thankfulforamillion

Posts Tagged ‘dream life’

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A Little Daily Inspiration: Jenny McIver, Round the World in 30 Days

In You on August 28, 2012 at 9:58 am

Jenny McIver, RTW in 30 Days

I spent this past Sunday evening planning my ‘Round The World’ trip on Star Alliance. Please note that I did not purchase my ticket, I only planned. On my itinerary? Santorini, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Barcelona, Florence and on. So, what contributed to my sudden urge to indulge in my wanderlust? Jenny McIver and her travel site, RTWin30days.com. Jenny has managed to have a full-time career, with ESPN, while taking adequate time to visit over 120 countries and help others plan their own trips. All in all, she’s taken 7 Round the World trips. She plans to take her 8th in January 2013. Each trip spans 30 days and she works remotely.

Her brazen determination to travel has inspired many, some who never thought they’d have the time or money to take a trip, and others who are continually on the hunt for their next adventure, to make giant leaps forward in their exploration of the world. And, as fate would have it, her commitment to do what she loves has turned into an unlikely business venture that may just continue to expand.

So, what advice does Jenny have for those looking to balance work and their love for travel? Keep reading!

 

Q&A

 

How did your RTW in 30 days website begin? 

I took my first trip around the world 7 years ago. It was meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip and, though I’d never really written anything before, I wanted to keep a journal of the trip. I used a website called MyTripJournal.com which allows travelers to keep an online journal of their travels. The next year when I decided to do another RTW trip, I continued using the MyTripJournal site but by the 3rd year I realized this was going to be an annual event and I needed to transition to my own site where I could better control the content. The one thing that made my travels unique from other RTW travelers/bloggers is that I managed to maintain a career at home while working short (by RTW standards) month-long trips into my schedule. Thus the name, “Round the World in 30 Days.”

 

 

RTW has expanded into a travel advice guide of sorts. Did you imagine or intend for the website to take on this scope?

Not really. At first the blog was merely intended to keep my friends and family up to date on my travels and provide me with a written journal of my travel experiences. With each RTW trip, the readership circle continued to expand to the point where the site began to attract travelers planning their own RTW trips and looking for advice. I love giving readers advice on RTW tickets, destinations, etc. I remember how much guidance I needed when I was planning my first trip. You’d be surprised how many people have done one RTW trip but you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone else who’s done seven! I’m also proud to say that the website has even inspired people to start planning a RTW trip. That’s my ultimate goal. To get people who never even dreamed of taking a trip like this to realize that it’s not a crazy idea. Anyone can do it and you don’t have to quit your job, sell your house and take off for a year for a RTW trip to be worthwhile. You really can fit the trip of a lifetime into your life.

 

How open have resorts and travel organizations been to partner?

Companies are really just starting to recognize the power of bloggers as a marketing medium. I attended a travel bloggers conference (TBEX) this summer with travel heavy hitters like Expedia and American Express in attendance and looking to partner with bloggers. TBEX is only 4 years old and this was my 2nd year attending. The corporate interest in that conference has exploded in the past year or two and it continues to grow as destinations and travel-related companies begin to see concrete, measurable results from their work with bloggers. I am currently in talks with a company that would be my dream sponsor and I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to work out a deal soon.

 

You’ve managed to build an incredible lifestyle where traveling is a priority and financially feasible. How would you suggest someone with two weeks best utilize their vacation time?

It really is all about your priorities in life, isn’t it? For me, travel is obviously a priority. I carve out time in my schedule for it. Something I’ve learned, though, is that the main reason most people think they can’t take more than two weeks off is because they’ve never asked to take more than two weeks off. In the U.S. it’s just assumed that two weeks in the norm and it can’t be exceeded. However, if you want to plan a big trip, there are lots of alternatives. Some companies offer sabbatical time or try combining vacation time with telecommuting to extend your days away from the office. It’s possible to work from anywhere; I work daily on every trip. And as I like to say…why work from home when you can work from Rome?

But if you absolutely can’t get more than two weeks, a RTW trip is still well-worth the effort. A RTW ticket is the single most efficient way to see more of the world in less time and they’re not as expensive as you think. How much can you really see in just two weeks, you ask? Here’s a two-week snippet from the middle of my first RTW trip:

 

Cape Town, South Africa – Cairo, Egypt – Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt – Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Agra, India – Bangkok, Thailand – Phuket, Thailand – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 
During those two weeks, I hiked Table Mountain, took a safari, rode a camel around the Pyramids, snorkeled in the Red Sea, spent a night at the world’s only 7-star hotel in Dubai, marveled at the Taj Mahal, explored the gleaming temples of Bangkok and the pristine beaches of Phuket and visited the Petronas Towers. So what can you see in just two weeks? More than some people see in their entire lives.

 

What’s been key in building your life as an entrepreneur?

Paying my dues early on. Right out of college I spent 7 years working back-to-back jobs with 80-hour weeks and very little pay. I didn’t have the time or money to travel and I didn’t dwell on it. But it was those years that allowed me to make the connections that ultimately led to starting my own business in 2000. Since then, one thing I’ve learned about having my own business is that I’m never on vacation. That may sound ridiculous since most people think I’m always on vacation but when you’re a company of one – the office is always open. Of course, that office may be an overwater bungalow in Tahiti…but it’s open.

South Pacific



 

In all of your travels, what’s your all time favorite destination?

Tough question! But one that I get a lot. If I had to choose one country, it would be Thailand with New Zealand and Greece as a close tie for 2nd. I’m a big fan of islands, especially in the South Pacific, and I’ve visited some incredible ones like Easter Island, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands. My next big travel goal is Antarctica.

 

 
Three things: My family & friends, my health and my U.S. passport. My family and friends are the primary reason I have no desire to travel the world for a year like most RTW travelers do, I would miss them too much!  Without my health, I wouldn’t be able to travel to many of the places I’ve gone. So many people take that for granted, but I don’t. And never underestimate the power of a U.S. passport. It’s an all-access pass to see the world and I’m thankful to have it.

 

Thank you, Jenny!

Even if traveling isn’t a priority in your life, Jenny’s journey is proof that one can plan for and have the life they want.

If you’d like to read more about Jenny’s travels, get information/advice about planning your own trip, or just take a welcome break from your day, please find the information for RTWin30Days below.

And, as always, be thankful.

~Thankful

RTW in 30 Days Website: www.RTWin30days.com

Twitter: @jennymciver

Facebook: RTWin30Days

Star Alliance Trip Planner: Just in Case…

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Carriage, Coffin or Both?

In You on December 14, 2011 at 1:33 pm

It’s crazy how quickly the New Year comes along. I mean, one day you’re writing resolutions and then, BAM!, the year is over and you’re left trying to determine if resolutions can “roll-over” like cell phone minutes. A while back I decided not to make resolutions based on an absolute result such as, “lose 10 lbs,” or “get all A’s.” Instead, I chose to focus on values or lifestyle changes like, “live healthier,” or “work on prioritizing tasks.” My change in mindset allowed me to accomplish more because, instead of focusing on those 10 lbs I wanted to lose, I made smaller choices. Each choice led to a much happier, healthier me and seemed less daunting. My success rate skyrocketed!

I’m a firm believer that the universe presents you with things exactly when you need them. Just as I was considering next years resolutions, I ran in to a sociable older woman at a film screening. I’d like to believe that she’s always personable but, in truth, I think she’d succumb to a crush on a male friend I’d brought along =). At any rate, this 70-something year-old woman started a relatively unprompted discussion about self-doubt. She’d overheard my friend and I talking about career paths and was eager to chime in.The first thing she said was:

“When I was your age I was waiting on my carriage. Now, I’m waiting on my coffin.”

Of course my initial thought was, please let this negativity lead somewhere enlightening. Well, I asked and received! She went further to explain that, early on in her career she worried about what her family expected of her, what would happen if she made the wrong decision and how each and every step she took would help to manifest her dream life. At that point, she was of course waiting on her carriage. There were endless possibilities available to her. However, now she can, admittedly, only see her coffin. Due to this, her mind that was once clouded and slowed by self-doubt is now clear and swift. She makes decisions confident that they are the right ones, and sure that, if anything ill befalls her, there is always another choice to be made. The things that aided her self-development were no doubt, her experience and realization that death is an absolute.

Now, while looking to one’s death may be too heavy an image to consider when making decisions, I felt that this woman shared a valuable experience with me. In truth, in her youth, she failed to realize her own mortality. Because, we are all no different from her. The coffin is in view for each and every one of us. It may be 6 months, a year, 5 years, 50 years or more away, but it is still a guarantee. At any point in our lives we choose to focus on the carriage or the coffin. Endless possibility or looming finality. What’s important to remember is that it is all possible at any given point in time, no matter how short or long we’ve lived. Whether you’re 25 or 75, you can accomplish goals, learn, grow, love and contribute. So, my answer to the question above: BOTH. Our limited time means that we must make decisions based on our goals, values and strengths and, at the same time, try our best to throw away self-doubt. We must be clear and swift so we can have as many carriage rides as life allows.

So, what’s at the top of my resolution list?

  1. Approach my decisions with confidence and clarity.

… the rest of the list will soon follow.

Today I’m thankful for those willing to share their experiences.

I hope that your resolution lists are going well! If you have any to share, please do.

~Thankful

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