Hello again friends of the Travel Hi Five! When you really think about it, the month of October has so many interesting meanings for what it represents. It is a turning of the seasons, the approaching end of year, a bridge to the upcoming holidays, the start of the fourth quarter in the business year and a time to harvest and prepare the soil for a new crop.
In a business sense, the harvest translates to what we can do for the rest of the year to make it a success while planning and planting the seeds of ideas for the upcoming year. I have mentioned to many a consulting client that October is one of the best times to plan for next year. I have been thinking about my own planning for 2024 events, personal development and serving the community of travel advisors I get to work with. Having just come off a successful group sales summit in Jamaica while at the same time preparing for some changes in our personal lives (life and business happen at the same time you know), I have been thinking a lot about how our work has an impact on others. Allow me this opportunity to plant some seeds that may yield something for you in the coming year.
In today’s fast paced world of social media, how many times have you heard someone say, “ I wish I had your job; you look like you’re on vacation all the time?” While it may be true that we get to visit some amazing destinations, what most people can’t see is how hard travel professionals work. They just see the pretty pictures and may not pick up on the fact that you are also hard at work marketing your business effectively. As travel professionals we will always be in a position to educate others, but have you ever stopped to think about the impact you have on young people around you?
These young people may be your own kids, family members, young professionals looking for good role models or someone you don’t even know who sees what you do and is inspired. I once did a summer series geared toward teenagers that was built on a free resource from “Success Magazine” called Success for Teens that taught them eight slight edge philosophies. One was the concept that the key to success is learning from failure. Double your rate of your failure so you can succeed sooner! I share this with you not to boast but to impress upon you that there are budding young entrepreneurs out there who can learn from what you do. And you don’t need to be teaching them, by simply being a business owner and doing what you do with integrity you can have an impact on young minds. Despite thinking they are not even paying attention.
Here are some of the reasons why this makes a difference.
Learning the Value of Hard Work and Dedication
When children get exposure to parents or other family members in business there are some significant benefits. When kids witness their parents putting in long hours, making tough decisions and persisting through challenges to make their business successful, they learn the importance of commitment and perseverance. Some of those tough decisions can be about finding harmony in their family life and business life as well. Do not get me wrong, I am sure there are some kids who see the negative effects if a parent is not managing right, but they are learning, nonetheless. If you will allow me though, I will stick to the positive aspects as I believe in human goodness, dear reader. If you have read this far, then you are the kind of person who does too.
Financial Literacy and Responsibility
Managing a business involves handling finances, budgeting and making financial decisions. Young people who are exposed to these aspects of entrepreneurship from a young age are more likely to develop financial literacy and responsibility skills. When given this opportunity they can learn about budgeting, saving, investing and the risks and rewards associated with financial decisions. This knowledge equips them with essential life skills that will serve them well into adulthood. Think about yourself for a moment as a business owner. How were you taught these skills as a kid? Were you? Sometimes those things from the past represent our own challenges we have had to overcome to become better business owners ourselves.
Creativity and Problem Solving
Entrepreneurs often encounter unique challenges that require creative solutions. Children who see their parents tackle these challenges firsthand are exposed to creative problem solving from an early age. They learn that there is more than one way to approach a problem and that innovation and adaptability are invaluable traits in any field. This can foster a sense of resourcefulness and creativity that can benefit them throughout their lives. You may get to see this firsthand with young kids as they may even act out what they see in their play. Now that there are more people working virtually there are lots of opportunities for your work life to be on display to the entire family. Add social media into the mix and you may find yourself seeking the advice of your older kids for the creative use of unfamiliar platforms.
Entrepreneurial Mindset and Risk Taking
Running a business often involves taking calculated risks. While children may not understand this fully, they will analyze it and look to figure it out. Children who watch their parents or adults around them make strategic decisions learn to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. They begin to understand that success sometimes requires stepping out of one’s comfort zone and taking calculated risks. This is a mindset that can empower them to pursue their own entrepreneurial ventures with confidence. I can think of many chances my girls had to flex this muscle: Girl Scout cookies, band fundraisers, lemonade stands … How you help to encourage their involvement and overcoming the fear of “selling” goes a long way. Did you have a memorable or unmemorable experience around this when you were young? What can you learn from that?
Generational Influence
One key point to highlight is the generational influence on future success principles. Not just within families, but the opportunity for young children and young adults to have good role models who exemplify the values that drive good business. Learned values of integrity, customer-focus and resilience can become ingrained in their own belief systems. As a result, children are more likely to carry these values forward into their own careers and businesses.
Research supports the idea of generational influence. A study published in the “Journal of Family Business Strategy (2018)” found that children of family business owners often exhibit a strong entrepreneurial orientation, influenced by the values of their parents. It is interesting to think about how this impacts the next generation’s view of future career options. How we think about work and life impacted every living person during the pandemic. We have not yet seen the full results of that impact, but rest assured, having a business that is in service to your life is aspirational for many.
As a final thought on this topic, while you have your head down just getting the work done and making this thing called “a travel business” work, don’t underestimate who you may be having an influence on. You don’t have to do anything extra, just keep being the awesome, positive, influence in your families and communities that you are. Trust me, someone is paying attention. You may never know who you inspired the most because of what you do.
In case you need a pep talk or some daily affirmations watch this, and remember, you can do anything really good!
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