We are all in this travel business because of our passion for travel. Well, at least we should be! When you compare our industry to others, it is certainly not the money that attracts throngs—so it must be the passion, right?
But following your passion can be fraught with perils and pitfalls. We are all susceptible, but if you keep your eyes open, your passion path can be a little less bumpy. There are seven pitfalls that I can identify. Surely there are more; please leave yours in a comment below.
Bear with me as I wax a bit poetic and philosophical for a week. Take a look at these seven mistakes; and I know I have fallen victim to all of them at one point or another in my careeer. I think if you can recognize and avoid these, you will be well on your way to following your travel passion!
- Striving For Perfection
The first pitfall is aiming for perfection. Sure, it is a noble cause, but the reality is that we aren’t perfect. 100% of our bookings will not be perfect. 100% of our clients’ trips will not be perfect. Get over it and be the best you can be. And I might take it a step further and say that striving for perfection simply makes a convenient excuse for failure. - Fear Of Being Overwhelmed
Being overwhelmed is normal. When do you feel overwhelmed? Is it usually when things are busiest and you are the most “successful?” Take it for what it is, being overwhelmed may just be a sign that you are on the right track. - Not Trusting Your Instinct
Your heart knows your next step and how to guide you. You may have given up following your heart to logic. While logic is critical in business, instinct and gut feelings need to have a seat at the table as well. If nothing else, when something does not seem right according to your heart—it is a signal to pause and review. - Depending On Logic Too Much
As discussed above, logic wants to rule the show. Logic wants to know that everything will work out 100%, 100% of the time. Newsflash: it simply doesn’t happen that way. Don’t throw logic to the floor. It is very useful, but don’t let it hamper your path to your passion. - Forgetting To Have Fun
Keep in mind why you got into this business—to have fun (ok, and to make money)! There will be ups and downs for sure, but in the end, if you are not having fun doing what you are doing, the industry is not for you. - Being The Lone Wolf
We all need help sometimes. All of us! Ask for it. Seek it out. People are usually more than willing to share their secrets! Enough said? - Not Having Enough Determination
Determination will get you through the tough times. And that is exactly why you must find your passion. When you find it, you will be determined to keep going even when things seem to be going in the wrong direction. Don’t worry about veering off course. Cruise ships and aircraft consistently change their courses, yet always (well usually) end up in the right place!
One thought on “Follow your passion, but don’t make these mistakes”
Great reminders, John. I especially like #4. One of our agents recently said to me, “Steph, you’ve got analysis paralysis” as I was hunched over stacks of reports trying to figure out the most logical approach to the situation by looking at the analytics I’d collected. Can’t tell you how good it felt to add some gut feeling into it and actually be able to take a step forward!