Entrepreneur, soft skills trainer, and blogger Imelda Say got into the travel agency business because of a seminar she attended. That was seven years ago. Today, she shares six hard lessons (and tips) she learned along the way.

In 2010, after my mom passed away, I made the decision to return to the Philippines and leave Singapore for good. I felt I was needed by the family to assist in our family business. I did not include job hunting in the agenda because I want to be there for my family and attend to the business that my parents established.

For a year, I devoted my time to learn how our business works. I learned so many things that year—people management, accounting, taxation, general office, and back-office work—things I practically evaded before. In the process, it planted the seed of entrepreneurship in me.

In this article, I want to share with you some of the lessons I learned venturing into business.

Lesson # 1: Start

In 2011, when my dad’s company was ably staffed and all system was in place, I ventured on an adventure to start my own travel agency business. With the nudging of my brother Aaron, I attended a month-long class with Travel Depot and they guided me through the process. The best contribution this training gave me was that they encouraged me to register the business. Thus, Xperience Travel Services was established.

You see, if it were just another course, it would have been just one of those that I attended and forgot after some time. This one was different. I registered my business in November against the advice of my accountant because I knew that if I waited for January, this business will never come to be.

Lesson # 2: Identify Your Value Proposition

I plunged into the unknown armed with the lessons and contacts that Travel Depot gave me during the training. I knew I could depend on my operators. I felt secure because I have the guidance of my mentors and I knew I was an overall good person and that people will trust me. I also knew that my parents raised me to do my job well all the time. Of course, I anticipated hiccups but I trust that when the going gets tough, I will endure and do my best.

I knew that armed with what I know, I can make my clients have a good time. I had no other intention than to make things as safe, smooth, and enjoyable for them as I possibly can. I love traveling and I know that the way I view the world now was shaped by the places, people, and situations I encountered during my travels.

So this too became the thrust of the service I provided: To invite people to travel and for them to make meaningful discoveries along the way. I knew that if people spend more time traveling alone or with friends and family, or just immerse themselves in new experiences, eventually change will take place in their mindset and perspective about people and the world around them.

Lesson # 3: Determine Your Non-Negotiables

I knew what I wanted to offer. Here comes the tricky part: Getting clients.

I used to sell bank products, insurance, and executive search services. However, no one knew me as a travel agent. I knew a lot of people but I did not know who would need my services.

I did what was immediately available to me being a home-based travel agency: market through Facebook. More accurately, invite friends to like Xperience Travel’s Facebook page and then…wait.

Soon enough, friends started to inquire. Those who have experienced our services started to refer me to friends. Those who, just by mere trust, referred me to their relatives as well. Needless to say, it was a grace-filled experience every time.

Mind you, our operation is not big, nor our client base wide. However, in our close-knit community of clients, we know that we have been part of their enjoyable holiday. That was more than enough. There were times when we needed to sacrifice profit just so promises would be delivered and safety is assured. Nonetheless, everything is done to make sure that we sleep well, assured we have done our ultimate best.

Lesson # 4: Nourish Your Support Group

It was not an easy feat. I most certainly did not do it alone. I had my mentors from the Travel Depot. I had Aunt Eva who used to be a travel agent who guided me for some time as well. I had Angel, Eloisa, Kath, Ria, and Belle to work with me. I had all my friends and clients who trusted us with their travel and their referrals. It is a community.

Lesson # 5: Fuel Your Passion With Successful Encounters

Very recently, a long overdue part of the process was given attention. I started asking clients to give us their reviews and recommendations.

Despite the effort and time required to make those reviews, our clients gladly obliged and it made us appreciate them even more. It was heart-warming that our clients remembered their experience with us and generously detailed this in their recommendations. It made us eager to delight even more families in the future.

Lesson # 6: Discipline Is The Make Or Break Of A Business

Devoting time and energy into a business is a daily endeavor but not only because it is a challenge. Sometimes, it is easier to overcome challenges than overcome mediocrity.

What do I mean? I must admit, that with my varied activities and interests and with my able staff around, I sometimes lose focus or even detach myself from the daily tasks of running the business from time to time. When there are no urgent tasks to be done, especially if your business is not a store-front one and therefore have no walk-ins, it is so easy to say that, “Today, I’ll take it easy.”

Engaging in a business actually allows you to do so. It is one of the privileges of having your own enterprise, owning your time, and not having to answer to a boss (other than your clients, of course).
However, it also means that every day, you have the liberty to decide how much passion, innovation, effort, and time you are willing to pour into your enterprise. Therefore, you have to structure your time accordingly, make activities for yourself, search for ways to learn on your own, and even tap your own shoulder if you must. Everything is on you.

Core Values
Have you noticed that I did not mention anything about money? Simply because it is part of the fruit, not of the tree. Having your own business is a character-building endeavor. Discipline and values are honed in the process.

In anything in life, your core values will dictate how joyful you will be in any endeavor. If it rings true to your core, it becomes a source of happiness for you.

Having a business is, for many people, part of a bucket list. It is a worthwhile endeavor and if you have the liberty to do so, it really is something you must try on whatever scale you are capable of.

Like travel, it is something that will help you move, learn, and change.

The original article was first published in Imelda Say’s blog.