Happy New Year!  We will be saying that before you know it as we move from 2018 into 2019.  And for me, Fall tends to be a slow season. People are getting back into the hang of school, beginning to worry about the holidays, etc. Personally, I don't worry until December 24th, but I digress! But from a business aspect now is the time to get your marketing and financial plans in order. How do you expect to make money if you don't have them?  Now is the time to clean house. Is there a drawer full of junk that needs to go? Do you still have one of Apple's brochures from 2004 just because you never know when you might need it? Take advantage…

In 2011, Nancy graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in Communication. During her senior year, she interned at the number one Spanish television network, Univision. Before graduating, she was able to secure a spot with the station as a Production Assistant. With time, she was promoted to Production Coordinator and then Associate & Field Producer. As a producer, Nancy managed reporters and production crews on the field covering special events like the Rose Parade, The Oscars, local elections & telethons. She was also involved in the production of community events like education fairs, entrepreneurial summits and sport tournaments, where she excelled at planning and managing logistics.

Working under tight deadlines, Nancy learned to think…

“There were two ways to be happy: improve your reality, or lower your expectations” ― Jodi Picoult

Setting your expectations high is an important part of moving your travel practice forward. Let me explain.

Unrealized expectations are not strangers to most of us.  It’s pretty common to decide in the course of any given day our clients, our family, our employees, or our friends are not meeting our expectations. Some will tell you even having expectations is futile and the sure path to unhappiness. Have you had someone tell you “Expect the worst and you’ll never be disappointed?" People who repeat this aphorism often nod knowingly like they have just let you in on one of life's real…

Proof that this is an effective concept occurred just yesterday. My phone rang and in the initial sentence I heard the words “University of Massachusetts”. I paid attention.

Since UMASS was my alma mater, I continued to give the stranger my attention and a little more time. He spoke. I listened. There seemed to be a mutual self-interest as he informed me of the “method to his madness.” He came across as a gentleman. We communicated.

Long story short: We will soon meet for a cup of coffee as two independent business professionals with no particular agenda other than to get to know each other. His call worked. And it had everything to do with the…