by Shasta Townsend
As an entrepreneur or business leader, jet-setting lifestyle may not be do-able given the demands of business, but you can get PAID TO TRAVEL…and live the passion you love!
Travel is one of my passions. In fact, I’ve just returned home after two weeks with my husband in the Costa Brava just north of Barcelona. And I kind of got paid to do it…
No, I’m not the child of an heiresses. But I created a “formula” for travelling and “getting paid” – that ensures my businesses are secure and making money while I am away.
Follow my anacronym “SASS” to enjoy more freedom and financial success and live your travel passion too.
S = Shared Vision. This is about getting on the same page as your spouse even if your spouse does NOT share your travel bug. You will need their support so you need to actually share what you desire.
Well, first it’s actually about owning your desire for travel and live well. If this is what you really want, then OWN IT.
It’s important to talk to your partner about the Shared Vision, and “own” what you really want too!
What do you really want? What do you each want? What do you want to create, experience and share together?
Secondly, know your Big WHY.
I use to feel a ton of guilt about my “irresponsible” need for wander, but then I thought about all things in my life I regretted and 99% of them were things I had NOT DONE.
As business leaders, we are so busy building and running the business that we forget about our BIG WHY. Your BIG WHY is why the heck you are doing any of this anyway.
Part of my big why is being in service and making a difference, but it is also to live a life of FREEDOM.I left my corporate career for all three, but a few years ago I was feeling like a slave to the business, and that meant burn out and resentment. That’s not good for me, my marriage or the business. I was not taking time off and my gypsy soul felt trapped.
I talked to my husband Ian about this, who also has a wanderer’s soul, and we made the decision to ensure we could slake our wanderlust at least 4-6 weeks each year.
Few couples have a Shared Vision or a BIG WHY so life, marriage and business can become humdrum and hollow, or worse overwhelming and soul sucking. Don’t make this mistake!
A = Agreements. Agreements are clearly spelled out commitments that everyone knows about and is in “agreement” on.
You need agreements in your relationship and business everyday and while travelling. These ensure you are all on the same page and they help build trust and ease.
Ian and I have agreements at home and “on the road”. We are clear how much time we work, explore, relax and experience while travelling. This helps us maintain balance and clarity. It also helps us support each other.
Some days I have a writing deadline and can’t go on the wine tour until the evening, or he has a sales call in the evening so we need to push a dinner reservation. We are clear on what we need to complete and agree to support each other, while not getting overwhelmed with work too.
We also have agreements with our team.Our team is clear on what the agreements are in terms of deadlines, projects, reporting and even when and how to communicate with us. They know when to send an email, when to send a text, and when to just wait until we are home. The connectivity of the modern world can be an amazing blessing, but also a major distraction and intrusion so having clear agreements on when and how your team (and clients) communicate is key.
S = Staff. Staff, sensational staff, are essential if you wish to have freedom in your life – at home and on the road.
Staff can mean business bliss or business and life hell. They affect your bottom line, your cardiograms and your sex life! Consider how much time you worry about staff!
For many business leaders, employees can feel like a big-ass headache so they limit their business and personal growth to avoid dealing with staff.
I have an associate who refuses to grow her business because he believes it will be a pain in the ass to have more staff. She refuses contracts, and thus money because she can’t fill orders. Hiring literally one more person could mean amazing wealth for her and for them.
Many a marriage and business has been saved by creating the stellar dream team and learning how to totally trust, empower and build them up.
Great talent is also one of the most essential aspects of a business. Whether you have 1 employee or 1000, staff can make or break your life outside of the business, and in it too!
If you want to have a first-class jet-setting lifestyle, then you need to a first-class team!
S = Support. Support is what you need in place to travel and ensure all things keep on ticking in all areas of life so you can FEEL free. This is different than staff.
For example, I live in Canada and get buckets of snow. I have a cat. I have a rural property. I have monthly tax filing requirements. So, I also have a snow plow guy, a cat sitter, a housekeeper and a book keeper. All of them are clear on their roles and responsibilities. This means I know that my personal life, businesses and home will continue to run in my absence. Phew.
GET SUPPORT!! I can’t stress this enough.
I also have the right technology, business programs and communication platforms that support me.
Cash is always flowing into our businesses even if I am not physically at home. This way I “get paid to travel”.
I have set up our life and our business so I CAN pretty much take off on any adventure whether it is an adventure in learning as I invest heavily in self-development and business growth each year which often means I travel to do so.
Or if it means taking a last-minute adventure to enjoy food, wine, friends and culture around the world.
Because what is the point in being an entrepreneur if you can ENJOY this life too!!!
You can be the jet-setting queen you dream of by following my SASS formula.
Bon voyage!
