OSSN E-Agent Newsletter

Combating Isolation for the Home-Based Agent
by Anita Pagliasso-Balamane
Author of "How I Made A Small Fortune as a Home-Based Travel Agent"
(www.redticketproductions.com)
President, Ticket To Travel (www.aticket2travel.com)
OSSN Western Regional Manager
Email: sanjoseca@ossn.com
Phone: 408-531-9228

I happen to find planning travel very interesting and simulating. That’s what originally drew me into the travel business. I also happen to love the challenges of running a home business. However, one issue that most of us home-based agents face at some point is the isolation factor of running a business by yourself.

Running an independent travel business means that most of the time we are living by our client’s deadlines. An let’s face it, when that client calls and wants that last minute vacation, most of us will work beyond those “normal” business hours to make the sale happen. This often results in difficulties maintaining social contacts and time to participate in other activities. It is very common to suddenly realize that at the end of the day the majority of the hours were spent working. While many of us applaud this condition – after all being busy means business is good – eventually you will realize that there has to be something else in your life before you find yourself inviting the UPS man in for tea and biscuits because you desperately long for a face-to-face conversation with someone.

Some of us love the solitude of being alone all day and others of us feel lonely and isolated and miss the daily social interactions with co-workers. Sometimes you just need a change of scenery, a change of activity, a chance to unhinge from the chair that sometimes feels permanently attached.

Attend Industry Events

I think what has helped me to avoid some of the feelings of isolation is that I regularly try to attend many industry and supplier events as time permits. This allows me to meet and talk with other agents and make contact with suppliers as well as gain their product knowledge.

Professional Associations

Professional organizations offer some of the best means home-based agents have for combating isolation, provided there is a local chapter for the group and you attend regular meetings. OSSN is one such association that is geared specifically for home-based agents and has more than 60 of these chapters nationwide. These types of organizations will also help further your professionalism and education by bringing you current industry issues that affect the home-based travel agent. In addition, the meetings are avenues to network with other local home-based agents and to have an opportunity to share business ideas and problem-solving solutions.

Networking Groups, Bulletin Boards and Online Chat Rooms

Associations, such as OSSN, also offer member to member bulletin boards where home-based agents post questions and receive first hand knowledge and guidance for anything from where to get good buys on office supplies to destination and supplier recommendations. I have found that even if I don’t have any questions I have learned so much just by logging in and reading what other agents are discussing. There are also numerous online chat rooms that you can take part in. Both of these options are great ways to have interactive communication with your peers.

I also suggest joining a local Networking group that offers an effective means of linking together with other businesses and through trust and relationship building, become walking, talking advertisement for each another. By doing just this, not only did I meet interesting people, I also increased my business substantially from their referrals.

Get Out Of The Office

Most of us who are home-based agents really never stop thinking about business; after all, we never know where our next new client will come from. Since we do not have the luxury of clients walking through our front door the best way to find them is by getting out among the buyers. You next biggest client could come from the person on the equipment next to you at the gym, sitting next to you at Starbucks, standing in line at the theatre or the person who you are working with at a volunteer event. For this reason I never leave home without a good supply of business cards. Theses outings create a duel benefit…eliminating the feelings of isolation and also exposing yourself to meeting potential new clients. We all need extracurricular activities to both interest us and to make us more interesting people. The fact that sometimes our outside interests place us in situations that present business opportunities is a huge benefit. Taking time for non-business interests also enables us to enjoy our work all the better. So get out of the office when you are feeling lonely or isolated. The fringe benefit is that virtually anyone you meet could be your next new client.

* This article was previously printed in Agent@Home Magazine.

New!!! Anita has just produced a new CD “Anita’s Toolbox for Home-Based Agents”, which contains dozens and dozens of her most popular forms, letters and guides. This CD allows you to download her Word Docs for your own personal use and customization. To purchase the CD or the book “How I Made a Small Fortune as a Home-Based Agent”, go to www.redticketproductions.com.