Things are slow in the society today as this is a one woman’s show. I would like to live the dream someday, but life just gets in the way.
Losing my freelancing job last month and not being able to find another one until now just made things incredibly slow, thanks to this painfully bad internet in paradise. But really, thanks to steemit and all those who upvote me, I will finally make this happen. I will persist!
This is the first time I’m going to reveal what I have been working on since I came back from travels. I just figured out that it would be best for me to share my goals to track my progress. Definite desire must be backed with definite plans. And perhaps, the community would help push me a little bit.
No time to slack off, high season is here!
What is this all about? It has something to do with all the things I love - travel, beach bumming, scuba diving, island life and all-time summer high. It is based on the Galapagos Alternative concept. It is about personalized tours and eco-based tourism. I was just fortunate enough to learn more about the business when I was volunteering last year in the Galapagos. This travel company is owned by a couple, the lady is from the US, and a guy from the Galapagos islands. So they are a team, one works on getting clients from the US and one is familiar with all the things about the island. When I was staying in their house, I got to see what they were doing every day and how they just worked at the comfort of their home. Like most of the successful entrepreneurs, they all started with nothing and now have been earning some fair amount from the influx of tourism. With their permission, I am adopting a similar concept.
And of course, it is not easy, I can’t afford to hire a staff so I don't have a team yet. I have to do everything on my own at the moment (web development, marketing, customer service, networking with local tour operators, itinerary design). And hopefully, I would be able to apply all the things I have learned from my trip. But I'm not going to reveal too much information yet so as not to break all eggs in one basket.
Below says we, but it is actually just me, well, at the moment. So far I have written the website content as follows:
About
We are a 100% locally-owned small business, all grew up surrounded with the magnificence of our nature. We know what personal experiences are all about. Our personalized travel tours will let you experience nature at its best, unparalleled geography and cultural immersion.
Introduction
We offer a unique travel experience, giving you a fresh perspective of the islands, the way we see them - as locals. Visit villages, stay at local hotels, eat at local restaurants, make friends with the locals and explore the best sights at your own pace. We offer personalized tours, various adventure and nature activities, making your travel a once in a lifetime experience. Choose from our land-based tour packages or design your own itinerary - by selecting your own activities and places which suit your interests. Our custom tours include island-hopping activities, diving or snorkeling, guided day tours and a visit to villages, with English-speaking professional guides, quality accommodation, best options for transportation and reliable local tour operators. See our suggested itineraries or go design your own adventure. No worries as our itinerary specialist will assist you every step of the way. (That is also me)
I was fortunate enough to have worked in one of the travel agencies for the world famous Inca Trail and Machu Picchu in Cusco, Peru, which taught me how to design detailed itineraries. So yes, custom tour itinerary is a royal pain in the back, especially if you do it for our well-pampered tourists here. But my work there for several months trained me to be patient, detailed and knowledgeable about the tourism industry.
I am going to do all of these familiarization trips. I already knew some of the sights years ago, but I have to revisit and check out some of the off-the-beaten track and desolated islands I could offer. It is definitely a fun job but it also costs money! I look forward to seeing some return in the next couple of years, and hopefully, I could continue traveling to introduce my travel company to the world.
I hope that the eco-based tourism concept of my startup/future travel company will help raise awareness about the preservation of our diverse marine life. Someday, I will start some environmental projects and probably look for volunteers too.
I am going to share more about my entrepreneurial goals, vision, and plans here on steemit. I would like to look back someday and see what I have accomplished.
Set your mind on a definite goal and observe how quickly the world stands aside to let you pass.
― Napoleon Hill
Best wishes for your new (ad)venture!
Thanks for supporting the (ad)venture at the bottom of the food chain. You always have something to say to 'make' my day lol.
PS. Thank you very much for the surprise 😊!
Good luck with your new venture😀
Yey, thank you! 😊
Wow, that sounds like a lot of fun. You have a way with people, you'll do great. Just make sure they are the right people.
Thanks! The right people is kind of tricky though.
Name the company: No Jerks Allowed Tours & Lifestyle Experiences
Tell me more about dealing with tourists looking for half and half and wifi in the Inca Trail. And now perhaps, here on the islands too.
Good luck to me.
this sounds great.
I am really happy for you and I am looking forward to read about your success.
The about and introduction posts sound both very good.
While you have a lot on your plate now with your business you will also learn a lot.
Will you accept SBD and upvotes as payment ;-)?
Best of luck!
Thanks for SBD payment idea! Maybe I'd be the first online tour company here to accept SBD as a mode of payment haha. I don't know. I'm so happy you are supporting me all the way, I will share here the progress. And I'll try to stay positive no matter how difficult this journey is for me.
This will be huge and I am sure the community here will love it if you accept steem and sbd ( if I would open a business I would totally accept crypto, at least the bigger ones)
No worries I will keep supporting you. I am sure the journey will be hard from time to time but also worth it :-)
I dont know if you know fiverr.com but there you can get some work done pretty cheap (design etc) might be worth checking out.
Yeah I know fiverr.com and all similar sites, I need some help with designs and other stuff. I will definitely accept BTC, and put it on the website. Paypal fees is so annoying.
I will post here my definite goals so I can track which I have already accomplished.
Thanks as always!
Amazing how you plan your goals. Much success in this new venture. I am just as dreamy as you and I hope I can start my own company someday. I'm also freelance and I know how every penny costs. Make everything go very well for you.
Thank, good luck and I hope you'll pursue your dream too.
That sounds like the only kind of tour I'd ever be willing to undertake. I am an off the beaten trail kinda guy, and just can't mill about with the herd.
Kudos on what I believe is a superb business idea! I hope you can manage the various and overwhelming bits and pieces of your plan, without faltering. If I can be of any assistance, I'd be happy to oblige if I am able.
Edit: a thought: you offer 'at your own pace', which is a great boon to folks like me, prepared to change the itinerary when faced with a particular delight they want to take more time for. This can create cancellation fees for the tour operator, which you will need to ensure you don't have to absorb, or to have sufficient overage to absorb if it arises.
I'd feel it important to have a fee statement for such itinerary changes that might impact your bottom line that your customers would have to sign off on before beginning their travel.
Oh thanks! I see it all coming, I already have the terms and conditions, booking and cancellations and all the fees associated for suddenly cancelling my hard work.
I have dealt with this during my stint in the travel agency in Peru last year, and with people who wanted to be treated with royalty ha!
I might share the bits and pieces here, so you guys can help me draft the pages of my website.
... and half and half is for plebs! If I'm going, Imma need heavy whipping cream for my coffee =p
So, need concierge services?
Hahaha, this is for those who need some rustic, island living, marine life exposure. Ok, I'll look for heavy whipping cream for you. Just no strong wifi lol.
I probably need help in decision-making, problem-solving, dealing with demands, and more on interpersonal skills hahaha. Patience in this type of industry is the key.
Patience and a good poker face
@diabolika, good luck on your new business ventures. I hope you achieve success so that you can take the one woman show to need heights by building a skilled team that can assist you.
Thank you for believing in me.
Yes I like to be treated like royalty 😛
Well this sounds like a pretty huge undertaking, even with the experience you have already as a tour op/creator, and nomad.
I think this is a good subject to be blogging about too as the feedback you have had, and we receive from other nomads will come in handy.
Tags like 'eco' are a winner too, and I'd be interested in knowing what would seperate you from the rest of these 'planet friendly' adventures.
Cool!
Oh wow, I'm happy you noticed this.
Yeah, the eco tag is good. I'd be sharing my effort and progress here, to get some feedback.
Thanks!
I forgot to say 'good luck'!
I'll hopefully be popping in more often now I'm unemployed, and planning my own adventures 😁 (Still vote for everything ya do but need to interact more sorry!)
No worries, I understand! 😊
Welcome to the unemployed club. And enjoy your upcoming adventures.
Thanks :)
I feel welcome already!
Looks like a great plan @diabolika, I am sure you will manage, wish you best luck and keeps us informed about the progress so we can send off ourselves or friends or family to you. Hug.
Thank you so much! I will post about the progress, no worries.
This sounds like tons of fun (and a lot of work, which it seems like you're absolutely prepared for)!
Congratulations on deciding to follow your passion! I hope you have great and continued successes!
One editorial note:
"various adventure and nature activities, making your travel a once and a lifetime experience."
I believe the phrase is once-in-a-lifetime (hyphens are optional) :)
Omg I appreciate your attention to detail! Thanks, I need to put some of my website stuff here for review!
I think steemit community will really help me.
Good luck! And happy to jump on video chat and discuss your business model, value proposition, next steps, etc... For free, of course :)
Wow, thank you. I will let you know for sure!
You can use this - http://ideatofunding.com/free-startup-consultation/ :)
Wow, you have some great plans there :D Sounds like a lot of work to set up all by your own, but seeing as it's your passion it suits you perfectly :) (another wow at the first pic's view!)
Yeah, it is really hard work, but persistence is the key!
Someday I might find someone to help me, who knows! 😊
the best of luck, my friend, but I know you will do great!
Thanks!
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interesting project, good luck @diabolika
Thanks!
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STOPSounds like an awesome idea. Good luck!
Thank you! 😊
Best of luck. People here will help. Upvoting, commenting a lot, like now :)
Yeah, thanks to you all! 😊
Thanks for sharing!
You're very brave. It'll work!