Today we’d like to introduce you to Tammy Barr
Hi Tammy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
As journeys naturally do, mine meandered up, down, and around. As a young adult, I was conflicted about my post-college career options. The one thing I knew deep in my core was that I wanted to explore the world. With some helpful family advice, I decided to utilize my teaching degree abroad.
I spent the next seven years teaching English as a Second Language abroad and working on board cruise ships. It was on ships when I discovered Human Resources. A career on land began after I shifted my focus from working with kids to working with adults. After climbing the corporate ladder and partnering with business leaders across varying industries, my husband and I decided to take a sabbatical.
The travel passion has come full circle. Twenty years ago, I backpacked across Southeast Asia and fantasized about making money via travel writing. Now I have some articles published online, as well as regularly writing for our own travel blog and our Instagram. While at some point I will likely return to Human Resources, I am currently enjoying the incredible journey of travel.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road looks smoother in the rear view mirror. Of course I hit a few speed bumps, like not getting a job offer after a solid interview, or avoiding conflict with toxic managers. But overall my struggles feel small. Maybe some of that is my optimistic personality. I recognize the privileges that helped me get a seat at the table.
Whether big or small, I learned a lot about myself from my challenges. I also worked hard. When I did not get the job I wanted I persevered, networked more, reworked my resume, and kept trying. I never let those speed bumps detour me from my course.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a people-first Human Resources professional taking a break from the business world. I am known for my creative problem solving and positive attitude.
One of things that sets me apart from others is the different career paths I have taken. I love all of my past experiences and I get to pull from them to achieve results now. Working with families and tourists in a diverse international environment has honed my skills for working with diverse teams in an Human Resources capacity.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Encountering risk is inevitable and I believe that risk brings opportunity to stretch oneself and grow in unanticipated ways.
Risk has brought me lifelong meaningful relationships, a deeper understanding of the world, exposure to different cultures, and a career path that my young self never dreamed of.
One of my riskiest decisions was moving abroad to teach English as a Second Language in South Korea. With a dream for global travel, an adventurous spirit, but completely lost for career ideas, I flew alone to a foreign country with zero fluency in the Korean language. I was scared. All the what-ifs plagued me even though I was excited to explore the world. The reminder I shared with myself was that I could always return to the United States. My decision was locked in but it did not mean I lost my options.
Take risks and leave yourself options. It is okay to feel a little twinge of unease to try something new or put yourself out there for a new job. Feeling anxious about taking a risk will feel better than looking back and experiencing regret.
I love living life outside the box. Putting all my belongings into storage, traveling the world, and writing about it is my latest opportunity to do so!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Thebarrscene.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebarrscene
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebarrscene
- Twitter: https://x.com/thebarrscene
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thebarrscene
