pro status! I credit myself for my hard work over the past few months, but I also think something else is at play here. It’s the magic of the Universe.

I genuinely believe that when you do something you love, the opportunities will manifest. It could just be that I’m more attuned to them now. But I think it’s more than that. I believe the Universe is meeting me halfway, saying, “Yes, I see you. You are on the right path, and I will prove it to you by providing opportunities you never even dreamed about receiving.”  

I understand if this theory is too woo-woo for you, but I’m a true believer, especially after the last few months. And that’s why, even though I am so overwhelmed and scared about starting my own business, I’m also so excited about the future and what lies ahead.

So, that’s what has been going on in my life lately!

So What’s Next?

Over the coming months, you will see some changes to my website. My goal is to help you plan everything from your dream vacations, including romantic getaways and adventure-filled safaris, to that girl’s trip that’s been stuck in your group chat for years. And of course, I will continue to share great travel tips and recommendations with you. 

One of the things that excites me most about being a Pro Travel Advisor is that I can elevate your hotel experiences with incredible perks and amenities because Fora has partnerships with almost every four- to five-star hotel in the world! We all deserve to be VIPs, right? 

And those dream vacations we just talked about? I can take the work off your plate by curating highly customized, multi-day itineraries that include reservations at restaurants and hot spots that you don’t want to miss out on!

It’s taken me decades to get to this point where I can finally combine my expertise in travel with Fora’s global access to preferred travel partners to curate unique experiences for you.

Are you ready to book that next trip? If so, I would be honored if you’d allow me to create a bespoke experience for you. Contact me here so we can get started.

I can’t wait to help you plan the best trip ever!