Become a Home Based Travel Agent

I think we all believe we are ethical and moral in our business practices and that we know the difference between right and wrong. Well, at least in our minds we are likely to lean that way. But as always, the old adage “actions speak louder than words” seems to ring true these past weeks.

My timing of this article comes on the heels of the infamous Senator Weiner’s recent photo shoot, so perhaps that has forced my hand to bring this up. However, in the Travel Professional Community these past weeks, several other ethics and morals threads have also come alive and have revealed some interesting and thought provoking discussions. I thought an article about Ethics might be timely, so here I go.

You know that moment when you are in the decision-making mode and you are wavering as to if what you are about to decide upon is, in fact, a good decision morally and ethically? In other words, “What price will I pay for this decision in the long term and can I live with the decision?”

I believe the principles and values we carry with us through life are largely a result of what we learned from our parents, teachers, and other important adults in our lives but also from our peers. While reading some of the threads in the Travel Professional Community regarding bookings, agent practices, clients and the ethical and moral decisions the travel professionals in this community, I was not only inspired but also enlightened. The value of these peer-to-peer discussions about morals and ethics in business is timely (coming on the heels of Senator Weiner’s bad moral and ethical decisions) and so worthy of taking the time to read.

In my personal opinion, if we remember to look at our business decisions and ask ourselves some of these questions, we are sure to be aware of not only how we feel about the decision, but also how it will affect others and our business.

Think about someone you admire and respect most in life and ask yourself if they were faced with this business decision, how would they handle it.

Seriously, I am a firm believe of the “gut feelings”. We may not always listen or react to what it tells us but we know intuitively what it is saying. Some might call it a conscience or insight, but you know what I mean. The result of going against your “gut feeling” is usually remorse, guilt, shame and assuredly some sleepless nights. This intuitive force has a tremendous impact on our moral business decisions.

Since I am focusing on business here, the question is better said, “How will the decision you make affect your company, your co-workers, your customers and your family? Be they big or small decisions, they are likely to affect others in your work life and home life so careful consideration is so important.

A decision be it big or small that makes us feel good and therefore builds our self-esteem is always the one we should make. Our ethics and or morals are something inside of us and what makes us act the way we do. The price of a business decision is a fee paid by ourselves and those around us. If it makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, it was probably the right decision.

In closing, I really suggest you check out the conversations taking place in the Travel Professional Community and enjoy the lessons shared by your peers. It makes you feel warm and fuzzy.

Joanie Ogg CTC MCC
Joanie Ogg Marketing Group
Editor

Joanie Ogg is a thirty-five year veteran of the travel industry and has been involved with the independent contractor evolution since 1988. She is the principal of Joanie Ogg Marketing Group, which specializes in consulting and speaking on the topic of Home-Based Travel. She also provides marketing and sales for wide variety of products under the umbrella HomeBasedTravelAgent.com.

A demonstrated industry leader, Joanie most recently served as the President of the National Association of Commissioned Travel Agents (NACTA) and TravelSellers. She and her husband Tom acquired NACTA in 1996 and sold it to The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) in 2000. Joanie’s tenure in the travel industry includes owning and operating one of the first successful host agency models. She has owned and operated several storefront travel agencies (both commercial and leisure), as well as a Hawaii wholesale tour company.

Her decades of success have garnered her numerous accolades over the years. Her accomplishments have been recognized by receipt of two Lifetime Achievement Awards from major trade groups, being named as one of the “100 Most Powerful Women in Travel” by Travel Agent magazine on several occasions, voted as “Travel Agent of the Year” by the readers of Travel Trade magazine, and has been recognized by many other industry organizations throughout her tenure in the industry. In 2008 Joanie Ogg was inducted into the CLIA Hall of Fame, an honor held by some of the most influential executives in the travel industry.

Joanie is a Master Cruise Counselor (MCC) and a Certified Travel Counselor (CTC). Joanie has co-authored two popular travel industry books for cruise specialists and home-based travel agents and has authored hundreds of travel trade articles. She has inspired tens of thousands of travel agents attending her presentations at trade events, cruise seminars, international trade gatherings and numerous local educational venues throughout the United States. With a time-honored background and forward-looking vision, she is often featured as a speaker at many of the travel industry’s major conferences and events. Joanie’s speaking talents are widely sought as a travel industry emcee by the most recognized travel organizations. She has emceed such events as Cruise-A-Thons, ASTA’s CruiseFest, The Trade Show, The Travel Institute Forum and all of NACTA’s National and International Conferences.


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