Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Bunyea.
Hi Linda, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Guatemala and moved to the United States with my immediate family when I was 12 years old. I will start my story with a life event that was the tipping point of my thought into entrepreneurship. On June 9th, 2022, I was involved in a 5 car pile-up. This accident turned my life completely around. I only took one day off before I went back to work. A dumb decision, but I was stubborn. I worked there for almost 3 years, working in various important roles. I had just made manager then, and the company was going through a systematic merger and massive layoff, so I kept going in to be there and be strong for my team. Limping, concussion, and 24/7 vertigo, and all I kept going in. Staying late, missed my doctor’s appointments, etc., all as long as I got the work done.
Eventually, my brain shut down since I had a concussion, and I kept working on it to its fullest limits. So, after two days of mental shutdown (such a helpless feeling, I never would wish that on anyone), I decided to step down from being a manager to focus on my health. After that, I worked in production, which my body couldn’t endure with nerve damage. I believe no one should be in unbearable pain while they work, and I cannot keep quitting jobs due to my health since I have good and bad head or nerve days, as I am still healing. (I tried working a few jobs after taking a 2-month break).
This event knocked me off the path of the corporate ladder I was fixated on to cope with what I had just gone through with my divorce. The divorce is something I am still working on, as it is a hard case. It became unsafe to the point where the Pinellas and Pasco County police departments strongly suggested I get a restraining order, which I did. The police would also roam my work parking lot to ensure my safety. So along with all the heartache and healing I had just gone through from the separation situation, I also had to start dealing with healing from my accident. Ultimately, climbing the corporate ladder was a way to escape my reality. Not my calling, though. I’m so happy the accident knocked me off that path. I am happier and doing better mentally. I can be more present for my family, which is cool. So, overall, I am thankful for this life event, which has nudged me in a better direction.
This better direction is that I found freedom in utilizing my business knowledge and skills and aiming them to earn me money instead of making money for someone else and getting paid X amount of dollars for my time. This freedom is difficult because it requires dedication and strength to get through the hard times, which is when you are trying to build a brand like I am. I am in that part as we speak.
I started with the Travel industry because I am very interested in learning about other places and cultures through traveling myself. This world is so beautiful. Travel is a good business to be in currently since everyone is just thirsty to get out on vacation. So, I applied for a work-from-home travel agent job posting, and that is when my mentor reached out. She got me to sign up with Archer and Evolution Travel, who gave me training and tools to have a business for travel through them. They have contracts with suppliers like Sandals, Disney, Carnival Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and more. Since I am technically an agent under them, I can make commissions and book for various suppliers in whichever form of travel I want to specialize in.
I created a domain name of “Linders Happy Travels” since I already have a Tiktok, “Linders Happy Place,” where I share things that make me happy, like my art, singing, and everything else beautiful in this world I love soon to share my travels as well. I figured they could match since “Linder’s Happy” seems to be my thing. I had to apply for an EIN so my business income could be reported through that. Then, I created a website and email address with that domain name for my business and social media. I am not fully savvy on all those social media yet, but when someone contacts me about a cruise or resort week, I will book their trip in a heartbeat, no problem!
I use Uber to pay my bills for now as it gives me the flexibility and freedom to have my schedule to build and learn my Travel Business. Uber also allows me to meet tourists, businesspeople, and others interested in travel. With that in mind, they will go well hand in hand until I do not need to Uber anymore. I will still use Uber because I enjoy meeting diverse people and learning from them. Uber will also help me get to know cities better, which will be helpful once I am up and traveling around doing this. I love that I find beautiful little spots just by driving. I enjoy the ride, learning new things, and exploring new areas daily. Feel free every day. Something I never felt working my other jobs. The plan is to travel around and explore while working online. I will post my adventures online to share with the world. We all want to be free and happy; I am happy to help those who wish my assistance at no extra cost! Slowly but surely, I will succeed with the business I have planted the seeds for. Now all I need to do is care for it and watch it grow.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been a rough road. I have had many obstacles like my divorce, car accident, mind, etc. Going through a divorce is mentally and emotionally draining. Especially when it gets to a point where you are threatened and scared to even go out to lunch on your break. Experiencing a 5 car pile-up and trying to be the best manager I could be was a challenge as I could not even remember if I had fed my dog that morning. Body in pain every day while leading a team of 27+ people. The biggest challenge was accepting that I needed to step down and rebuild my life again. I was so fixated on moving forward. I had to start rebuilding when I initially left my husband in August of 2020 and got a restraining order in 2021. Then, I had to start rebuilding again after the accident in 2022 and healing and trying not to be a weight to my family. I do not know how I would have gone through all this had my family not been by my side. Thanks to them, I have taken the time to heal.
Getting out of my head is also an obstacle. Your mind is a powerful thing. It is not easy to keep it on the right path, but as we all say, life is a roller coaster, and all I can do is roll with the ups and downs. As long as I refocus and keep going, I’ll get to where I want to be. Until then, I’ll enjoy the ride!
I also need help starting the Travel business as it is my first business. Learning as I go, ensuring I do things legally, with proper certifications and permissions, etc. Learning how to create a domain, EIN, etc, was an adventure. I am lucky to have my mentor to help guide me through this.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a bit of everything. I could have chosen business, but I decided on Artist/Creative because I am an artist with creativity. I love creating art in all forms. I am a Travel Agent that specializes in booking cruises and resort weeks. Although travel is a business, Traveling is like appreciating art. You go sightseeing and enjoy the beauty that is in this world. It is so easy to forget it with the busy lives everyone leads. So, helping people travel is an art to me.
Also, I am an artist who loves sharing her nature photography, drawing, painting, music, inspirational thoughts, etc., on my TikTok “LindersHappyPlace” and my personal Facebook, as I love doing all forms of art. Sharing travel on TikTok is a beautiful art, which is something I will be adding to my channel.
I am known for Ubering, Art, and Travel, which I love. I am most proud that I got out of climbing the corporate ladder, and I am now only focusing on doing things I enjoy. Instead of climbing a corporate social ladder, I have focused on happiness and enjoying this world. I plan on learning psychology along the way because I love helping people. I believe in spreading love, cheer, and acceptance to everyone I meet. That carries into my work and will give me the clientele I need to flourish my business.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
It is someone who cares to be genuine and reasonable to everyone. As long as I am good and do right by others, others will do right by me. It is an honest, trustworthy person who helps and inspires others to do the same. That said, those qualities will get me noticed and reel in the kind of people that appreciate those qualities. It may be a slow climb, but I rather have a slow climb with the right foot forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lindershappytravels.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindershappytravels/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091561908986
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/linders-happy-travels/about/?viewAsMember=true
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lindershappyplace
