Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan O’Lena.
Hi Megan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’d been considering becoming a Travel Agent for several years after realizing how much research and planning energy goes into planning an awesome theme park vacation. In 2021 I finally talked myself into leaping. Why let all my planning energy and knowledge go to waste when it could be helping others? I especially knew it was a time when friends and family members started asking me for Disney/Universal travel advice, and I wasn’t yet a TA! I have a full-time career in the tech industry, but I wanted to make some extra money to afford to travel with my own family. Starting a business is a second full-time job, and I’ve sacrificed some sleep and some sanity for it, but it has been so rewarding. This summer, I brought my kids on a once-in-lifetime 10-day vacation extravaganza thanks to my efforts with my business. I am incredibly proud that in 1 year, I’ve been able to translate my skills and aptitude into a successful business, and I have even started to use examples from my experience to help other Travel Agents and small business owners.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way? Is starting a business ever a smooth road?
The biggest struggle has been time management and competing priorities. I’m fond of telling people that I have 2 jobs, 2 kids, and 2 dogs because these are all things that bring me joy and enrich my life, but rarely do I have the opportunity to expand on how exhausting that can be. When you work ~80 hours a week, your housework and sleep suffer the consequences. I am also trying to market my business in a very saturated market. During the pandemic, everyone wanted to start businesses they could do from home – Real Estate, Travel Planning, Content Creation, etc. Marketing my business is where a huge amount of my work hours go because I want to be open to the common idea that many travel agents specifically work with their friends and family for the first few years. Folks also need to realize that if they book their trip through me, my planning services come at no cost to them. Disney and Universal pay me to help their guests arrive prepared! People think there’s a “catch” when I tell them it’s free, but there’s no catch! The cost of my help is just built into every theme park package, but only some take advantage! I also live with chronic health issues, so there are days when it’s hard to log in and do the work, but I’m tenacious and make it work!
Please tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others.
The marketing aspect of my business has been an incredible convergence of my degrees and life experiences. I had yet to learn when I joined Video Club in high school (circa 2002) or when I went to get an Associate of Science in Production (circa 2008). Or when I majored in Theatre (B.A. in Theatre from Southern Connecticut State University, 2015), I would be doing short-form video production for hours weekly. I use my Reels and TikTok to share travel tips and tricks, best practices, opinions/recommendations, and travel experiences with my followers/friends. I am proud that more than 50% of my client base has found me due to my online videos, and I’ve helped many of them book and plan magical vacations. This month, I’ve started adding an aspect of my career background to my digital portfolio. I’m using my training/facilitation skills from many years in educating at tech companies to share my video production and marketing advice with other small business owners!
Let’s end by discussing what matters most to you and why.
My family. I know this is probably everyone’s answer, but it’s true. All the hours I put in are so I can bring my family on trips and enrich their lives through travel. Growing up, I went on a few fun family vacations, but we didn’t travel every year and didn’t do much international travel. My kids are fascinated with other countries (notably Egypt, Japan, and China at this time), and I want to be able to bring them wherever they’d like to go! My kids and my partner are my inspiration for everything I do!
Pricing:
- Quote request: Free
- Booking: Free
- Itinerary: Free
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/meganolenatravel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeganOLenaTravel
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@meganeolenatravel
Image Credits
Meagan Marcin, Disney Photopass
