Category: Featured

“Nothing beats hard work; Yes, you can be smart about it and having a good network helps, but so…

“Nothing beats hard work. Yes, you can be smart about it and having a good network helps, but so much of success in whatever you want to achieve is down to the work and dedication you bring to the table.” with Sophie Radcliffe, a.k.a. “Challenge Sophie and Candice Georgiadis

Nothing beats hard work. Yes, you can be smart about it and having a good network helps, but so much of success in whatever you want to achieve is down to the work and dedication you bring to the table. You’ve got to want it more than anything else and consistently put in the hours. The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you figure out why. For me, that was the day I delivered my first TrailBlazers workshop. I was completely immersed in a state of flow and left thinking “this is what I was born to do.”

I had the pleasure of interviewing Sophie Radcliffe, a.k.a. “Challenge Sophie”, an adventure athlete, writer and motivational speaker who quit her agency job to climb mountains, race through the jungles of Borneo, cycle across Europe — and combat sexism along the way. Her mission, in her own words, is “to champion ordinary people to achieve the extraordinary.”

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

Growing up I struggled a lot with figuring out how to be true to myself whilst also trying to fit in and be socially accepted by my peers. I was bullied at two different schools and I found body confidence to be an ongoing battle.

Fast forward a few years, I graduated from university, moved to London and took a 9-to-5 sales job in a startup. Within 6 months, I felt constricted. I couldn’t do the things I wanted to do and knew this wasn’t the place I was going to figure out who I was and what I was truly capable of.

Instead of letting the world define me, I decided to take this into my own hands and challenge myself so I could define who I was and what my limits were.

Why fit in when you were born to stand out!

My first challenge was an adventure race in the jungle of Borneo which completely changed my life. Everything I had struggled with for years suddenly became clear. It felt like a fire had been ignited that had been waiting to be lit my entire life.

The experience of setting myself a challenge, being dedicated and motivated, putting in the work, achieving something I thought was impossible and the sense of confidence and self-belief that comes with it. I loved being active as a child but wouldn’t say I was sporty and definitely didn’t grow up doing any kind of competitive sport and now I was adventure racing in the jungle!

This was 10 years ago. Since then, I’ve changed my life from an ordinary girl living in London with no sporting background to quitting my job and reinventing myself to become a globally recognised adventure athlete, motivational speaker, mentor, youth empowerment change maker and soon-to-be published author!

We all want to believe in ourselves and be courageous and resilient in the pursuit of the lives we deserve and dream of living, but the only way to strengthen self-belief is to do things that are difficult and scary.

We all want to feel that our lives are filled with limitless opportunities for growth, adventure, and joy, but in order to feel this, we need to be brave and challenge our limits. Finding out who you are when you are faced with adversity, I believe, is an incredibly worthwhile and powerful path to pursue!

Confidence is like a muscle, the more you train it, the stronger it gets!

I’ve also grown to accept and love my body for what it can do rather than what it looks like.

My mission is to champion ordinary people achieving extraordinary things! I want to help people become mentally strong, resilient, motivated, confident and courageous individuals who have the tools, inspiration, and support to overcome fear and pursue the lives they deserve. Hopefully, this gives an insight into what I do, why I do it and how I came to this career path!

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

When I first quit my job, I decided to tear up the rule book I felt I’d been living by since I was born and start fresh. I had ticked a number of the boxes I felt I was supposed to tick: ‘get good grades, graduate from university, get a job, earn money, save, find a partner and settle down, etc…’ but I felt like I was following someone else’s dream and not mine.

Free from the shackles of the 9–5 I moved to Chamonix, a gorgeous mountain town in the French Alps and began a new chapter! I challenged myself to climb the highest mountains in the 8 Alpine countries and cycle between them — becoming the only person in history to do so.

This put me on the map and gave me credibility — opening the door to talk about the things I am passionate about.

A year later I was sponsored by Adidas and giving a Ted Talk ‘Achieve Your Extraordinary’ to an audience of 1,000 people. Just shows the change you can create when you make big decisions and go for it!

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?

Whilst training for my first Ironman, I went on a week-long training camp with a triathlon club in Spain. To my dismay, I realised on the plane that I hadn’t packed any underwear and we were staying out in the middle of nowhere so I couldn’t buy any either.

This was just one more lesson in rolling with the punches and letting go!

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

Ever since I started blogging and building a platform on social media I made a commitment to be a force for good. My goal is to break down barriers by sharing my experiences and insights in a way that’s accessible for people.

So whether someone wants to quit their job and start their own business like I did, move country, climb a mountain, run a marathon or be strong enough to leave a relationship that’s not working, I want them to think “If she can do it, so can I.”

I share my story openly and honestly on social media and my blog, I give talks around the world, do podcast interviews and offer daily support and advice to people who write to me.

However, the biggest part of my work happens offline. In a bid to tackle rising mental health issues with teenage girls, I founded a youth empowerment project called TrailBlazers which builds confidence, resilience and life skills in teenage girls to help them live courageously.

I also mentor people on a one-to-one basis to help them deal with change and adversity, and I organise an annual cycling challenge: 300kms from London to Paris in 24 hours to give people the opportunity and support to change their lives through the power of this epic sporting challenge!

We’ve since had over 500 riders — many who’d never done a long bike race before.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

A lady called Caroline emailed me a week before my annual London to Paris cycling challenge she was booked onto saying she wouldn’t be able to make it as her step-dad had just passed away and she’d just broken up with her boyfriend. She didn’t feel strong enough to do it and anxiety was taken over her mind. I offered some words of comfort and urged her to give it a go!

Here’s what she wrote to me afterward:

“I joined the start line with so much anxiety and limiting beliefs. Throughout the journey, I pushed through every one of them and more. The sportive gave me everything I love about life; movement, challenge, the opportunity to connect with and encourage other people. People who inspire me. Pushing myself out of my comfort zone is where I truly find myself; I feel free and completely at one with myself. I am feeling the fear and doing it anyway! Fear and excitement live on opposite sides of the same line for me, they feel very similar physically. I am fortunate enough to have an inner drive and determination that won’t allow me to settle for an ordinary life. Therefore I have to take my fear which tries so hard to debilitate me and keep me still and push myself to complete these challenges because when I reach the other side, I feel so totally alive. It gives life meaning. The sense of positivity and self-belief increases and I just feel that it’s all going to be ok. It gives me peace, It fills my heart and soul.

This adventure has taught me that I can achieve so much more than I ever thought possible. That happiness is a choice, I chose to find my way to the start line and I know that that choice has put me in a much better position to deal with the loss in my life.

One day I will not be able to do this, but today is not that day!”

Was there a tipping point the made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

TrailBlazers was the tipping point for me. Everyone is aware of the dire situation in schools; mental health is a global epidemic facing our teens and social media is getting blamed but I think the problem goes far deeper than that.

Many of the girls I work with are described as “invisible” by their parents and teachers. They are dealing with so much criticism, judgment, pressure, and negativity on a daily basis — one of the most terrifying throwaway comments I hear students say to each other all the time is “you should go kill yourself” — that their aim is to exist without being noticed as much as possible.

I find this incredibly sad and vowed to do something about it! By creating a safe, support network and sharing my own struggles and vulnerabilities with the girls, I am able to help them bring who they really are in their hearts and minds to the surface and help them rise and shine.

Some of the girls were suicidal when I first met them and 8 months later they are different girls entirely with new friendship groups, mentoring girls in the year below them and winning ‘Inspiration Awards’ at school.

Recently I met with a group of the girls’ parents and one by one they came to me with tears in their eyes saying “TrailBlazers has changed her life.” So I know this is something I want to dedicate my life to!

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

– Invest in mental health initiatives that get people active, spending more time in nature and learning how to connect and foster a sense of community

– Make volunteering part of our lives so that everyone learns to invest in giving back and doing things to help other people

– Reduce the focus on bad news in the press. This feeds a mindset of negativity and what we need in the world are more people that see the good in the world and contribute towards it on a daily basis. Imagine if every news slot had 20% dedicated to people doing good around the world!

What specific strategies have you been using to promote and advance this cause? Can you recommend any good tips for people who want to follow your lead and use their social platform for a social good?

I’m always adapting the type of content I put out online and thinking about what problems my community are facing that I can try to help them with.

I regularly ask them if there’s something specific I can help with too. I’m going to start doing more video chats with people and I receive hundreds of email conversations but I want to get these online so I can support more than one person at a time.

The advice I give is personal and practical but I believe in dreaming big and being bold so I always encourage people to adopt this mindset too. Often in our friendship groups, not everyone is supportive when someone wants to do something out of the ordinary, so I offer that support when someone needs it.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each

1. Life is not a linear path in an upward trajectory. Sometimes you have to be prepared to take what feels like a step backward in order to move forward in a new direction.

2. 1 plus 1 equals 3. This is something my mentor, Chris Moss, says. The idea being that the combination of two people’s minds and energy is greater than the sum of their parts if they were working alone. Teamwork and collaboration are the way forward!

3. Try things on and give everything a go as it’s only through this that your path will become clear. Big decisions stir the universe and create waves!

4. Nothing beats hard work. Yes, you can be smart about it and having a good network helps, but so much of success in whatever you want to achieve is down to the work and dedication you bring to the table. You’ve got to want it more than anything else and consistently put in the hours. The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you figure out why. For me, that was the day I delivered my first TrailBlazers workshop. I was completely immersed in a state of flow and left thinking “this is what I was born to do.”

5. Be a do-er not a talker. Do the things you say you are going to do and don’t wait until you feel ready as you may end up missing your chance. Many people say they are going to do something, dream about it, talk about it, but never end up doing it. Be someone who takes action.

A ship in the harbour is safe, but that’s not what a ship was built for. Go Sailing!

You are a person of enormous 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. 🙂

The simplest things can often have the biggest impact.

Something that’s accessible to all of us, for free, and is really powerful for physical and mental health is spending time outside in nature.

The movement I want to start is to encourage people to spend one hour outside per week away from technology. In a world that’s constantly making us feel like we are not enough, it’s so important to make time to be still, reflect and look back, to appreciate how far we’ve come.

If we are always looking forward and moving towards the next goal we miss the opportunity to reflect. Being, thinking, creating, dreaming, watching, listening and walking are all incredibly valuable pursuits and just an hour in nature doing any of these is proven to have a huge impact on our mental health and overall wellbeing!

#DisconnectToReconnect #OneHourOutside

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

One life, Live it!

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

Michelle Obama. I’ve just finished reading Becoming and as a woman who made a lot of personal sacrifices in her life in pursuit of not only her dreams, but moreso, her husband’s dreams, I’d love to have a really open conversation about that! I also think she’d love to hear about TrailBlazers!

Thank you for joining us!

“Nothing beats hard work; Yes, you can be smart about it and having a good network helps, but so… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “If your bathroom sink is overflowing, you don’t reach…

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “If your bathroom sink is overflowing, you don’t reach for the mop to soak up the overflow, you turn off the tap.” with Kate Nelson and Candice Georgiadis

There’s a great analogy used in Plastics. If your bathroom sink is overflowing, you don’t reach for the mop to soak up the overflow, you turn off the tap. This is what we need to do with plastics.

1) We need to stop the plastic at its source and lobby for less plastic production. An increase in recycled plastics would be beneficial — anything to prevent further extraction of these petroleum-based items that are polluting our environment that we all rely upon to survive.

2) Corporations must produce less plastic packaging, less plastic products, and especially, stop using virgin plastics for their materials. We need more laws and enforcement of said laws to restrict the irresponsible distribution of plastic.

3) We need greater regulation of full lifecycle analysis for product duration. Effectively closing the loop on products that are bad for the environment. This didn’t seem to be a problem since we thought recycling worked, however now that we know recycling is broken, we need more systems in place that actually work.

Our community, society, and our politicians have a lot to do to address the root of this problem.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Kate Nelson, an environmentalist, entrepreneur, yogi, mermaid, and goddess who has been disposable plastic-free for over a decade. She began her journey with a dream to change the way people viewed environmentalism; to inspire a movement by celebrating the Earth and by living consciously and sustainably. She uses her platform Plastic Free Mermaid to educate and inform her followers on how to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

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

I got started with my plastic-free lifestyle 11 years ago when I was volunteering for Jean Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society. There I learned that plastic does not biodegrade and that it was ending up in the ocean. I studied under Dr. Andrea Neal, who taught me that plastics were ending up in Gyres swirling around and rather than biodegrading they were breaking up into smaller plastics that resemble little sea creatures like plankton.

I decided to take action immediately, and I quit plastics. This dramatic change in my lifestyle brought me to the career path I have as an environmental activist and someone that people follow online for advice on how to live plastic-free.

Rather than force people or badger others to make this, I decided to inspire people. Through my commitment or absolutely no plastic, people around and people online started noticing me, and I gained credibility through keeping this commitment not to use plastics. Eventually, people began wanting to learn how I did it and wanted to make changes themselves, so I started to share more about my life on a larger scale through my blog and my Instagram @plasticfreemermaid.

When I stopped using plastic, my relationship with nature evolved. I had to find alternatives and seek out unpackaged goods. I turned to all natural products; aloe vera, flowers, herbs, Jasmine, honey, beeswax, mint leaves, and chamomile flowers. My journey and career path are as organic as it comes — I came into this wanting to reduce my environmental impact and footprint.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

Last year I went to East Java, Indonesia to track where the majority of the Western world’s trash ends up. It was shocking to see how much waste was from the United States, the UK, Canada, and Australia.

The majority of the villagers on the remote island had never left their village, yet they were dealing with the trash from all over the world. It was a bizarre thing to witness — these people had to become experts on recycling.

One man sat on the dirt ground with a makeshift bamboo structure above him. He sorted through a pile of trash and divvied up different plastics into 20 palm woven baskets. He put each basket into a bag that went to one of the other makeshift bamboo recycling structures further up the river, or the bags went to the giant piles of plastic bags lining the dirt road of the village.

The makeshift bamboo recycling centers further up the river were so rudimentary it made your jaw drop. They shredded plastic and diverted river water to clean the plastic. They then stashed the shredded plastic into bags and hoped it would sell to recycling centers.

As a result, the river turned into a thick white sludge after rinsing all of the plastic wrappers that contained everything from margarine to toothpaste. It was incredibly eye-opening and motivating to ramp up my advocacy and education platform.

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?

As you can imagine becoming plastic-free is almost impossible. There are so many people whose job it is to give you plastic, whether it be a bartender putting a straw in your drink or to someone quickly bagging something up for you.

I’ve become hyper-aware of this and can almost always spot this before it happens. I can’t read minds, so sometimes it still happens before I can say anything. I try and turn those situations into learning opportunities for my followers by filming them or by merely explaining that I am plastic-free and education, he proprietor why.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

I use my platform to inspire change. When I began, I was frustrated by the doomsday feeling of the environmental movement. I didn’t want to talk about dead turtles; I wanted to celebrate living turtles, the beauty of flowers, rainbows, and incredible waterfalls. I wanted to inspire people to be more connected to the magic of nature. Moreover, so my approach has been less about the problem and more about the solution.

I use the platform to share recipes for products I make at home. It is a place for learning, sharing, and community. I also share what I know about environmental activism and deep ecology — it is truly a place for growth.

I intend for my community to feel empowered to make changes on the individual level as well as go out and step up as activists in their community. I remind my followers that I am one person, and if they believe that I made a difference that they can make a difference too.

I feel so fortunate to have social media as a tool to share but also to connect with people. I continuously share stories on my feed, which is a window into my lifestyle. These messages come from the heart and a place of gratitude, and I feel that.

It is so fulfilling to hear these stories and see how small changes add up and make a difference and ripple outward to inspire others. It keeps me going.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

Ten years ago, when I founded the “Save the Mermaids” nonprofit to educate people about the impacts of plastic. I invited my best friend’s to join me and spreading the word as mythical charismatic mermaids. I taught my girlfriend’s that plastic does not biodegrading, and they were shocked and horrified. It was an awakening for all of us, and I couldn’t have done it without them.

There were about ten of us, and now years later, three of us are still working on ocean conservation. Myself, Kaia, who is head of “Save the Mermaids,” and Emma. Emma invented a collapsible, reusable straw. I’m so proud of her.

Emma and I went on to travel around Central and South America with other mermaid girlfriends. We traveled around Central and South America and had a hilarious Adventures avoiding straws and cleaning beaches.

Imagine the seeds we are planting and used as we empower each other to stand up for the planet, make sacrifices for our world by sacrifice sacrificing comforts in our daily lives. This little seed was planted in Emma 10 years ago, and now she is an incredible inventor, business owner, and planet saver. I’m so proud of her.

Was there a tipping point the made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

The tipping point that made me focus on conservation began 11 years ago when I was volunteering for the ocean conservation nonprofit called Jean-Michel Cousteau Ocean Futures Society.

I learned that plastic does not biodegrade and that it was collecting out in our ocean in Whirlpool like systems called gyres. When the currents all converge in the middle of the seas between continents, they create this whirlpool-like system where all of the trash that’s in the oceans that’s traveled along the rivers traveled out by the currents into the gyre State collect.

It creates dead zones. We’re nothing very little can survive. Moreover, the plastic does not biodegrade, but it photodegrades, meaning it breaks up into tons of tiny small pieces that are impossible to clean up as they are the same size as Plankton and phytoplankton and zooplankton. Here I was fresh out of college where I used red Solo cups at every party and brought plastic water bottles to yoga class and drank out of plastic smoothie cups with plastic straws every day.

I realized that I was contributing to the trash that was killing my most favorite part of our planet, the ocean.

So I went out on a research vessel with the University of Hawaii Manoa to see the Great Pacific trash gyre for myself. I gathered a sample from the ocean there and was horrified to see that it was, in fact, a soup, dense with small plastic bits. I decided that of all the things happening to the planet, this was something that I could change. My contribution to plastic pollution could stop. I stopped allowing plastic bags, cutlery, takeaway food containers, coffee cups, smoothie cups, all party cups, straws, and plastic water bottles in my life.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

Absolutely. There’s a great analogy used in Plastics. If your bathroom sink is overflowing, you don’t reach for the mop to soak up the overflow, you turn off the tap. This is what we need to do with plastics.

1) We need to stop the plastic at its source and lobby for less plastic production. An increase in recycled plastics would be beneficial — anything to prevent further extraction of these petroleum-based items that are polluting our environment that we all rely upon to survive.

2) Corporations must produce less plastic packaging, less plastic products, and especially, stop using virgin plastics for their materials. We need more laws and enforcement of said laws to restrict the irresponsible distribution of plastic.

3) We need greater regulation of full lifecycle analysis for product duration. Effectively closing the loop on products that are bad for the environment. This didn’t seem to be a problem since we thought recycling worked, however now that we know recycling is broken, we need more systems in place that actually work.

Our community, society, and our politicians have a lot to do to address the root of this problem.

What specific strategies have you been using to promote and advance this cause? Can you recommend any good tips for people who want to follow your lead and use their social platform for social good?

I am extreme. I don’t use any single-use plastic. I make everything from vegan treats and deodorant to mascara and toothpaste, which inspires others to reevaluate their lifestyle. My extreme ways put people’s consumption into perspective. Since I have plastic hacks for everything, my platform is incredibly informative, and people can choose what works for them.

I offer hacks in many forms: new plastic-free recipes, tales from my mermaid adventures, ways to stay healthy, updates in the world regarding plastic policy change, resources to become environmental activists, and everyday plastic hack tips.

For anyone looking to use their platform for social good, I recommend leading by example.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”?

1) Release attachment to perfection; keep moving forward.

2) Do yoga every day.

3) Get your finances organized straightaway. If you don’t understand what needs to happen, hire someone. Find someone who will do it for your tiny budget. Even if it’s $5.

4) Set goals for your personal life and your career, and don’t be attached to reaching them as long as you’re always growing and you are doing well.

5) Find what you’re good at and what you love. DO THAT. Hire others to do the rest.

If I could inspire a movement it would be for people to give up plastic. Our planet is dying and we need to stop plastic production and close the loop on products that are bad for the environment.

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

My favorite “Life Lesson Quote” is a poem by Walt Whitman on living a vibrant and rewarding life. It became a ritual when I read it. It reminded me to stay my course, regardless of how my path compared to others around me. That what we know to be “normal” is not necessarily right. It reminded me to question everything and to trust my instincts.

“This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body.”

― Walt Whitman

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

Paul Hawken. I would love to be inside his brain! I’d love to hear about the research that went into his 100 solutions to reverse global warming and have him explain each of them.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Follow me on Instagram at @plasticfreemermaid

Subscribe to my Plastic Free Mermaid YouTube Channel

Read my blog at iquitplastics.com

Thank you for joining us!

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “If your bathroom sink is overflowing, you don’t reach… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Future Of Travel: “I believe that ‘augmented reality’ is going to be integral to any travel…

The Future Of Travel: “I believe that ‘augmented reality’ is going to be integral to any travel company offering.” with Michal Hubschmann & Candice Georgiadis

I believe that “augmented reality”, the interactive experience of a real world environment, is going to be integral to any travel company offering so that people can experience a place before traveling there, and use this information to make better decisions.

As part of my series about “exciting developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Michal Hubschmann, CEO of VDroom, a leading 360° content management system for property owners. She is a veteran of the travel industry, and sold her first start-up, Easytobook.com to Dutch based Travix (BCD holdings), one of the largest travel companies in the world.

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

My entrepreneurial journey began while touring Europe in my twenties. When I ran out of money, I went to a hotel in England and told them, “I don’t have money, I will do any job you want, for a place to sleep.” That’s how it all began. While working the hotel front desk, I felt inspired by the dot-com boom, and bought the domain easytobook.com for $3. I saw the growth of the web as a huge opportunity to shift travel agency services online, and decided I wanted part of the action.

In 2011, we sold easytobook.com to BCD holdings, one of the largest travel companies in the world. At that time, we had 80 employees and a turnover of EUR 100 million.

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

Several years ago, I decided to compete in the “polar bear pitch”, a start-up competition with one small catch: I needed to deliver my pitch while immersed in a hole cut through the frozen Baltic Sea. I trained for the competition for weeks, taking ice baths and cold showers to acclimatize my body to new temperatures. By mentally preparing myself, I was able to keep my eyes on the prize, ignore the cold, and deliver a pitch as if I were standing in my own living room. And the preparation paid off — I won first prize in the competition, along with lots of media exposure for my company. I also met a mentor there who still advises us until today.

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?

It’s not a funny story, but rather something that taught me a great lesson. Around the time that we were selling easytobook.com, there was a company who seemed very interested to buy us. But we soon realized that instead of being interested in us as a company, they were actually fishing for information that they could use for themselves. What I learned from this is to be much smarter about the way I expose company information, to use confidential agreements and terms sheets with timelines. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

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

My co-founder and I all come from the world of competitive sports. I was a European Long Jump Champion and my co-founder was a Judo Champion from South Africa. There are a lot of similarities between entrepreneurship and competitive sports — in terms of perseverance, discipline, focus, and projecting confidence. I believe that the traits we developed as athletes are the same ones that will ultimately lead our company to success.

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 fostering company spirit. It’s important to be flexible, allowing people to work from home, for example, or have flexible schedules. Giving team members equity in the company is a great way to motivate them to do their best. Of course, as a former athlete, I also believe in the importance of physical activity to stay healthy and avoid burnout. My team likes extreme sports and enjoying physical activities together is a great way to bond and keep people energized.

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?

When I lived in Holland I had an mentor named Paul Gruijthuijsen. He’s a lawyer who advises companies on legal and commercial issues. He helped us find the right buyer and prepare easytobook.com for our sale. But he’s actually so much more than that. He is a people person who instinctively knows how to moderate between negotiating parties. I learned so much from him about how to deal with people. Travel is such a competitive marketplace, but at the end of the day, as in any field, it all comes down to your relationships with people. Paul was a master at fostering relationships and his “golden touch” was integral to our successful sale.

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?

VDroom brings innovation to the booking process, helping property owners better market themselves, and increasing customer confidence and conversion. Through the VDroom platform, property owners can create and distribute a 3D gallery of visual assets to market leading booking sites, with one click. VDroom uses machine learning to serve up and present the best images, in the best order, from the best angles to most effectively appeal to customers. Hotels using our service have enjoyed up to 50% more views than hotels using regular images.

While many travel companies offer the ability to create virtual tours, none of the other available solutions incorporate smart marketing analytics. We saw this as a missed opportunity, as websites incorporating 360 and virtual reality technology have much greater visibility in search engines, which favor 3D content.

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

VDroom solves a critical pain for property owners by helping their property stand out in a competitive marketplace. While consumer booking habits are primarily influenced by images, the largest booking companies and OTAs (online travel agents) have not updated the way they present their imagery. VDroom solves this problem, at the same time increasing consumer confidence in their accommodations. According to one client: “VDroom offers a new world for tourism in the sense that today we do not have to physically be in a place in order to see and feel it. VDroom lets you experience the place before you arrive, and gives you the confidence and comfort of knowing this is the room you want to be in.

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

The rise of Airbnb has shaken up the traditional hotel market. As the apartment sharing market continues to grow, hotels are getting into apartment-sharing game themselves. VRroom technology alleviates the biggest problem with apartment rentals — whether the photos accurately represent the apartment. Through the use of sophisticated techniques like 360 imagery, guests can know exactly how the apartment looks, from every angle, as if they were actually there. As guests and properties discover the benefits of this technology, I believe it will become the accepted standard for property marketing and booking.

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 like to travel?

Consumers love to know exactly what they are booking, and to have all relevant information in one place, at the click of a button. They also want to feel like they are getting a great deal.

The first and foremost trend I see is that companies will be changing the way they present their properties, both in terms of presenting better images and in smarter ways. In other words, images will become more “intelligent”, will be shown to the right people, in the right order, and personalized, based on data and business intelligence.
I believe that “augmented reality”, the interactive experience of a real world environment, is going to be integral to any travel company offering so that people can experience a place before traveling there, and use this information to make better decisions.
I think we will see more travel services that are essentially one stop shops, allowing people to book everything through the same site, and have one bill for everything. It makes the experience seamless and convenient for the travellers.
Travelers like to connect with other travellers — people who have “been there before” — as well as to tap into local knowledge. In the next few years, there will be more products and services facilitating these connections and encouraging authentic experiences though connections with locals.
I believe companies will change the way they present offers and deals to their clients. In the next few years I believe booking sites will embed interactive coupons into their offerings, which will be fun and game-like. In this way, they will engage people to stay on their site longer, as well as encourage people to take advantage of great deals.

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

From the planning stages to the actual trip, travel should be an enjoyable experience. I believe that the process of finding my perfect vacation should be seamless, whether I’m going to a city in Europe or on a tropical vacation: This means I should easily find accommodations that suit my needs, as well as be able to book shows, taxis, train tickets, everything I need in one place. Privacy is also a big concern. On the one hand, I know I need to give a lot of personal data in order to create this seamless experience. However, I want to be assured that my personal information remains protected.

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

I believe that doing good and giving back is very important. In all my companies, I dedicate at least 10% of my time towards public service. For example, while I built easytobook.com I was living in Holland and volunteered to help children who had cancer. We organized a special fun day for 200 kids, importing drums from Egypt and drummers from my native Israel. It was a wonderful way to bring joy to many children, as well as increase company spirit.

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. 🙂

I want to bring transparency and trust back to the internet. While there is an overwhelming amount of information online, you don’t actually know who and what you can trust. This is especially a problem when it comes to travel and tourism when you’re trying to figure out where to stay and what to do in a new place. There are many fake reviews and marketing tricks being used which are not beneficial to travellers. For many people, taking a vacation is a rare luxury and it’s a shame when their holidays go awry. I want to change this by giving people new tools to make travel choices with confidence.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michal-hubschmann-2a70b28?originalSubdomain=il

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

Thank you for joining us!

The Future Of Travel: “I believe that ‘augmented reality’ is going to be integral to any travel… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Future Of Travel: “Whether it’s learning a new skill, spiritual sanctuaries or civic tourism…

The Future Of Travel: “Whether it’s learning a new skill, spiritual sanctuaries or civic tourism, the next generation traveller will be looking far beyond the spa.” with Alexandra Beggs and Candice Georgiadice

Transformative travel, whether it’s learning a new skill, spiritual sanctuaries or civic tourism, the next generation traveller will be looking far beyond the spa. They will demand holistic travel that provides personal enrichment and a chance for them to become better versions of themselves.

As part of my series about “exciting developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alexandra Beggs, Senior Designer, HBA DNA. Alexandra comes from a background in media and communications and started her career in Australia, where she spent six years working in-house for an agency based in Melbourne. Prior to HBA DNA’s launch in Los Angeles, Alexandra spent three years in Singapore, working in hotel and resort design for renowned hospitality studios including HBA and Blink Design. Notable design projects include Mandarin Oriental Manila, Viceroy Cocobay and Raffles Dhevanafushi, Maldives. Whilst at HBA Singapore, her cross-industry experience saw her lead the development and design of three new brands for a large operator group in China, ultimately co-creating the department for HBA DNA with Principal Mark Eacott. A well-versed and articulate communicator, Alexandra has previously been selected for Operator Design Immersion sessions, including Hilton’s lifestyle brand launch of Canopy. Alex is an active researcher on the evolving hotel guest and their impact on the hospitality design.

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 a kid I wanted to be an architect, but when I went through high school things changed and I ended up studying marketing and communications. After a few years in the industry I decided to change career paths and went back to design school to study architecture!

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

It would probably be meeting my fiance, though, it happened in a backwards fashion. We worked together for years, became very good friends and then the rest is history!

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 once had a situation involving materials boards that had to be shipped to the Middle East. We had organized for a custom crate for the frames to fit into- to make sure they were shipped carefully. We sent the crate to the client only to hear that the samples and frames had been damaged on arrival. I then spent the next week re-ordering samples and sourcing local framers to get the job done in the Middle East- no easy feat when you’ve never been to the area! Thankfully, a colleague in our Dubai office was able to assist on ground. I learned having someone on the ground is imperative in case anything goes wrong.

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

I would have to say aside from our years of experience (HBA is over 50 years old!) it would have to be our global reach. With 27 offices around the world, HBA offers global design benchmarks at international standards. It also makes working for them just as rewarding- designers have the opportunity to work in 27 different locations- I started out in the Singapore office and am now based in the Los Angeles office. I think having global experience is second to none and HBA makes it a lot easier to attain.

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?

Travel- as often as you can. Whethere it’s for client projects or personal- I think travel is the most powerful source of inspiration.

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’d have to thank my boss who has never made things easy and always pushed me to my full capabilities. There are many, but one example would be making me present to a board of directors at the very last minute. I had put the presentation together- so I knew it back to front but I was very nervous as at the time it was just something that designers at my level hadn’t much experience with.

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?

Currently, HBA DNA works with operators and hotel owners to create future-proofed hotel concepts that challenge the current hotel industry. We create and refresh hotel brands based on data and research and offer solutions that cater to what tomorrows guest wants.

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

At the moment, the hotel industry is seeing a lot of new brands entering the lifesytle space without much differentiation from each other. At HBA DNA, we’re always challenging the status quo to create new and exciting concepts that truly understand tomorrow’s guest.

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

It’s already started- large operators are seeing the value of unique hotel concepts and shifting their focus to offer similar experiences.

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 like to travel?

1. Hybrid products

This year we created a new hybrid hotel brand, after researching and highlighting a market opportunity for it. The new offering comprises the public areas of a lifestyle hotel and the accommodation of a serviced apartment.

2. Transformative Travel

Whether it’s learning a new skill, spiritual sanctuaries or civic tourism, the next generation traveller will be looking far beyond the spa. They will demand holistic travel that provides personal enrichment and a chance for them to become better versions of themselves.

3. Coworking Lobbies

Following co-everything, more relaxed social lobbies and efforts to get more locals in hotels, it was only a matter of time before hotel co-working was introduced.

4. Sharing Rooms

Tailored to people traveling alone, as a pair, in a family or a group of friends traveling together, these new concepts offer options for private or shared rooms so everyone can find something to suit them.

5. From Retail to Rooms

We’re seeing lifestyle retail brands opening hotels from Muji to Restoration Hardware. It’s a lot easier for retail to move into the hospitality sector than the other way around.

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

The perfect vacation experience would be one where I can unplug from technology, eat well, explore and learn something new.

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

I believe knowledge is power and that the sharing of information and ideas will collectively make us better at what we do and ultimately succeed. As a result, we’ve set up a research department at HBA that serves to inform, educate and enrich HBA’s global network of designers, and seeks to inspire them to create their best work yet.

This is a little left field but I always think about this… it would be cool to invent a device that counteracts the addiction that technology and hand held devices cause!

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Instagram: @Alexandra_beggs

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

The Future Of Travel: “Whether it’s learning a new skill, spiritual sanctuaries or civic tourism… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Future Of Travel: “Consumers are searching for travel with meaning.”

The Future Of Travel: “Consumers are searching for travel with meaning.” with Lisa Niver and Candice Georgiadis

Consumers are searching for travel with meaning. Tour companies will continue to offer trips with connections to local people and ways to learn about life in the destination.

As part of my series about “exciting developments in the travel industry over the next five years”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lisa Ellen Niver, M.A. Education. Lisa is a television host, travel journalist as well as a passionate artist, educator and writer who has explored 101 countries, 6 continents and sailed on cruise ships for seven years on the high seas and backpacked for three years in Asia. She is the founder of We Said Go Travel which was read in 212 countries in 2018 and named #3 on the top 1000 Travel Blogs. Find her talking travel at KTLA TV and in her We Said Go Travel videos with over 900,000 views on her YouTube channel. She has hosted Facebook Live for USA Today 10best, is verified on both Twitter and Facebook, has over 150,000 followers across social media and ran fifteen travel competitions publishing over 2500 writers and photographers from 75 countries. She has been a finalist for five Southern California Journalism Awards in the past two years and won an award for her Jewish Journal article. Niver has written for AARP, American Airways, Delta Sky, En Route (Air Canada), Hemispheres (United Airlines), Jewish Journal, Luxury Magazine, Ms. Magazine, Myanmar Times, National Geographic, POPSUGAR, Robb Report, Saturday Evening Post, Scuba Diver Life, Sierra Club, Ski Utah, Smithsonian, Trivago, USA Today 10best, Wharton Magazine and Yahoo. She is writing a book, “Brave Rebel: 50 Adventures Before 50,” about her most recent travels and challenges. Look for her underwater SCUBA diving, in her art studio making ceramics or helping people find their next dream trip. https://wesaidgotravel.com/

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

After college, I moved to San Francisco for graduate school and decided to take a year leave. During that time, I took two classes that changed my life. I enrolled in ceramics as well as scuba diving. Decades later, creating pottery and looking for creatures underwater are still two of my most favorite things. I have always loved to travel but teaching preschool I could not afford to scuba dive which led me to take a job at Club Med. From Club Med, I worked on cruise ships for seven years which has all been an amazing adventure and led me to my current career in journalism.

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

I have always wanted to share good stories. Lately, I have been talking travel on KTLA Television in Los Angeles. For President’s Day, I was live on the news talking about our Founding Fathers, George Washington and our Founding Mothers, Betsy Ross. If you have not been to Philadelphia lately, I highly recommend visiting The Betsy Ross House, National Constitution Museum and Museum of the American Revolution. I went to college at PENN and I have always loved Philadelphia. We had over 5.8 million impressions on Twitter about the segment. I feel fortunate to be able to educate people about our country and our world.

KTLA Philadelphia segment: https://ktla.com/2019/02/18/travel-expert-lisa-niver-talks-about-a-philadelphia-getaway/

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?

Once when I went to a magazine conference in Arizona, I received an email from SouthWest Airlines about my flight from Burbank to Phoenix. I looked at the computer in shock — I was already in Phoenix. I needed a flight from Phoenix to Burbank. What had I done? I realized when I was searching for flights that I found a cheaper flight and booked it but I booked both legs of my flight from Burbank to Phoenix instead of one each way.

That day I thought that making travel plans are challenging. There are many details to wrangle and keep track of. One lesson I learned is to slow down and do one thing at a time. I also often think of what a carpenter taught me, “Measure twice and cut once.” It is important to double check my work and make sure I do the best I can.

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

For my 50th birthday, I challenged myself to do 50 new things. I was so scared of most of the adventures but I was able to do them all with help. I still cannot believe some of the things I was willing to try. I have written articles about many of them and am working on a book, “Brave Rebel: 50 Adventures Before 50.” I love hearing from readers about how they have been inspired to try new things themselves.

I have to say that if my 50 year old self called my 49 year old self to explain what was going to happen, I would have hung up in disbelief. I would never have believed that I would mountain bike, jump out of an airplane and travel on safari but I did!

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?

In order to thrive, we all need time to rest and play. For my stories, I am working in places where most people are on vacation. I look for a balance and make time for restorative choices. I pick trips where I will do something I love like SCUBA diving or visit a new location which renews me. I schedule time each day to exercise and make sure I eat well and make plans with supportive friends. For me, it is crucial to get enough sleep. I say no to many invitations so that I can focus on my writing and video editing at home. Finding balance is a constant process.

<a href="https://medium.com/media/2894177217501d24306d15647aff36ba/href">https://medium.com/media/2894177217501d24306d15647aff36ba/href</a>

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 very grateful to Maren Rudolph of Travel Classics Magazine Conferences. She invited me to come to her conference and I was able to have one on one meetings with many incredible editors which led to print stories in Luxury Magazine, Delta Sky, American Airways, Hemispheres (United Airlines) and EnRoute (Air Canada). I also was able to place stories in many online publications from my meetings at Travel Classics.

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? Which “pain point” are you trying to address by introducing this innovation? How do you envision that this might disrupt the status quo?

I have been creating travel videos and sharing stories in my “This is What it is Like Style.” When I first worked in travel for Club Med, I was impressed that in each village you could find the place where they took the brochure photos. I felt like they accurately represented what the village would look like when you arrived.

Lately with all of the photoshopping and photo editing, consumers often feel misled with the advertising versus the reality. With video, you can see where I went and exactly what it is like. I have had many comments from readers about my adventures. They say that they want to walk with polar bears or dive with sharks and experience something new.

I have been sharing my video links on my social media and many people are then discovering their next favorite vacation.

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 like to travel?

Consumers are searching for travel with meaning. Tour companies will continue to offer trips with connections to local people and ways to learn about life in the destination.

I believe more people will travel with a group in order to learn a new skill. I have been asked to lead a travel group and share about how to start a travel blog and create a travel article. It is a chance to learn something from taking a surfing lesson to building a website.

In order to make sure they will love their holiday, more people are using travel advisors who specialize in creating the ultimate experience.

Traveling with family whether a multi-generational experience or “skip-gen,” where grandparents take the grandchildren without the parents, will continue to rise as people want to spend time with the people who are important to them and have top experiences together.

Many people need to disconnect and will continue to use holidays as a respite from technology and demands on their time. Consumers are overwhelmed by their responsibilities and travel is a perfect way to reconnect with personal goals and start anew.

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

My perfect vacation experience is to go somewhere new! After seven years sailing on cruise ships and three years living in Asia, I have been to 101 countries. Right now my wish list includes Greenland, Papua New Guinea, Bhutan, Antarctica, Galapagos, Iceland and Brazil among others! There is so much to see in this world and I love to learn about new cultures and places.

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

By sharing stories, I feel I am bringing more goodness to our world. I wrote about a women’s economic development project for Ms. Magazine and I published Enock Masaki’s story of how he was a refugee in Africa and migrated to the United States.

https://wesaidgotravel.com/a-child-of-the-universe-by-enock-makasi/

https://wesaidgotravel.com/can-bicycles-change-the-world-ms-magazine/

I hope to share many more stories and inspire many more readers.

I would like for everyone to remember that around the world all parents want the best for their children. No matter what country I am in, I have seen that families all over our planet hope that their children will grow up healthy and with opportunities to make their dreams come true. We are all more alike than different and I hope that we can live together in peace.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

We Said Go Travel: http://wesaidgotravel.com/

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/WeSaidGoTravel

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wesaidgotravel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.niver

Facebook WSGT: https://www.facebook.com/wesaidgotravel/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/wesaidgotravel/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaellenniver/

articles, videos and TV segments: http://lisaniver.com/one-page/

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

The Future Of Travel: “Consumers are searching for travel with meaning.” was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Future of Travel: “The near-term future will provide a deeper embrace of the intersection…

The Future of Travel: “The near-term future will provide a deeper embrace of the intersection between people and the built environment.” with Beth Campbell and Candice Georgiadis

Today, we are finding extreme focus on wellbeing and general health. The near-term future will provide a deeper embrace of the intersection between people and the built environment. The opportunity can be found in the creation of spaces that actively contribute to human health, performance, and well-being by blending innovation in technology, health, science, and design. These build upon the common practices of sustainable design; we are now venturing into arenas of enhanced health from the built environments we experience.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Beth Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Wilson Associates. With more than 25 years of experience in global design, Beth Campbell, CEO of global interior architecture firm Wilson Associates, is a formidable leader with an exceptional ability to navigate extremely complex scenarios. A LEED-certified, registered architect, Campbell has a robust portfolio of high-profile projects. Most recently, she was Executive Vice President and Head of Design for Westfield Corporation, where she successfully orchestrated an organizational transformation for the corporation’s internal design team. Prior to Westfield, she spent 16 years at Gensler, serving as Managing Partner in Las Vegas, and Global Account Director in San Francisco. Campbell earned a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Kent State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Golden Gate University, in addition to being LEED certified and a registered architect. She is currently based in Wilson Associates’ Los Angeles office.

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 eight years old, I knew I wanted to be in the architecture and /interior design field. My parents — as with all parents in the ’70s — spent Saturday nights at friends’ houses for card club or a cocktail party. Of course, the kids were shuttled along and promptly placed in the yard or basement to play (Mid-West / East Coasters get it — we all had finished basements tricked out as a game room). Every night, when I would come home s, I would wait for my parents to fall asleep and would then draw the host’s house — and promptly redraw it, with a better layout. A few months into this pattern, I came home to find a drafting table with T-Square and a table lamp. My dad had one requirement: “please just wait until your mother is asleep, we don’t want her worrying you’re not getting enough sleep!”

About a year later my father arranged for me to stop by a local architect’s office on the way home from school. It turns out, he studied under Frank Lloyd Wright and had an abundance of FLW books — all of which I worked my way through over the coming months. I was hooked.

I’ve had the great fortune to work with some amazing clients over my architectural career. With these relationships, I’ve been able to express my passion for design excellence around the globe. With my extreme desire to learn and grow, I have built a skill set of global business, design and executive coaching that have served me very well in honing my craft. Bringing to bear my passion for design, my appreciation for global cultures, and my in-depth industry knowledge will allow us to continue to build on the legacy of Wilson Associates.

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

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 started in the industry, I would frequently be sent to the job site for project reports, so I could learn and observe first hand how we construct buildings. I would wear pencil skirts, and with my runner’s legs it caused a stir with the contractors on site. They paid me little to no respect when inquiring about the construction progress. Luckily for me there was a seasoned superintendent on the job, and he set the crew straight. I quickly learned to dress the part — you can look good, just dress appropriately for the job at hand. And more importantly, I learned the valuable lesson of developing allies with those who are the decision makers.

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

Wilson Associates’ strong legacy can be summed up in one word: PEOPLE. The founder’s focus centered on the talent, the clients, our partners and our communities. We are reinvigorating this focus and ensuring all passion and energy is put into bolstering our connections in all we do.

Wilson has a great signature brand in hospitality, but there are still opportunities to work on complementary atelier brands such as Blueplate Studios (Wilson’s F&B focused studio) and Atelier Tristan Auer (its Paris-based, boutique and lifestyle luxury property focused studio). That also makes it easier to give talent more scope for growth and evolution. We need to look at brands and sub-brands within the Wilson family to allow the company to work in different ways. Blueplate Studios, for example, is a holistic offer. They can get advice for chefs from Paris and help consult on uniforms, in addition to designing the space.

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?

We should be focused on ‘work life integration’ rather than ‘work life balance’. The word balance implies there is a distinct answer that is right; when in fact, like pistons, the obligations and opportunities in life are constantly in motion. With this precept in mind, the appropriate answer to health, wellbeing and success at work can be found in recognizing that there are seasons when you must work more and seasons when you need to focus more on your personal being. Curating and owning your energy and focus expenditure is the key to success.

To truly strike this integration with success, you must surround yourself with people whom you trust to benefit the overall system at work and people who support your mission — at work and at home. As I feel I am always a work in progress, I would rate my efforts at a B+ over the past few months. I am currently

working to bolster my supporting team and work while continuing to infuse energy towards my personal 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’m so fortunate that over the span of my career I have had some amazing people to guide and mentor me. I’ve had opportunity to work with incredible leaders around the globe, all of whom have added to the person I am today. The person with the deepest business impact is Art Gensler, hands down. He represents authenticity, passion and caring. Art stands for client-first thinking, and then gathers people around him in an innovative setting to do great design. I learned that if you focus on the people first, not the bottom line, this will drive joy and success in all you do.

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?

It is an amazing time to be a designer. There are so many influencers to our design solutions, and we foresee the following to be the key areas where the deepest impact will be felt.

• Technology — data and analytics are creating highly informed buyers, savvy businesses and distinct advantages toward building products and methods. Rapid innovation and artificial Intelligence will drive deep changes to how end users experience our spaces.

• WELL Buildings — the intersection of human health and real estate are creating a dynamic approach to how we curate the built environment. The opportunity can be found in the creation of spaces that actively contribute to human health, performance and well-being by blending innovation in technology, health, science and design. These build upon the common practices of sustainable design; we are now venturing into arenas of enhanced health from the built environments we experience.

• Frictionless Expectations — The ‘Amazon Effect’ has dramatically changed the way we shop. However, the Amazon Effect has spilled over into many areas of our lives, to the point that many people expect to find little to no friction in their daily interactions. Whether buying dish soap, ordering room service at a hotel, or buying a new car — we all want ease, speed and quality in every aspect of our experiences.

All these trends drive design solutions with agile infrastructure and require forward-thinking, curious designers who are passionate about enhancing guest engagement at every level.

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

Both business and leisure guests are looking for engagement in their travels. They are looking for local and authentic experiences — whether it’s inside or outside a hotel. It’s our job as designers to fully embrace the cultural nuances of a surrounding location into the hospitality interior spaces. Travelers are eager for cultural experiences that are interactive and all-encompassing. Designers are incorporating different elements of culture into each and every design detail such as the branding, graphic design, lighting, FF&E, and artwork in a property. Food and beverage spaces should not be an afterthought, they should be environments that stir social and emotional experiences.

There are so many drivers today in our global economy, and just as many for our industry. We are watching demographic shifts, clean technologies, over-tourism and rapid innovation disrupt global development activities. We see that Asia Pacific and the Middle East will continue to lead the development and project growth models for the foreseeable future.

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

Not only are we designing amazing spaces, we’re creating experiences that are engaging as well. Engagement is key, not only for guests, but for our clients, the designers, and everyone involved. Everybody wants to be part of something bigger than themselves. We want to be involved with something connected to our heart.

Today, we are finding extreme focus on wellbeing and general health. The near-term future will provide a deeper embrace of the intersection between people and the built environment. The opportunity can be found in the creation of spaces that actively contribute to human health, performance, and well-being by blending innovation in technology, health, science, and design. These build upon the common practices of sustainable design; we are now venturing into arenas of enhanced health from the built environments we experience.

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 like to travel?

The Smartphone has changed the way designers approach public and private space. Everybody expects frictionless engagement. Amazon trained us to be part of the intersection of tech and personal engagement. Time is a commodity. Intriguingly, though, one thing that isn’t changing is the need for a concierge or personal greeter. High touch is still very much a valid service philosophy, but guests now want to have it on their terms.

We’re evolving the ways that spaces are designed so as to meet guests’ ever-changing needs for engagement and flexibility. Lobbies won’t likely change drastically, but certain elements are evolving. Front desks (in hotels that have them) will be different and more streamlined. Opulent luxury will be more about high touch and high engagement. Luxury won’t be about travertine, necessarily. Instead, it will be about situationally appropriate elements such as gracious lighting, wide-open spaces at a beach hotel or sconces in small spaces. That’s the essence of the design trend I see: more flexibility of choice — how you choose to engage, different people, different ages; spaces that ebb and flow all day.

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

As I travel for a living, I am fortunate to experience vast and varied locales. I find such inspiration from experiencing new people, new cultures and discovering local architecture. Any trip that allows me to explore and discover new things, whether that’s in wine country or at the beach. Regardless of the country or city, it would have to have a complimentary integration with nature.

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

I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to be a catalyst for change and impact to our communities through the built environment. But most important to me is the opportunity to influence others’ lives. I realize this both in the larger setting of global corporate goals and locally in my everyday choices. Whether it be global strategies or personal coaching, I strive to listen, help others and truly connect.

Be Kind. I feel so strongly in today’s political and global economic environment, we need to be better to our neighbors. It can start with one person — with you. By being nice to a stranger, an authentic compliment, a moment of caring, a text of encouragement, and simple smile. It can be dramatically contagious! As we are on this earth one time, we owe it to ourselves and others to make the most of our contributions. So today, choose to be positive and know that every interaction is a chance to learn and give back. You can’t always choose your circumstances, but you surely can choose your reaction. Make a difference, live the “no, not me; you first” attitude.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

You can follow Wilson Associates on Instagram at Wilson Associates

And on LinkedIn at Wilson Associates

Thank you for joining us!

The Future of Travel: “The near-term future will provide a deeper embrace of the intersection… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

How to Use Instagram To Dramatically Improve Your Business: “I like to employ the give, give, give…

How to Use Instagram To Dramatically Improve Your Business: “I like to employ the give, give, give, and then take method.” with KJ Blattenbauer and Candice Georgiadis

Look, we all are in business to sell. How else are your bills going to get paid? But that doesn’t mean you have to jam your offerings or products down people’s throats. I like to employ the give, give, give, and then take method. I offer up free content, tips, educational posts, and a fourth kind gesture before on my fifth post I sell to my audience. This way, they get to know me and engage with my brand, while also gaining insight, before I sell them. I’ve warmed up my audience by practicing this method!

I had the pleasure of interviewing KJ Blattenbauer, a business strategist and publicist with more than 22 years of experience helping entrepreneurs and influencers get more clicks, coverage, and collaborations. KJ has been recognized as one of the Twin Cities’ 25 Women to Watch by The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal and as a Trailblazer by VoyageDallas. Her expertise also has been featured on Entrepreneurs on Fire, PR Daily, Refinery29, Inc., The Today Show, Entrepreneur, USA Today, and more.

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

I’m a small-town girl originally from North Dakota. My original plan was to attend the University of North Dakota, a tradition in my family, and major in communications as a precursor to law school.

Somewhere in the midst of undergrad, I fell in love with the subject of public relations, and I convinced myself that being in PR meant I’d be sitting poolside having drinks with celebrities nonstop as my career. Boy, was I wrong!

I got a heavy dose of reality when I took my first PR internship with Fleishman Hillard. Once there, I was assigned only tech and finance clients. Which led me to quickly find a way to take even the most complex, and sometimes boring, topics and make them newsworthy and fun. From there, I started working in roles with both agencies and corporations representing brands like Best Buy, Dow Chemical, US Bancorp, Life Time Fitness, and Rock-n-Roll Marathons. Now, I’ve made a career out of it by having my own agency.

Can you explain to our readers why you are an authority about Social Media Marketing?

As someone who has learned to use the various platforms to my advantage — and completely transform how I do business — I definitely consider myself an authority in social media marketing. Since I’ve gone all-in on social, my numbers have skyrocketed to nearly 20,000, highly-engaged followers and my email list has tripled in size.

As an example, my lead generation tools and efforts on Instagram alone are currently converting at 64%. And, I’ve been able to take what was once a word-of-mouth, limited referral stream of revenue and pitch and promote my offerings to a worldwide audience with a simple post or tweet and a few hashtags.

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

Being a publicist, one of my favorite ways to use the Instagram Stories feature is to take the day’s top news headline and turn it into a teachable moment for my followers. I recently was sharing commentary and insight on how to address negative media situations using a PGA golfer and the poor way his management team handled the situation — which made this player’s issue much worse — as an example. By taking a real-world situation and showing an actionable solution that can apply to a professional athlete or even a side hustler’s first negative Google review, a series of short video stories on Instagram helped me land not one, but two professional athletes clients, as well as additional PR clients.

None of these folks would have heard about me, or seen my insight in action, without Instagram Stories. You have to love the power of social media!

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?

While I don’t know if I would consider either to be funny, two of the mistakes I’m guilty of can definitely be huge lessons for your readers.

The first is not understanding Pinterest in all its glory. When Pinterest first launched, I wasn’t using it for my blog posts or to promote my PR services. I thought it was a tool for saving pretty pictures and do-it-yourself party planning ideas. However, it’s an amazing search engine that rivals Google. And you can’t beat it when trying to drive traffic to your blog or offerings. I cringe when I think of how many missed opportunities I’ve missed out on because I’m just now starting to use my 7,500 monthly viewers to my advantage.

I also cringe thinking about my first few years on Instagram. Why didn’t any tell me that Instagram is the greatest promotional tool ever created? I wasted so much time posting images I thought were okay and then taking up valuable real estate in my captions by only posting Marilyn Monroe quotes or other song lyrics and sayings I thought made me sound so deep. If only I could go back and tell myself that the captions are where you can engage, promote, educate, and form amazing relationships — I wouldn’t’ have wasted all that time.

The lesson I learned from both of these mistakes is that social media platforms are powerful tools. Think before you use them. Understand how they can boost your brand forward or blow up your dreams. Think before you tweet, plan before you post, and don’t waste valuable promotional space by not using LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram to your advantage.

Which social media platform have you found to be most effective to use to increase business revenues? Can you share a story from your experience?

Instagram is definitely my jam as far as social media platforms go. I show up on there multiple times a day to share, post, engage, and interact with my followers. Whether I’m launching something new or sharing tips and tools that I know will help them move their businesses forward, I love the photo, video, and written capabilities Instagram gives me.

By showing up daily and making some tweaks to how I promote and position myself on Instagram, I more than tripled my income in 2018 over 2017. I’ve been able to take my PR business from purely word-of-mouth referrals and month-to-month pitching clients to daily leads and traffic that leads directly to passive income products — almost eliminating my need to take on monthly pitching clients entirely.

Let’s talk about Instagram specifically, now. Can you share 6 ways to leverage Instagram to dramatically improve your business? Please share a story or example for each.

Use your profile as a business card

The first impression people have when they see your Instagram feed, is your bio. Treat it like your business card. Make sure it is catchy and informative. And that it shows them the value you’ll be able to provide them. I love this trusty formula: who you are + what you do + who you serve + why should they follow you. And make sure you avoid a salesy tone!

As a publicist and business strategist, my current bio reads: Business strategy and publicity for entrepreneurs and influencers // Featured on Entrepreneurs on Fire, PR Daily, Inc., USA Today, Buzzfeed, and more.

It tells who I am, who I serve, how I can help, and where you’ve seen my expertise before. All in a few short sentences.

Make yourself recognizable Stay Recognizable

All your posting on Instagram will be for nothing if what you post doesn’t show who or what your brand truly is. The key is to stay recognizable! Choose an Instagram name that’s the same as, or related to, your business’s name across other social media channels. Make sure you keep your profile image uniform across all channels, too.

If your business is named Kathy’s Cakes and Cookies and I know to find you on Facebook using /kathyscakesandcookies, I’m going to assume that you’re under the same handle on Instagram. But what if on Instagram you’re actually @cakesandcookiesbykathy? Then nine times out of ten, whomever has @kathyscakesandcookies is getting all your mentions, attention, followers, and sales.

Use one link to boost your brand

On Instagram, you have only a single chance to directly lead a click over to your website. Always include the link to your online shop or a targeted landing page in this spot. And don’t use a third-party provider, like Linktree. Instead, make an additional page on your website where you can direct people to the top three or four (no more) important areas of your business.

Because my blog posts, media coverage, and offering links change almost daily, I created an additional page on my website that includes the top three links on a constant rotation to help my audience find the appropriate information. You can view it here: kjblattenbauer.com/clickme.

Don’t be a slime ball

More than 38 percent of people say they are influenced by a brand’s social media, and 35 percent are influenced by retailers on social. Which proves social is ripe for selling — but don’t be a slime ball about it. Post good visuals that allow viewers to make their own decisions without feeling pressure from you, removing the dreaded used-car salesman feeling from the scenario. Also make sure that your captions convey action without being overtly pushy or worse, disingenuous.

Look, we all are in business to sell. How else are your bills going to get paid? But that doesn’t mean you have to jam your offerings or products down people’s throats. I like to employ the give, give, give, and then take method. I offer up free content, tips, educational posts, and a fourth kind gesture before on my fifth post I sell to my audience. This way, they get to know me and engage with my brand, while also gaining insight, before I sell them. I’ve warmed up my audience by practicing this method!

Build a community

Build a community by offering promotions and exclusive announcements to your followers. Fill your feed with special offers, bonuses, and insider announcements. Studies have shown that people will follow a brand to take advantage of perks and giveaways, so give your followers that incentive.

You know how you encounter newsletter popups and other promos when you first visit a brand’s website and then you join because you feel special or like an insider? You can use those same tactics to make your fans and followers feel welcome and a part of the community by sharing exclusives on Instagram. I highly recommend a giveaway of $50 or more to grow your following.

Be consistent

From your handle to how often you post, it’s important to stay consistent on Instagram. If your followers know you as one name on Facebook, they’ll easily assume you’re under the same name on Instagram. And if you’re not? They may never find you. Don’t make people guess! Along those same lines, if you want to be popular and gain followers (and make sales) on the platform, show up daily — or at least on a regular basis. The worst thing you can do is post nonstop for weeks and then take months off from the platform. That inconsistency will hurt you in followers, views, and your bottom line.

The truth is Instagram rewards you for being on their platform and engaging with others. By showing up consistently and engaging with your audience, you’re showing the powers that be that they should make sure people see your content more often. And, because it takes more than nine interactions with a brand before consumers are moved to act, wouldn’t you want to post nine days straight and make a sale on that tenth day versus dragging it out and waiting? I thought so.

Because of the position that you are in, 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. 🙂

If I could inspire a movement, it would be to reintroduce kindness into the mainstream. Whatever happened to being kind to strangers or others just because it was the right thing to do? It feels good to be kind! I’d love for our society to move away from what I perceive as constant anger and instead get more comfortable with facts, not feelings conversations. We might disagree on subjects or have differing stances on an issue, that doesn’t mean we can’t be civil to one another. A smile, simple greeting, manners, or common courtesy — these things go a long way and make our world a better place. I wish more people would lean into being kind.

Some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them 🙂

Being new to the Dallas area, I’m currently fascinated with Mark Cuban. I’d love to have even five minutes to ask him a few questions about how he strategizes.

Thank you so much for these great insights. This was very enlightening!

How to Use Instagram To Dramatically Improve Your Business: “I like to employ the give, give, give… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Future of Travel, With Former Marriott President and Author, Ed Fuller

I had the pleasure of interviewing Ed Fuller. Ed is a hospitality industry leader, educator, and author of the international Top 20 bestselling business book, You Can’t Lead with Your Feet on the Desk, published by Wiley. He is president of the Irvine, California-based Laguna Strategic Advisors, a global consortium that provides business consulting services to corporations and governments. Fuller is a director of the Federal Bureau of Investigators National Academy Associates Foundation (FBINAA). He has served as a Board Executive of several Charity Boards and Three University Boards. His 40-year career with Marriott included serving as CMO and several regional operational positions which was capped by his role as president and managing director of Marriott International for 22 years. As worldwide chief, he directed and administered corporate expansion of 555 hotels in 73 countries and $8 billion in sales. During that time, he oversaw the creation of Marriott International’s Global Security Strategy. Fuller served as a captain in the U.S. Army and was decorated with a Bronze Star and Army Commendation medals. His new international thriller, RED Hotel (Beaufort Books; March 19, 2019; $26.95) will be in bookstores nationwide on March 19.

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

I had a goal as I exited Boston University. I planned a career in the airline industry. After serving in Germany and Vietnam, I returned from the Army after three years only to find that airline industry was in trouble. My acceptance letters for a management position at United Airlines, TWA and American Airlines were invalid. I interviewed at Marriott for an airport inflight kitchen position with the hopes of finding an airline job. I was not excited about the job. The interviewer indicated that the hotel division needed a sales person who had a military background to make sales calls on the Washington, D.C. bases. I had worked for Pinkerton (Securitas) for four years when I was a student at Boston University. Marriott started me in security while I trained for the sales position. My 40 years with Marriott in sales was for 10 years. This was capped by four years where I was Chief Marketing Officer for the hotels. I cross trained as a General Manager (opening both the Long Island Marriott and the Boston Marriott @ Copley Place) into Operations in three years. I was a regional vice president of operations for the Midwest Region in Chicago for four years and held the same position in the Western Pacific Region in Santa Ana, California for a little over a year. I was named President & Managing Director of the International Lodging Division and held that position for 22 years. Following my retirement from Marriott in 2012, I have been working as a consultant and have operations in Mexico, Japan, China, India and the Middle East.

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

There are so many stories, especially over the 22 years when I supervised International Operations in 73 countries. Crisis Management was the most challenging because it involved people’s lives and the company’s reputation. We dealt with tsunamis, the Arab Spring, bombings and kidnappings to name a few. Egypt was in turmoil during the Arab Spring; the President was being overthrown. My Chief Operations Officer, Vice President of Security, a corporate lawyer and I traveled to Egypt to visit our seven Marriott hotels (two under construction), 4,000 associates and numerous guests while the rioting was underway. We visited the seven properties in four cities. As we returned to Cairo, we were greeted by the staff and were told that the police had left the hotel property, leaving only the hotel’s security staff to control the rioters (1,200 rooms with 600 guests). Desperate and unarmed, the kitchen staff had backed up the security with knives, housekeeping with brooms, and engineering with shovels, and held the gates for six hours until the military arrived. I was very proud of the staff and we celebrated their courage on many occasions.

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?

There were many of these! We had negotiated a major agreement with the Otani organization in Japan. Japan is a very formal country. The negotiations had lasted almost a year, and we had replaced Starwood and the management company. The signing ceremony was to include 300+ guests, Mr. Otani and Bill Marriott, plus seven other key Marriott executives. I had written and submitted my lengthy speech when Mr. Otani asked me to give the speech in Japanese and he would give his in English (I spoke NO Japanese!). I asked to rewrite the speech (make shorter) and was told it had already been printed in the program. I studied extensively the speech in Japanese and was assisted by a Japanese Marriott associate at the corporate office in Maryland. I was rehearsing on the United flight to Tokyo when the flight attendant asked what I was doing. After telling him he said I was giving the speech in the feminine capacity and that I needed to rewrite it in the masculine position. The next day, I gave the speech and because the Japanese are very respectful, I received a nice recognition. However, my staff said I had misused several words, some of them translating to off-color remarks!

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

Marriott International is very well known. Bill Marriott and the company have been recognized by several associations and media over the years. The stories are many, from a small root beer stand in Washington, D.C., to what is now a company of 6,500 lodging products and over 30 brands. What I thought made the difference was the quality of Bill Marriott (family values which started with the Founder), and the culture of the company that was in place and reinforced by management for my 40 years. Working in a global market had its challenges in doing the right thing. I told Bill several times I knew he wanted me to do to right thing 100% of the time, and I knew he would and did back me up if I rejected a deal or made sure we were not involved in illegal business when it cost us money.

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?

The hotel industry is a challenging one. The industry deals with people and a hotel is like a city. The inhabitants have a range of needs, demands and temperament. The managers who are successful reach out to their associates and guests. Therefore, they must enjoy the industry, working with people, and they must be leaders who model the skills and standards you want your associates to exhibit. This is a business first and foremost, but it’s one that requires exceptional leaders. I teach four classes a year at the University of California, Irvine, and California State University at San Diego. I teach these principles and use a book I wrote on the topic called, “You Can’t Lead With Your Feet on the Desk”.

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?

In a career, you should have several mentors. In my University phase, I had two mentors — Robert Watts and David Trexler — who helped me find my way in a large university. They led me to Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. My days at Boston University were great and memorable. At Marriott, I had four major mentors — Bill Marriott Al LeFaivre, Paul Reed and Bill Shaw. I also had several peer mentors. A friend of mine has appropriately called her mentors her “Board of Directors.” Katie Bianchi uses them to guide decisions and challenges. I am lucky to be one of those “Directors.” Because of my extensive travels, I relied on my peer mentors to keep me up to date about what was going on at headquarters. My four senior mentors were noteworthy in telling me with candor about risks and opportunities, as well as advice.

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?

Throughout my career, I have tried to be on the cutting edge of innovation. At Marriott there were so many, and yet I can still remember a few that stand out.

While converting our reservation system from manual to automation, which I led in 1974, I focused on buying two major systems. The most significant was buying a mainframe from United Airlines’ vendor, giving us “last room availability” earlier than other companies.
When we were reluctant to use television advertising, we created a campaign featuring Bill Marriott which was named “That’s my name over the door”.
When starting the International Division for Marriott, all our focus and systems were geared toward domestic markets. To literally “get support and focus” I would pay $20 to anyone that used the word “global”. Regretfully, I wasn’t paying out that much money until Bill Marriott used “global” in his speech to the headquarters staff six times, stopped his speech and turned to me and said, “Ed, that will be $120”! It got easier, but it was still a challenge to make us a global company.
Our reservation center was based in Omaha and we paid significant costs to ship our reservations to our remote international locations. In the 2000’s, I teamed up with Carl Wilson in our Information Technology Division to move our international reservations to the Cloud.
In my consulting, I was able to expand the Orange County, California destination to a more global organization with no overseas effort to offices in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Mexico City, Dubai, Japan and Delhi.

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

In the examples we have discussed, that motivations parallel the challenges we face every day. The United Airlines mainframe, Bill Marriott’s advertising campaign, and the globalization of Orange County, California were focused on increasing our revenue through marketing and sales. While moving, the reservations were focused in cross-controls. At the same time, the $20 campaign in the 1990’s was an attempt to gain resources and utilize existing systems for our international organization. We are all challenges to increase revenues, decrease costs and gain support from our peer organizations. In all cases this requires leadership and relationships supporting innovation.

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

There were always risks, but we did have a competitive advantage in every case of the examples I shared with you.

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 like to travel?

1. The industry is going through more changes than ever before. Consolidation and the creation of large brand companies. The acquisition of Starwood by Marriott is creating large brand companies (6,500 +) with more than 30 brands. Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental, Accor and a few others are expanding every day. This will allow for a financial business model that is superior in many ways and less risky in the ups and downs of our economy. The challenge is having the best, most consistent brands.

2. The new models for the brand company results in their moving from ownership (in the 1980’s) to management, and then to franchising (since 2000). Companies like Marriott and Hilton are 80–90% franchised in the United States. The result is the creation of many management companies and owner/management companies utilizing Brands owned by the brand companies. The management companies employ most associates who are working in the hotel. This leads to several significant changes and challenges.

The two largest management companies are themselves developing large companies (Aimbridge, Interstate, White and Concord).

3. Ownership in the last three decades are more involved in the operation of the hotels, and in many cases have short term objectives. As a result, capital infusions are tied to the owners’ strategy regarding the sale of properties rather than the needs of the property.

4. Cost controls have resulted in staffing reductions driven by labor costs, union work rules, and a drive for efficiency. Some are creative and effective. Some have reduced the quality of the consumer’s expectation and experience.

5. Automation will be the next step. Artificial Intelligence is already being developed and tested in room service, security, limited food preparation and housekeeping. The only question is how far the automation of jobs will go.

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

Travel and vacations should be very personal. Each of us has our own measure of how much travel, beach time, museums, nightlife, shopping and exercise we want in order to relax. The needs change with age. If you ask me, my perfect vacations have changed over the years. I never would have taken a cruise ship in the past. I always wanted history, history, history; great exotic destinations and fun culinary and entertainment venues. Currently, my last five vacations have been ideal. Hawaii and a Marriott timeshare on Kauai. Or some excellent cruises to Alaska, The Balkans and Norway, with two river cruises on the Rhine. These have been a combination of history, great food and relaxation. This year, we’re river cruising on the Danube.

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

My focus is on education (Boston University, Cal State San Marcos and the University of California, Irvine). I serve on Advisory Boards, I have pledged gifts to UCI and BU, I teach at San Diego State and UCI, I’m a Trustee or a Director at Boston University, UCI and Cal State, I have served on other Advisory Boards at Cal State Fullerton and the University of Hawaii, I am a member of the Cal State University Hospitality & Tourism Alliance. Because of my focus on history, I’m a member of the Ronald Reagan Library. Because of my focus on the youth of our country, I am a former Director of Safe Kids, a Director of Mind Research, the Chairman of the SAE Foundation. Because of my focus on safety and those who protect us, I am a Foundation Director of the FBINAA. I also work with Visit California and the Orange County Visitors Association.

An interesting question! Infinite funds, probably education. I’d focus on a program that created an educational system as big as the budget allows to create a series of trade schools like the training schools we had in the ‘50’s — ‘70’s. The schools would offer a degreed program with a minimum cost. Programs like design, trades such as auto mechanic, electricians, computer programming, etc.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

Yes, readers can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and my website which is: http://edwinfuller.com/ . Here are my additional social media links:

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/AuthorEdFuller

Thank you for joining us!

The Future of Travel, With Former Marriott President and Author, Ed Fuller was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Social Media Impact Heroes: “As long as you are making the little steps towards a better future…

Social Media Impact Heroes: “As long as you are making the little steps towards a better future, that is a good thing.” with Yumika Hoskin

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes. But as long as you are making the little steps towards a better future, that is a good thing. I sell reusable bags and encourage people to bring their own bag with them everywhere. Have I been in a situation where I have gone to the groceries and didn’t bring enough reusable bags? Yes. What about buying products that have plastic packaging all over them to put into my reusable bags? Yes. Small steps and applaud any sort of effort. As long as the small changes are happening, it gets easier and easier. So don’t beat yourself up on days you feel guilt.

As a part of my series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Yumika Hoskin, a TV Host, Model, Actress and Eco Warrior based in Singapore, who created her brand ‘Peco Bag’, in an attempt to use her influence to battle the war against single use plastic.

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

I started modelling when I was about 15/16 years old and casually did it through school. I pursued it more seriously when I was 23 to join a reality modelling competition tv show called Supermodelme in Asia, which then steered me generally into the entertainment industry. I then fell into TV Hosting.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

One memory that comes to mind is on an episode of the reality modelling tv show I filmed, one of the tasks they surprised us with was bungee jumping in Macau, Hong Kong. I don’t do rides. I don’t do roller coasters, anything that involves the “losing your stomach” feeling. The producer had even asked me prior, what activity I would never do, and I specifically said bungee jumping. So here I was in Macau, strapped into a harness mic’d up, asked to bungee jump and being told by producers, “It will show the audience and your fans you are leaping fearlessly from control and being open to the future.” I held my breath looked over the edge and .. no did not jump. I yelled “HELL NO” and scrambled through my brain on how to create a narrative on justifying why I didn’t jump. “Models are forced to wear fur on shoots when they want to say no. So here I am sticking up for my limits and saying NO.” .. This did not make the cut. However, it did teach me morals on not selling myself out for content and for what “the audience” wants.

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?

So I was presenting for the Premier League for the first year of tv hosting and although I did grow up around sports and my father and brothers influence of appreciating football, I am not knowledgeable with all the names. I was emceeing a screening of the UEFA champions league finale for ESPN, and I was feeling the pressure of sports fans and presenting live with a former Premier League player and seasoned sports host. We were screening live across digital platforms and in the midst of the chaos and the cuts and actions, I was asking a fan about his opinions on a veteran, world famous french player. Now when you are speaking a little fast, words can blurr and so it did… After my producer actioned “cut”. I walked off back to my resting area until one of the radio djs came running up to me in panic. He said I just mispronounced the players name to make it sound like I just called him “Buffoon”. Advice: don’t piss off a sports fan.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

It’s an incredible thought to be “followed” by strangers and have people be interested in what you do. Instagram is such an incredible platform to share ideas, inspiration and growth. So sparking interest in your recommendations and capturing attention is not only a great responsibility but fantastic exposure. I started posting more and more about “eco” related content. And used my skills as a TV presenter to create my own digital travel show that promotes eco tourism and shows viewers how to travel responsibly. Soon after, I launched my own brand ‘Peco Bag’, a reusable, foldable bag made from recycled plastic bottles that can hold up to 10kgs. This product was produced in an effort to encourage people to say no to accepting single use plastic bags by making it convenient, stylish and functional to carry around everywhere. The hashtag of the brand is “Change a habit, change the world.”, which is what the brand is all about promoting. Encouraging everyone to change one small habit and that effort being effective enough to start changing the world. By already having a following, I had the advantage of the immediate exposure. Friends who I knew from the industry were quick to want to support and post about the bags and the initiative too. I feel like I have more purpose when I post now. I am posting about something I am passionate about and helps to curb pollution. When you have pride over content you post and you’re posting with purpose in mind, you’re onto something good.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

I’m so happy to impact any individual. But the most heart warming and significant impacts I have had would be with my friends. All my friends were ready to support me, however after testing out my product, they were really surprised in realising it’s convenience and functionality. To a point where I had really changed their perspectives. They started to feel guilty like I did, everytime they forgot to bring a bag. They felt guilty everytime they were in a position holding a plastic bag and opted to stuff purchased items into their own backpacks or handbags. They started telling their friends about the Peco bags. They started posting stories every time they used the bags to buy groceries surprised about how much they could fit into them. They started sending me articles and tagging me on posts about countries banning single use plastic. They started tagging their friends. Started getting their relatives and friends the bags. The strongest marketing tool will always be word of mouth and when you combine that with a platform where everyone is free to express their thoughts and be connected to people all around the world with a single post, then you have yourself a power machine.In this case, all it was, was a bag that is convenient, created for a good cause and encourages people to change a habit and thus helping to save the world from single use plastic. That was the mission and that is why I created this business.

Was there a tipping point the made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

I knew I always wanted to own my own business. The idea of the brand ‘Peco Bag’, came to me when I was in a bit of a dark place and I really wanted to do something with purpose in my life. Something I am passionate about and that helps in a bigger picture. My tipping point was when I was at the supermarket and for the last time, I stared in utter confusion and anger on why my margarine was placed in an individual plastic bag from the rest of my groceries. Why my eggs needed their own plastic bag. Why the sealed liquids, needed to be double bagged. I walked out of the supermarket to get myself a freshly squeezed juice. THE JUICE… the sealed juice was given to me in a single use plastic carry bag. Why do we need a carry bag to carry a juice that will be gone in 3 minutes? I looked around me and everything that was being purchased was being handed out in plastic bags. Some which were just torn off and put in the trash 10 steps afterwards. It was a “this needs to stop” moment. From then on, it was me and a war against single use plastic.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

Individuals: Everyone needs to start changing one small habit. That can start as simple as saying no to single use plastic bags and opting to bring your own or just carry. As you carry on, the next step is looking for an alternative way to get products without the packaging. So head to a re-fill store. You are the consumer of the supply and the consumer controls the “want”.
The companies: Reduce and dictate the supply. So many brands are changing their products to eco friendly options or implementing sustainable practices. Cutlery and straws at many restaurants are now “no plastic” or biodegradable options. Dictating the supply is a huge responsibility. So don’t rely on recycling and “out of sight out of mind” attitudes. Every single use plastic ever made still exists. Do not supply your customers plastic.
Politicians: Ban single use plastic state-wide and nationally. As lawmakers, governments hold the power and the responsibility to influence everyone the most effectively.

Well firstly test it by influencing your friends first and get them on board so you can start to build a loyal community. Then connect with other like minded individuals who also want to promote the same cause. I found starting conversations and collaborating was easier when it’s to promote something with purpose and substance. Many brands and companies are looking for ways to collaborate and join a sustainability movement. So show initiative and reach out via email and see if they want to collaborate. That way, you get instant access to their customer base. I joined a few women’s social enterprise start up support groups which I found was effective as everyone wants to support start ups. Find new ways to market your message. For example, Peco Bag is voiced in a cheeky language for all its captions, write ups and website text, making “being eco” more fun and sexy rather than another “the world is dying” portrayal.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

Disregard the change in likes. When you change your “image” you built on social media, people might not know how to react to the change in content. So when I did this, my likes and follows plummeted. From sexy bikini photos to posing in lush greenery talking about a no waste toothpaste will confuse some people. You may also get questions as to whether it is authentic. But stick to it. If they want to unfollow you, great. Build the audience you really want to connect with.
You don’t need to change your look, you’re just changing your lifestyle choices. I definitely wondered if I should dress more minimal to match my changes in consumption. Did I need to start dressing more like a hippy? It’s 2019, sustainability is sexy and doesn’t have a defined look anymore. So do you. Just live more consciously.
Practice what you preach. Social media gets more and more blurred with authenticity. What you might have thought was “goals” in reality might not have been or is inherently staged. Authenticity is so important and what helps followers connect with you and make you relatable. If you’re influencing a cause, you are teaching your followers.
Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes. But as long as you are making the little steps towards a better future, that is a good thing. I sell reusable bags and encourage people to bring their own bag with them everywhere. Have I been in a situation where I have gone to the groceries and didn’t bring enough reusable bags? Yes. What about buying products that have plastic packaging all over them to put into my reusable bags? Yes. Small steps and applaud any sort of effort. As long as the small changes are happening, it gets easier and easier. So don’t beat yourself up on days you feel guilt.
Your friends become your best friends. Not only will the friends who love you support you and your cause, they may also have means to help you. Some may have businesses that have a huge customer database. If they haven’t already offered, ask them. Even being included in one of their newsletters is free and efficient marketing. Take all the support you can get.

Well I want to help save the world from drowning in plastic of course. So if I can influence everyone to always have a reusable bag on them then I would be pretty happy.

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

“You are your own hero” is a quote I made up.. Well it probably already exists out there.. I’m going to avoid googling that and stick to staying in the dark and believing I made it up. Either way, it is a quote that I not only truly believe in and practice but also the standing advice I give anyone who I come across that needs to hear it. I believe only you can truly save you and protect you. You are the person that knows you best and has the power to unleash your full potential. You will always be there for you so treasure yourself and start loving who you are.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

The one person who I would be star struck by and lost for words with would be Sir David Attenborough. He truly is my childhood influence and my inspiration as an adult today. I have watched and rewatched all his documentaries and he truly is the man who made me stay curious about the world. Curious about animals, eco systems, EARTH. If I could meet him once in my life, I would feel complete.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

You can follow my personal page on Instagram at @yumikahoskin and follow my brand @pecobag

Thank you for join us!

Social Media Impact Heroes: “As long as you are making the little steps towards a better future… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “I wish someone would have told me the importance of…

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “I wish someone would have told me the importance of being productive instead of just being busy.” with Jason Priest and Candice Georgiadis

I wish someone would have told me the importance of being productive instead of just being busy. There have many been times when I am doing “busy work” and it makes me feel productive. But busy work does not move the needle. In order to make the impact I want to make I must have massive production during the times I block out to work. It is something I have to constantly work at and there are still some times on occasion where I have to catch myself and avoid doing busy work and focus on maximum production.

As a part of my series about social media stars who are using their platform to make a significant social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jason Priest, who is a registered nurse, personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist. Jason specializes in helping busy Dads and professionals re-define their Dad Bods with sustainable health solutions. Jason has been called the Dad Bod Destroyer and is well known for helping high performers achieve great health. Jason has built his business from the ground up and is on a mission to change the lives of 1,000,000 men while making an enormous impact on the obesity trend in our country.)

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

Absolutely! I spent the first 6 years of my nursing career working in an intensive care unit and during that time I saw some extremely scary and disturbing things. Many young people, some as young as in their mid-30’s, were losing their lives or having open heart surgery after procrastinating with their health for too long. The extra 30 or 40 pounds they were carrying around over the last 10 years was catching up to them. It was during those years when I realized how serious the obesity epidemic in our country truly is.

Later in my career I got into corporate wellness and became a personal trainer and fitness nutrition specialist and developed an extreme passion for fitness and nutrition. After years of trying all types of different diets and strategies I discovered a way to be able to eat all the foods I love while still maintaining a fantastic physique. It was during this process that a light went off in my mind. I decided I wanted to help other men do the exact same so they could be around to watch their children grow up to do amazing things and avoid becoming a statistic.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began this career?

Of course! I have a ton of interesting stories because of all the things I have witnessed in my life, especially working in ICU. So it is hard for me to choose just one. But I would have to say one of the most interesting stories which actually happens quite often is when one of my clients has what I call the “light bulb moment.” Because I am so passionate about what I do, it is truly fascinating to me when someone I am working with realizes how simple the process can be when it comes to feeling better and getting into great shape. The reason I find it so interesting is because 36% of our country is obese. I firmly believe that a large percentage of these obese people would drastically improve their health if they only realized their fitness journey isn’t as difficult as their mind often leads them to believe.

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?

Absolutely! One funny mistake I made is when I started doing live videos. I actually thought the entire world was tuning in and I was extremely nervous at first. I would occasionally do live videos in my kitchen so my audience could focus on what I was cooking instead of staring directly at me while I was talking. During these live videos I would have 3–4 viewers so clearly I had nothing to worry about. Looking back, I realize that real people want the real you. Nobody cares if your hair is a little messed up. Nobody cares if you have a stain on your shirt. The lesson I learned is that the world is starving for real and when you just be yourself things get a lot easier.

Ok super. Let’s now jump to the core focus of our interview. Can you describe to our readers how you are using your platform to make a significant social impact?

Of course! I primarily use Facebook and Instagram and show full transparency on both. I post a lot of mindset content relating to both my own life as well as the journey of my audience. I post a picture of every single dinner I eat. Dinner is the only time I have cheat meals and I want my audience to see when I am having cheat meals and when I am not. I want them to know that you don’t have to give up all the foods you love to get in great shape. I want them to know that health is wealth and getting healthy and being healthy is a fun process and it is something they should embrace. I do frequent live videos on Facebook providing as much value as I can to my audience. I do frequent stories on both platforms so my audience knows all of my health habits throughout the day. I want them to see how simple the process can be and my goal is to inspire them to take massive action.

Wow! Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted by this cause?

Yes! It’s funny because when I started doing this I had no idea who all could be impacted. I figured I was just adding value to the world and if someone benefitted from it great! I have people reach out to me fairly frequently and tell me they love what I am doing and that they have started making changes in their own life. But I received a message one day from someone I had never interacted with. The guy is from Australia and wanted me to know that my message is having an impact on him and his son all the way across the world. He told me they have been watching my videos and have started taking action on the things I was teaching. I thought that was a pretty awesome message to receive.

Was there a tipping point that made you decide to focus on this particular area? Can you share a story about that?

Absolutely. Before I started my business I was extremely unfulfilled when it came to my career. Working in corporate wellness was never going to provide me the opportunity to make the impact on the world that I want to make. The amount of people I could help was quite limited and I believe my message needs to be in the minds of as many men as possible. I firmly believe most men simply want to feel better and by implementing some of the things I teach on a daily basis they can experience this much quicker than they actually believe.

Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?

Unfortunately the obesity epidemic isn’t going away anytime soon. We live in an immediate gratification society. People can get anything they want almost immediately from the computer that is always in their hands. Sitting has become the new smoking and more and more people are living sedentary lifestyles with high stress jobs. When you have high stress jobs, sedentary lifestyles and fast food restaurants on every corner, it is difficult to see this epidemic going anywhere for a while. It is projected that by the year 2030 around 50% of the United States will be obese. This is an extremely scary trend and I don’t think soda taxes or taxing high sugar foods are the answer. I do think community is the place to start. Community health initiatives and feeling like you are apart of something much bigger than just your own health goals is extremely powerful. That is a big reason I started my own community called The MAN UP Community. I wanted to give men a place to go so they could get helpful resources and support as well as accountability from a group of men working toward becoming the healthiest version of themselves.

To be honest with you the best strategy is being omnipresent. Content is king and when you put out content all the time across multiple platforms people are going to hear your message. There is a reason some of the best marketers in the world are all over the internet at all hours of the day. Showing up every single day and adding as much value as you possibly can to the world is my best tip. I post at least 3 times per day on multiple platforms and I do frequent live videos and frequent stories. This gives people the best chance to hear your message and implement the valuable lessons and teachings you are putting into the world.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

1. I wish someone would have told me how much family time I would have to sacrifice in order to build an empire and help as many people as possible. I know why I was put on this planet and I am on a relentless pursuit to changes the lives of millions. But in order to do so there are sacrifices that have to be made along the way. I have had to restructure part of my life so that I can be present in the moment with my wife and son. I have learned to stay off of my phone when I am around them so they know they are more important than whatever it is in the phone. It was not an easy lesson to learn but is has paid off big time.

2. I wish someone would have told me the importance of being productive instead of just being busy. There have many been times when I am doing “busy work” and it makes me feel productive. But busy work does not move the needle. In order to make the impact I want to make I must have massive production during the times I block out to work. It is something I have to constantly work at and there are still some times on occasion where I have to catch myself and avoid doing busy work and focus on maximum production.

3. I wish someone would have told me when I first started that showing up every day is the only thing that matters. Your content doesn’t need to be perfect. But you must show up. There will be times when you don’t feel like posting or you don’t feel like you have anything to post. There will be times when you don’t feel like making a video. But showing up every single day is what matters most. I learned later on that an average video or even a poor video will outperform no video at all. Your audience wants to know what you are up to. When you are providing influence, they want to know about your bad days and your good days. People like to paint a pretty picture on social media but your audience wants the real you.

4. I wish someone would have told me when I first started that there will be many lonely days along the way. In the beginning you are all excited to get your message out to the world. But there will be days of radio silence. There will be days when you feel like you aren’t accomplishing anything. Some of your posts will get little to no engagement. Some of your videos will only have one viewer. But you have to keep pushing forward. I have had many days when I felt like quitting and that is what makes me work even harder. I remember many times in the beginning wondering if I was the person for this mission. But I know exactly why I am here and what my purpose is. I will not be stopped until I help change as many lives as I possibly can.

5. I wish someone would have told me when I first started exactly what all the best options were when it comes to technology. I have failed miserably many times over when it comes to choosing the right platforms to work with. I have had to move all of my courses from one platform to another. I have had to switch accounts of many different programs I use. But it is all part of the experience. No business is run the exact same way and in order to have the largest impact possible you have to figure out which technology is best suited for you and your mission to serve others.

The movement I would inspire is the movement I am currently working toward. I want other Dads and men to be around for their kids, their family and their friends and live the longest life possible. Life is entirely too short for it to end prematurely due to a few bad decisions. We are put on this planet once and by getting my message out to the masses I am hoping to create an enormous impact. By creating my community, The MAN UP Community, I hope to be able to reach the lives of over 1,000,000 men and help them become the healthiest version of themselves and the leader of their families in every aspect.

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

“Sometimes later becomes never. Do it now.”

This quote has been relevant in my life multiple times. Once when I had my own body transformation and once when I started my business. I often ask those who are contemplating making healthy lifestyle changes “why wait?” We live once and the last two words you want to use together in the same sentence are health and regret. I knew when I had become sick and tired of being sick and tired it was time to make a serious change so I took massive action.

In terms of my business I am a “late blooming” entrepreneur. But I vividly remember a discussion with my wife when I was feeling so unfulfilled and without purpose. The last thing I wanted to have happen was to look back 15 or 20 years from now and regret not starting my business and having the ability to help change the lives of so many men.

Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂

Narrowing it down to one person is tough because there are many people who I would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with. But if I had to absolutely choose one I would have to go with Jesse Itzler. The reason I would choose Jesse is because of how successful he is while remaining so passionate about his own health and fitness. I love how he inspires other entrepreneurs to take massive action but also prioritizes health above all. Jesse has many talents and growing and scaling businesses is obviously among them. But beyond his talents are his hard-working mentality and just showing up every day and putting in the work. Jesse’s wife Sara is also amazing and she is one of the best speakers I have ever seen in person. Having breakfast with him and getting to interact with him on a personal level would truly be a dream come true.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

www.dadbodhealth.com

Facebook.com/priest1130

Facebook.com/DadBodHealthOfficial

Instagram — @DadBodHealth

Linked In — https://www.linkedin.com/in/dadbodhealth/

This was very meaningful, thank you so much!

The Social Impact Heroes of Social Media: “I wish someone would have told me the importance of… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.