Success Stories focuses on veteran travel advisors and how they achieved success. Here we introduce you to Erin Johnson, owner and founder of My Live Love Travel.
How did you start working as a travel advisor?
I have traveled all over the world since I was young. I have been a professional singer since I was 12 years old, but completely retired in 2014. I realized how much I missed traveling and the impact it had on me. In 2016, after much thought and research, I became a travel advisor. I thought this was a small thing I did in homeschooling her four daughters.
There were people in this industry who invested their time, wisdom, and knowledge with me. I'm forever grateful to them for that. We started to grow a little faster than expected and by 2019 we had other agents working with us and my husband Kevin was running the group department full time.
Today we have an amazing team of travel advisors on board. We operate our agency a little differently than other agencies. In addition to taking care of our amazing customers, I apply what I've learned to the advisors who work with us to develop leaders in the travel industry. It's really rewarding for both the giver and the receiver. Traveling changes you in amazing ways. What a great industry to be a part of.
How have you built your business over the years?
I'm a people person and I love people. I quickly realized that this industry is all about relationships. I am passionate about building relationships with people in this industry around the world. I went deep into knowing and understanding the product I was selling and how to fit it into the type of clients I served. The result is a love for the vendors and products we sell. Then I saw how other advisors were struggling with this issue and decided I wanted to help them learn and succeed in the industry. I currently train and encourage his 23 advisors at our agency on a daily or weekly basis and watch their love for this industry grow along with the sails.
What characteristics make you a successful advisor?
One of the most important things for me is to remember that everyone wants to feel heard and that what they have to say has value. I develop my listening skills, have compassion for those around me, and listen closely to my clients and the advisors who work with me. The traits that have served it well over the years are honesty, confidence, empathy, motivation, and team building. I love working with others and seeing them succeed in life. It is a great joy to see those around you succeed and prosper.
With this attitude and insight, our customers feel confident and well cared for from the moment they call to the moment they leave home. They went home and said, “That was an unforgettable experience. Thank you for the suggestion and for making this possible.” The only way we as advisors can accomplish that for our clients is by listening and truly caring.
What is your biggest challenge?
Conflicts with other advisors and learning how to properly handle them were my first real challenges. Since our advisors are not employees, this had to be handled differently. Learning how to start a travel agency with my husband and keeping my personal life outside of the office allows for continued growth, but we've both really come this far in her eight years. Ta. The biggest challenge is making sure you don't take your work home with you. Something we all do can sometimes become a 24/7 job for her. Learning how to pause and recharge was a challenge for me.
What is your greatest accomplishment?
We will build the team we currently have at our agency and enter the luxury goods market. We have a great team of advisors and our agency has a family feel. And I don't take that lightly. Over the past few years, being accepted into Women Leadership in the Travel ALLIES Society and Travel Conclave, serving on the advisory board, and joining the Global Travel Marketplace (GTM) have all been huge accomplishments for me personally and for the agency. .
What tips can you offer advisors new to the industry?
Never stop learning! We work in an industry that is constantly evolving and changing. When you get frustrated, call another advisor for support and encouragement. This is not a business you can learn overnight, so don't be too hard on yourself. At first it will be like drinking water from a fire hose, so again, be kind to yourself and have fun.
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