Today we’d like to introduce you to Yanitza Ninett.
Hi Yanitza, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I created Next Stop Adventures back in 2018, just two years after moving to Florida from sunny Puerto Rico. At first, it was an outlet for me to share what I discovered and loved about Florida. Journaling my travel adventures with my kids always felt like food to my soul. Hiking and adventuring in nature is something I took on at a point in my life where I was struggling with grief and falling in love with the outdoors happened quickly thereafter. I remember thinking how everything felt better just by being surrounded by nature. Once I was settled here in Florida, I knew that it was time to continue my journey and to share with others how incredible and accessible outdoor travel really is. During my first year of writing on my blog, I remember telling my oldest son how I felt that I was only writing to ‘ghosts’ because I didn’t see much growth. And to this, he said, “Mom, that’s the whole point. But you have to keep writing in order to grow”. Fast forward to now, my son’s words and a whole lot of dedication have been the secret to seeing the growth of Next Stop Adventures. Nowadays, I travel on a regular basis to complete assignments and talk about my hiking and outdoor travel experiences. My blog has evolved into something that I never thought possible and I’ve grown a lot as a content creator because of it. Being able to work with brands that are fascinated by nature and the outdoors just like me, is an incredible feeling. And most of all, seeing how my blog has bloomed into a business that I love and enjoy so deeply is simply everything!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Uuff! Not a smooth road at all! It’s been long nights of experiencing frustration and doubt. After the first year, where I saw no growth at all, I spent months without writing because I felt that I wasn’t good enough. My biggest struggle was overcoming my thoughts and not comparing myself to others. You see so many bloggers with incredible growth in their first year and when it doesn’t go that way for you, you start feeding the negative thoughts without even realizing it. I took weeks off social media to simply focus on what I wanted and how I wanted it without seeing anyone else’s way of doing things. I then realized that I was able to rewire my brain by simply focusing on being myself. My focus was and still is how I overcome any struggle along the way.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve been a Creative professional in the photography industry since 2012. Because of this, I guess photography is also one of the reasons why Next Stop Adventures exists. Although I specialize in Portrait and Lifestyle photography, there’s something really special about documenting my travels. Since the beginning, my blog has been centered around outdoor travel and that’s what it’s known for today. I cover everything from hidden gems, road trips, tips for hiking, historic sites, and most recently scuba diving. The response I get from my readers makes me super proud, along with the growth I’ve seen in the past year, where now, thousands of people read my blog on a monthly basis. I think what sets me apart from others is my view on life. I simply love life! I love the little things and how I can create amazing moments and adventures simply by being outdoors and experiencing mindful travel. This feeling is portrayed throughout my writing and it’s probably the main thing that sets me apart.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
If you don’t struggle, you’re doing something wrong. I’ve learned that when you’re doing it right, you’ll have to overcome many struggles that will eventually take you exactly where you want to be. In other words, when it feels like everything is super hard, keep going. You’re on the right track!
Contact Info:
- Email: travel@nextstopadventures.com
- Website: www.nextstopadventures.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/nextstopadventures
- Facebook: facebook.com/nextstopadventuresblog
- Twitter: twitter.com/yanitzaninett
- Other: pinterest.com/nextstopadventures
Image Credits
Copyright: Yanitza Ninett
