Network Marketing, Social Media Marketing and Life all have “experts” telling you what do to in order to be successful.
Let’s look at these experts.
Since network marketing, social media marketing and life are all different types of journeys with twists and turns, peaks and valleys and fraught with challenges, do you want a Travel Agent or a Tour Guide advising you?
What’s the difference, you may ask, they both give you information about the trip. To me, the two are actually quite different. Let me explain.
Travel Agents send people to places they have never been themselves. They tell them what to expect, give them brochures and send them on their way. Tour Guides, on the other hand, take people to places they have been and experienced.
Network Marketing.
A Travel Agent says the company, the products, the compensation plan are great, you should “do it” and, if you follow the “yellow brick road,” you will be successful. They have neither done what they are telling you to do nor have they experienced success in this industry.
A Tour Guide not only tells you about the company, the products and the comp plan, the Tour Guide takes you by the hand and walks you through each step that is necessary for success. They are by your side each step of the journey to success. They hold your hand when you are uncertain or down, help you to develop skill sets and introduce you to others even more successful than they who are willing to help you succeed.
Social Media Marketing.
A Travel Agent tells you how to set up the various social platforms, then tells you to “find” people to friend or follow and then tells you to interact with them.
A Tour Guide not only tells you how to set up your accounts with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the others, after determining which platforms are best to help you achieve your goals, a Tour Guide teaches you how to find the good contacts in your industry as well as how to interact with them most effectively. A Tour Guide gives you the little known tips and takes you on those “side trips” not listed in the brochures that make the journey so fun and memorable.
Life.
Actually, this is the area where it easiest of all to explain the difference.
A Travel Agent tells you what to do—manage your time, be fit, be responsible, do what you say you are going to do, be loving, be compassionate, be honest, be fair—be.
A Tour Guide is the living example. If you follow this Tour Guide you will enjoy Life. As it Should Be.
So, on your journeys, will you choose a Travel Agent or a Tour Guide?
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janet@janetcallaway.com
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Hi Janet!
Definitely, I will rather be a tour guide! Nothing beats a caring and guiding hand to lead someone into unchartered territory.
Once again, nice analogy you have here in relation to our business. You make it sound so appealing to be a “tour guide.”
Elmar Sandyck recently posted..2 Benefits of Long-Tail Keywords
Thx so much, Elmar, so glad you enjoyed it. Like you, I far prefer a tour guide having encountered a travel agent or two!
After reading this, Elmar, doesn’t it feel good to think of yourself as a “tour guide” for your business partners?
So enjoyed Oliver’s post over on your blog, Elmar. Thx for suggesting the topics which we combined so well. Look forward to seeing you again soon out in the blogosphere. Until then, aloha. Janet
What a wonderful analogy Janet.
This really fits perfectly. There are so many ‘coaches’ ‘teachers’ and even (dare I say it) ‘gurus’ out there online and in the network marketing world who as you’ve said, do nothing but sell a package with no real knowledge of what it’s like.
A good sponsor or representative for a company or opportunity can walk you down those side alleys, show you the hidden secret markets and bazaars, introduce you to the magical little restaurants where only locals eat, and get you out of your hotel and into the real places where those special experiences happen.
I enjoyed the way you wrote about this, and especially that you conveyed such a powerful point in such simple terms. Brilliant
All the best,
Jym
Jym recently posted..Internet Marketing Success with Archimedes – Less Effort- More Results
Thx so much, Jym; glad you enjoyed it. Far too often, Jym, I think people forget/neglect to interview a prospective sponsor, coach or teacher before signing on to learn with them. We need to interview those who profess to be able to advise us as carefully as an employer would an employee.
Years ago, a friend of mine who was very successful both in quality of life and financial matters, had a terrific system for selecting financial consultants.. Because this man made a high 6 figure a month income, financial “gurus” came out of the woodwork to “help” him manage his money. He would listen to them and ask to see their portfolio. Most were outraged and sputtered about the fact that he would ask such a thing. His response was that they were asking him to “trust” how well they could manage money; he wanted to see how they managed their own. It was a very effective way to weed out the agents form the guides. Good system, don’t you think?
Jym, thx so much for stopping and sharing your thoughts. Best wishes for a terrific weekend. Aloha. Janet
Oh, Jane–
Since my professional background is 99% hospitality based, you really struck a cord here with me.
And as I began reading, I was sure you were trying to tell me I should rather be a connected to a Tour Guide vs. a Travel Agent.
But as I read along, I’m not sure that’s what I’ve concluded.
Interesting read, for sure, and I’m certain I need more time with this analogy.
Maybe I’m somewhat prejudiced by my industry experience and that voice in my head saying “travel agents have value”.
That being said, I completely appreciate what you’re trying to communicate and can connect to the value of the experiential sharing that the tour guide imparts.
Wishing you well–
Nanette
“Travel Agents send people to places they have never been themselves. They tell them what to expect, give them brochures and send them on their way. Tour Guides, on the other hand, take people to places they have been and experienced.”
Nanette Saylor recently posted..Kreativ Blogger Award continues…
Nanette, aloha. Since you feel you may be biased because of your background, let’s change the language a bit. It is far too easy for people to miss the message because of semantics.
What I was saying, and your preference may be different, I prefer to take advice from someone who has done it as opposed to someone who has only studied theory. For instance, I’d rather receive advice from Sir Richard Branson on business rather than a college professor who has never owned a business.
Thx for your candor and for letting me know that even though you don’t agree with my guide/agent analogy, you appreciate the message I wanted to communicate.
Good to see you again, Nanette. Best wishes for a terrific weekend. Aloha. Janet
Hi Janet,
that’s an extremely helpful discrimination and an awesome word picture everybody can relate to.
For me, travel agents are “coaches” who sell their services but never have done what they they are teaching, or did it in the past but not today.
The tour guides however are true mentors who make money with actually doing what they teach and not with teaching so they don’t even to take your money because they are all building a successful network marketing business.
A good question be asking to determine what to expect from this person is: How do they make the bulk of their money ? With teaching or building a business ?
That’s the tragedy of most experts, for example in the financial services industry: They advise people how to invest money while they have little money themselves and work for money instead of investing it. Real estate brokers the same: How many of them are actually sales people and not real estate investors ?
Not that sales people are bad, we only should adapt our expectations accordingly.
Thanks for sharing your insights.
Take care
Oliver
Oliver Tausend recently posted..MLM Success With Think And Grow Rich And Oliver Tausend Pt 2
Oliver, aloha. Nor surprisingly, we are in sync once again. For whatever reason, Oliver, people far too often fail to interview a prospective coach, sponsor or “guru of whatever type” yet, had they been applying for a “job” themselves, they would “interview” their prospective employer as would the employer them.
One of the great things about our industry, of course, is that even if your direct sponsor is not at “guide” level, you are a part of a team that can guide you. If neither your sponsor nor the team is guide level, in my opinion, it isbest to select another team be it in the same company or a different one.
Since you mention the financial services industry, Oliver, you will appreciate this story I just told Jym about a friend of mine in our industry. Years ago, this friend who was very successful both in quality of life and financial matters, had a terrific system for selecting financial consultants. Because this man made a high 6 figure monthly income, financial “gurus” came out of the woodwork to “help” him manage his money. He would listen to them and ask to see their portfolio. Most were outraged and sputtered about the fact that he would ask such a thing. His response was that they were asking him to “trust” how well they could manage money; he wanted to see how they managed their own. It was a very effective way to weed out the agents form the guides. Good system, don’t you think?
Oliver, no doubt in my mind that you are a tour guide and a great one at that. So good to start my day by seeing you in the comments section. Best wishes for a terrific weekend, my friend. Aloha. Janet
Hi Janet,
Truly amazing post! The analogy you used is perfect. I just wanted to add here that Oliver is doing a terrific job of being a tour guide. I can’t be more grateful to be under his guidance
I love how you added in your comment about the story of the man from the financial services industry.
I’ll be writing another comment. Thanks again, Janet.
- Rowena
Rowena Bolo recently posted..30 Day Mental Cleanse- Think and Grow Rich Chapter 2
Rowena, aloha. Thx so much for this comment. Knowing Oliver as I do, I can well imagine that he is a splendid tour guide. In fact, it has been interesting for me to watch you two journey together.
Until your next comment, aloha. Janet
Awesome post, Janet.
I think you make a great distinction here.. one we all need to consider both in how we school people, and who we go to for information.
Ryan Critchett recently posted..Connectors And Catalyzing A Wave Of Awareness In The Blogosphere
Ryan, aloha. Good to meet you in my comments section; it’s always a pleasure to greet new people.
So glad you enjoyed the post, Ryan. Thx so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
Best wishes for a terrific weekend. Aloha. Janet
Awesome! Aloha, have a great one.
Ryan Critchett recently posted..Connectors And Catalyzing A Wave Of Awareness In The Blogosphere
Hi Janet,
That is a great analogy! I have appreciated the tour guides that have helped me along this journey of blogging, marketing, social media, etc. They have really helped me out a lot.
Though I think that both can be useful in different ways. Sometimes just getting the direction of where to go from the travel agent can be very beneficial so that we don’t end up going down the wrong road and wasting time, energy and money. Once we are where we want to be the tour guides are extremely useful!
Thanks,
Stacy
Stacy | Grow With Stacy recently posted..Thanks for a Great Year – My Blogiversary!
Stacy, aloha. Good to see you again. So glad you liked the analogy. Those of us who participate in the online world are indeed fortunate, Stacy, to have so many tour guides willing to help us.
Thx for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Best wishes for a terrific weekend. Aloha. Janet
Awesome analogy, Janet. You did amazing work with this article. Retweeted.
I would choose Tour guides, as oliver said they are building successful networking marketing business and are not like Travel guide who always try to sell something.
Thanks for sharing this great article, Janet.
~Dev
Devesh recently posted..Twitter- Rebecca Black- and the Dark Side of Social Media
Thx so much, Dev. Glad you liked it and appreciate the RT.
Enjoy your Sunday and get ready for a fabulous week. Aloha. Janet
Janet, love your analogy.
I must be the exception to the rule since I really prefer a travel agent. Am not afraid of anything and you learn and develop enormously by having to find out for yourself.
Have arrived in cities all over the world with only a couple of meetings or interviews set up. Adapted, learnt, found my way around and built up a network. Even happened that I ended up living there.
When it comes to technical issues though, I need a tour guide though.
Catarina Alexon recently posted..What would have been gained by capturing Osama bin Laden alive
Catarina, aloha. With all the travel that you have done, no doubt you can appreciate the distinction between the two. So glad you liked that analogy.
Aren’t we lucky to have Sherryl and Michele as tour guides? Those ladies truly know their way around the technical.
Thx so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Best wishes for a terrific weekend. Aloha. Janet
Hello Janet,
My main company is comprised primarily, at least among those who get off to a fast start, of people who have been networking in middle to upper level corporate America for years. They have great success stories to share and my hats off to them. They make great tour guides…IF you happen to have similar network of people with large amounts of disposable income. If not, you need a tour guide who is someone who is familiar with the neighborhood that most people live in. Otherwise, that person who is a perfectly good tour guide for some people turns into a travel agent. Thanks for another great post!
Lou Barba
Lou recently posted..The Apprentice
Lou, aloha. Love your point “that person who is a perfectly good tour guide for some people turns into a travel agent.” Lou, you are absolutely right. Thx so much for adding that insight to the comments section.
Good to see you, Lou; look forward to seeing you again soon. Aloha. Janet
Janet,
Wow! you talked me out of ever going to a travel agency again!
I have always been a fan of the “lead by example types”. I want to learn from people who are out there doing it rather than living in their parents basement talking about the riches and success that they do not have.
Certainly a Tour guide for me!
-Great analogy BTW
Steve recently posted..Yelling into a vacuum- The importance of online promotion
Steve, aloha. So glad you liked this analogy which no doubt resonated with you because of the inveterate traveler you are.
Steve, I appreciate as will anyone else who has ever spent time online, this comment of yours: “I want to learn from people who are out there doing it rather than living in their parents basement talking about the riches and success that they do not have.” Lots of Instant Internet Riches travel agents, aren’t there?
Thx for stopping by and leaving that great comment, Steve. Until next time, aloha. Janet
Hey Janet,
Another provocative post! Love it!
I will speak to Network Marketing since I am heavily involved in this area.
I believe that having a Tour Guide is much preferred and will take you where you wish to go in a faster, more straight line approach. Having said that, I do have problems with what many networking newbies seem to believe they are entitled to: Hand holding.
A great mentor will not hold your hand, answer every phone call within an hour or respond to every call for help. A great mentor will show you how they did it, give you the tools or show you where to find them, and let you show you are worthy by taking action.
A mentor, or tour guide cannot and should not hold your hand through every obstacle or every time you feel dejected or down.
Sorry for my rant, I just feel strongly about the entitlement mentality I see of many new marketers. But in general, yes, I would agree that a Tour Guide is far more preferable than a Travel Agent!
Getting through these times on your own is the essence of becoming a successful entrepreneur.
Dr. Bob Clarke recently posted..3 Simple Questions for Overcoming The Fear of Rejection
Bob, aloha. Loved your rant and i am totally in agreement with you. However, note that you said: “A great mentor will show you how they did it, give you the tools or show you where to find the, and let you show you are worthy by taking action.”
Bob, that is exactly my point. Because the mentor/tour guide has “been there . . .” he gives you those instructions/advice and action steps, based on experience. He is not saying “well, I have heard that many are successful with this approach” or “try this system for a week and see what happens” or similar such things. In my years in the industry, unfortunately, I have seen numerous newbie network marketers “ruined” because they were connected with a travel agent in management mode.
A mentor/tour guide’s “job” is to say, “this is what I know works, this is why I recommend you do it this way, this is what you can expect . . .” Just as an employer neither “hand holds” nor jumps to attention when an employee calls, neither does the mentor/tour guide. Bob, I absolutely understand what you are saying about the entitlement mentality.
And, in fact, because I have done similar rants on the topic, I smiled when I read yours. Yes, Bob, your attitude and approach demonstrates that you are well on your way to achieving all the network marketing success you want.
Thx so much for stopping by an adding your thoughts as tour guides/travel agents relate to network marketing.
Best wishes for a most excellent week. Aloha. Janet
Janet,
Hey I smiled when I saw where you were taking this article. Great way to explain the different leaders we choose to follow. Some are great at pointing you where to go and can give sound advice. But there is no substitute for experience from the trenches.
Some of my most favorite content, in any format, is based in real case study. It’s always fascinating to hear it from the “tour guide” who has been there, done that.
Jon
Jon recently posted..Subliminal Manipulation- Are Advertisers Controlling You
Jon, aloha. Good to see your smiling face here in my comments section.
Like you, Jon, I prefer listening to and learning from those who have “been there, done that and bought the T-shirt.” Case studies are much more meaningful to me that theory. Though I enjoy discussing theory, on more than one occasion I found that what worked in theory was not effective in practice.
Jon, best wishes for a terrific week. Look forward to seeing you again soon. Until then, aloha. Janet
Hey Janet,
Wonderful analogy. I pretty much strive to be a tour guide, since there is no point in just teaching people without talking the talk and walking the walk. To me that is far more important. I don’t want to simply preach but live by an example.
I take it too seriously with my blog too and that i show people like it as well.
Cheers,
Jane.
Jane | Blogging Tips recently posted..Top 5 ways of building effective backlinks for your blog
Jane, aloha. Everything about your blog lets people know you are a tour guide and a serious one at that. There is no doubt that you walk the walk and talk the talk. That’s why I know, Jane, whenever I read your recommendations/advice that it is the voice of experience speaking from a solid foundation.
Best wishes for a most excellent week. Aloha. Janet
Hi Janet,
You really brought about the point with such a simple analogy. Most people don’t even bother to take time to differentiate between the two but it’s clear they are obviously different.
I thank you for bringing this up because that is why I am blogging. I want to get a first hand experience to see if blogging can help a coach or business get more online visibility, build trusts and can eventually lead to more revenues and sales. I like being a tour guide because it’s about walking the talk. It’s having the in-depth information to share and not something you can read elsewhere.
Thanks for sharing this!
Diana Simon recently posted..My Blogging Community Features Samantha Bangayan
Diana, aloha. Given why you started your blog, this article is a perfect fit as a tour guide example. As we both well know, the nuances of blogging are quite different from the theory of blogging. Contrary to what those who do not blog think, creating and publishing a post is not a blog.
Thx so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, Diana. Best wishes for a terrific week. Aloha. Janet
I really loved this analogy, Janet! I will be sharing this post for sure because it makes the decision so clear. I especially liked how you re-explained the concept to Nanette — it’s the difference between Sir Richard Branson and a college professor who has studied the theories.
I feel that this is also the reason why personal testimonies are so powerful. If someone else has achieved something, then we feel like maybe we can too. The great thing about good tour guides (in real life and in your analogy, I believe) is that they’re so down-to-earth. Being so human, we realize that we too can trek the so-called dangerous jungles of Peru or become a successful network marketer.
Thanks so much for this analogy, Janet! I hope you don’t mind if I bring your post up in conversations I have with others. I’ll be mentioning your name and blog for sure!
Samantha Bangayan recently posted..Have You Fascinated Someone Today
Samantha, aloha. So glad you liked it, Samantha. As it happens, I too was appreciative of Nanette’s comments because it gave me the opportunity to expand and to clarriy the concept. It is far too easy to get so “hung up” on words used that the message is missed.
Samantha, when we hear stories from tour guides, either live or in any other format, their experiences speak to us. We relate the vividness of their descriptions, the words they use and the tone behind it to our own database of information and think “yes, I can do this too” or “Whoa, this sounds like way more than I want to do.” We remember the vivid long after the facts are forgotten.
From a successful network marketer to my friend who can fearlessly “trek the so-called dangerous jungles or Peru,” aloha untll the next time. Janet
P.S. Thx so much for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Please do bring my post up often in conversations and let me know whether your friends prefer tour guides or travel agents as well as which role they prefer to play in their lives.
Hi Janet
I think I am a tour guide or at least I try to be. I have been with affiliate/internet marketing for many years and also in direct sales for close to 20 years now.
I have learned a lot over those years and enjoy teaching others what I know. Why would anyone want to learn from a travel agent if they have never done what we want to learn
I liked your analogy on this subject.
Linda
Linda recently posted..Easy Money Making with Twitter
Linda, aloha. Welcome to my blog; it is always such a pleasure to meet first time visitors.
Linda, if you have been in direct sales for 20 years as well as spent time with affiliate/internet marketing, you almost have to like teaching. In order to succeed in direct sales, I know you have to teach others to succeed. Quite honestly, Linda, if we don’t reach out to help and to teach others, it is simply “painful” to watch what happens to them–especially when we know some time and effort on our part would have made a difference for them.
So glad you liked the analogy, Linda. Now that we have met, I look forward to seeing your smiling face often in my comments section. Look forward to visiting you on your blog. Until then, aloha. Janet
Aloha Janet,
What a great analogy you’re using in relation to our industry. I will rather be a tour guide!
People are looking for supportive mentors who can help them get what they want.
“If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results that you want and copy what they do, and you’ll achieve the same results” ~ Anthony Robbins
Mahalo for sharing your insights. Janet.
Wishing you a fantastic day!
Mavis
Mavis Nong recently posted..How I Became a Top and Popular Blogger in Less Than 9 Months!
Mavis, aloha. No doubt about it, you are a tour guide. Interestingly enough, someone asked me yesterday if I knew anything about you. Not only was I able to tell them that you are a top notch tour guide, I went on to tell them about your new product launch as well as linked them to your recent post where you detail your rise to the top in 9 months. Mavis, you are a tour guide extraordinaire!
Thx so much for sharing that quote from Tony which is such a perfect fit.
Best wishes for another spectacular day, Mavis. A hui hou (until we meet again), Janet
Oh wow! That is just so interesting, Janet. Mahalo nui loa for telling them about all the nice things!
I appreciate you my friend. You’re amazing!
Have a splendid one, Janet!
A hui hou
Mavis
Mavis Nong recently posted..How I Became a Top and Popular Blogger in Less Than 9 Months!
You’re most welcome, Mavis. It’s my pleasure to know you and to “share” you with others.
You too, Mavis, enjoy a splendid one.
A hui hou. Janet
Excellent example, Janet, to tell the difference between those who are good only in theory and those who have experienced the true thing. I hadn’t thought of that. The “guides” are what we call mentors. That’s why their advice is worth a fortune. The travel agent can only give you the general picture of an issue. The insight of a guide is invaluable.
Steven Papas recently posted..Eleven2 Coupon
Steven, aloha. Welcome to my blog; it is always a pleasure to meet first time visitors.
You are absolutely right, Steven, “guides” are what we call mentors. Those who have lived an experience have additional insights that those who know only theory do not.
Steven, now that we have connected, I look forward to seeing you in my comments section often. Best wishes for a terrific day. Aloha. Janet
Love it, Janet!
I would rather be and follow a tour guide. We would get genuine help and receive the best results from a tour guide.
Tisha
Tisha recently posted..5 Ways to Flow With it- Breeze Through It- and Come Out With Clarity!
Amen to that, Tisha.
HI Janet,
This one is one of your best. I was so curious by the title of your post what you were getting at and it was very worth the click!
You are the master at analogies!
Of course I’d rather be and follow the tour guide instead of the travel agent! Hands down, no thinking about it necessary!
Great job!
Heather
Heather C Stephens recently posted..Marketers Secret Codes- Curiosity Captures Leads with Quick Response QR Codes
Thx so much for the compliment, Heather. Because everything I read tells me that people learn more effectively through stories or analogies, I am working on developing that skill.
Saw that yo shared this on facebook. Thx too for that, Heather. Best wishes for a terrific day. Aloha. Janet
Hi Janet,
Thank goodness I got back to your blog at last. I was having withdrawal symptoms Janet!
Loved the way you used this analogy so expertly in your post.
For me it comes down to the level of the relationship and connection we are willing to have with others.
I often feel the “travel agents” in the business world are focused only on making money from me whereas the “tour guides” are genuinely interested in connecting with me and helping me to be successful.
Also travel agents can work with masses of people while tour guides know that they have to restrict their numbers so that they can do their jobs properly.
I am always amused by network marketers who tell me they are signing up huge numbers of people every day. This is fine but how are you helping all these people to be successful?
I only have so much time to work with others and because I prefer to work with people very personally I restrict the number of people I can be a tour guide to.
My feeling is that if I can guide people to success effectively then I actually need far less people to guide in the long term. It’s all about quality over quantity for me which I don’t think is the norm in our industry. Well in my experience anyway.
Awesome post as usual Janet!
~Marcus
Marcus Baker recently posted..Do You Invite Your Email Marketing List To Your Facebook Party
Marcus, aloha. Needless to say, I love your opening comment. So glad this post resonated with you.
Marcus, you brought up an excellent point to include in this thread: travel agents can work with the masses while tour guides will always be working with smaller numbers. Your point on money vs connecting is excellent as well.
Like you, Marcus, I would rather be a tour guide guiding the quality over quantity to success. Whenever I read the HUGE daily numbers that some people “sign up”–and that’s all they do, sign them up–I wonder why they do it and why they think it will work. Guaranteed, Marcus, their attrition rate is quite high. As a result of their HUGE sign up numbers, they end up doing more work for less money. That doesn’t make sense to me, Marcus, does it to you?
Marcus, thanks so much for stopping by, making me smile and adding value to my post/comments section. Until later, my friend. aloha. Janet
Janet aloha,
Absolutely agree with you about them doing more work for less money.
The ironic thing is that the reason why network marketing is so unique and attractive is because it is ‘designed’ when approached as intended to give one quite the opposite result – doing less work for more money.
Thank you for your wonderful response and enjoy the rest of your week Janet.
~Marcus
Marcus Baker recently posted..Do You Invite Your Email Marketing List To Your Facebook Party
Exactly, Marcus, they are definitely unclear on the whole concept. I strongly suspect that they took the advice of travel agents rather than tour guides!
Hi Janet,
A super creative analogy here.
Tour guides can walk the walk, because they’ve been there. Speaking with someone who has gone where you want to be adds an air of authenticity to their words.
They are genuine. It’s easy to trust and build a bond with a genuine person because the steps you need to take are the ones they have have already taken.
Thanks for sharing your keen insight Janet.
Ryan
Ryan Biddulph recently posted..This Spunky Monkey Will Teach You a Lesson in Clarity
Ryan, aloha. Thx so much for your kind words It was fun putting it together.
What I hope, Ryan, is that the next time someone is taking advice from someone, they check to determine if that person is a travel agent or tour guide. As you well know, there are lots and lots of travel agents online.
Ryan, mahalo for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Best wishes for a fantastic day. Aloha. Janet
Hi Janet,
Brilliant, brilliant analogy, and a very enlightening post, Janet.
Michael Dlouhy always says that the number one reason, entrepreneurs fail is because they don’t listen to people who have the life that they desire. I had personally experienced listening to a lot of ‘travel agents’, and I am just thankful that I now have a group of tour guides supporting me in my entrepreneurial journey.
Honestly, I used to think that being a travel agent is a clever way to be able to ‘monetize’, and of course I was so naive when I started. It always boils down to intention and sincerity. If what you are teaching is the very exact thing you’re personally doing to become wealthy yourself, then you are truly walking the talk. I dare to be candid here, and I want to share with you, Janet, that I thought of transitioning myself from being a travel agent to a tour guide. Truth be told, this is not something that can help me or others grow. I’ll always be grateful that I realized this early on.
Thank you again for choosing to be the best tour guide that you can be. My hat’s off to you, Janet!
- Rowena
Rowena Bolo recently posted..30 Day Mental Cleanse- Think and Grow Rich Chapter 2
Rowena, aloha. Delighted to read that this post resonated with you. As we know all too well, there are many, many travel agents in both the online and offline worlds. Unfortunately, far too many of the online travel agents have developed the skills that “trick” people into thinking they are tour guides. Of course, it’s also true that if people were not looking to make mega-money within 24 hours, they likely would not have paid the money to the travel agent.
Rowena, knowing some of the tour guides who are with you on your entrepreneurial journey, I know you are with people who “have been there, done that and bought the T-shirt.” To me, there is a huge, huge difference in following the advice of someone experienced vs. someone who only knows the theory of why somethign should work.
Don’t you find, Rowena, that you often learn more from people when they tell you what didn’t work for them and why? If we are smart, we will avoid making that particular mistake.
Good to see your smiling face in my comments, Rowena. Look forward to seeing you again soon. Aloha. Janet
Janet,
I loved your analogy here.
This is great and would probably consider myself a local.
A tour guide reminds me too much of that guru who charges the newbie way to much money to see the same old boring path that has been used and abused and most people don’t care to see because its not as effective.
The local will give you the grand tour of everything that the tour guide would never dare to show you. The insides and outs of the area being toured.
And the local doesn’t charge the arm and leg that the tour guide charges. The local is happy with the amount that covers his expenses plus a little more.
You did a great job explaining and thought I could have some fun by throwing this point of view out there.
Have a great day
Tommy D.
Tommy, aloha. Absolutely loved what you added to this post. Your perspective with the local brings another dimension. What fun. Looking at agents, guides and locals certainly gives you another viewpoint, doesn’t it?
Thx so much for stopping by to visit again, Tommy, and for your addition.
Best wishes for a great day. Aloha. Janet
Hey Janet,
What I like about the tour guides route is the inside information. The out of the way places that not many know about. These can elevate your experience and shorten the learning curve:)
Rob recently posted..Does Natural Talent Matter
Well said, Rob. Having the benefit of “insider” information definitely adds to the trip.
Best wishes for a spectacular holiday weekend. Aloha. Janet