Month: October 2020

Women In Wellness: Shannon Jackson On the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s…

Women In Wellness: Shannon Jackson On the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

…Social Relationships. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the importance of having quality relationships. Staying connected socially with healthy relationships increase our sense of belonging, self-esteem, while also keeping us happier and healthier.

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Shannon Jackson.

Shannon Jackson is an RN (Registered Nurse), PHN (Public Health Nurse), CLC (Certified Life Coach), BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing), MAOM (Master of Arts in Organizational Management) and motivational speaker who commits herself on a daily basis to make an essential difference for better in people’s lives. Throughout her distinguished career, she has accrued a variety of skills that empower her to uniquely provide healthcare well beyond the norm. She is setting a higher standard for those around her. As a result of being a motivational and a true thought-leader for our time of uncertainty, she is focused on caregiving and how to handle the many physical and psychological challenges we all encounter. Shannon is driven to motivate and inspire others to live better lives or as she says, “Living Your Life Without Limits.”

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

Born and raised in Compton, California, I grew up living with my Grandmother, the matriarch of our family, along with my beautiful young mother and uncle. My parents never married, as they were both young adults, both were 18 years of age. Although they lived separate lives, they maintained a civil relationship. Despite having a good family support system, I still ended up getting pregnant at the age of 15. To make matters worse, I had my second child by 19 years of age. So there I was single with 2 children, by 2 different men. Feeling embarrassed and shameful for spoiling my family’s name. At that point was when I was ready and decided to take responsibility for my own actions, and take control of my life. Through Prayer and family support, I was able to complete my Registered Nursing program by the age of 22; making me the youngest in my graduating class. I would further go on to pass the California Board of Registered Nursing Licensure examination on August 1, 1992. I am still humbled and grateful to this day as I look back and consider how far I have come.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

My career as a Registered Nurse has spanned almost three decades. What I have found most interesting is how I have continued to evolve both professionally and personally. From the onset of my career, having started in a hospital Acute Care setting as a Direct Care Provider, I quickly moved up the ranks into nurse executive leadership roles as I continued in the hospital Acute Care setting for 20 years. I then transitioned out of the hospital environment to go into the Home Care arena which basically covers home health, hospice and private concierge. However, I believe the pivotal moment in my career came in 2019 when I decided to launch my podcast called, ‘Living Your Life Without Limits,’ which is also recognized as ‘LYLWL.’ I never imagined myself taking such a bold leap of faith. But there I was, committed and fully in it, as I moved forward with my exciting and inspiration-driven podcast.

Some key takeaways that I have learned throughout the scope of my career, from nursing to hosting and producing my own podcast, include the following:

Take full advantage of every opportunity. Your past experiences, albeit some good and others not so good, ultimately take us to our present here and now. Every experience is an opportunity to learn and grow from. Our almighty stepping stones toward our polished individuality. To be and do more. This is what makes us who we are, the stuff that reflects our ‘been there, done that’ badge of growth. A wiser, experienced self… waiting for us on the other side of that evolution called Life. There is strength and confidence in knowing that it is all those badges of honor, my stones, that played a key role in getting me to where I am today. We glean from these life experiences and develop our character, what defines us as we get closer to perfecting who we are professionally and personally.
Do not be afraid to tread into uncharted territories. Trying something different, and unfamiliar, can potentially be a gateway to your big break.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Because I was not familiar with the podcasting world when I started, I relied heavily on what others were telling me. What I should do, or not do. As I blindly trusted during this earlier period without really doing my own research to have a clear and definitive business plan. This was one of my biggest mistakes in launching LYLWL. And I paid heavily for it by loss of money, time, and a lot of stress in between. So, what did I learn from this experience?

Do my own research.
Develop a strategic business plan, which will include a SWOT analysis: Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threat
Build a core team who will not only champion and reflect my organization’s vision, but have the wherewithal through skill and talent to help execute my plan.

None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

There is no one person. I am blessed to have a small core team that has been instrumental in helping my LYLWL brand and overall platform to get off to a great start. It truly has been a small village effort and I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the entire LYLWL team. Each of them has played a critical role in the 2020 launch of LYLWL. A special ‘Thank You’ to them all:

Larry my husband, Shanell my daughter and son Cravon, Lerhonda executive assistant, Barry video/editing manager, David photographer, Tany PR, Trina customized LYLWL designs, Joe music producer, Candour Tech Solutions on digital marketing, and Rodney Jon make-up artist.

Ok perfect. Now let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

Today there is an urgent need to encourage and empower people to take control of their own health and wellbeing. This requires a person to accept ownership of their own personal health and wellness goals. With the support, guidance, and compassion of a trained nurse coach, which is my forte, I can help clients work towards designing a healthier lifestyle. An improved quality of life by intentional creating. To put my guidance into practice is where we see these amazing transformations unfold… further revealing we have the potential to change the world, one person at a time.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

In this instance I would like to use the term, ‘lifestyle design change.’ The term essentially means that we embody the idea that we can create a life of our choosing. Thus by making minor tweaks and gradual lifestyle changes, one day at time, then this approach can be truly effective and make a positive impact towards one’s overall health and wellbeing. Further keep in mind, as everyone is different, the lifestyle modification goals will be also different and customized to suit the individual’s specific needs

Also consider, as some research suggests, that 80% of chronic illness can be prevented or symptoms reduced simply by making Lifestyle modifications. Therefore here are my top five lifestyle tweaks:

Diet change. By incorporating more whole foods, and plant-based nutrition into your daily diet, along with cutting out unhealthy items like added sugars and refined grains, the research suggests it is possible to decrease the effects of chronic conditions such as: cardiovascular, cancer, obesity, Type 11 diabetic, and hypertension. As the saying goes, ‘You are what you eat.’
Regular physical activity works in tandem with your diet. It can have immediate and long-term health benefits that can improve your quality of life. Without regular physical activity, your body slowly loses its strength, stamina, and its ability to function properly. Physical activity can also relieve stress, anxiety, depression, and anger.
Practice mindful meditation. Mindfulness meditation is a mental training practice that teaches you to slow down racing thoughts… to let go of negativity and calm both your mind and body. By practicing mindful meditation, and routinely, it can further help you to detect early stress triggers, as well as reducing their impact.
Getting enough sleep. One of the most overlooked areas in our wellness journey is how sleep plays an important role. Sleep is considered one of the four pillars of health alongside nutrition, physical fitness, and emotional balance. Poor sleep patterns can slow your physical and cognitive reactions. Thus increases your potential to make mistakes and errors. In addition, poor sleep increases a person’s risk for potentially making them prone to a variety of chronic health conditions. Such as diabetes and coronary artery disease.
Social Relationships. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the importance of having quality relationships. Staying connected socially with healthy relationships increase our sense of belonging, self-esteem, while also keeping us happier and healthier.

On a personal note, I have embarked on my own health and wellness journey and have incorporated these five lifestyle modifications into my own self-care plan. As a nurse we are taught to care for others. It is engrained into our life purpose. However, I had to take a step back and ask myself a burning if not obvious question… How is it I can give so much to others, tending to their needs, while neglecting myself? Then last year the answer came to me through an ‘aha’ moment. In faith I believe that was when I was guided with the vision for starting my podcast, ‘Living Your life Without Limits.’ And now after starting this platform only since January of this year, I noticed I started to really peak over the summer with a steady monthly growth of almost one thousand new audience members flocking to my podcast. This is my further affirmation that I am pursuing the right path as further validated through my amazing audience. I am truly grateful to be a voice and soundboard for those who have been tuning in to my weekly episodes. After all, I am doing it all for them.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

My movement would be called, My Health and Wellness Are My №1 Priority.

Understanding the importance of taking preventative measures in our personal health and wellness journey is far better than working on any disease cure.

I believe people live unhealthy lifestyles because of some of the following reasons:

They are unaware of the health issues they will potentially face later in their life.

They don’t believe it will happen to them.

There is no will power to make sustainable change.

My movement would center around initiatives and actions that would be focused on changing people’s attitude and their perceptions as related to their own health and wellbeing.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

Before I started my podcast, I would have loved for someone to share the following with me:

Podcasts are big business… our modern day radio. With millions of people listening to podcast shows daily, it is important to have clear set goals. Your podcast should be aligned with your business plan.
Have the right branding in place. From the title, artwork, a polished audio, clear video, and great topics to make sure your message and branding are one track with your platform and speak to your audience of course.
Analyze your data. Knowing your audience will help you to select the right-fit topics and be better equipped to understand your level of engagement. Statistics are your guide, telling you not only how many people downloaded your show, but where they are from and what app or distribution network they are using. This data is an excellent tool for assisting you in making any needed changes to improve your podcast platform.
SEO / Search Engine Optimization. How easy it is for someone to find you through brand awareness.
Relax and enjoy the ride. Despite entering a new arena and having a deep learning curve, it is through persistence, passion, and resilience that will bring you a just reward. Be patient with yourself through this process.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics now. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Mental Health. I believe mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel and act. It also helps us to identify and determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make life choices. Nurturing our mental health essentially allows us to feel good about ourselves… thus be more productive and positively affected in our overall quality of life.

What is the best way our readers can follow you on social media?

Website: https://www.livingyourlifewithoutlimits.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livingyourlifewithoutlimits

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingyourlifewithoutlimits

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LivingYourLifeWithoutLimits

Thank you for these fantastic insights!

Women In Wellness: Shannon Jackson On the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

George Negron of EnviroKlenz: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID World

Hotels have been extremely affected by travel bans and lockdowns, so they are going above and beyond to make their guests feel safe by addressing one of the main issues: poor indoor air quality. Portable air purifiers do not replace HVAC systems, instead, they serve as a support system to increase air exchange rates in enclosed spaces.

As part of my series about “developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing George Negron.

The VP of Operations at Timilon Corporation, George Negron, who has been in the indoor air quality remediation space for over a decade. He has helped and educated 1000’s of businesses on the current guidelines and being able to apply and optimize the airflow in their current spaces.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I guess I should start off with what really drives me each day, and that is the ability to help and connect with people. This goes far beyond selling or providing a Customer with a solution but moreover providing them with something that has an impact on their health, business, and quality of life.

When you couple in my passion for “doing the most good” with a strong desire to bring technological innovation to the forefront, I guess it makes a lot of sense how I ended up where I am today, most importantly with Timilon Corporation.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

That is a great question. Since I work for a Global Corporation, I have been very fortunate to conduct business all over the world. It is an amazing opportunity when you get to experience other cultures and see first-hand the positive impact that your technology has had on their business and lifestyle. I have forged many friendships that span across the globe and the joy that comes from helping others never gets old.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I recall a time in Slovakia when I entered a restaurant that no one spoke English. In fact, the entire menu was in Slovak. I quickly turned to my Google translator and thought I was ordering a burger. What I got back was far from a burger and looked to be a seafood dish. I am not a big fan of seafood but in lieu of being rude, I powered through and ate the meal.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?

I believe in the business you must be passionate and enjoy what you do to effectively get others to buy into your technology and/or services. The first person that you need to convince, or sell, should be yourself. If you look in the mirror and do not love what you do, that should be all the convincing that you need to find something that does inspire you. I know this advice may not be applicable for all, but for the younger generation, I think it is crucial that they follow a path that lights a fire in them and not go down a path that is entirely focused or predicated on how much they earn. I suggest whatever you do: work hard and be great at it — the rest will come with time.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

I am where I am today because of the many great people who have paved the way for me. I am inspired by great business minds like Napolean Hill, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Shonda Rhimes — to name a few. All have played their own role in how I conduct myself professionally and how I approach each day as another day to make an impact on what I do.

Thank you for that. Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations that you are bringing to the travel and hospitality industries?

At EnviroKlenz, the goal and vision have always been dedicated to helping people live healthier and more productive lives by providing clean air through a suite of products and solutions. Living through this pandemic has taught us all the importance of air quality and air filtration. A hotel can see hundreds of people per day walk in and out of their establishment, and consumers now want to see safety measures and precautions put into place.

The EnviroKlenz technology works to attack and break down airborne contaminants and pathogens through the EviroKlenz patented earth mineral technology. The process is non-invasive and does not emit any chemicals and by-products back into the environment. The air system is 3rd party validated in the reduction of viruses and microorganisms. For hotel patrons seeing an EnviroKlenz air system running in the hotel lobby or in a hotel room should provide them with the peace of mind that the very best technology is being put into place to improve the indoor air quality.

Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing this innovation?

Good air quality is a must both pre- and post-pandemic. Hotels are concerned with the cost factors that can be involved with retrofitting the existing HVAC system.

An ancillary effect on patrons is also the visibility of portable air purification systems that provide a level of comfort and public perception that the business is taking necessary measures to protect the enclosed air space.

The EnviroKlenz® Air System Plus safely and effectively combines advanced chemistry technology, germicidal UVC, and HEPA filtration to capture and destroy airborne toxic and noxious gasses, particulates, allergens, bacteria, viruses, and other allergy triggers.

How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?

Hotels have been extremely affected by travel bans and lockdowns, so they are going above and beyond to make their guests feel safe by addressing one of the main issues: poor indoor air quality. Portable air purifiers do not replace HVAC systems, instead, they serve as a support system to increase air exchange rates in enclosed spaces.

I believe that moving forward, businesses will be expected to have an indoor air quality plan in place. Guests will be overly and justifiably concerned with hygiene and sanitation procedures, as well as pay attention to measures that go above and beyond to care for their safety.

Studies have shown that Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, so taking care of the indoor air quality in businesses is essential for the overall well-being of guests and employees. On top of that, the current pandemic has brought awareness to the potential dangers of airborne pathogens and contaminants.

As you know, COVID19 changed the world as we know it. Can you share 5 examples of how travel and hospitality companies will be adjusting over the next five years to the new ways that consumers will prefer to travel?

You are a “travel insider”. How would you describe your “perfect vacation experience”?

My perfect vacation experience would be in a place where I can explore a new culture without worrying about my safety, probably a resort in a remote island with my family. I think now, more than ever, I would expect excellent customer service coming from the hospitality industry, and I would be looking for new safety measures that were put in place to accommodate staff and guests during the pandemic.

Can you share with our readers how have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

As a decision-maker at EnviroKlenz, I am able to utilize our resources and give back to the community as much as possible. Our mission here is to provide indoor air quality to as many people as possible, so we have multiple programs in place to assist consumers and businesses owners in improving their indoor environments.

One of our most recent initiatives was to donate one of air systems to a local teacher who was raising money to buy an air purifier to keep his students protected when returning to school. We also have educational and awareness programs in place — air quality has always mattered; we are lucky that now we have the venues to speak about it.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

If I could inspire a movement, I would make every child understand the importance of a positive mental attitude. Often, we are forced to believe that we are a product of our environment and that we have to live by our own means. We do not encourage the younger generation to dream enough and to take it a step further to not only dream big, but also believe that that dream can come true with hard work and discipline.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Instagram: @enviroklenz

Facebook: EnviroKlenz

LinkedIn: EnviroKlenz

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

George Negron of EnviroKlenz: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

John Banczak of TurnKey Vacation Rentals: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID World

In light of COVID, I think travel and hospitality companies will rush to adopt and implement more contactless technologies and experiences. While they’ve been moving this way for years — digital check-in, RFID and Bluetooth room access — COVID will certainly accelerate the proliferation of these technologies.

As part of my series about “developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing John Banczak.

John Banczak John co-founded TurnKey with T.J. Clark in 2012 after serving in leadership positions with HomeAway, BedandBreakfast.com, Hotwire and Worldres. As CEO, John’s extensive experience with travel technology has been instrumental in the success of TurnKey and its proprietary technology platform, which automates routine tasks of property management. He began his career in revenue management at Northwest Airlines and KLM Airlines. He continued in travel and ecommerce with Accenture, Worldres, and Hotwire. After Expedia completed the acquisition of Hotwire, he served as President of BedandBreakfast.com, eventually leading the company’s acquisition by HomeAway. Subsequently, he led the HomeAway Software for Professionals group, and the company’s post-merger acquisitions of Instant Software and Escapia. John earned a BBA from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I was studying investment banking at Wisconsin Business School when Northwest Airlines posted their interview schedule. I hadn’t considered the airline industry, but an interview slot was available, so I set up a time to talk with them about a revenue management position. It was described as a highly analytical field for setting airline pricing, which sounded pretty interesting. Who doesn’t want to learn more about that? After about an hour, they opened my eyes to how dynamic the airline business was and just how many moving parts there were. Compared to the investment banking-style analysis I was focused on, this kind of quantitative and analytical approach was kind of mind-blowing.

After a few more interviews I was convinced this was a great fit for me and I completely changed gears. Before then, I had never really considered anything travel-wise. Honestly, I don’t think most people understand what goes into a travel company of any kind, whether it’s vacation rentals, hotels, airlines, etc. Airlines practically deal with the complexity of NASA every day. It was and is a very dynamic business and hotels are the same way.

If you look at hotels, there’s a massive real estate component, there is style and design, huge branding elements, hospitality, service, pricing analytics, food and beverage, finance. It’s just such a crazy dynamic industry that it’s hard not to be drawn into it, and once I was drawn in, it stuck.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

Early on at Northwest Airlines, I was on a team educating employees in the field on pricing and revenue management. These included everyone from gate agents to reservation agents in markets from Michigan to Alaska.

At the time, the culture around travel was that if a flight was going to be in the air, then the employee could be on that plane. So rather than pay for a hotel in Detroit, I’d fly in that morning, go straight to my presentation, and then hop a flight home at the end of the day. Then I’d have to go back the next day and do it all over again. After a few days I was just exhausted. Finally I asked the team if there was a hotel in Detroit near our location. Well it turns out there was a hotel across from the airport with crew rates of $19 a night. I was floored. I’d been flying back and forth every day to avoid 19 bucks. It just didn’t make sense.

I learned that there are smart ways to be cost-conscious. If you look at TurnKey Vacation Rentals today, we’ve raised $100 million, which is small compared to our main competitors. We don’t have a lavish office. When our execs travel, we fly on Southwest Airlines. When we do stay in a hotel for business, we don’t stay in Ritz Carltons (as much as I’d love to). Our ethos as a company is to be wisely frugal, and that’s something that you might not learn until you’re flying back and forth between Minneapolis and Detroit multiple days in a row trying to save a buck.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them thrive and not burn out?

The first tip would be to make sure you set up your board properly from day one. A quick way to burn out is to have a board that doesn’t get along with each other, or where one investor feels like they have more say than others. I can’t tell you how many founders I’ve talked to where that’s led to them leaving a company.

So from day one we were very deliberate about that at TurnKey Vacation Rentals. We formed a board with industry experts who we had a long history with, who were smarter than we are, who added unique value and understood that ultimately we were running our own show. That’s helped tremendously. Everyone feels like they’re on equal footing and everyone gets along well.

The other tip would be to pay attention to cash flow. It is all about revenue these days. In good times, I think cash flow becomes an afterthought for a lot of startups. But when times get bad, like we’re seeing today with COVID in the travel industry, having cash in the bank is key. If you lived through the first dot-com crash you’ll never forget to watch cash.

Is there a particular person who you’re grateful toward who helped you get to where you are today?

Early in my career with Accenture, I wrote a strategy proposal for Microsoft, which they ended up accepting. I was pretty junior at the time, so the lead partner put a manager on the project and built out a project team around me. As the project progressed, my responsibilities increased to the point where I was a main client contact handling most of the deliverables. When Microsoft added another phase to the project, I felt I was ready to become the manager of that phase. The lead partner said, “No. You’re not qualified to have that job.”

I was kind of stunned. After all, I had written the original proposal, been on the project the whole time, produced well and had a great relationship with the client. So the partner broke it down for me.

The problem was that every idea or deliverable I shared needed polish or editing before sending to the client. It was never “client ready.” I needed supervision. Good ideas aren’t enough. Ultimately, I couldn’t run a project until I could identify and produce client-ready deliverables. It was a matter of judgment.

Client-ready can mean a million things. It can mean your presentation is perfect, that the numbers in your spreadsheet are triple-checked, that the grammar in your email is correct. But at its core, client-ready means your game has to be at a 9.9 out of 10 all the time — not an 8 and sometimes a 9. To be an executive team member, a chief operating officer, a chief marketing officer, your bar has to be that high. It was good to get that lesson early on in my career.

Can you share the innovations you’re bringing to the travel and hospitality industries?

TurnKey Vacation Rentals truly was the first vacation rental company to really drive technology and processes in trying to be a good neighbor. We launched our own noise decibel monitoring way back in late 2013 to get in front of problems like parties and neighborhood disturbances. Now you’re seeing major players like Airbnb finally start taking that seriously.

We’re also leading the industry in positive ID verification during the booking process; some companies still don’t do this at all. We have been using bank-level authentication for years to ensure that guests are who they say they are. This is an effort to prevent fraud, but also to be a better neighbor and increase safety and security. We’ve gotten so good at screening that we guarantee our owners against fraud. If we let someone stay in the house, they will get paid; it’s that simple.

TurnKey Vacation Rentals is the first company to use secure, single-use digital locks on 100% of our rentals that can accept one, and we pay for it. We don’t push that cost onto our owners. This was just unheard of in the industry before. Even our largest competitor still makes it an option and they won’t pay for it. Especially in the current travel environment, guests prefer our secure, zero-contact check-in experience. The security of these locks is unmatched. Who wants to sleep in a home that has keys floating around town?

In addition, we’re the first company to truly verify that our housekeepers completed a cleaning job, and completed it well on every single job. Through our technology platform, our housekeepers access checklists and then take pictures of each room after the clean. These images are then reviewed and verified for cleanliness and staging. We’re also the first company that offered guests any type of housekeeping rating system. So if a housekeeper receives poor ratings, they’re removed from our program.

What are the main pain points that your technologies address?

One major paint point for vacation rental owners was how to avoid parties and associated home damage. You’re starting to see it now in the news, but we’ve implemented noise decibel monitoring in 100% of our homes since 2013, and have private security ready to intervene if necessary.

For guests, a major complaint is consistency. From vacation rental to vacation rental, it can be hard to access the home, and when they do it isn’t clean. We’ve focused on making our homes more consistent than any other in the market. Our homes all have secure locks, our technology makes our housekeeping more consistent, and we’re available 24/7 for guest support needs.

How do these technologies disrupt the status quo in the industry today?

Our technologies disrupt the status quo by elevating the standards for service, technology and security in the vacation rental industry. Most property managers or individual owners either can’t or won’t make the investment in these technologies and processes. We’ve been doing this for our homeowners and guests since 2013.

COVID-19 changed the world as we know it. Can you share some examples of how travel and hospitality companies will adjust over the next five years in new ways that consumers will prefer for travel?

In light of COVID, I think travel and hospitality companies will rush to adopt and implement more contactless technologies and experiences. While they’ve been moving this way for years — digital check-in, RFID and Bluetooth room access — COVID will certainly accelerate the proliferation of these technologies.

As a travel insider, how would you describe your perfect vacation experience?

I stayed in my first vacation rental back in the ’80s. So very early on I became used to staying in a home that had a kitchen and privacy, and more space to hang out with friends and family.

The ideal vacation experience for me used to be traveling internationally. I’ve been to 23 different countries, logged over a million miles, lived in Amsterdam for a couple years. With a family now, the ideal vacation is at a vacation home in a great leisure destination. I like having a home where everyone can spread out and be together, yet have some privacy at the same time. Our family is big into leisure activities. We love to ski, go to the beach, surf, fish, windsurf. Vacation rentals just tend to be in the areas where you can do those activities.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

Looking at vacation rentals, I wish our industry would take the pledge to install 100% single-use digital locks on every door. I wish they would take the pledge to put noise monitors in every home. I wish they would take the pledge to have a virtual tour of every home. I wish they would take the pledge to do fraud identification of every guest. This is a movement that could transform travel, communities and local businesses. We’d be safer, more secure, and better neighbors.

I think what’s holding our industry back is that a lot of hosts and property managers become bad neighbors to the community, and a lot of scammers create bad problems for owners. But there are ways to mitigate this, and we have been mitigating it. It’s truly within every property manager’s grasp.

I’d love to come up with some universal standards around how homes are managed and operated within a community.

I think this would make communities better, keep owners and guests safer, and do a lot to help mitigate some of the problems that the industry faces.

John Banczak of TurnKey Vacation Rentals: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Sean McClenahan of Blue Desert Cabo: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID World

Adapt to individualized travel. Guests are going to continue to look for those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that are perfect for any and every group they’re traveling with.

As part of my series about “developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sean McClenahan.

Licensed to practicee law in Nevada (2006) and California (2011), McClenahan has worked in private practice, focusing on domestic/family law, general contract matters, corporate set-up, bankruptcy, and real estate matters.

In 2014, McClenahan saw an opportunity to pursue his own legal and management company and left the practice of law altogether. Wanting to hone in on his scope, he shifted towards personal and business management for high-net-worth individuals, overseeing real estate holdings/transactions, business ventures, estate planning, family trusts, and general business transactions of his clients, including celebrities and successful business owners.

That same year, McClenahan joined a real estate investment firm based in Las Vegas, focused on real estate transactions in Mexico. Since then, McClenahan has negotiated and closed over $25 million in commercial and residential real estate in Mexico, as well as an additional $40 million in Las Vegas, Texas, California, and Spain.

Through his work at the firm, which owns significant real estate in Cabo, McClenahan met Juan Ramon Guevara, a fellow real estate professional. Over time, they developed a mutual friendship and decided to open their own boutique real estate firm, Blue Desert Cabo, which launched in early 2019. Quickly becoming an elite bucket list destination in Mexico, Blue Desert Cabo is a selection of the most luxurious and incredible villas and rental properties in Los Cabos. Going beyond a typical rental property, McClenahan took the Las Vegas hospitality mindset to redefine the experience, offering guests a bespoke journey with itineraries designed specifically for them. No two trips are alike, as each client’s itinerary is meticulously crafted.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

Prior to Blue Desert Cabo, I was a personal lawyer for a family that owned quite a bit of real estate in Los Cabos. We started to have discussions about starting a company that would represent the houses they owned in the area which ultimately led to what is now Blue Desert Cabo. Outside of real estate, I have traveled all over the world and have extremely high expectations. Many years ago, my husband and I had a terrible experience in Cabo where we were discriminated against for being a part of the LGBTQ+ community. That was something I never wanted anyone else to experience, so I thought why not bring in my hospitality experience and turn this into a larger company.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

At Blue Desert Cabo, our BD Concierge team can make anything under the sun possible for our guests. We’ve seen everything from turning a gym into a full-blown club to having to move an entire beach wedding indoors on the spur of a moment due to rain. Every guest is so different that it makes our jobs extremely interesting and fulfilling to make any event or experience, one that they will never forget.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I actually have a story about a Spanish translation gone awry.. On a business trip to Mexico City with my business partner, Juan, we were in a restaurant and I was ordering something and talking to the waiter and all of a sudden the tables around us started to look and giggle, as did Juan and the waiter — apparently whatever I was trying to say translated in slang to “I want a sexual favor.” Ooops! Juan and I still laugh about it to this day. One little change in the way you pronounce Spanish words can change the overall meaning. I learned that it’s important to continue to practice the language, even though I thought what I was saying was accurate.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?

My advice to those that work in the travel industry, is to travel. Book villas or resorts in other locations and see how other people are running their businesses. Enjoy the trip for yourself, but also do some research while you’re there. You never know what you might find and what can work for your business. Last year for my 40th birthday, my partner and I went to St. Barts with a group of friends. We booked a private villa there and everything was spectacular. I was impressed with their hospitality and found a few new ideas that I could also implement into the service at Blue Desert Cabo.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

I’m incredibly grateful for my business partner, Juan Ramon Guevara. Great partners are hard to come by. Juan’s knowledge of the landscape and background in the Los Cabos hospitality industry, paired with his ability to handle situations in a calm manner is more than admirable. He actually managed the properties down in Cabo before I was in the mix, so it was an easy transition when we started working together. We balance each other out as Juan always has the mindset of how to please the client and make their wildest dreams come true, while I hone in on the guest experience.

Thank you for that. Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations that you are bringing to the travel and hospitality industries?

Travelers want curated once-in-a-lifetime experiences. They’re not the experts on the destinations that they’re traveling to and that’s where our BD Concierge comes in. Blue Desert Cabo also offers private villas and homes where we bring the amenities of the hotel directly to you. Whether you’re wanting to plan a large corporate meeting, a brunch buffet for your girls’ trip, to an intimate proposal for two or a special wedding, anything that your heart desires, our concierge team will make it happen. Due to the effects of COVID, I think we’re going to start seeing a lot more bespoke and curated packages pre-planned for travelers.

Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing this innovation?

Flights are extremely limited right now due to COVID. Booking your travel alone is hard enough, dealing with layovers and connecting flights. If our BD Concierge team can make the rest of the planning as painless as possible, the happier our guests will be.

How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?

Travelers may start to rely less on Yelp, Trip Advisor, etc. Concierge teams are people that are local, on the ground and are experts in that destination. They know the insider tips/tricks, what areas are safe and which places are open, and they have personal relationships. They are a trusted source that are right in front of you. Guests can physically see them and talk to them instead of relying on someone they don’t know behind their keyboards.

1. Adapt to individualized travel. Guests are going to continue to look for those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that are perfect for any and every group they’re traveling with.

2. Allowing for less densely populated spaces. For years to come, travelers are going to value having more space and not being crammed into busy public areas.

3. More privately tailored experiences as opposed to group events. The less touch points, the better. Having a private car versus taking an Uber, having a private chef come cook dinner in your villa versus going to a busy restaurant, having your own resort-style pool versus a shared pool at a resort, and even having your own private beach instead of sharing with the public will all be more desirable.

4. Over communication on cleaning procedures and protocols.

5. Finding that escape closer to home will continue to be a trend. Places that people are more comfortable traveling to, whether it’s in driving distance or a direct, shorter flight, will be more common.

You are a “travel insider”. How would you describe your “perfect vacation experience”?

The perfect vacation experience involves my husband, Michael and I traveling with a close group of friends, staying in a private villa or house. Having the opportunity to 100% curate my itinerary and tailor it to the group I’m traveling with is just as important. If there is a way to take the pain of planning everything out of the equation and just enjoy great wine, food and lots of laughs with the people I love most, that’s what makes the perfect vacation for me.

Can you share with our readers how have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

As a Las Vegas native, I was one of the founding members of The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada. I’ve also annually sponsored Piero’s Italian Cuisine to help provide those less fortunate with Thanksgiving meals, as well as overseeing the distribution of funds of a local family organization; over the years I have helped distribute millions of dollars to various charities. Currently, I’m working on a virtual concert series at Blue Desert Cabo that will benefit charities that are dear to my heart, including supporting the performing arts who have been hit hard during the pandemic.

If there was a way that I could bring good to the most amount of people, I would put an end to voter suppression. At the end of the day, what our lawmakers do on a state, local and national level, affect all of us and every single person’s voice deserves to be heard.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Sean McClenahan of Blue Desert Cabo: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Luke Maish of Rancho Santana: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID World

Less interaction and more privacy — This hold true for much of the service industry. How can one have clean accommodations with no housekeeping, or at least the impression of no housekeeping. Mobile check-ins are leapfrogging face-to-face check-ins as the preferred option. Its space and separation vs. service. The expectation is to offer all of those together now. The solution is a combination of preparation and technology.

As part of my series about “developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Luke Maish.

Luke Maish is the CEO of Rancho Santana, a 2,700-acre resort & residential community on Nicaragua’s pristine Emerald Coast. In 2014, the Colorado native and University of Denver Accounting major was drawn from the “Mile High City” to the beaches of Nicaragua, enamored by the appeal of an adventurous life on “the ranch.”

Maish was brought on as an intern. An insatiable appetite for operations and business fueled his rapid growth. Just one year later, he was in a full-time management position. Another year later, he made a seamless transition into the design and construction world and continued to build his expansive resume. As his experience and interests expanded, Rancho Santana again took note and offered the opportunity to lead its design and architecture services team. In 2019, Luke was promoted to COO before stepping into his current role in August of 2020.

Maish credits Rancho Santana for encouraging his gratitude and commitment to the local community and to the country of Nicaragua. He currently sits on the advisory board of CREA, a Nicaraguan literacy non-profit, and works closely with local community center, FunLimón. When he’s not working or volunteering, he enjoys taking advantage of Nicaragua’s many outdoor pursuits including surfing, swimming, hiking, and playing in a regional basketball league.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

My career path took a sharp turn early. I was firmly on course to go into Public Accounting, sitting for the CPA exams while interviewing with firms in Denver. An interesting opportunity came up, and a few short months later I found myself working on construction projects for high-end custom vacation homes on the Pacific coastline of Nicaragua.

The decision to move to Central America was fairly spontaneous. It was a “give it ago” moment in search of excitement and opportunity, and from there it’s only gained momentum.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

Between being offered a full-time position with The Ranch and accepting it, I was exploring similar opportunities in residential design-build in Denver. I interviewed with New Town Builders (now Thrive Home Builders), who built one of the most energy efficient homes in America.

I had the chance to speak with the founder, and it turns out that he spent years in Nicaragua early on. We hit it off immediately, and he ended up advising me to move forward with the opportunity that led me to where I am now. Paraphrased, the advice was something along the lines of “sounds like a position with growth potential, for a company with growth potential, in a country with enormous growth potential; that’s guaranteed to get you more hands-on experience than you ever would here.”

You don’t except to leave a job interview with advice to take an opportunity elsewhere. It was a life-altering moment that I look back on with such appreciation. Gene and I are still in touch.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

When I first arrived I was young, from the finance industry, barely spoke Spanish, and very confident I was going to effectively manage various architects, project sites, and contractors in a new culture. I won’t get specific, but I made plenty of mistakes. Not all of them were funny to me at the time, but I’m sure the whole thing must have been funny from the outside looking in.

I had a mentor back then, and I guess the philosophy was “baptism by fire”. I was eventually able to grind through it and find success. There’s no better way to learn than by putting yourself in a position of discomfort.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?

Look for an industry and company with people you admire, trust, and respect. A “burn out” scenario is often caused by a stressful or dysfunctional relationship, whether it’s your boss, coworkers, or clients. If strong principles exist in the leaders, you can generally expect that they exist in and throughout the organization. The opposite also holds true.

A colleague called Roy, who mentored me through my construction start is still a close friend of mine. I have much respect and admiration for my higher ups that followed. Our clients are often adventurous and good spirited people. Love who you work with and you will never work a day in your life.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

I have gratitude for so many who have helped me along the way.

Our CEO prior, who I reported to directly for years and still report to as one of the investors of the business, has supported me in unique and unconventional ways. I was allowed freedom of decision making early on, while he offered insight and ideas as a means of guidance. This philosophy allowed me to think creatively, make mistakes, and experience for myself what is important and what works. It’s a contrast to the “follow your orders” style of management, and the environment he created encouraged my development.

Thank you for that. Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations that you are bringing to the travel and hospitality industries?

There’s incredible depth and completeness to our product.

Rancho Santana is the home to a top rated boutique hotel in Central America, upwards of seventy custom designed ocean view homes, and various phases of ocean front villas.

There are five beaches within the property, ocean facing cliffs and mountains, and seventeen miles of trails running through it all.

The Ranch has four distinctive food and drink concepts supported by our organic farm and garden that raise cattle, chickens, lambs, goats, fruits and vegetables. We produce our own cheese and harvest our own organic honey.

There is a school on site, and a range of outstanding amenities including spa, yoga and fitness facility, horse stables, art gallery, chapel, and surf club.

Our facilities are solar-powered and we have strong principals on water conservation.

The innovation is in the completeness of the product in itself. There is so much depth to our property and experience that it’s understood as a way of living — active, clean, communal, social, sustainable, artistic, and cultural. This way of living aligns with the working lifestyle goals of many of the world’s travelers.

I certainly cannot take credit for these innovations. We were established on strong principals of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, which has attracted a network of talented and creative individuals to the Ranch. The credit goes to our team of thinkers and creators.

Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing this innovation?

At times, a “pain point” in tourism is simply keeping up. The expectation of today’s traveler is for us to exceed expectations.

People are increasingly looking for experiences that align with principles of lifestyle and sustainability, while maintaining an authenticity to the culture.

This type of “complete destination” is what I think we’re gravitating towards. Knowing and trusting that destination operates in a way that’s aligned with your thinking is part of what makes it home-away-from-home, whether you’re visiting or staying.

How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?

Travel today is well beyond just accommodations and hospitality. I think the industry will continue to prioritize depth of experience and comprehensive offering.

The idea of working remotely continues to become the new norm. I think we’ll start to see more extended stays and longer getaways. This goes hand in hand with the concept of a complete destination.

Without a doubt COVID19 has changed the world as we know it, and in many cases it has strengthened or accelerated existing trends. That’s the case in these examples.

Standards of cleanliness — Assuming a high end destination will meet standards is not enough anymore; destinations need to articulate and verify their standards of cleanliness and hygiene. There could be a growing opportunity for 3rd party verifiers.

Less interaction and more privacy — This hold true for much of the service industry. How can one have clean accommodations with no housekeeping, or at least the impression of no housekeeping. Mobile check-ins are leapfrogging face-to-face check-ins as the preferred option. Its space and separation vs. service. The expectation is to offer all of those together now. The solution is a combination of preparation and technology.

A return to the natural world — Dense and crowded spaces are the enemy. People are looking for clean air and space to breathe it in. Expansive, spacious, and nature based tourist destinations should become more attractive and continue to grow in popularity.

Expectations for food & beverage — Implications of health and diet are a strong theme of the pandemic. A big part of “healthy body healthy mind” is what you put in. Natural and organic foods are here to stay along with the farm to table concept. Many select their restaurants and grocery stores with this in mind; it will certainly be a growing factor in travel decisions for the foreseeable future.

Longer stays that include working remotely — There will be less short-week flash vacations and more extended stays. Working remotely has quickly become a new age reality. Similarly, work and personal schedules continue to blend together in the new professional world. Planning a vacation may mean searching for your dream office for the next month. If you can work effectively from your apartment in the city, why wouldn’t you do so overlooking the ocean?

You are a “travel insider”. How would you describe your “perfect vacation experience”?

These days my vacations are often designed around skiing or surfing. Those are both sports in nature and the travel is almost always set in scenery of stunning natural geography. Other top priorities are great food and an interesting and authentic cultural experience.

Can you share with our readers how have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

Located in rural Nicaragua, you can imagine how our presence and growth correlates with the surrounding communities. Much of our work force comes from walking distance, and local entrepreneurs set up complimentary small business. It goes beyond wages and indirect business; training and on-job experience are tools that contribute to societal development.

In a world increasing dominated by big corporations, the existence of a symbiotic relationship between corporation and community is essential to making the world a better place. It’s an ongoing assignment, and I hope our success can serve as a model for responsible and reciprocal development in developing countries.

Trust yourself and then get out of your own way.

Too often we pass on an opportunity because we cannot predict how it will turn out. There’s a developed fear of being unsuccessful as adults that we didn’t have as children, and there’s an inherent lack of confidence in trying new things. Pursue new perspective, maintain an open mind, and keep learning. New perspective builds confidence and empathy that will be with you forever.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Instagram

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Luke Maish of Rancho Santana: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Brian Montgomery of Sirenian Bay Resort & Villas: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID World

Contactless Interactions: Social distancing and the need for contactless check in, check out, and communication may wane as the pandemic clears. However, I think the need for those options and guests’ expectations of them will remain. It will be a challenge to find ways to provide high-quality personalized services in a contactless environment, maintaining a personal connection and while staying physically distant.

As part of my series about “developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Brian Montgomery.

Brian Montgomery and his wife, Brenda, began their venture as the proprietors of Sirenian Bay Resort & Villas, located in Placencia, Belize, as a retirement project. What started as a dream to build a vacation home for his family and friends to enjoy quickly bloomed into a much larger vision. Today, Sirenian Bay is a boutique, luxury all-inclusive resort featuring villas and bungalows that offers hospitality not just to their friends and family, but to guests from all over the globe.

Brian attributes the success of the Resort to his commitment to his employees and the culture of the Resort. Working from the belief that happy employees make happy guests, Montgomery has focused on recruiting and training the right people. Time and again, guests comment on the smiles and attitudes of the Resort’s employees — something Brian is very proud of.

Brian obtained an Associate’s Degree in Electronics from Pearl River Community College in 1985. After working in healthcare technology management for several years, Montgomery started his own medical equipment repair company. He and Brenda built that company from the ground up, to be a leader in the industry — all based on their commitment to employees and customers. Brian found his passion for hospitality later in life, an offshoot of his passion for leadership and service. He hopes to eventually relinquish his responsibilities at Sirenian Bay Resort and Villas to his children for a second try at retirement. He was honored by his alma mater with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I spent more than 28 years in the medical equipment service field. In 2003, I was just getting my own business in that field off the ground when I was diagnosed with late Stage 4 of a rare form of a blood cancer, like leukemia. The doctors gave me about six months to live.

During that long battle with cancer, Brenda and I made plans for when I recovered (never *if* I recovered), including a lot of travel and a beach home to share with family and friends. Our plans became real after a successful bone marrow transplant put my cancer in remission. As I approached 50, Brenda and I decided the time was right to sell our company with plans to retire to Belize. We built that vacation home we had dreamed about on the Placencia Peninsula in southern Belize, right on the Caribbean Sea — with spectacular views and plenty of room to share.

Once our home was finished — now called Manatee Villa and the crown jewel of Sirenian Bay Resort & Villas — we decided to dip our foot in the waters of vacation rentals. We listed the house on a few sites and started learning about the industry. As it turns out, while there are vast differences in medical equipment service and the hospitality industry, there is one key common denominator: they’re both service and people businesses, two of my passions.

Soon after opening Manatee, we acquired an existing home on an adjacent lot. We did a complete renovation, added a pool and brought it up to Sirenian Bay standards, and opened it as a rental the next year.

Over the following 24 months, we acquired the rest of the vacant land surrounding our villas along with adjacent property on the lagoon side of the peninsula. The vision of Sirenian Bay Resort began to take hold as we realized we weren’t really ready for retirement and our second careers began.

Now, three years in, we’ve just opened 12 new bungalows and introduced our all-inclusive concept. The resort is ready to welcome guests back when they’re ready to travel, whether it’s individuals ready for adventure, couples seeking a romantic getaway, multi-generational families ready to celebrate missed milestones, destination weddings, or larger groups.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

On our first trip to Belize with our two boys, we rented a golf cart from Captain Jak’s (a long-time staple in the Village of Placencia).

When we walked into the office to pick it up, the manager said, “Welcome Marauders.” That happened to be the mascot of the high school our sons attended. We quickly learned that he was from the same Texas town as us and his kids had attended the same school. We became quick friends with him and his wife.

Soon after, he was diagnosed with cancer and we became even closer by having that awful experience in common. Long story short, when it was time for them to sell Captain Jak’s we eagerly took up their legacy.

Captain Jak’s was a perfect addition to our resort family, allowing us to offer a fuller experience to our guests by adding tours, golf carts, and Village-based accommodations.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Since the hospitality industry was new to us, we made many mistakes. We learned from each one of them. But one of the funniest was about adjusting to a new culture.

We were used to working in the fast-paced medical field, so our expectations were high when it came to timelines. But Belize is a laid-back culture — much like being on “island time.”

On one of our first trips we met with a builder. When I asked to set an appointment time to discuss our plans, what he said still sticks with me today: “Let’s set an appointment at 10:00. You can show up around 10:30 and I’ll see you at 11:00”. We laughed, but he wasn’t kidding. It is so indicative of the laidback nature of Belize. After being there several years now, we totally understand why he told us that, and it still remains true.

These days, we may show up a little late and everyone looks at us and says, “Now you’re true Belizeans!”

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?

My best tip is slow down and enjoy the experience. Not many people get to wake up every morning and enjoy their coffee as the sun rises over the ocean. Enjoy it! And maybe that’s not your view. But wherever you are in the hospitality industry, there’s a reason hospitality exists there. Look for it. Then take a moment to sit back and enjoy what your location has to offer.

We split our time between the U.S. and Belize. When we’re in Belize, we make an effort to get out and explore the country, spending a couple of days at other resorts or going on tours to relax and enjoy our surroundings. Not only does it help us recharge, it also helps us make better recommendations and answer questions for our guests.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

I’ve had people who encouraged and pushed me along the way; people who believed more in me than I believed in myself.

Outside of family, there are two people I credit with shaping my success. The first is a former boss of 15 years who I looked up to. I watched and learned from what he did and how people reacted to him, noting what worked and what didn’t. I used those lessons when I started my own company.

The second person was my wife’s boss from her career in car dealership business. After I Ieft my job of 15 years, I relied on him as a sounding board for what I should do next. He encouraged me to start my own company and convinced me I could do it. He helped me with the business side of things — the things that I was unfamiliar with. He told me I had the people skills and experience needed to succeed and encouraged me to let that be my driving force, not to get hung up on the business side because he had people who could help me with that.

He was right… I would never had started a company if not for his advice. I could never have envisioned building a company with more than 250 employees, selling it 12 years later, and then building a 5-star resort in such a beautiful location as Belize.

Thank you for that. Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations that you are bringing to the travel and hospitality industries?

I have always been a techie and this drove my business to be technology focused. When we started designing and envisioning the resort, we wanted it to be a place where guests felt at home, but in the Caribbean with all the amenities of a luxury resort. That meant having high speed internet, smart TVs in the bedrooms and living areas, extras like an Amazon Alexa in each unit, and digital communication options to go along with the comfortable furnishings and decorations in spacious living areas and bedrooms. While these uses of technology are commonplace in some areas, much of the hospitality industry in Belize has been slower to adopt new systems and technology.

Also unique to Belize is the umbrella of services we are able to offer. Through our group of companies, we can offer a completely customizable and individual guest experience. With accommodations at Sirenian Bay or Captain Jak’s, we can meet any budget and preference. Guests staying at either place enjoy the benefits of both: large open beach, pool and pool bar, and The Siren’s Spa at Sirenian Bay plus easy access to tours and golf cart rentals through Captain Jak’s. With Inky’s located right across the street from the resort, all guests have easy access to our family-friendly miniature golf and restaurant. Future expansion such as a fitness center and yoga studio, sunset martini bar and specialty restaurant, and our private island will ensure we can offer almost anything on a traveler’s Belize bucket list. These options allow us to organize the entire guest experience and, most importantly, ensure our guests consistently receive the level of service we expect.

Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing this innovation?

Technology is an almost unavoidable part of daily life now. Even though most people like to disconnect to some degree while on vacation, we’ve found that doesn’t include giving up the conveniences of technology. Not only do we give people the opportunity to stay in touch, we’ve made it easy for families of online learners to incorporate travel and school. It really combines the convenience of home with the luxury of vacation.

With the phased reopening of Belize during COVID, travelers must work with Gold Standard approved resorts and tour operators. By managing our own tour company in Placencia, Captain Jak’s, and having our restaurant, Inky’s, it allows guests to experience consistent gold standard policies and procedures throughout every step of their trip and makes it easier than ever to plan a safe and enjoyable trip.

How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?

Traditionally, most accommodations in Belize are basic accommodations without the amenities and features you expect in a luxury resort. I wanted to offer true luxury, with every amenity of home (and more). This came at a cost — financial and breaking through resistance barriers — but we still had to be competitive with the surrounding resorts and hotels. Now we are seeing more and more accommodations start to offer the same types of technology we implemented from the beginning.

COVID has disrupted every status quo. The new requirements in Belize to work with Gold Standard properties has required the hospitality industry to be creative in offering services. At Sirenian Bay, guests can feel more comfortable knowing that the resort has their best interests in mind. As many people have struggled through the pandemic, we all could use a vacation. Having multiple options allows us to offer various price points and experiences to accommodate everyone. Post-COVID, we expect to see many accommodations and tour providers return to independent operations. Because of the structure of our companies, we will continue to provide a seamless guest experience even when things return to normal.

Contactless Interactions: Social distancing and the need for contactless check in, check out, and communication may wane as the pandemic clears. However, I think the need for those options and guests’ expectations of them will remain. It will be a challenge to find ways to provide high-quality personalized services in a contactless environment, maintaining a personal connection and while staying physically distant.
Property Size: Large, crowded destinations will struggle for a while. Guests are looking for smaller, boutique type experiences where they can easily distance and yet not feel isolated. Larger properties will need to find innovative ways to offer social distancing and reduce their crowds.
Family Travel: I believe travel will become even more family-oriented and guests will be looking for options where they can spend more time in activities together.
Private accommodations amenities: Travelers will come to expect more amenities they can enjoy privately in their accommodations. From room service (without the increased cost and service charges often tacked on) to reserved beach chairs, guests will continue to expect more personalized and private ways to enjoy their vacations.
Value of Vacation: The financial impact of COVID will be a lasting and interesting impact on travel. We know there are some travelers who will have bigger travel budgets post-COVID. But many families have been negatively impacted by the pandemic and will be looking for increased value for their vacation dollar. The hospitality industry will need to respond creatively to meet those demands without negatively impacting their own bottom line or ability to provide excellent service.

You are a “travel insider”. How would you describe your “perfect vacation experience”?

When Brenda and I retired from our first career, we loved the beach vacations. This was the main reason we ended up in Belize. Although our recent trip to South Africa with our boys was the best vacation we ever experienced, we still favor a beach vacation.

Waking up in the morning with a hot cup of coffee with Baileys while watching the sunrise starts our perfect vacation day. A breakfast on the beach followed by nothing more than soaking up the sun and relaxing in the pool. The day is topped off by a romantic dinner on the beach then then sleep and repeat.

But it’s really the little things make our vacations special. We are down to earth people, but on vacation we liked to be spoiled and pampered. Things like addressing us by name, “Welcome Home. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery” mean a lot. A cold towel and refreshing drink upon arrival, having a private butler available to address our needs (preferably before we even know what we need), the little notes on our bed from housekeeping, the welcome note personally written from the staff, fresh flowers on our first day, having a member from management ask how our stay is going, turndown service with a fresh treat on our pillow at bedtime, the bartender knowing our favorite drink and having it ready for us, and a “We can’t wait to see you again next year when you return”. These are the things that make a vacation memorable for us.

Can you share with our readers how have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

Brenda and I are ordinary people. We’ve taken some extraordinary risks and overcome some extraordinary obstacles. But at the end of the day, we’re ordinary people. What I like most about our success is that we’ve been able to show young people that anyone can be successful. Success doesn’t require years of college, wealthy parents, being born in a particular place. I struggled through school with dyslexia and finished my education with a two-year degree. But persistence, hard work, and doing the right thing along the way has led to success. Now, I can use my experience and my story to teach the younger generation that they too can accomplish anything they desire if they work hard and treat people with respect.

After selling our first company we were able to help our families and other people less fortunate than we have been. One of the things I’m most proud of is being able to provide college funds for all our nieces and nephews; not only could we help with their education but it’s allowed us to have deeper conversations about success and personal growth.

Another thing I’m proud of is the way we responded to the COVID pandemic. When Belize closed its borders to international guests, tourism came to a halt. Our staff pulled together and collectively agreed to take temporary pay cuts, cut back hours, and make significant changes which allowed us to keep the majority of our staff employed at some level. Several staff moved on property since the resort was closed to guests, sacrificing time with family and friends to keep everyone healthy. Although we eventually were forced to downsize our workforce, the sacrifices of our team at every level made me proud. We’re gearing up to reopen in November 2020 stronger than ever.

Young leadership is my passion. Every opportunity I get, I try to implement a youth training program. At the resort, we have a Young Leaders Academy where individually selected employees have the opportunity for small group training on leadership skills, servant leadership, working with other generations, respecting team members and guests and what that means, treating everyone as an equal, looking at things from another’s point of view, and how to be a leader at all levels of their career. Our youth truly are our future. I hope that I can give them insight that it’s taken me years to learn now, so they have years to perfect it.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Facebook and Instagram: @sirenianbayresortandvillas

Twitter: @sirenianbay

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sirenianbayresortandvillas/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/sirenianbayresortandvillas

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sirenianbay

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Brian Montgomery of Sirenian Bay Resort & Villas: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Disruptors: Hannah Hunt of the ‘US Air Force’ On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your…

Female Disruptors: Hannah Hunt of the ‘US Air Force’ On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry

Don’t be afraid to not be the smartest person in the room — It’s humbling to know you don’t know everything. Even if you know most things, you may not have the greatest context about a particular situation and that’s okay.

As a part of our series about business leaders who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Hannah Hunt.

Hannah Hunt is the Chief of Staff at Kessel Run, a software startup inside the Air Force with a big love of all Star Wars. Hannah is the youngest female Chief of Staff in the Air Force and focuses on day-to-day operations of the organization while revolutionizing the way the Air Force builds and delivers software.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

My career path is definitely diverse. I actually didn’t have any professional software experience until I joined Kessel Run. I studied Global Security and the Middle East in graduate school in Washington, DC and took a variety of roles within several federal agencies including the Department of State, Department of Treasury, and now the Department of Defense. I’m one of those people who picks up a lot of different things very quickly, so I’ve managed legislative affairs, major events and international summits during the Obama Administration and led Strategic Initiatives and DoD acquisitions for the Army in acquiring medical products like drugs and vaccines to counter chemical and biological weapons.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

Kessel Run is all about the power of disruption. We were created about three years ago after spending about $500M on a modernization effort for a weapon system failed. Out of the ashes of that effort, Kessel Run was born. For those who aren’t Star Wars fans, Han Solo told Luke Skywalker in A New Hope that the Millennium Falcon did the Kessel Run, a known smuggling route, in under 12 parsecs. We say that we smuggled modern software development into the Air Force, by bringing in well-known industry concepts like agile software development, user-centered design, and DevOps. Our software development isn’t the only thing that is agile, our acquisitions and business operations are also agile. I’m on a team that is pushing to refine the way business is done within the Air Force. Currently, Defense Acquisition takes anywhere from 8–10 years to acquire and build a weapon system, and by the time it’s done, it is totally irrelevant to the operational environment. I lead an effort to reverse that, to ensure capabilities are sent into the field early on, in small iterations, and with tight feedback loops. We’ve been able to deliver software in a matter of days and weeks versus months and years. You hear about computer hackers, but I’m one of those bureaucracy hackers cutting through the minutiae of policy and business rules to get real results fast, while also being a young woman in leadership in a military, male-centric environment.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I don’t know how funny it is, but my first real job was with the State Department organizing major events and conferences for then-President Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry. We had this huge international summit on nuclear nonproliferation and I was in charge of managing bilateral meetings between heads of state. As the King of Jordan and his diplomatic party were coming down the aisle I tripped on the curtains and landed right in front of him. The lesson I learned from that was to not take myself too seriously! 😉

We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

I’ve had some great role models and mentors throughout my career. Two of my mentors are also big disruptors in the defense community. They’ve taught me about the politics of working in the largest bureaucracy in the country, and how to navigate the ‘frozen middle’ of people who will always say no to change. I’ve learned how to be a strong female leader based on their guidance and suggestions. I can come off pretty passionate, so sometimes I need to hone that in more in order to get to ‘yes.’ That is kind of what bureaucracy hacking is all about anyways — identifying the policies and rules that will get you to yes versus people saying no.

In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?

A lot of military doctrine is disruptive. There is a future strategy for warfare that is constantly shifting with new and unknown threats that we need to be prepared for. While the doctrine is disruptive, the execution typically isn’t. The military is incredibly risk averse and oftentimes doesn’t deliver new capabilities into the field until they are actually obsolete. So we need disruption not just at the doctrine level, but the strategy and execution levels. A ‘not so positive’ disruption is focusing on military training and exercises that focus on the threat today, verus the future threat. We aren’t looking forward to the next 5–10 years because we are focused on the existing warfight.

Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.

1. Don’t be afraid to not be the smartest person in the room — It’s humbling to know you don’t know everything. Even if you know most things, you may not have the greatest context about a particular situation and that’s okay.

2. Never stop learning — I’m an avid reader and researcher. I want to learn as much about something as I can, so I spend a lot of time understanding the latest tech trends and how they align with government policies. If you don’t have a growth mindset, you’ll stay stagnant.

3. Care about the people, always — You aren’t typically a one woman show. You will have a team around you and above you and you need to always care for those around you. A great leader isn’t someone that barks orders; a great leader is someone who listens to those around them and cares about the staff that work for them.

Lead generation is one of the most important aspects of any business. Can you share some of the strategies you use to generate good, qualified leads?

Lead generation isn’t necessarily a thing in the Government. However, you do need to rely on industry partners that want to work with the Government. So I’d say the best way to find good vendors and teammates is to partner with small businesses. They are often very focused on their people and have more of a startup mindset than larger corporations. I’ve found the greatest partners are those small business companies willing to get into the muck with you and build great products!

We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?

A big effort I’m passionate about is attracting tech talent to come do a “tour of service” with the U.S. Government and work with us to build great products that users love. The federal hiring process is incredibly antiquated and takes on average 180 days to hire someone. I’ve been leading an effort within the Air Force to cut down the time-to-hire from 180 to 30–40 days. In the private sector that is still incredibly slow, but in the Government it’s incredibly fast! I’ve been leading a team that recruits for diverse tech talent, reviews and vets them based on industry versus government standards, and work with our HR partners to rapidly bring them on. We do this through big-bang onboarding Hiring Events where we extended anywhere between 40–50 job offers over the course of 2–3 days.

Do you have a book, podcast, or talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us? Can you explain why it was so resonant with you?

I’m a HUGE Brene Brown fan. Rising Strong is probably my favorite book by her. She is always talking about how being vulnerable is incredibly courageous and how vulnerability and struggle can bring us to the greatest level of wisdom and hope. Her emphasis on having emotions and not just pushing them down is in complete contrast with a military culture. So her works and talks really enable me to bring passion and vulnerability into my work, which often leads to better outcomes.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

One of my favorite quotes is from Ralph Waldo Emerson: Hitch your wagon to a star. To me, this is all about aspiring to do great things and consistently pushing myself to grow both professionally and personally.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

I think we have a real diversity deficit within the military. Women make up less than 20 percent of active duty personnel and the military is predominantly white, especially among the officer versus enlisted corps. I would love to inspire a movement to get a more diverse military since research shows a more diverse group leads to better results. Even people who like me are not in uniform but serve in a civilian capacity, we need a greater representation in the DoD.

How can our readers follow you online?

I am pretty active on LinkedIn and you can find me at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-feldman-hunt-b8646a97/

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Female Disruptors: Hannah Hunt of the ‘US Air Force’ On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Peter Cranis of Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID…

Peter Cranis of Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID World

First of all, cleaning protocols will be the norm. For the foreseeable future, this will not only involve changes to properties and staff, but also changes that guests will have to make in terms of wearing masks, social distancing, getting temperature checks, and even getting onsite COVID tests.

As part of my series about “developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Peter Cranis.

Peter Cranis grew up in Melbourne, Florida and graduated with honors from Eau Gallie High School and Brevard Community College (A.A. in Journalism). He went on to the University of Central Florida and received a B.A. with honors and an M.A. in Communications. He was an adjunct professor at UCF for 26 years, as well as being a Past Chairman of the Alumni Association, serving on the Board of Directors for 25 years.

His 30-year career began handling advertising and public relations for Church Street Station, a tourist attraction in downtown Orlando. He continued his career in PR and advertising, working with Spring Telecom, SunTrust Banks, and Kirchman Corp., a global software firm.

Deciding to follow his passion for tourism, Cranis joined the AAA National Office as Director of Marketing Communications. He then went on to become Vice President of Consumer Marketing at the Visit Orlando association for the next 16 years. In 2016, he took on the role of head of sales and marketing at the Orlando Eye (The Wheel at ICON Park), a 400-foot tall observation wheel in the heart of the Orlando tourist district.

Now, as executive director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism in Florida, the Brevard County native is doing his part to promote the Space Coast as an amazing place to live, work and play. His passion is marketing, tourism and the place he has always called home… Brevard County. He is married to his beautiful wife Melissa, a Louisiana-native and retired teacher in the Brevard County School System.

Thank you so much for joining us! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

When I was first out of college, I worked for a tourist attraction in downtown Orlando called Church Street Station in PR and advertising. It must have gotten into my blood, because after a phone company, a bank, and a software company, I knew that tourism was my passion. I changed my career path and have been happy ever since!

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

I think the time that I felt what I did had the greatest impact on the community was after 9/11. I watched TV (with the rest of the world) in horror that day as events unfolded. I didn’t immediately understand the effect it was going to have on tourism because I was primarily focused on all the people who lost their lives that day. But as VP of Marketing for Visit Orlando, it was clear very quickly that things had changed. Businesses were closing and people were losing their jobs. The most important marketing campaign I have ever worked on was the one we developed in 2002 to try and bring business back to Orlando. We had to make sure the timing was right to begin marketing again while still putting out a message that resonated with people. Six months after 9/11, we came up with the tagline “Family Time, Family Place.” Everyone was stressed out and needed a break from the news; we knew that more than anything, people wanted to spend time with the ones they loved. Thanks to that campaign, we ended up being one of the first tourist cities to recover.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

This actually happened a few years ago. It was right before Halloween and I was working for a tourist attraction called the Orlando Eye — a 400-foot observation wheel much like the London Eye. We wanted to decorate the property and do it in a way that would get publicity. I came up with the idea of putting a giant spider on the roof of the building right in front of the Eye. The Eye already looked a bit like a spider’s web so it would fit perfectly. I found a 50-foot inflatable spider and contracted the company to ship it to Orlando and come install it. What I didn’t realize was that they only sent a single person to install it, and he did not bring any kind of protective equipment to keep him from falling during the job. He assured me that he had installed these types of inflatables many times, and with the help of some of our maintenance crew, we hauled the spider onto the roof and he went about getting it tethered and inflated. Of course, our regional vice president was on property that day and had sent me a picture of the guy practically hanging off the roof without any protective gear — needless to say, he was not happy. We did get the spider installed, though, and it was a big hit! We had spiders all over the property and it looked great. Fortunately, no one was hurt in the process.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”? Can you share a story about that?

Tourism and tourism marketing are constantly changing and evolving. The way people consume media these days is very different than how they used to. To thrive in this industry, I recommend always staying up on the latest trends: constantly question the status quo and learn new things. You also have to be very flexible — don’t get so stuck in your ways so much that you forget the end goals you have. And realize there are lots of ways to do things — lots of ideas that can work — so be open to ideas from others and think creatively.

For example, even only a year ago, streaming services were still a relative newcomer and cable television was still the primary way people consumed their TV. Since COVID, while people still have cable, many more have added a number of other streaming services and smart devices to their household. Everyone is still watching TV, but the way in which they access it has shifted. We have to be in that mix or we will miss our audience. The good news in this case is that advertising this way is actually much more trackable than traditional cable.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

Gary Sain was an icon in the travel and tourism industry. After Bill Peeper, the founding president of Visit Orlando, retired, the Board hired Gary to lead our organization. Gary was a marketing guy and a people person. He was amazing at working with everyone in the community — everyone loved him. Sadly, he was at an event one night and started experiencing severe chest pain. He walked into the lobby of the hotel where the event was being held and passed out. He never recovered. What I learned from Gary is that this job is all about relationships. If you don’t have strong relationships in your community, it is very difficult to accomplish anything. I also learned not to take anything for granted in this life. We are only given so much time, so we should make the most it.

Thank you for that. Let’s jump to the core of our discussion. Can you share with our readers about the innovations and new initiatives that Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism is bringing to the travel and hospitality industries?

It’s difficult to discuss innovations and new initiatives without acknowledging the severe impact COVID has had on us all. In March 2020, the Governor of Florida announced a stay-at-home order and closed all vacation rentals down. Following that, the Brevard County Commission (Space Coast) issued that hotels could not accept tourists — only essential personnel. The impact was a reduction in tourist development taxes by 50% in March and 75% in April. It wasn’t until those orders were lifted as we went into the latter part of May that we began to see some business come back, but we have still been down in the 30–35% range. This has had a significant negative impact on our budget, which has dropped from about $16 million to $12 million. Of course, we have had to think differently about marketing as everyone has. Once we were able to start marketing again, we put together a summer campaign that promoted our greatest assets on the Space Coast including beaches, outdoor activities, our zoo, etc. We also made sure that in our messaging we included visuals to show potential visitors that we were proactively promoting safety while people came here with their families. Such efforts include staff wearing masks, extra cleaning protocols, and lots of hand sanitizer everywhere. With all that going on, we also began to look at how we tracked our marketing. We recently set a goal that every marketing dollar we spend should have a trackable component so we can measure Return on Investment (ROI).

Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing this innovation?

As mentioned, with our budget, including marketing, being severely impacted as a result of COVID, we have to find ways to make sure every dollar we spend is working for us effectively. To do this, we turned to a number of our media partners — and some new ones — to see how they could help us. We also partnered with a research firm to help us understand what our timing, messaging, and market focus should be.

How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?

The status quo had been that we would run an advertising campaign and simply hope that it reached the people we were targeting — and had a positive impact. That will no longer be acceptable as we move into a new era where visitation must be attributable to the marketing source.

First of all, cleaning protocols will be the norm. For the foreseeable future, this will not only involve changes to properties and staff, but also changes that guests will have to make in terms of wearing masks, social distancing, getting temperature checks, and even getting onsite COVID tests.

Second, marketing messaging will change. We are living in a new time and it calls for messaging that doesn’t ignore the current state, but rather addresses peoples’ needs in this new time.

Third, businesses will have to change the way they do business. They will need to find ways to be more profitable and cut expenses significantly. Only the strong will survive in this new environment. One example is restaurants that adapted quickly to delivery and carry-out options; these locations have had a better survival rate and now that they are able to serve people in person again, many have maintained this added source of revenue.

Fourth, destinations will have to continue to be leaders in their community by communicating clearly to their constituents and keeping businesses up to speed on what may be changing with regards to COVID and safety considerations.

Finally, the future is bright and we will all get through this together. The travel and hospitality world needs to be optimistic and look for opportunities in the future. We are a very resilient industry that has survived many hardships. It may take time, but we will thrive again.

As a leader in the travel industry, what new trends are you noticing on Florida’s Space Coast in this ever-changing COVID19 world?

Destination marketing and marketing in general is becoming much more of a science. Those that are able to embrace the digital world and figure out how to make new business models work will be most successful. But it’s important to remember that we are in a people business, too — we can’t forget our staff, our clients, our peers, our partners. We need to track everything and gain access to all the information at our fingertips, but we still need to remember that people are what make the world go ‘round.

You are a “travel insider”. How would you describe your “perfect vacation experience”?

This is by far the hardest question for me. Ironically, I tend to work all the time and have very little time to take vacations! But, that being said, I live in one of the best places for a vacation in the world. I can walk across the street from where I live and go to the beach (we have 72 miles of beach on the Space Coast), I can access the rivers and kayak or boat. I can hike and bike on the many trails we have, I can play tennis 365 days a year (except for during rainouts, which are rare), I can literally step onto the balcony of our condo and watch a rocket go up (which is happening almost weekly these days). So, while I may not take that long overseas vacation, I am an expert at the quick getaways and staycations that have become so popular.

Can you share with our readers how have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

I’ve always said that whatever you do, if you find something you can be passionate about, you will be happy. My passion is leading our organization so that it benefits the community. I worked in Orlando for many years and often felt I was in a “big pond,” and I hoped that what I did made a difference. Now working in a smaller community, I know that everything our organization does to generate business will benefit the companies and people who reside here. To me, that’s bringing goodness to the world — making a place better for everyone, starting in your own backyard.

This is actually an idea that was started a few years ago in the travel industry, but has yet to catch on. It’s one that is more prevalent internationally than here in the U.S. — the idea that people should take all of their vacation time! And yes, I include myself in this. Studies have shown that Americans leave millions of days of vacation time on the table. What would happen if they took advantage of them? People would be happier and less stressed. They would spend more time with family and loved ones, which makes for a better society. By taking these unused days, they would be stimulating the economy, and that would in turn grow businesses and create jobs. Businesses then pay taxes which gets injected into the local community. So just by people taking what is already given to them in the form of vacation time, we could see a lot of transformational good locally, nationally, and globally.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

I let our social media person do the work for me, so I always direct people to our website, www.visitspacecoast.com, as well as our Facebook (facebook.com/visitspacecoast) and Instagram (@visitspacecoast). I also do a show about tourism and write many articles for Space Coast Daily: just go to spacecoastdaily.com and search for “Tourism Talk.”

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Peter Cranis of Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism: The Future Of Travel In The Post COVID… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Caroline MacDougall of Teeccino on the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help…

Women In Wellness: Caroline MacDougall of Teeccino on the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

When in doubt, go with gratitude. Become a gratitude generator and you’ll find life opens itself up to you. Everyone will want to be around you too. Gratitude keeps your heart open and brings out the very best of everyone. It’s so easy to find reasons to be grateful; just make it an all-day-long practice!

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Caroline MacDougall.

Caroline MacDougall is the founder, creator, and CEO of Teeccino, America’s top selling coffee alternative. With over 30 years’ experience in the herbal products industry, Caroline has designed numerous award-winning herbal beverages for top tea and natural products companies including The Republic of Tea, Yogi Tea Company, Uncle Lee’s Tea, and Organic India. She had a compelling vision to create a delicious, bold tasting, organic brew from roasted herbs and wellness ingredients. Propelled by her own sensitivity to caffeine and acidity, Caroline designed Teeccino to provide a natural energy boost from nutrients, not stimulants like caffeine, to satisfy both coffee and tea drinkers alike.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I was fortunate that I was so passionate about health at a young age when the natural foods movement first began in the late ’60s. It was a time when hippies were devoted to selling whole grains in bulk out of big barrels. Revolutionary articles like How to Cook Brown Rice made the front page of the LA Free Press because no one had ever cooked anything other than Uncle Ben’s white rice. I took a summer job at New Age Natural Foods in Palo Alto, the first ‘big’ natural food store of the time, and ran the room where we had to keep the taxable items because cash registers couldn’t handle both non-taxed food and taxable books and vitamins. I read every book I could about how to achieve optimal health. When Mo Siegel came to the store with hand-sewn bags of tea blends with fun names like Red Zinger and Sleepytime, I got to know him and his fledgling company, Celestial Seasonings. A little while later, I became Celestial’s first sales associate on the road in a gaily painted VW bus with thunderbolts hitting teacups and roosters crowing at sunrise. From there, I began traveling for Celestial buying herbs around the world to import for our teas. At the time, only US pharmaceutical companies imported a small selection of herbs, so I had the opportunity to develop our international sources for more than 100 herbs. Celestial’s mission was to bring the health benefits of herbs to Americans where no one had ever had an herbal beverage before. I am still on that mission over 40 years later, and now with my own company, Teeccino.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

I have so many, but there is one that threads its way through my career. When I started buying herbs for Celestial, we had no database of contacts or existing relationships. I had to write letters to embassies to see if they would be able to tell me who harvested and exported herbs from their countries. On top of that, I had to travel to those foreign countries in a time when there were no credit cards, international telephone calls were prohibited, and women weren’t able to travel alone. On top of that, we had no idea how much of any herb we would need because we were a fast-growing, young company. If I over-bought, it might have had dire consequences to the fledgling company. Thus, I truly had to rely on my intuition and ingenuity by listening to my inner voice. I also learned to be discerning about who to trust and how to safely navigate a male-dominated world. Following your intuition can save you from many pitfalls, which I’ve had to learn the hard way at times. Yet success also requires balancing the intuitive side with a strong sense of determination. Risk-taking is the essence of being an entrepreneur, but knowing which risks to take and when to take them is key!

To illustrate how strongly I believe in my intuition, I created and subsequently launched Teeccino after having a dream one night. I awoke to hear myself say, “The next product I’m going to create is a caffeine-free cappuccino and the name of the product is Teeccino!”. I remember thinking at the time, “I wonder if I can get herbs to brew in an espresso machine?” It took me several months, but I managed to create Teeccino to brew in any kind of coffee maker. I’ve been following the inspiration from that dream for 25 years to I guess you could say determination certainly has played a big part in the success of my company too!

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

When I started my company, Teeccino, I hired many friends. It did make it fun, but in the end, I learned the importance of constructing an experienced team. I thought that I couldn’t afford the cream of the crop staff, so I made do for too long with people who weren’t as passionate about the success of the company. I’ve learned that looking at your company as a team unit and letting go of those who don’t continue to move the company forward is extremely important when finding success.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I wouldn’t have become involved with herbs if I hadn’t been inspired by reading books written by a nomadic herbalist named Juliette de Bairacli Levy. She traveled around the world studying herbal lore with native people while bringing along her children and a menagerie of animals including Afghan hounds and owls. I thought if she can live like that, so can I. I tracked her down and studied with Juliette on several islands in the Mediterranean. She deepened my love of plants, taught me how to use them in the simplest ways to improve my health, and she set me on my lifelong quest to bring delicious herbal beverages to consumers within the United States. She taught me the power of infusing herbal wellness into water. We’d go out picking herbs, bring them back to her primitive cabin and brew, taste, and discuss their many health benefits. Although I took a very different path in life by becoming a businesswoman, my love of herbs was ignited by Juliette.

Ok perfect. Now let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

Teeccino’s mission from the very beginning has been to provide superior foods and beverages that support the pursuit of optimal health and to inspire and educate our customers to adopt a balanced, healthy lifestyle by avoiding stimulants like sugar and caffeine. I founded Teeccino at a time when I was working to preserve rainforests in Central America by finding non-timber forest products for North American companies that would give economic value to standing trees. Teeccino gave me a way to use such ingredients, like the ramón seed from The Maya Biosphere Reserve, which was a traditional roasted beverage of the Maya. We have created new trade by pioneering their harvest from the upper canopy ramón tree and bringing income opportunities to impoverished communities while preserving the rainforest.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

Get off of stimulants. Sugar and caffeine consumed addictively — i.e. every day — age your body and drive it towards exhaustion. Consider energy as a bank account and stimulants as putting your account into overdraft. Instead, conserve your bank account and you’ll always have plenty of energy. Ok, a little dark chocolate here and there is permissible!
When in doubt, go with gratitude. Become a gratitude generator and you’ll find life opens itself up to you. Everyone will want to be around you too. Gratitude keeps your heart open and brings out the very best of everyone. It’s so easy to find reasons to be grateful; just make it an all-day-long practice!
Allow yourself to become bored. Getting bored is the first step towards discovering what you’re passionate about and passion begets purpose. People with a sense of purpose are the healthiest. Let your mind drift when weeding your garden, doing your dishes, or hiking a trail. The act of doing repetitive things can open up your imagination. My best product inspirations come when I give myself some time to just think.
Work is love in action. It may sound impossible, but it makes a difference if you pour love into everything you do. So many people think of work as something they have to do, not something they love to do. Doing your work, no matter how menial a task, with love, affects not only the outcome but also everyone and everything around you. Attitude makes a huge difference and there’s no better way to adjust one’s attitude than to feel love.
Sleep deep and remember your dreams. I was inspired to create Teeccino in a dream and I regularly solve business problems in my dreams. If you aren’t sleeping deeply, you won’t wake up fully rested… which brings me back to caffeine. Don’t use caffeine addictively, but rather occasionally. One of the reasons is that it keeps you from going into a deep sleep where inspiration and rejuvenation can be found.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I would urge consumers to adopt a lifestyle without sugar or caffeine. If I could opt for another, it would be to move more and eat less. We need to eat far fewer calories than we consume now and we need to move daily far more than our computer-driven culture allows for. That would bring about optimal health for everyone!

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

It might take you much longer than you think to achieve your goals. I never imagined I’d still be creating new Teeccino beverages 25 years from when I started, much less that I’d still be loving doing so. So be sure to tune in to how much passion you have for what you’re about to begin to make sure it can last you for the duration of your career.
Don’t be afraid to fail, but make sure you learn from each failure. Great success is born from failure like the phoenix from the ashes of a bonfire. If you beat yourself up for failure, you may miss the opportunities that failures always bring.
Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of sacrifices. Your focus has to be on your business and thus you might miss out on some life events along the way. So be willing to focus intensely while weaving in family life and your most important friends. Let go of the rest for this era knowing that time will bring another era when you can open up again.
Risk is inherent so be ready for the entrepreneurial rollercoaster ride. Don’t let one bump throw you. There are bigger bumps guaranteed ahead. Keep your equanimity and remember that with each hurdle, you become stronger.
Hold the vision. If you want excellence along with success, you have to get very good at holding out for what you envision. Lots of people including investors along the way will try to talk you out of your vision, your values, your mission — all the things that made you start your business in the first place. Hold onto your vision and don’t let it go even when you have to pivot in your business plan to approach your goals from a different angle. Your vision will become even clearer!

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Regenerative agriculture brings me hope in this challenging time of global warming. It’s hard not to feel like the human race is heading towards extinction. Transforming our farms and ranches into producers of rich, thick topsoil that is sequestering carbon is the best way to start reversing climate change and improving our health by consuming healthy plants from mineral-rich soil teeming with microbial life.

The same goes for the ocean. Regenerative agriculture there looks like huge kelp beds and open ocean farming for all kinds of seaweed which can sequester carbon faster than even planting trees. I’m a big fan of regenerating forests too, but we need faster solutions and that comes from drawing down carbon into our soil and our ocean’s plants.

We need a revolution inside the USDA to support regenerative agriculture. By buying from farmers and ranchers who practice regenerative agriculture via cover crops and no-till planting, we can pressure big agriculture to transform from being the problem to being the solution.

Women In Wellness: Caroline MacDougall of Teeccino on the Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women Leaders Of Real Estate: “Why the real estate industry has the ability to affect political…

Women Leaders Of Real Estate: “Why the real estate industry has the ability to affect political change” With Karen Smith of K. Smith and Team Real Estate

The real estate industry has the ability to affect change! If you are in real estate, you are in politics. It’s the hard truth. Our politics are driven by what is best for the consumer. I’m an advocate for property rights. In some countries, women are not allowed to own property or have checking accounts without a male counterpart. We are helping to change that. We promote the importance of homeownership and the pride it brings to families. It’s the foundation for building wealth.

As a part of my series about strong women leaders of the real estate industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Karen Smith. Karen is a Realtor® in Las Vegas and the owner of K. Smith and Team Real Estate. With 20 years of experience as a paralegal, Karen is well versed in the rights of homeowners. She is Chair of the Global Business Committee and President of the FIABCI-USA Mountain States Council, which works to bring sustainable living options to people around the globe. Karen has a proven track record of working with her clients to best meet their needs.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Can you tell us the “backstory” about what brought you to the real estate industry?

When I was 22 years old, I was living in Ohio. I was interested in working in the world of real estate, but was told I didn’t have the ‘right personality.’ I made the decision to go into the legal field and became a paralegal. I spent more than 20 years in that profession. After my youngest child graduated from high school, I decided to move to Las Vegas. I was divorced, and my intention was to get out of the legal field and start a new career. Instead, I found myself working as a paralegal for a Fortune 500 company handling domestic and international patents & trademarks. This company felt like home, and I thought I would retire there. But, the universe had different plans. The company downsized, and I found myself without a job. A family member persuaded me to go into real estate. But because of that personality comment made to me years ago, I had hesitations. My family pointed out that I am a good liaison between the attorneys and clients, was a good listener and had great follow-up skills. I said, “But I’m not a salesperson.” Despite my concerns, I took the required classes and passed the exam the first time! Now, I am a successful Realtor® in Las Vegas, Nevada fueled 100% by word-of-mouth referrals from happy clients.

Can you share with our readers the most interesting or amusing story that occurred to you in your career so far? Can you share the lesson or take away you took out of that story?

When I first got my start in real estate I was nervous. I was transitioning from another career and knew there would be a bit of a learning curve. To my surprise, my first transaction was flawless. I kept thinking to myself, “This is a piece of cake compared to my last profession.” That was until I got to my second home sale. Things changed. I was working with a couple who wanted to purchase a home and use it as a rental property. The MLS stated the home was in “move-in condition, turn-key certified.” Since I was new to the industry and didn’t know any better, I took the word of the MLS. When we had the home inspection done, it was nowhere near move-in ready. It had a list of repairs a mile long. I was totally disappointed and so were the buyers. They were taking money out of their 401k to purchase this home and to top it off, the listing agent hadn’t provided the appropriate documents. I was so irritated I wrote an email to the agent suggesting he consider an adjustment. The agent said he would gladly refund the earnest money deposit and cancel the transaction, since the market was hot and he knew he would get another buyer within hours. In this case everything worked out, but I realized not all things written in the MLS are factual. I learned my lesson and to this day have never sold a home without physically looking at the property first.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that will help people?

I was recently elected FIABCI-USA Mountain States Council President. The Mountain States Council is newly formed, covering Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. FIABCI-International (Fédération Internationale des Administrateurs de Bien-Conseils Immobiliers) is the world’s leading international real estate organization, founded in Paris in 1948. FIABCI fosters global business relationships and creates opportunities for members who represent a spectrum of real estate-related professions from brokerage to architecture, design, legal and financial advisors. Since 1954, FIABCI has served in a consultative status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations to help address serious housing and environmental issues worldwide. I plan on working in unity with FIABCI members and local professionals to enhance awareness of the need for affordable housing that is sustainable in any environment.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

The Karen Smith Team is different from other real estate groups or agents. We explain the entire process upfront, and we listen to our client’s long and short term goals. Our team provides options and scenarios for each, then lets the client decide what is best. We understand deadline dates and due dates, and we adhere to them. If we are working with a buyer, we make sure our lenders are ready to close on time or early, depending on the circumstances of the buyer and seller. We answer our phones and respond to all emails by the end of every day. We avoid doing piecemeal, if possible. Our client, the consumer, is number one.

We recently had a couple moving from Louisiana to Las Vegas. They were hoping to find a single-story home with a mountain view. I looked at several properties with them one weekend when they were in town, got to know them and figured out what they needed, all within their budget. We didn’t find the perfect home that weekend. Their request was tough to find at the time since they wanted to stay under $300,000. A month later, a home came on the market checking all their boxes. It even had a view of the strip! I immediately let them know. I was familiar with the area, and deep inside, I knew this home was the home for them. They were still in Louisiana waiting for confirmation of a job transfer. Even though I was out of town at the time, I wrote up the offer and got it accepted. The buyers were still nervous and unsure. This was the first time they were purchasing a home unseen. As soon as I got back in town, I connected with the clients, showing them the home and the surrounding area and assuring them they would not regret this decision. Shortly after, they received confirmation of a job transfer and received an offer on their home in Louisiana. Once the purchase was final, they arrived in Las Vegas to take possession and get their keys. I met them at the home, and for the first time, they physically toured it. They couldn’t believe the views and felt the home was perfect. To this day, they thank me for finding that home and rave about the views. I’ve been to their home for dinner, and we have remained dear friends.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful to who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

When I was three, my father passed away. I was raised by my grandparents, and my grandfather instilled a strong work ethic in me. I can still hear him say, “If you are going to do something, do it right,” and “Give it 100% or don’t bother doing it.” Even after he retired, he still went into work every day for a few hours to train the new guys. He believed in helping others and teaching them the skills he knew. Back in his day, he worked a full-time job, raised 5 children and ran a printing press. I will never forget the love and discipline only grandparents can provide when acting as your parent. I have so much to thank them for.

Ok. Thank you for all that. Let’s now jump to the main core of our interview. The Real Estate industry, like the veterinarian, nursing and public relations fields, is a women-dominated industry. Yet despite this, less than 20 percent of senior positions in real estate companies are held by women. In your opinion or experience, what do you think is the cause of this imbalance?

Many women become part-time real estate agents as a way to supplement the family income, whereas a larger percentage of men are full-time real estate agents. Although there is an increasing number of women who become full-time agents, there is still a stigma that this is a male-dominated profession. At first, I felt intimidated when speaking with a male counterpart on a transaction, whether it was a fellow agent or client. I have come to realize, as in my legal career, I am the professional, and I know what I am doing. I am working in the best interest of my client and the consumer. Real estate is much more than buying and selling homes and signing contracts. The more involved in the industry you are the more confident you become. Women need to put themselves out there and not be afraid to take that leap of faith. Times are changing, and women are rising to the challenge. It won’t be long before more women dominate the real estate world.

What 3 things can be done by a)individuals b)companies and/or c) society to support greater gender balance going forward?

Women can become more assertive in their wants and aspirations. Just because one company said “no” doesn’t mean the next company will. Keep trying until you find the right fit for you or the “yes” you are looking for. Look to yourself for support, know that you are the only person who can truly make yourself happy and make your dreams come true. Don’t be afraid to ask for moral support or guidance.
Companies and society should be more open-minded to change. The most important quality in a person is their willingness to succeed, no matter what the age. Just because someone speaks softer, words things differently or has children, doesn’t mean they won’t be successful. Let’s face it, it’s a mindset. Once you change your view, the outcome can become beneficial for many, even people you might not have thought of.
I want people to stop underestimating the influence a woman can have. More and more women are starting support groups to help others like them rise and encourage women to keep making strides forward. The days of cattiness are over.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by women executives that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?

A larger percentage of working women are also tasked with taking care of their children, compared to men. Many men get up, get dressed and go to work. More often, women get up, get dressed, get the kids dressed and fed and then take them to daycare or school. I know this is changing with the times. My daughter has two children. She and her husband alternate the drive to and from daycare and getting the kids prepared in the morning.

Women also face far more challenges and critiques in the workplace. A woman can say the same thing as a man and get a totally different reaction. Women are still judged on their clothing, hair, nails, makeup or lack of makeup, shoes, age and wrinkles.

Can you share 3 things that most excite you about the Real Estate industry?

The real estate industry has the ability to affect change! If you are in real estate, you are in politics. It’s the hard truth. Our politics are driven by what is best for the consumer. I’m an advocate for property rights. In some countries, women are not allowed to own property or have checking accounts without a male counterpart. We are helping to change that. We promote the importance of homeownership and the pride it brings to families. It’s the foundation for building wealth. I am a member of the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA), National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) and The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP). I’ve been to Washington, D.C. during the legislative session. I look at real estate like “It’s a Wonderful Life”, I’m George Bailey here to help you create your own wealth through home ownership.
The ability to teach others and help raise the standards and expectations excites me. I hold myself to a high standard, and I hold those I work with to the same standard. It’s not always easy, but I believe consumers entrust us with their largest asset and in most cases, the largest purchase they will make in their lifetime. They deserve someone who is working on their behalf and guiding them through the process. No one has a crystal ball. The job is to get the buyer or the seller, whichever one you represent, the best deal you can.
Now more than ever, people have the ability to buy and sell anywhere in the world! Many times, consumers and even agents limit themselves to a specific area. Yes, we know the market we are licensed in. But in some cases, agents can help in other states and countries. I’m a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) and a Dubai International Property Consultant (DIPC). I spend time traveling the world and meeting Realtors® in other states and countries. I visit with developers in other countries and learn about their market and their projects. I only promote properties and developers I have met with in other countries. It’s important to know you are dealing with trustworthy, reliable individuals.

Can you share 3 things that most concern you about the industry? If you had the ability to implement 3 ways to reform or improve the industry, what would you suggest?

The bar to enter the real estate industry is often set too low. There are many part-time real estate agents and others who think it’s about the commission check and the number of transactions done each year. If I had the opportunity to implement reform, I would start with the education process. I went to paralegal school for 18 months. Real estate schooling should take six to nine months to complete, not two to four weeks. We are having clients sign legally binding contracts, so we should make sure we have as much knowledge about the process as possible.
Many real estate agents aren’t actively involved in their community. I would make it mandatory for them to participate in at least one committee at either the local, state or national level. It could be any committee that interests them.
Too many agents get caught up in the numbers. I want agents to understand that it’s about the quality of the transaction, not the quantity. Don’t get me wrong, we have many excellent Realtors® that go above and beyond, but there is a reason some consumers have poor impressions of our industry. I want that to change.

What advice would you give to other leaders to help their team to thrive?

It’s not the quantity of transactions, it’s the quality with which you complete each one. My business is 100% referral based. I’m successful this way because I make sure everyone I work with knows what I expect which makes for a smooth, clean transaction. It’s critical to have systems in place. A team is more than the Realtors®. Your team includes lenders, attorneys, title companies, escrow officers, home inspectors, handymen, contractors, insurance carriers and home warranty companies.

Ok, here is the main question of our interview. You are a “Real Estate Insider”. If you had to advise someone about 5 non-intuitive things one should know to succeed in the Real Estate industry, what would you say? Can you please give a story or an example for each?

Never assume everyone is doing their job in the same manner you do yours. My first deal in the world of real estate went great! No glitches, everyone did what they were supposed to, and we closed early. I thought this was great and so much easier than the legal profession. The next several transactions, not so much. That’s when I learned the importance of having my own team of people I can trust to do the job and do the job the same way I would. There are many parts to a real estate transaction, and even though the consumer doesn’t see all of them, just one person not doing their part can make a transaction go sideways.
Don’t ever judge how much money someone has by the car they drive or the clothes they wear. I learned this in the legal profession. Transitioning into real estate, it has been equally important. A home is often the biggest purchase of someone’s life, and you never know how much money they are willing to spend. You never want to insult a client who is coming to you for help.
If you are purchasing new home construction, the sales representative of the new home build represents the builder. They are there to assist you, but when all is said and done, they will do what is in the best interest of the builder. If the consumer is serious about purchasing a new build, they should always go to the new build site with their trusted Realtor®. They are there to protect and represent the buyer. When I represent a buyer on new construction, we view the home site together, and I’m there when they sign the contract. I attend the structural inspection, go to the “home center” when the client picks out upgrades and materials, view the property while it is being constructed and attend all walkthroughs. In one instance, I noticed the builder laid the wrong flooring. It was similar in color, but the quality of the flooring was a lower grade. If I weren’t at the “home center” with the client when he picked it out, it would have been his word against theirs. He was able to get a price adjustment.
Always submit the offer, even if you don’t think it will be accepted. You never know where the seller is coming from and what their priorities are. Until you see it in writing from the seller, don’t assume an offer won’t be accepted just because the listing agent or buyer’s agent says it won’t work.
Go with your gut instinct. We are taught that once we are in escrow we should do what we can to make sure the deal moves forward to closing. However, I have learned that just because an offer is accepted and escrow is opened, it doesn’t always mean it’s the right deal for your client. You do have to have legitimate reasons for canceling.

Because of your position, you are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂

When I was young, I struggled to find a safe place to live with my children. My husband was in the Air Force, and when he returned home, finding an affordable place to live was difficult. My aunts and uncles allowed us to live in a home they owned, rent and utility free, until we found jobs. Shortly thereafter, we purchased the home. I learned that it is possible to get back on your feet when things are tough.

One of my dreams is to help battered women and/or struggling single women with children who are in need of a helping hand. I want to give them the opportunity to live in a home of their own for two or three months, rent free and utility free, just like I did. From there, they could start paying rent or apply for a mortgage to purchase the home. It would then be sold to them 1% under fair market value. I would love to be able to give back to those who encountered difficulties like I did and let them know that they can make it through.

How can our readers follow you online?

Feel free to reach out on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. I’d love to connect!

Thank you for your time, and your excellent insights!

Thank you!

Women Leaders Of Real Estate: “Why the real estate industry has the ability to affect political… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.