We were lucky to catch up with Michele Friedmann recently and have shared our conversation below.

Michele, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

There are so many reasons why taking risks is important- both professionally and personally. I believe that for real growth to occur you must step outside your comfort zone and do things you’ve never done before. Starting a travel business was a risk and the best decision I ever made! Despite all the highs and lows. I would say the biggest risk inside my business was putting together a group of friends, family and acquaintances to travel to Antarctica- the most adventurous continent! This was the first time I ever joined a group trip I put together and I really felt the pressure for things to go perfectly. There were 11 of us total. One friend who joined had never left the country before-and here he was traveling to the end of the earth! There are so many things that can go astray on a trip like this such as flight delays, bad weather and getting sick. I held my breath until the moment we all got on the ship in Ushuaia. We sailed with Quark Expeditions- a preferred partner. I instantly felt confident as soon as we all got on the ship and I could finally relax. The staff was amazing, the ship was very comfortable and the guides were all excellent. We kayaked around glaciers, laughed at silly penguins that waddled by us as we hiked, camped out on Antarctica and did a freezing but magical polar plunge! We learned so much and made memories I’ll cherish forever. Everyone said they had the trip of a lifetime. This experience inspired me to organize and lead more group trips! Most recently, I took a small group around Kenya for two weeks. Taking risks is so important to boost confidence, learn about yourself and your business, grow and be successful.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Michele and my travel agency is called Michele Travels. I struggled thinking of a business name so I thought of my slogan first which is “book with someone who’s been there.” I have personally visited 63 countries and all 7 continents. My passion is travel and after seeing so much of the world through studying abroad, traveling for work and traveling for fun I naturally had friends and family reach out and ask for vacation help and advice. This inspired me to become a travel agent! I’m affiliated with Virtuoso which is a global network of travel agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel. Due to this affiliation, I can tack on added perks to partner hotels, cruises and villas (such as dining credit, spa credit and complimentary upgrades) My specialty is mid to high-end travel to Europe, South America, Antarctica, New Zealand, the Caribbean and Thailand. I book a lot of honeymoons, anniversary trips and family trips. Personally, I love getaways that have a balanced mix of adventure and relaxation and try to incorporate that into my clients’ itineraries. I save my clients a ton of time and stress by doing all the research, planning, booking everything, providing support from start to finish and advising on required Visas, etc. We use the best of the best guides, tours and accommodations. I research and book it all- including train tickets, car rentals and flights. If you can dream it, I can make it happen!

Have you ever had to pivot?

Right after college I taught special education for five years in beautiful Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I enjoyed the children and my colleagues immensely, but I knew in my heart that career wasn’t for me. I was not growing and being challenged in the way I personally wanted to be. In college I studied abroad three times- Australia, Semester and Sea and London. All three experiences set my soul on fire and were a catalyst for a huge amount of growth. I knew I had to pursue a career focused on travel. Therefore, I made a massive and scary career change- I quit my very comfortable job and left a comfortable relationship to go to grad school in Vermont and pursue a career in Study Abroad. It was a difficult first few months and many times I questioned myself and my decision. However, I enjoyed all the classes, felt challenged and knew right away learning about different cultures, people and travel in general was my passion. I spent one year in Vermont then did a 3-month internship in Barcelona where I supported 50 college students and helped manage their trips and cultural experiences. Working in travel excited me, challenged me, fueled my creativity and was the perfect fit. I worked in Study Abroad for a few years helping college students’ study, intern and play abroad. I led a team lacrosse trip one summer around Europe. Over time friends and family insisted I help plan and book their travels. That is when I started my travel agency and became a travel agent. I genuinely love helping others by creating life-changing opportunities and inspiring people to see the world. The career change was scary but looking back it was the best decision I ever made.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

I travel often- visiting partner hotels and experiencing activities and tours my clients would enjoy. That way I can speak about the experience personally and add those personal touches to travel itineraries. I enjoy getting to know my clients and what there likes and dislikes are. Most of the itineraries I create are custom built to my client’s interests, needs and budgets. I also enjoy sharing my own travel experiences (either through social media, on the phone or in person). It helps people trust you when you’ve personally experienced it yourself. I get a lot of referrals, repeat clients and clients that find me online that were attracted to something I posted. I think it’s important to experience what you’re selling yourself, stay curious and interested in your clients and be willing to learn on a daily basis.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://micheletravels.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/micheletravels_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MicheleTravelsLLC
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-friedmann-a668459/