Do I have the motivation to work from home?

Many of our Travel Counsellors say the desire to be their own boss was a key reason why they left their previous role to start their own home-based travel business. If you share their desire to leave the 9 to 5 world behind and become self-employed, but you’re asking yourself ‘do I have the motivation to work from home?’, read on to hear some top tips from our Travel Counsellors for staying stay focussed now that they run their own businesses from home

Tip #1 Get social

From chatting about last night’s TV to debating the latest hot topic, having colleagues to speak to keeps you on the ball. Sarah Pickford, UAE Travel Counsellor agrees: “Talk to people! Not speaking at all during the day closes down the mind to other people, so pick up the phone. And, stand up when you’re talking so it energises you, and this comes through in your voice.” And it couldn’t be easier to keep in touch with your Travel Counsellor colleagues no matter where they are in the world – from message boards and Skype, to regular events and conferences, you’re never too far from a friendly voice, or face!

Tip #2 Aim for the stars

No matter how large or small, achieving something is always satisfying. So why not set yourself a daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly goal? And make sure the reward is something that will inspire you. “Target yourself. Be it monetary, number of bookings, number of enquiries you converted, whatever works for you. Maybe create an inspiration board to keep you focussed and remind yourself what you are working towards” advises Sarah Smith, UK Travel Counsellor.

Tip #3 Remember there is a world outside your office

“Make sure you have a balance of everything during the day. Leave the office for a 5-minute break at least every two hours, connect with other Travel Counsellors, get exercise every day, stay in touch with the news, connect with people from other industries that are self-employed/work from home. Ensure you have a network so you never feel isolated” says Jeanette Coughlan, Ireland Travel Counsellor, and we couldn’t agree more. Make the most of the freedom being a Travel Counsellor brings and use the flexibility to do whatever it is you want.

Tip #4 Get stuck? Take a break

Sometimes you just need a break. As a Travel Counsellor, you can get up and leave your office without someone asking where you’re going or when you’ll be back. For many Travel Counsellors, this is a blessing; “I take short breaks and if I get stuck, I go for a walk with the dog and then come back and feel fully motivated to push through” says Colleen Sommerin, UAE Travel Counsellor.

Tip #5 Make the most of every day

Life as a Travel Counsellor is very different to working in an office or a shop. Your daily routine will change, but Netherlands Travel Counsellor, Kim Bosmans, says there are lots of things you can do every day to adapt to your new life: “Listen to feel-good music. Make a to do list in the morning. Plan me-time. Go for a walk in your breaks. Have lunch with friends, then when you return for the afternoon, you are ready to move on for the next few hours”.

At Travel Counsellors, you have the support of over 1,600 fellow TCs around the world. At the end of the phone or an instant message, through our message boards and at our many events you can meet up with faces new and old. Our Head Office team are always there to help you with IT problems, Marketing queries or 2am flight changes through our 24/7 Duty Office and we have our very own TV studio to broadcast live around the globe!

If you’re ready to take the leap to start your own business, get in touch to discover the world of support we provide. So, even though you work from home, as a Travel Counsellor you will not have to go it alone, and that’s why we’re TTG and Travel Weekly’s Top Homeworking Agency.