Women’s Travel Fest: Action Plan

Lei Wang at the Women’s Travel Fest inspired me to make an action plan to achieve my goals. The event held at Angel Orensanz Foundation was an inspirational weekend in New York City! Kelly Lewis did an amazing job putting this event together! It was an awesome opportunity to connect and network with like-minded ladies, get inspired to travel and reach for the sky in my blogging business! Thanks to these additional sessions: Learning how to travel the world without quitting my job, The best times to book and go travel as well as Focus on my passion, helped solidify my goals to make a concrete plan. Passion is energy and focusing on that excitement will create my drive to succeed.

Next Goal: Make Money

‘We were fortunate at the Women’s Travel Fest to listen to Lei Wang, an accomplished woman: ”On May 24th, 2010, Lei Summited Mt Everest to become the first Asian Woman to finish the challenge of Seven Summits and Two Poles”. Lei Wang was always looking for the next big thing. She inspired us to ”Get excited by presuming the impossible in life”. Lei Wang made us think of what we want our next goal to be (whether personally or professionally) and put an action plan in place to not only dream of it but make it happen.

That’s when my perception changed. I’ve dreamed of many possibilities but given time to brainstorm, discuss and plan with fellow travellers sitting next to me to create actionable items was a game changer. My next goal is to start making money in my blogging business. There are many different avenues that I can take but I’ve thought of what I’d like to focus on and then I can build from there.

Tip: Focusing on too many goals at once will leave you overwhelmed and exhausted. This would make it hard to make progress. Focus on three goals at once max.

How can I Achieve my Goal?

To make money in my blogging business, I have to take a deeper dive into figuring out how I want to help my audience. Making money is great but I also want to help families and couples get in the outdoors.

Tip: Think of your main niche and figure out how you’ll help your audience in that niche.

I have two focuses: behind the scenes and interacting with families and couples. These are the ideas I’ve brainstormed (some are current goals while others are future goals).

Behind the Scenes

• Guides: Write guides to help families and couples plan their own trips.
• Printables: Create worksheets, scavenger hunts, trip budget sheets, and checklists to help families and couples plan a trip.
• Personalized family and couple trips: Create, plan and book a customizable trip for a family or couple.
• Work with brands: Take pictures, write blogs, reviews, etc. for brands.
• Affiliate Marketing: Get a commission for marketing a company’s products.
• Courses: Encouraging families and couples to get outdoors by taking a course of mine.
• Write a book: Write to inspire families and couples to get outdoors.
• Stickers: Create outdoor, budget stickers to help families and couples plan their yearly calendars.

Interacting with Families and Couples

• Airbnb Experiences (thanks to @brookebadley for the suggestion): Create experiences through Airbnb to show families and couples unique experiences around Edmonton.
• Guided family or couple trips: Guide families and couples (separate trips) on an outdoor adventure: kayaking, hiking, backpacking, and cross-country skiing near Edmonton or abroad.
• Guide families to different hiking locations: Get families hiking once a month to spend time outdoors in areas around Edmonton.
• Guided outdoor adventure retreats: Guide families and couples on outdoor adventure retreats to find a peaceful mind through meditation while on an outdoor adventure near Edmonton or abroad.

Here’s a table to see the differences between behind-the-scenes and interacting with families and couples. It helps if you think visually.

Behind the Scenes	Interacting with Families and Couples
Work a few hours when I have free time.	Dedicate time to go on guided trips/experiences.
Work on guides and printables to help families or couples plan their own trips.	Trip or excursion: Plan a trip for a family or couple.
Provide tips that I think will be useful.	Provide tips or suggestions on the trip as they come up.
Interact with a computer.	Interact with real people.

Women’s Travel Fest: Action Plan

I like planning so either a customizable trip or inviting people to join me seems like a good plan.

Tip: Focus on your strengths and use that to your advantage when planning to support your niche.

With only three goals to focus on at one time, here are my immediate goals:

• Printables: I’ve purchased Julie and Cody’s E-printables Course. It’s a nice way to start making passive income (hopefully!) when I have some free time.
• Airbnb Experiences: If I get approved, it will provide me opportunities to interact with families and couples for a couple of hours outdoors.
• Working with brands: I’ve purchased courses to achieve this goal.

Focusing on money I’ve already invested seems to make the most financial sense. Airbnb Experiences will give me a taste of hanging out with families and couples outdoors.

Travel Mindset: How to Travel the World Without Quitting Your day job

I love to travel and spend time outdoors near or far from home to write posts on my experiences or create content. I figured out how to incorporate my business travel goals while working full-time. Here are some tips from @EJtheTravelDiva, @jenonajetplane, @thetravel_pm and @adventurely that might help you out as well:

• Book six months ahead of time.
• Utilize weekends or long weekends to fly direct from your city and make it into a mini holiday.
  • If you’re going on a weekend trip with limited time, plan every detail beforehand so you’re not wasting time figuring it out on your trip.
• Add one or two days onto a weekend or long weekend to extend your trip.

If you utilize many weekends and long weekends throughout the year, you‘ll be able to travel to various destinations. I’ll gladly take this opportunity to blog about different places I’ve discovered because of taking that opportunity to travel somewhere close.

Tip: Some places within a direct flight from your city might not be on your bucket list but if you’re wanting to travel, it will give you the opportunity to discover a novel destination. It will provide you with a break and relaxation from the daily grind. Give it a shot; where can you fly directly from your home city?

Timed Travel: Life-Changing Travel that Won’t Break the Bank

Life-Changing Travel that Won’t Break the Bank with Pauline Frommer gave us some insight into the best times to book and travel. My Women’s Travel Fest: Action plan appreciates knowing how to save money and plan accordingly to help me utilize the best times to travel in my spare time.

• Purchase airfare on Sundays
• Buy 1 month ahead when travelling domestically, here are ideas of places to go:
  • Ultimate WCT Packing List, British Columbia, Canada
  • Gorgeous Hiking to Laughing Falls, British Columbia, Canada
  • Lake Isle Kayaking Adventures: Four Directions to Consider when Kayaking, Alberta, Canada
  • Jasper Hikes: Best Memories, Alberta, Canada
  • 4 Spectacular Drumheller Hikes, Alberta, Canada
  • Awesome Pembina River Rafting, Alberta, Canada
• Buy 6 months ahead when travelling internationally
  • Top 10 Activities from Majestic Resorts in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
  • Cross-Country Skiing La Féclaz in France
  • Unforgettable Hiking Holiday in Bolzano, Italy
  • Mount Batur Sunrise Hiking Guide in Bali
• Start your trip on Wednesdays to buy the cheapest flights.

Passion is Energy

Deidre Mathis told us to focus on our passion. Passion is energy and focusing on that excitement in my Women’s Travel Fest: Action Plan will create my drive to succeed. I’m passionate to share my love for the outdoors with families and couples through backpacking the West Coast Trail, my love for cross-country skiing, Kayaking Desolation Sound: 11 Tips for the Best Trip Ever and 4 Best Larch Hikes.

Connections

The Women’s Travel Fest: Action Plan started the first night at The DL Rooftop & Lounge when I met Shannon and Rachel. The second-night get-together was at The Mayfly NYC where I met Justine and Alyssa. I ran into Shannon again as well. We headed to Mercury Lounge to listen to some awesome live music. The after-parties are a great opportunity to make connections and share your passion for travel. The following day, these girls helped me brainstorm ideas after Lei Wang’s presentation to create my action plan. It was really helpful to build connections the night before and get their input and encouragement for my business moving forward.

I had an awesome conversation with Brooke on the first day at the conference. She mentioned Airbnb experiences and how I could offer outdoor tours and get families and couples outside around Edmonton. I didn’t even know these experiences existed.

Tip: Attending and sharing ideas at conferences helps you get further ahead toward your goals.

Brooke was really encouraging and told me I should do it! It was awesome to feel encouraged, and motivated with a realistic activity that could be accomplished in my free time.

The energy these ladies gave me at the conference and after parties was magical. They were 100% confident in me and that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to do. In a world where that doesn’t happen all the time, it was really encouraging to receive positive feedback.

Final Thoughts

Outdoor Media Summit made me feel alive and now with the Women’s Travel Fest: Action plan, I feel unstoppable! The energy was magnificent! So many inspiring stories and talks. The ladies shared tips and concrete plans to make a difference in my blogging business. I will cherish the connections forever. I had wonderful chats with many other women too. Some were about business, while others were enjoying a laugh together. They were feel-good moments while sharing our hopes and dreams together in the travel space. I highly recommend attending this lovely Women’s Travel Fest event whether you’re an avid traveller or looking for tips to monetize your travel life!

Here’s the link to download the travel checklist.

Check out the free printables Workshop or the free Seasonal Products Secrets E-book to make your own printables.