When I was fresh out of college, with a few years of job experience, I worked as an IT and management consultant. I traveled to client sites from my then-home in the desert southwest of the U.S. For five years straight I was on an airplane 40 or more weeks per year. I flew out of a relatively small airport and with the same airline every week – so the station staff new me. I flew like this before and after 9-11. I know the impact that had on travel. I stayed in hotels for most of those trips and I was brand loyal to my hotel choice too. There were challenges to that lifestyle. I never formed close friendships with people who lived close to me because I was rarely home. That lifestyle also had to bend and eventually it broke as our family grew.
But there were perks to the job … many, many perks. When I wasn’t traveling for work, I was traveling for fun. I used points, free nights, upgrades, and more to live a full and rewarding lifestyle that I loved. My oldest daughter earned a free ticket on Southwest airlines before she was 4 years old because she traveled with me so much.
So, when we moved overseas and I eventually converted to a “normal job”, I knew that I missed my old job. I thought that I missed the challenge of it and the constant change in direction and goals. And I did – I loved those things. One day when talking about my old job and really lighting up when talking to a family friend, she told me to go back to that job because even thinking about it made me happy.
But that job doesn’t exist anymore, not in the form it originally had. So I sat down and thought about how to make that job in a new form. How to have all of the parts I loved and, when possible, how to avoid the down sides. I studied what I did at the job that I loved and certain things, like being challenged and constant change, came to forefront. But it took me awhile to see that I really missed the travel perks very, very much too.
Making My Job
In my reinvention, I knew I wanted to work for myself. To have my effort equal my reward. Be my own boss. All of that.
I started out tutoring mathematics because my “real job” that I had last been working was as a mathematics teacher. I still do tutor math because I love it but it is now more of a side hustle.
What I landed on was working as a travel agent/ travel advisor. This brings back all of the travel benefits that I used to have when I travelled so much with additional, new benefits to boot. Win! I can use my vast experience with traveling – both for employment and enjoyment – to help other folks with their travel planning and arrangements.
Now I work from home on a full-time basis. I work flexible hours. I manage my own work. My work day is always different and interesting.
But the two most important things to me are:
- I get to make people happy with the work I do.
- I get amazing travel benefits from the work that I do.
