As a child, I always dreamed of exploring the world. I loved watching travel programmes with my dad, dreaming about the day I could visit these countries.

Fast forward a few years, and I ended up in the hospitality industry. I met my other passion - customer service. I studied Tourism Management and also worked in the travel industry for a while, before taking the "big step" to join Travel Counsellors in Dubai.

Yes, it was frightening moving to a commission-only salary, as well as the thought of dealing with problems as they arise, and the concern of where I'd get my clients from.

In hindsight, I look back and realise these concerns were unnecessary. Today, I don't regret making the decision to set up my own business as a Travel Counsellor. It gives me the freedom to choose my clients, choose my income and best of all choose the amount of time I spend with my son. Word of mouth and networking is my route to success.

Living in Dubai, my supporting structure is still in South Africa. And as I wanted to be both a career woman and stay-at-home mom, Travel Counsellors was the obvious choice. They took care of the red tape and allowed me to have a home-based office. The support is amazing. From IT to accounts to marketing, there is always someone to assist you. And our amazing 1,300 TCs in 8 countries around the world are always just an instant message away to dig into their wealth of travel knowledge.

The best part for me is not the sales, but the absolute happiness clients experience when arriving at their destinations.

You really feel like you're making a difference when you see how parents plan holiday memories for their children, or a wife surprising her husband with a birthday trip or wedding anniversary.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

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