FROM CRM IN FINANCE INDUSTRY TO CERTIFIED TRAVEL AGENT

Mid-Year 2023 marked a life-changing decision for me. As a mother, I always strive to consider what my children can take away from my decisions and how these choices will impact them in the short and long term.

My previous position was Client Relationship Manager (CRM) for a Financial Company. I am now a Certified Travel Agent and work for myself. Not many have supported my decision because I did leave a well paying job to start my own business which means to start from zero. Many believe I should not mention that I am a Travel Agent just in case I want to go back into the Finance world. I don't agree, I believe every opportunity we have helps us develop skills that can only benefit us in the future. I was excellent at my job and take pride in all my accomplishments. I took the leap of faith to follow Financial Advisors to independence and was able to walk away knowing that I help them become successful.

Being a CRM never defined the person I am; it was a title that I performed well! This title looks good on a resume but doesn't buy back the time I spent away from my family or the guilt I felt for not being able to walk away from my computer to cook dinner for them. Did I get paid well yes, but the question became was it worth my time and the simple answer to that was NO. Money doesn't buy the time I lost with my family and the people I worked for never saw the sacrifices I made. To them I was to be happy with the money I was getting paid because in their eyes they were being so generous. I loved my job and part of that was working with amazing Clients that allowed me into their lives. That was the upside to my job by far.

Now in my new role as a Certified Travel Agent/Business Owner/Starting from Zero. I didn't think I had to choose between one job or the other because I enjoyed doing both. Being a Travel Agent has offered me something that I forgot I needed and had no time for; it gave me back ME. I am discovering myself again, learning who I am and what I am made of. I had to make adjustments financially but I don't regret it for a second. I don't feel like I live my life with that feeling that I am always in trouble, not doing enough for people that didn't appreciate how much I was doing, and running out of time for the things that truly mattered.

I am a Client Relationship Manager and I am a Travel Agent AND I AM GREAT AT BOTH. I don't need to pretend I am one and not the other because my skill set allows me to be GREAT at both and much more! I will not allow myself to be placed in a box when I can do so much!!

My advice is stay true to yourself and work hard at it without allowing others to tell you what your limits are.

JezzieTravel

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