We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bryant Wood a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Bryant, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think it takes to be successful?
I believe there are several key qualities and approaches crucial for success as an entrepreneur. To name a few, having grit and determination, maintaining a positive attitude, setting high yet realistic expectations, being agile and adaptable, and being solution-oriented. It’s also necessary to expect obstacles and mistakes so that when those happen, I focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems because in dwelling on the problems, the situation only gets worse. Prior to entrepreneurship, I relied on my spontaneous and driven personality, but through experience and growth, I’ve come to realize the value of setting specific goals to provide clarity and direction is an important key to success. Finally, with my business being one of service, trusting relationships are key. People don’t buy the product you sell, they buy you. If they trust you and value what you bring to the table, they then feel compelled to proceed further with your services. Overall, I believe that success requires a combination of personal qualities, mindset, and goal-setting strategies to strive for and achieve your desired outcomes.
Stories—After working in education, service, and sales for a combination of 20 years, I have grown both personally and professionally. It’s the combination of experiences that has helped form me into who I am today. I have always been driven yet I never dreamed of being an entrepreneur. While my parents were entrepreneurs, I had wonderful examples in them, I still never had that intention. It was the exposure to other like minded people, driven and successful, and the passion that I had for adventure and travel, that led me to the thought of wanting to run my own business in the travel industry. Why not combine my love for travel and my personal strengths? Once the idea popped in my head to establish The Travel Boutique, there was no turning back. It was a lightbulb moment. All the past experiences had led me right to where I was intended to be–serving clients and enabling them to experience the same sense of fulfillment and joy by planning unique & travel experiences that are stress free and memorable.
Tell us about The Travel Boutique
At The Travel Boutique, we craft vacations with care for clients who want to explore confidently, and who want all the details taken care of for them. Our mission is to maximize every moment of your vacation investment. Because we respect your time (and your vacation dollars) too much to turn out a trip that’s anything less than stellar. That’s why we travel the world to scout out the best destinations, stay up-to-date with travel industry trends through our exclusive affiliations, and build relationships across the globe that serve you better. The result? A vacation for the record books—one where no moment is wasted and keepsake memories are made.
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 Bryant Wood, founder and luxury travel designer for The Travel Boutique. I have my parents to thank for my endless wanderlust. They encouraged me to go to college out of state—they knew before I did how much I needed to explore away from home. And rather than put me on the typical “senior cruise” to Mexico after high school, they sent me off to Europe for a backpacking adventure.
Once I got a taste, I wanted more—in a big way (thanks, Mom and Dad!). I studied abroad in Italy, lived in Ireland and Scotland, and once I finally moved back to the states, crisscrossed the U.S. as much as I could. I found so much joy in discovery across borders and languages, and knew I wanted to share that with others.
After a career in teaching for 6 years and then in clean beauty, where I plan large group retreats for my fellow team members and served thousands of clients over the past nine years, I founded The Travel Boutique—because that urge to explore has never really let go. Now, I help curious travelers like you step outside their bubbles and embrace the joy of discovery—without having to do any of the time-consuming research and planning themselves.
While I haven’t been everywhere—yet!—I have cultivated relationships with travel partners around the globe. You’ll get an “insider” experience wherever you want to go along with concierge service, seamless logistics, and VIP touches.
Fast forward to where I am now in my life. My supportive husband, Bernard, and I have three children, who also love to travel—and who are more adventurous than we can sometimes handle! Through The Travel Boutique, I also aim to set an example for my children, so they can see me fully enjoying the work that I do to help support our family. They know how much it thrills me to design trips for my clients, and I hope they will one day find something that brings them as great a joy as this does for me.
I am most proud of following my intuition. I knew I wanted to build something. I didn’t know what exactly but I didn’t push that thought aside. I didn’t let fear creep in. I let the thoughts wander, the dream build and then I pushed forward and pursued the goal by establishing The Travel Boutique. I also am very proud of the reviews and testimonials of my clients and their experiences as these are what make me feel most successful—when they are happy, oh I am so happy!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Referrals hold immense value for me as they are the primary source of acquiring new customers. It’s the opinions of others who have experienced my services that mean the most to me and my business. When happy and satisfied customers share their positive feedback and experiences with others, it attracts others to my services. In running a travel business, I am also running a service business. To serve others brings me great joy so when my clients appreciate that and recommend me to others, it plays a huge role in attracting others who want that same level of satisfaction. Nothing means more than genuine word-of-mouth positivity as it drives my business and reinforces the importance of the value of my clients opinions.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Life, to me, is like an intriguing chapter book, and the more chapters I add, the richer and more fulfilling my life becomes. Society often ingrains the notion that we must follow a strict path, defining our entire lives by one predetermined career chosen during our college years. While this approach works for many, some of us thrive on variety and embrace different professional experiences. I’ve been fortunate to have diverse opportunities that have shaped and molded me into the person I am today. I firmly believe that life should be an exploration of various paths and avenues, and if other opportunities come knocking, I welcome them with open arms.
Currently, I am the proud owner of two businesses. The first venture centers around the concept of clean beauty, a topic close to my heart due to past infertility struggles. When I discovered Beautycounter, a company dedicated to providing safer products to everyone, I felt an immediate connection with their mission. Advocating for this cause became my calling, as I wanted others to recognize the availability of trusted avenues for using cleaner and safer beauty products. Over the course of ten years, this business journey contributed significantly to my growth as an entrepreneur.
But why stop there? With a love for adventure and travel deeply rooted in my upbringing, I decided to combine my entrepreneurial experiences and dive into the world of establishing a travel business, The Travel Boutique. By saying “yes” to this travel business endeavor, I continued to serve others in a different realm of my life. The joy that comes from multiple experiences and opportunities prompted me to create a business that celebrates and embraces the wonders of travel.
Just like a well-written book with its twists and turns, my journey weaves together the chapters of my book of life. Each chapter represents a unique phase that has contributed to my personal and professional growth, demonstrating that life’s true richness lies in embracing a multitude of experiences and opportunities. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thetravelboutique.net
- Instagram: thetravelboutique_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085441530137
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/thetravelboutique
- Virtuoso Site: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/bryawood77639/travel