​Weathering the Storm with the WP #34

Wow, I can’t believe it has been 14 years since I started my business in this crazy industry called travel and tourism and I have no regrets. It has been an amazing ride and which continues as I start my 15th year in business tomorrow and my 25th year in this industry. I have weathered 9/11, the Great Recession and now the pandemic. I feel each time there has been a crisis, be it major or minor, I have become stronger, wiser, and more knowledgeable. Yet, every day is a new experience and a refresher course in what this industry is all about and the tasks I have in it. I take every one of these tasks seriously as my valued clients have placed their trust in me to arrange their travels and adventures to fit their needs, wants and desires. They are spending their hard-earned money and using their most valuable commodity, time, to have experiences and create memories that will last a lifetime. That is a big responsibility I have taken on and one I will continue to do. Being in this industry is not a job, but my passion. Yes, it is work and the best things in life require work to make them last, be it a profession or a relationship. Their trust in me is something I cherish, take very seriously, and do not want to lose. 

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Nothing in life is easy and nothing in life is free. There is always a cost and a responsibility for the actions and leaps of faith taken. The time I have put in to grow my business, to be there during all the crises we have experienced, have all been worthwhile. The blood, sweat and tears I have put into creating Wandering Puffin has been worth it each day, even on the worst days and there have been some, when I did not think I could go on, but here I am, ready to start my 15th year and more excited than ever. I feel a re-birth of my business and the industry, as we move forward to a time BC. It will happen and will be a slow process, and I am in it for the long term. I have never been a quitter and I will continue to fight as I believe what I do is valuable. I will not only survive but will thrive again. 
Of course, I have many people to thank, too many to list. First and foremost, I want to thank my valued clientele who have come back to me time and time again over the years and hung in there with me during all this craziness. Without my clients, I would not be doing what I am doing. I also want to thank my colleagues who have also endured and been supportive as we worked through the nuances and complexities of this industry. Yes, and my family and friends who have had to put up with my frustrations and mood swings over the years as I have found myself and my passion for what I have been now doing for nearly a quarter century. I even remember, yes, long ago, having had a 7-year itch, when I first was in the industry and worked for an agency and said now what, why am I doing this? Here I am now, once again, spreading my wings in an ever-changing industry which I love and see no end in sight, coming out of each crisis like the phoenix rising from the ashes and next week, the Wandering Puffin flies to the “homeland” of the puffins, or at least one of them, Iceland. Stay tuned!!! 
As always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you read this. Thank you for your support of this small business and it is truly appreciated!!!