Become a Home-Based
 Travel Professional

What it Takes to be a Successful Independent Home-Based Travel Professional
By: Joanie Ogg CTC, MCC

Let’s face it working from home has its share of challenges, which we have discussed in previous articles, but what business worth pursuing doesn’t? The good news is that certain individuals really do possess traits and qualities that are symbiotic with working from home. When I teach our Home Based Seminars to agents, I focus on some of the traits that are needed to be an effective home-based travel professional. Not everyone will possess all of these traits and there are likely even more traits that would be helpful. However, these seem to be the most important and if wish to be home-based or are already home-based, perhaps reading about these will help you strengthen your commitment to your home based agency success.

1. Knowledge is Key

As we all know being a travel professional is not as easy as it looks!  Sure, we don’t have to have a college degree, but it certainly helps and the more education we can invest in our careers, the more successful we are sure to become. Studies done by Plog Research and others have proven this to be fact. Knowledge is power and the beautiful thing is, it can never be taken away from us. We need to refresh and update our skills and knowledge base, but once we own that knowledge in our minds, it is truly ours. Never forget that the knowledge that our clients want from us is excellent advice about the products we sell.

Continuing education is key to staying on top in our business. We have so many opportunities to take advantage of educational programs such as conferences like Cruise-A-Thon, NACTA’s Seminars at Sea, NACTA’s National Conferences, tremendous programs available from the travel industry suppliers (click Here to check some of them out) CLIA and so many more. I believe it is our duty to clients to stay abreast of the changes and new products and services that are available in our market. With the many choices of educational opportunities for travel professionals there is no excuse not to continue to upgrade and cement our knowledge and experience to best serve our customers. 

2. Do you have a plan?

We just did a survey of our members and one of the questions focused on the need for a business plan. Interestingly enough most of the agents surveyed felt this was not really all that important in the scheme of things.  I must say I was a bit surprised. I am a firm believer in the need to have a plan so we know where we are headed. Additionally, we need to have a plan to check our efforts against our successes, as we move along in our business. A plan can always change, but if we don’t have a starting place (and a final goal) it is pretty hard to stay focused and on track in my opinion.

So my suggestion here is to ask yourself the simple question “What do I want to achieve from my home-based travel agency?” Just jotting down the various reasons will help you to make the plan. In fact, this is a great exercise even if you have been home-based for many years. Perhaps what you thought you wanted to achieve or the goal you wanted to reach has changed. Time changes many things and perhaps when you began doing this 10-years ago, you wanted to be home with your children and this was the perfect solution. Now they are grown and you have gained more independence to get out and market and perhaps network in your community. Your goals may have changed and perhaps you wish to change them to fit your place in time.

In order to build a solid travel business you must have a central purpose and a goal. Doing too many different things and having no direction will likely take you in circles without the results you strive to achieve. It is common knowledge that people who fail in businesses often had no clear objectives or defined purpose to start with.

Maybe writing a business plan is not your thing but at least set a purpose and objective for your travel business success so you can reap the rewards of a great plan.

3. Are You Self-Disciplined?

Working at home means that you don t have a boss or co-workers to keep you on task. When you are the boss, it is easy to do something other than work. This is especially true in a home business where you have your personal life all around you. You must discipline yourself to do certain tasks at certain times every day. Do not let your home life interfere with your business just because you work at home.

4. Are You in Control of Your Routine?

You must avoid procrastination at all costs! Once again, you do not have a boss or other authority figure to keep you on task. One of the luxuries of being your own boss is that you get to pick your working hours. Make sure you aren't putting off work until tomorrow or the next day that should be done now. Doing this will squash your home business dreams faster than anything. You must establish a work-load to get done every day and do it.

5. Do You Have Persistence?

People are always starting this or that but hardly anyone ever finishes once it gets a little rough. Having a home business has a lot of benefits but first you have to get through all the hurdles in the beginning. There are few things harder than building a home business from the ground up. There are also few things more rewarding once you have succeeded. It will get tough at times so you must have persistence.

6. How Much Do You Desire Success?

You can hope and wish to gain financial independence for the rest of your life, but it will never happen until you desire it. You must determine exactly what you want for your financial future and then let it become your obsession. Do not leave any room for failure or you will do just that, fail.

7. Are You Focused on Your Key Purpose?

In order to build a solid business you must have a central purpose. It s easy to try and do a hundred different things at one time, but it gets you nowhere in the end. People that fail don't have a defined purpose (or objective) set for what they are trying to do. When you try to do too many things at once, without really knowing what you are doing it for, then you will quickly find that nothing is working. Many people just give up at this point.

8. How Much Real-Time Experience Do You Offer Your Clients?

Clients seek your advice because of your real-time experience. The more familiarization cruises and tours that your take, the more experience that you gain. The more seminars you attend, the more knowledgeable you become about travel industry suppliers. The more conventions and trade shows that you attend, the more effectively you learn to operate within the travel industry. By traveling and learning, you become more valuable to your client base.

9. Is Your Enthusiasm Contagious?

You must thoroughly enjoy what you do in order to succeed at it. There is an old saying that enthusiasm is contagious. With enthusiasm you will have much more success getting people to do business with you. The whole purpose of working at home is to do something you like under your own terms, so pick something you are enthused about.

Now, go back and read the list again. Do you lack any of the desired traits? Do you possess any of the negative traits? Find someone who knows you very well and is comfortable giving you constructive criticism. Have them go over the list with you to give you an outside perspective on yourself. If you find anything you need to work on, get started immediately. This is no time to procrastinate. Your future is on the line!

BRAND NEW!
TURN YOUR
WEBSITE INTO
A VIRTUAL
MONEY MACHINE!!

If you have a travel website, you have to read this book. It will introduce you to more ways to make money than you can imagine.

Order it Now!
More Information

ALL NEW!
STUDY COURSE
April, 2007 Edition
Available NOW!

A complete Independent Study Course for starting a home-based travel agency is now available for shipping. This is a professionally edited new book that will help you get started in record time. 

Order it Now!
More Information
Table of Contents

April 2007 Edition
Available NOW!

Order it Now!
More Information
Table of Contents

ALL NEW
WORKBOOK

Finally a comprehensive workbook companion to the Study Course. This workbook, start-up check list and test will make starting your own home-based travel business easy. If you plan on starting your business soon, be sure to purchase the workbook companion to the How to Start a Home Based Travel Agency Independent Sturdy Course.

Order it Now!
More Information