You can listen directly here. 

Raw, real and practical. Tina Tower is one of those people you come across that you can easily relate to. She is fun to be around, but also strong when you need to hear something tough. She is a go-getter in business and life.  

 

Starting out in tutoring and building a multimillion-dollar business before selling it, she knows that you need a good coach and also continues to learn in order to grow. 

 

Tina has invested in herself and encourages others to do so as well. She not only loves to learn but is always implementing as well. If you aren’t taking action on what you invest in you aren’t making a return on investment.

 

There is no shortage of things that can grow your bottom line. However, if you don’t make the time to implement you won’t grow. Tina is fierce with her time management because she knows that if things aren’t done there will always be open loops. Her discipline has allowed her to make big shifts in her business and life. 

 

If you don’t schedule things in, weeks will go by and projects you want to complete won’t necessarily get done. 

 

Tips for remaining positive to work through the crappy times. Especially when there is a lack of control and certainty. Mindset - Tina doesn’t just put on a happy face. Her advice is to remain consistent, plan and look towards the future. Now is the time to work on the business. 

 

Be open to experimentation. A lot of people are unwilling to put the effort in. 

 

We only live once and we should make the most out of it. As humans, that is our mentality. As much as possible, we want to have everything and live our best lives. We want to have a successful business, happy family and make a change in our community, right? 

 

Tina has recently released an incredible book - which she wrote in Fiji - “One Life” You can find it here. Grab it on Audible, Amazon or on Tina’s website. She also has her own Podcast - One Life and also a number of business coaching programs you can find here.

 

Success isn't always about greatness. It's about consistency, taking action, continuous learning and measuring what results you are getting.

 

We hope you see the importance of taking action. And realise that you can only get what you WORK for, not what you WISH for. 

Show Transcription: 

 

Announcer: Welcome to Travel Agent Achievers! The place to learn how to grow your travel business and have fun with it. Join Roslyn and her guests as they walk you through proven steps to a fulfilling and profitable business. 

 

Ros: Hi there Travel Agent Achievers. Welcome back to another episode of the Travel Agent Achievers podcast. I'm Ros and I'm your host today.

We have a very special guest for you. And I thought that this was perfect timing to bring Tina Tower on as a guest on the podcast because of her business journey. And also because I believe that she has some synergies that will really help travel agents in the current climate as well.

So she's extremely roar. She's one of my mentors and business coaches. She's very real in her approach to building business. Tina is not afraid to share her failures, as well as her successes, and is an example of what happens when you define what you want in life and go after it with everything that you've got.

She's found personal development when she was quite young at 18 and had two children graduated from the University of Sydney, built a business sold multiple of them, and she also had a 10-figure sale of her business before his 34th birthday.

She showed us know how to leverage her skills and how to stick it out when faced with stumbling blocks that we all run into on the road to success. She has been celebrated in the Australian business community, winning the Australian Telstra Young businesswoman of the Year in 2014.

She was also the 2017 entrepreneur in residence for Australia's largest business women's group Business Chicks. And she's been featured on all sorts of media, TV, radio, you name it sky business through the Huffington Post in the Financial Review.

 

In 2018, I followed Tina on her journey around the world as she visited 28 countries with her husband and her two sons. And this is where she fell in love with online business. Now being a true entrepreneur, and she now runs multiple businesses.

She also has a coaching program of her own she's a business strategist, and she is just an awesome all-around amazing woman. Without further ado, I would love to welcome in Tina Tower.

Welcome to the Travel Agent Achievers Podcast. I am thrilled that you're here. And as we just spoke about offline, this has been a long time coming. So, thank you so much.

Tina: Hello, hello. I'm very happy to be here. I'm very excited to share all things travel and business and all the things.

Ros: Yes. All the things. That's absolutely right. One of the reasons why I finally asked you to be on this podcast is because you are doing so many different things now. And I really felt there's been a huge synergy between your life and your book, One Life Book, and also what's been going on in the travel and tourism industries over the last few months has been a massive shake up.

And I want to be able to encourage and educate and share experiences with the Travel Agent Achievers audience. And because there's so much turmoil and uncertainty, really give them some practical tips and tools and things that they can do to keep moving forward, whether that's in their personal life, and I know that you've experienced some tough things yourself. But I'd love for you to share today, but also in business.

And I also know from reading your book, which we'll share with everybody as well, that you have had your fair share of kicking the guts as well. And if you can then explain or share some of your knowledge and insight and wisdom into how to move past all of that really tough, emotional and stressful experiences, because this is really quite new to the travel industry, and particularly in Australia, but on such a large scale.

We have seen it on smaller scales, but now because it's global, it's really taking its toll on a lot of people and it's continuing to take its toll. So, that's, that's a snapshot of what I wanted to run through with you today.

But let's let's back with with where you started in business, which was quite early, and at the age of 20. And you consider yourself a lifelong learner. Why did you start business at 20? Like, this is something that people would not do, they'd go to college or university. So why did you choose to do that?

 

Tina: Well, I mean, when I started, it wasn't part of some big grand master plan. So I didn't start knowing kind of where it was going to end up or knowing that I would love it so much. The plan was, I was studying to be a primary school teacher.

And I had three jobs trying to pay my way through uni and I was struggling a lot financially and timewise as so many 20 year olds are. And I was walking along the street one day and I saw one of those like signs type to a telegraph pole saying, tutoring $40 an hour, and I was going $40 an hour I'm getting 11.

And so I was at I will start tutoring then, and then I thought I didn't really want to go to people's homes or anything like that. So I thought I'll get a little office space and do that. And I fell in love with this one location. That was not a small office space. It was 120 square meters. So yeah, it was big.

And I was like, okay, well, that's a little bit big for just may what else am I going to do? And there's only so many hours a day I can do tutoring. So why don't I put some educational toys and resources in there and sell them as well. And then that kind of blew up.

And so we had an educational toy store. And I ended up having 17 shooters working all at once in the afternoons and cycling around and, and business kind of grew from this. So, by the time I finished uni Two years later, I loved what I did. Like I loved that place.

And so there was absolutely no chance I was going to, you know, follow the traditional path and go into a classroom. I was making more money than what I would and I was literally loving the day so yeah that's how it started.

Ros: That's how it started. And then you'll continue learning as well through business programmes, like did you start that as well as studying education to? So you were like learning about business as well?

Tina: Yes. So I am, I mean, you know me well enough to know I love education is in the business of education, but it was kind of the seed was already planted. So I went to my first Robert Kiyosaki seminar when I was 16.

So there was obviously already something there in terms of personal development and wanting to have this big life and so from uni, I actually went into a business course straight out. So I did one year of business first and towards the end of that, I had one of my lecturers take me aside and say, Hey, before we go into next year, I want you to really think about whether this is the right pathway for you, you know, you don't really have the personality that's going to fit in in corporate and they could be something better suited for you.

 

And I mean, I kind of thought that myself in the foot with that, because we had to create our brand identity and I made business cards with smiley men on them. And I was like, Okay, this is probably not. So I went and switch to what all happy smiley bubbly girls are suited for at the time I say that with inverted commas. And that was primary teaching. Right?

So that's kind of why I jumped into there. And I loved kids. I loved working with kids and doing all of that. So it did suit. But then yeah, two years later, I started the business and I have invested huge amounts of money and continue to into my education.

I mean, just last week, I wanted to talk to someone to get their opinion on a new launch that I've got coming up and I paid $3,000 for a 45 minute session, like wow, crazy, but I'm like, you know what the value that I can get from that is totally worth it.

And so I've been part of so many different business programmes. I've had business coaches. So I've been in business now for 16 years and I've had a business coach the whole way through. So a usually keep one for one to two years learn everything I can from them, suck them for all their work right up and get the next one.

And same with business programmes. I like to be part of them both from an educational point of view and from the community group that you get from that as well and being around like-minded people, which is just so incredibly valuable.

Ros: Yeah, so I completely agree with you and I there's some times that I hear your story and what you've done like Oh, she's a sister from another mister there's a lot of synergy there that I know that I can really resonate with but I love that you're continuously learning but also hearing that you learn from different people and where they're an expert in different areas.

Then you go to that source and you'll pay that money to go right well, I need to learn everything I possibly can from them to help me in my journey. So when now when you speak to businesses, because you obviously learn a lot but you it too.

And one of the things that I really admire about you is that you are always taking action. And it's almost like there's not a spare second, in your day, when I look at your schedule and the education and mentoring or Eagle's eye provided to me. I know.

So what? What's the process that you follow along with that with the learning and implementing? Do you do one thing, stop implement? Or do you do a few different things at the same time?

 

Tina: Yeah, always a few different things at the same time. But it does, it blows my mind how many people lack progress and how that doesn't drive them crazy and get really frustrated?

So for a lot of people, they think, you know, just by the sheer act of learning something or doing something or even buying a book and having it on the bench is somehow going to be worthwhile and going to make a change.

I talk to people all the time that spend a lot of money on courses and programmes and that's something that like, you know, I'm just not getting the results that I wanted. So much of it comes down to actually taking action and being open for experimentation and failure because what works for one person isn't going to work for everyone else, you're going to need to find your own unique twist on that.

But a lot of people are unwilling to put that effort in. And it's why I've always been really keen to spend money on education is I think, if I'm going to pay $1,000, for something, or if I'm going to pay $10,000 for a programme, if I implement all the things that I'm learning there, there is zero doubt that I'm going to make that money back.

But if I learn all that, and I don't actually do the things that they're telling me to do, then I'm not going to and so I always want to return on investment, which means I'm always going to take the action. But the hardest part, I think, for us from an entrepreneurial point of view is there is so many things that we can do.

There's no shortage of like we could go through 10 things right now that could grow the bottom line. Barring any all the time, but unless you actually have time to implement them or make time to implement them, there's no point.

And so often for people, they're learning all of these things every week or more things that I can do to implement into the business. And they're doing all the learning, but they're not taking any of the time to actually create the stuff and actually implement it.

And so rather than, you know, kind of feeling yourself out constantly with all of this education, there needs to be a balance where you just in implementation action mode, and going rather than learning 10 things every week, let's just learn one and just do it.

 Ros: That's right. And so with that implementation and taking action, that's one thing that I absolutely love. And we have a group within Travel Agent Achievers, which is our accountability group. And it's making sure that we can do this stuff but take action on it because that's what I really encourage.

 

But I also know the challenges of it when you are trying to work in the business. You buy for yourself, you're a solopreneur, you don't necessarily have you know, a lot of people say, I don't have the time for that.

How am I supposed to do that? It's about making the time and I know you're very big on this. And you've called me out a few times as well in our conversations to say, well, me make the time you need to schedule it.

So I encourage them, my community amongst Travel Agent Achievers, whether it's one hour or two hours a week that they can actually do something if that's every day yes, awesome. And if they can do it as a three-hour block in a period of time so they can actually fully immerse and get focused in it that's even better. But you you actually have like a full on calendar, right?

Tina: Yeah, yeah.

Ros: How do you sitck to that?

Tina: I'm a sucker with time management, like I will admit it. Because I do think that above, like these three things that sets successful people above the people that are trying and one of the them is mindset and being able to control your own mindset to get the most optimal performance from yourself. And the other is having super strict discipline and boundaries with your time.

It's really, I think, that simple. And a lot of people lack both of those and find those really, really difficult. So I made a decision really early in business that I was going to be disciplined with my time, it's not something that comes naturally. It's not something that I necessarily enjoy all of the time, but I know it gets the best results.

So I did everything quite early. I got married when I was 21. I had one, my first child at 24, my next one at 25. And my ambition did not die when my children were born. But at the same time, my greatest goal in life is to have a really great relationship with my kids and to be there for them and them to grow up knowing that they were my number one priority.

And so in order to be a mom of my dreams and to grow this business, and have all of that responsibility and all my staff and everything that you've got to look after, when you are in business for yourself. I needed to be really disciplined with that, otherwise it just wasn't going to get done.

And I had these kinds of two-year period where I felt guilty all the time. And I was falling short in every area. I felt like I was a really crappy wife, a really bad mom, a really horrible business owner, like I could barely say, my friends, I wasn't exercising anymore.

Like I was just all over the place, but stuffing up on everything. It's like, Okay, this is not the life for me, how can I change that? So I did a whole heap of work in in time management, really time management productivity, and worked out how I could get the best for me and so for a while there like when I was running a franchise system, so I converted my tutoring centers into franchises and we had 30 locations and 120 staff and around that to be able to handle that and still grow the business and still grow myself and still be a mom.

So we will still do all the things. Because I'm a very big believer that we can have all the things. But in order to do that I broke my days, which this is going to sound like hell to some people I understand, but it works. I break my days into 15-minute increments.

So from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed, I broke that off and I consciously designed my week and designed my days in a way that they were going to serve me and allow me to do everything and in a way that was in line with my values.

Because if I did that, then I would finish the day and go okay, I ran the day I wasn't just this puppet being knocked about everywhere between everyone's whims and doing all that which is how we feel so much of the time pulled in every direction.

It was like, I'm going to focus on what I plan at that time, and I'm going to switch everything else off. Which is really hard to do. Really easy to say in theory.

Ros: Oh, absolutely, absolutely. But it's very discipline. A lot. I'm, yeah, I hear you with the mindset and the boundaries. I think those are the two areas if people can start working on those things, and being very clear with what they want to get out of the next six months, next 12 months a year, whatever it might be.

But out of their life, you've got to bring it back to you, you mindset. And you've got to bring it back to the boundaries.

Tina: At the end of the day, I really like batching your time, like I said before, as well. I mean, I have, you know, a three hour block every week that I put in that's just spent on marketing, looking at the current marketing, I've got looking at what I'm going to post on social media, what's working, what's not working, do I need to tweak copy on my website, all of that sort of stuff, which is so much that if you don't schedule that in weeks and weeks go by and you never actually get the time to do it and so it's working out what are the things that you need to do.

I mean, I was talking to someone about this the other day and going just an end of month review. You know, spend a few months in every month going over your numbers going on. That all of the different drivers in business. A lot of people don't actually do that because they don't have it scheduled.

 And so the month finishes, and you're so busy and you go into the next one, and you've never actually given yourself the chance to review so you don't know what's working and what's not. So you could be wasting all this time on things that aren't actually moving the labour for you.

Ros: That's right scheduling it in, but doesn't get scheduled. It doesn't get done. So yeah, I yeah, thank you for that. I just want to come back to the tough times. Because I know that you've, you've had them in business. And for travel agents, we've seen a massive upheaval in our industry and all of our companies.

So a lot of people have lost everything. And that whether they're in a shopfront, where people walk through their front door and they're still paying rent versus those that are working from home that we obviously can't promote or book any travel.

So that's from our industry, but how do you remain positive and get through the crappy times. And when you say your mindset, is that probably your biggest thing?

Tina: Yeah, I mean, the first thing I'll say to travel agents is I'm so sorry that you're going through this, it totally sucks. And it's of no fault of your own, which is almost worse because it takes the control away.

Ros: Yeah. Lack of control.

Tina: Yeah, completely. There's lack of control. And there's a huge lack of certainty at the moment, two things that as humans we really enjoy having.

So in in terms of mindset, it's not, I'm not one of those people that think, you know, just put on a happy face. It's all positivity. There is like the time that you're going through at the moment as travel agents is horrible.

Like you just simply have lost the ability to create revenue, to promote to do all of the things and it's going to be incredibly upsetting. There's no kind of positivity about that. Other than going, being completely aware that this too shall pass.

Yeah, it always changes. If you keep consistent and keeping the few customers and know that it's going to come back. Does that make it easier right now? No, definitely not.

Ros: But there are things that we can do. And one thing that I firmly believe is just taking care of those clients that we did have that still will travel again, as you said, this time shall pass. It's taking care of those clients really nurturing and looking after them and also coming from a place of gratitude.

 

So for us, it's just been gracious that they chose to book with us initially, what can we do now to serve them and take care of them? Because even though we aren't able to make a revenue, that time will come and as long as we can get through the tough times, and you know, look at the plans Look at what we can do right now.

Then we will be okay. In the future. I am 100% that we will be okay. Now I know you have in your business and you touched on it briefly about the size of your franchise the amount of staff that you had before you sold begin, right.

But you had a huge upheaval as he sold the business. Are you willing to share that story with us? When the whole world turned on you and what did you do when that all happened?

Tina: Yeah, I will tell that story. But first I want to tell like a really cataclysmic story from pre-that that will be really easy to relate to is the situation that travel agents are in at the moment. Was about two years into my franchising journey. And I put all of our money into growing so we were growing locations.

We were growing staff were growing infrastructure we needed, the websites, new training, new, promotional material, new everything and so we put all the money into and then we had a couple of months where I didn't sell a new franchise.

So we were stagnant. And it came to a realisation, I had a call with my accountant and she said, you've got an runway of about three weeks left, you are either going to lose the business or lose your home. What do you want to do?

You've literally just ran out of money. And so I needed such a severe chunk of money, that there was no way to make it in such a short time, which I know a lot of people are going to be in that situation right now where they've had overheads, and they've had things going and you're just sitting there going, what the fuck

Ros: Yeah, and I do.

Tina: And so I made the really good decision. I knew that my business would bounce back. I knew we'd build everything for the future as much people do now and I knew it was going to come back stronger, better than ever, if I could just hold on and so I rented out a four-bedroom house out at the time.

My kids were two and three and we went and lived in a granny flats. Like a little shitty, yeah, one, one room thing at the back of someone's house. And we were there for three years. So we were there for quite a while so that I could funnel all of the money back into the business.

 

And now, I mean when and I'll get to the story of selling, but we got to sell for a seven-figure deal. And so we had a really successful exit from the business. But in that day, everything had moved out of the house.

And the house was my dream house that we bought. And everything had moved out. Everyone was gone. And I was the last one left there and I sat down on, I still feel it now. Even when I tell the story. I sat down on the back steps and just cried and I cried like someone had died. I just felt like I had worked so hard up until that point, and everything was gone.

And I didn't know whether it was going to turn around. I didn't know whether I was going to be able to bounce back. I thought I would and I'd done all the right things to look after it. But you don’t know and I had that moment.

Men have just going. Like it's just I had the one line in my head was I haven't come this far to only come this far, I knew that it had to go on. And so it's really easy from where I am now to say that was all worth it.

But it is so hard when you're in that moment, to continually back yourself into believing yourself and your ability and everything that you've done. But if you keep showing up and you keep doing the right things, and you take this time to work on the things in your business, in terms of systems in terms of lead magnets in terms of automation, so that when everything does kick into gear, and I tell you as an avid traveller, as soon as I'm allowed to fly, I'm going anywhere.

Like you will be so inundated so quickly, that I think you need to be prepared for that. Yeah, so that was I just wanted to share because I thought that would be relatable. But yeah, so when it came time to sell the business, which is a very hard thing to go through anyway, because we had I built it for what was it been 13 years.

So it was my life. It was my identity. Unfortunately, I was totally wrapped up in that business was me and I was that business and how would I have any value as a human without it? But yeah, we had, we had both a really successful exit and a messy exit.

So I sold to a company and stayed on as an urn out, which means that I got a portion of the sale price up front. And then the other portion was tied to performance over the coming two years. And that was probably the hardest thing I've ever gone through.

I would prefer to be broke and running the business how I wanted to then sitting there, getting paid beautifully but having zero control. Because if people haven't figured out yet, I'm a control freak. And so that was really hard and I didn't make the distance.

I quit after 19 months and lost a lot of money. By doing that, but it was the best decision that I could have made for my own mental health. I just I am so 100% certain that I will never be able to work for anybody ever.

Ros: Yeah, exactly. But when you sell the day you announced your sale. And so for travel agents, we've been getting a lot of kick in the guts from our clients who have always been there and supported us and when we can't control an airline's refund policy or getting money back for them, which we would love to do, like we're in the same position, but we have no control over that.

The day that you sold your business your franchises, they flipped on you. How did you how did you feel like how did you get through that kick in the guts because I feel as though that's kind of where we are at the moment where everybody that we've loved and nurtured and looked after for so long.

There are some I'm not saying all of them, but there is something we've felt let down by so how did you come through that stage.

Tina: I wish I could give you a better answer. I'm going to give you the honest answer. Yeah. I wish I had some wise beautiful thing. I cried a lot. And I seriously gave alcoholism a really good shot.

Ros: Oh my gosh. Okay, so I'm doing all right then.

Tina: Yeah. So it was probably because I am a classic people pleaser. So I love people to be happy with me 100% of the time, and I will bend heaven and earth to make people happy. And that works really well in terms of positive reinforcement. Like if someone's grateful for the service that I've provided and what I do. Oh my god, I go so above and beyond. I'm like, yeah, how much more can I give you?

I love it. But if someone's unhappy with me, it breaks my heart. And there's a whole lot of psychological reasons why we as humans have that need and it was pretty much, I think things in life do happen to you for a reason, and it's gross that you have to have.

And as heartbreaking as it was, it was one of the best personal development journeys I've ever been in. Because it's not like now I don't care about that, but I don't tie my own self-worth to the opinions of other people.

Yeah, so I've got a bit more of a separation there. But there was a good few month where, you know, I like to go all in, I like to go all in. And so because I still had to keep working for the for the same company, I couldn't take a break. I couldn't take a breather. It was literally I sold, and it settled at 5pm and 9am.

 

I went back the next day as an employee, so it was no kind of break from that and I had to deal with everything and all of my staff and franchisees was still treating me like the business was mine, but I had zero control.

So I couldn't do anything or implement anything. And so I just started drinking it to three o'clock every afternoon.

Ros: Yes, but you also learn a lot about other people like I I'm with you, as I said, straight up, I do believe we're separated at birth. But I think that there being a people pleaser, I can completely relate to that. And I know that my listeners for travel agents can as well because we just want to take care of people that is inherent in us and protect them and whether that the money or whether their travels, you know that if something happens on somebody's trip, and I, I'm their consultant, then they are they know that no matter what, I will be the first person to be on that phone or wherever they are getting them out of there.

Super over deliver, right, yeah, but it's the people pleasing that comes out and just wanting to make people happy. So when there has been the time that clients are angry or upset, I have found it really difficult to separate myself and the situation because I take it quite personally, but that has been also a huge personal growth thing for me, which is what I'm hearing from you as well.

Tina: Like most of the time, it actually doesn't have anything to do with you know, it's actually all the origin story. And this what we forget is, and that's, you know, I saw a psychologist at the time because I was really struggling through this. And I've seen psychologists in many different stages of my life, which I'm a huge advocate for.

But he actually flipped it around and when you think you're serving other people, but it's really incredibly selfish and egotistical for you to think that this isn't in any way a reflection on you, because it's not about you.

Everyone has their own stories and their own things going on and it actually has nothing to do with you. You're just the easiest person to vent that frustration on at the moment.

Ros: Yeah, keeping those boundaries again, and staying true to yourself. So acting in your own integrity, and staying for yourself and making sure that you are the one that you know, you have done everything and trust on that so I hear that.

Now taking care of yourself. I hear that there was the turn the drinking phase now I know you've come through that and taking care of yourself as a solopreneur running a business, family life there's also been a time for you that things haven't been so crushed out with your health then how did you come through that?

Tina: Yeah so the end of my business was a real catalyst for me. I mean, I like I said I've been running on 15-minute increment days for over a decade. So I was pretty tightly wound. So I wasn't great at taking breaks mainly because I love what I do.

So if I'm not with my husband or with my kids, like people would say what's your hobby, I would rather just go back to work. I love it. That as much as that is that is a really good thing is also you need to just take time to take space and I have ADHD as well.

Which won't come as a surprise to you who knows me. But it means that I find it really hard to not be stimulated, right all the time. And so there was no time to, you know, I could never just take a walk around the block, because I like it. I would drive myself crazy with that.

And so I would constantly go off to stimulation and so I had adrenal fatigue by the end, and I put on a heap of weight like 18 kilos, which in for the Americans is like, I think it's like 35-40 pounds. Wow, that's a lot. Yeah. So yeah, so I had adrenal fatigue. Could not remember a day where I didn't take headache medication, like was just putting myself under the pump, but not stopping.

I remember feeling really proud that I'd ran a training session and my throat was really sore, and I was really tired and people would go out on lunch and I'd lay down and sleep for 20 minutes and still keep performing.

And it finished never almost like oh my god, that was life changing. That was so good. I was Thank you. So match. Like it was amazing. And I'm like, Yeah, I did. And then I went to the doctors and he's like you have acute tonsillitis. You shouldn't even be standing like, what are you doing?

And I had passed out a couple of times that day, but stupidly felt proud that I could push through anything. And so I do think sometimes, you know, we get those lessons. And I was taught my lesson that I had to not do that if I wanted to have this long, beautiful life.

And my goal in life is to live to 104 and be like world's greatest Grandma, and have all my grandkids everywhere and be running on the beach and doing all of that sort of stuff, which I can't do if I give myself a stroke or a heart attack or diabetes or anything like that.

And so yeah, a couple of years ago, I knew I had to take a break. And we ran away.

Ros: I know, so you ran away. And yeah, in 2018. So yeah, after you sold the business and you took 12 months off to travel around the world like that is just an awesome experience in itself. Is that something that you've planned for? like you'd planned a couple of years ago and said yes, we're going to go around the world or do that just go right?

Tina: We always wanted to so when my husband and I've always been big travellers, so we spent pretty much all our money on travel. So we've been overseas three or four times a year, since we could like since we were 17-18.

And we were in Africa just before I fell pregnant with our first son, and we're dreaming up the life that we were going to have and what we were going to provide our kids and it was always our dream to take this round the world trip, but we got kind of five years into the franchise and thought, you know, it's just not going to happen because it's not realistic to do that when you're running a multimillion dollar company.

So I thought, okay, that ship has sailed and then when we decided to sell the company, which actually made that decision sitting on a beach in Nicaragua. And I was getting all these emails and people frustrated. I'm like, you know what, this is not what I want to deal with day to day going forward.

And my goal was to get to 100 locations at the time we had 35. And like, if I get there, it's actually it's this is no longer my dream business. I grew it past the point where I enjoyed so and that's the thing bigger isn't always better.

I really liked up until 20. And then it became a whole different beast and that anymore. So yeah, we decided to do a patent break and that we could take this, the kids was still young enough that we could take them out.

And I really wanted to draw the line in the sand to go okay, who has been in the last couple of years up until this moment, I need to break that habit and break that pattern and create a new life because I didn't know what I was going to do next and what we were going to be and I'd also neglected the family a lot.

So you know, they pretty much the three I've got two sons and the three have them kind of did this. And almost were a little scared of me a little bit at different times and going, you know, they knew I was under so much pressure.

And so everyone was a little on eggshells around me, which I was just horrified by. Yeah, so we needed to change that. And what better way to change that then go around the world.

Ros: Have you got some experience or some way that is incredibly memorable that you guys will never forget, as a family like is there is a one or two things that

Tina: Yeah, wow, we talk about it all the time. Because there's I mean, we went to 28 countries, so it's really hard to peek. Like one thing. Yeah, we did. And we didn't skimp on it either. We spent a fortune. So we did really incredible experiences. But for me, I went because I wanted to switch off completely.

So we did 90 days with no technology, no phone, no internet, no social media, no nothing. And we started that journey in Croatia. So we had a catamaran and went sailing before of us and switched off. And I remember sitting on the front of the boat as his son was sitting in the most amazing, picturesque sunset I could ever dream up.

And we're sitting there having aperol spritz and the kids are laughing and we're all just like cozied up, dolphins had just jumped past the boat. And I was just looking there going. One, it felt really weird not to be taking a picture of it. But it was that moment that I realised I wasn't.

And just, it was just a moment of going, ah, like, breathe, take it all in like this is just everything I wanted it to be. Yeah, so that was really cool. But we did incredible things. We went flying in fighter jets. We stayed in glassy glues in Finland. We went quad biking through Morocco. We went through Mongolia, which was the craziest of the bunch, like there was so many things that were just insanely awesome.

Ros: I love it. I love You've seen so much of the world and that you continue to appreciate it. And I know that travel is something that you will always continue to do because that's just who you are. Which brings me to the last point here is you went to Fiji to write a book.

I love that you took the time out when I'm going to Fiji and I write personal sacrifice. Oh my gosh. Now it's been an awesome success. And I would encourage everybody to listen to it to read it to download it. I've got it in all the different formats because I have listened to it by Audible, I've got it on my Kindle and I also have several copies because I love it for the world.

But I would just love to say thank you for creating the book, and for sharing your personal stories, as well as your experience because it is something that is so real, it's so authentic. And it resonates with so many people. And I know that it has, it has helped a lot of people as well come through their journey and encourage them to, you know, take that next step.

And I just want to say I'm really proud. And you know that that we can be friends and I love that we have infringed or that so alright enough for the love mentorship that I just, I love it. I absolutely love it.

So if you don't have it, and this is to all the listeners out there, you need to grab the book. It's called One Life: How to Have the Life of Your Dreams by Tina tower. And you can grab it by going to the travelagentachievers.com website, we'll have a link to it there, as well as in our show notes so that you can download it, listen to it and share it with as many people as possible.

You stay true to yourself, Tina and the clients and the business opportunities that have come to you over the years or you've chased and not only in business, but winning many awards as well. You are an inspiration. And I just want to say thank you so much for coming on the Travel Agent Achievers podcast and being part of our community you are a very special person.

Tina: Right back at you how lucky people are to learn from you.

Ros: Thank you.

Ros: Alright, everybody, thank you so much for listening today to Tina tower and a bit of her story, but also giving you some insight into things that you can do right now in your life and in your business. And I encourage you to grab the book, but also reach out to me and let me know by an Instagram dm or a message or by email, just how much you've enjoyed the episode. And don't forget to subscribe and also review the podcast. So thanks so much, Tina for being here. Really appreciate. Thank you.