Search Travel Market Report

ALGV
riviera
maestro
Riviera
mainlogo
  • News
  • Tours & Packages
  • Cruise
  • Hotels & Resorts
  • Destinations
  • Retail Strategies
  • Niche & Luxury
  • Well-Being Travel
  • Training
  • Who We Are
    • Anne Marie Moebes
    • Barbara Peterson
    • Brian Israel
    • Daine Taylor
    • Dan McCarthy
    • Denise Caiazzo
    • Jessica Montevago
    • Marilee Crocker
    • Mary Gostelow
    • Paul M. Ruden
    • Steve Gillick
Sponsored By NCL
Sponsored By NCL
riviera

An Olympian’s Advice: Stay Focused & Find Your Edge

by Mimi Kmet / February 12, 2014

With the Winter Olympics in full swing, many of us are watching as world class athletes push the limits of what’s possible. The commitment, focus and stamina of those elite competitors hold lessons for the rest of us, says entrepreneur, consultant and author Bonnie St. John.

St. John is a former Paralympic athlete and medalist who says she owes much of her success in the business world to what she learned as a competitive athlete.

Olympic athletes are always “looking for that extra edge.” That’s what travel agents and other businesspeople need to do too, said St. John, an Oxford Rhodes Scholar, keynote speaker and consultant to Fortune 500 companies.
 
St. John, who lost her right leg when she was five from a condition that stunted its growth, won a silver medal and two bronze medals in the 1984 Paralympics. Her outstanding performances made her the second-fastest female amputee skier in the world and the world’s first African-American ski medalist. 

She has authored six books on topics like leadership, spirituality and prosperity; her seventh book is due out in 2015.

St. John spoke with Travel Market Report about the lessons she learned as an athlete and how other businesspeople, including travel agents, can benefit from them.

What did training and competing as a Paralympic athlete teach you in terms of being a successful businessperson and entrepreneur?
St. John: The intense focus I learned while training for the U.S. Ski Team certainly made me a better entrepreneur.

I remember reaching a point in my business as a keynote speaker, author, and consultant where I saw that my worst clients were taking up most of my time and attention. They made unreasonable demands and had the smallest contracts, and some even had integrity issues.

Humans are wired to react quickly and strongly to negatives as a means of survival. My business turned a corner and grew when I overcame those natural tendencies, stopped reacting so much, and proactively focused on the kinds of clients I really wanted – those who partnered with me to impact their business strategy, had high integrity and were a joy to serve.

How can travel professionals benefit from those lessons?
St. John: There’s an old adage that 20% of our clients bring us 80% of our business. What are you focusing on? How much do you know about your 20%? Can you reduce the distractions from the 80% and spend more energy understanding the needs of your best clients?

Ask them directly, ‘What can I do to build a better relationship with you? How can I serve your needs better?’ Ask for referrals.

It’s so simple, but that’s what Olympic athletes do – eliminate distractions and focus on improving their personal best.  

For your sixth book, How Great Women Lead, you traveled the world with your teenage daughter. What was your biggest take-away from that experience?
St. John: The extraordinary leaders we met shared so many insights that can help travel experts grow their business.

Amy Pascal, a movie studio mogul, talked about sticking to what you’re good at. Eileen Fisher had to overcome skepticism about her innovative clothing designs before she succeeded on a massive scale. Condoleezza Rice told us how she struggled to learn to delegate.

Travel agents face increasingly tough competition today. As an athlete, what can you tell them about dealing with competition?
St. John: With the Internet, all of our clients have more choices. To stay competitive, we have to find an edge, find our unique value.

As a travel agent or meeting planner, you can differentiate yourself with specialized knowledge in a geographic sphere, an industry, or certain kinds of meetings.

To compete, you have to bring more to the table than just booking travel. If you hang around a group of Olympians, you notice that that’s what they do. Whether they’re going out to dinner or going to see a show, they can’t help but try to find a little closer parking space, a better way to get in, or even a slightly superior seat. They are always looking for that extra edge.

Your upcoming book focuses on resilience. What is the main message travel agents will get from that book?
St. John: I’ll be sharing secrets from research in neuroscience, sports psychology and physiology that show you easy ways to boost your energy, brainpower and mental toughness.

In this increasingly connected and accelerating world, travel professionals certainly need more resilience.

I also appreciate the resilience my travel agency gives me. When things go wrong as I am circling the globe, they are available anytime, anywhere, and will fix things fast. They know the speaking industry and use their longstanding relationships with the airlines to find creative solutions, sometimes before I am even aware of a setback.

You have overcome many obstacles. One of travel agents’ biggest obstacles is the struggling economy. What can they do to grow their businesses in this environment?
St. John: Over the last two decades of running my own business, I’ve reinvented myself a number of times. I am always researching new ideas and developing new speeches and seminars to make a difference for my clients. I spend a lot of time customizing and addressing their current needs.

  0
  0
Riviera
Related Articles
Blue Skies Ahead at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics
Paris And L.A. Win Bids To Host The Olympics
Paris And Los Angeles Set To Host The Olympics
Zika Hits Hard At U.S. Travel to Summer Olympics
Visa Waiver Program Begins For Tourist Markets With Strong Olympic Traditions
Olympic Flame Tours Brazil
No Talks To Postpone Olympics Due To Zika Concerns
Brazil Business Travel Continues To Slide
Rio Unveils Revamped Airport Ahead Of Olympics
Visa Inc. Reports ‘A Lot’ Of Demand For Rio Olympics

MOST VIEWED

Brought To You By
  1. U.S. Will Require Negative COVID-19 Tests for All International Visitors
  2. Thailand Introduces New Tourist Tax for International Travelers
  3. Op-ed: Five Travel Predictions for 2021
  4. Kauai Reopens to Tourists with New Travel Rules in Place
  5. ASTA: CDC Testing Requirement ‘Threatens to Create a Logistical Crisis’
  6. Reflecting on 2020: ‘Primed’ for Self-Reflection Heading into the New Year

MOST EMAILED

Brought To You By
  1. U.S. Will Require Negative COVID-19 Tests for All International Visitors
  2. Caribbean Destinations, Hotels Work to Meet to New CDC Requirements
  3. Kauai Reopens to Tourists with New Travel Rules in Place
  4. ASTA: CDC Testing Requirement ‘Threatens to Create a Logistical Crisis’
  5. What Advisors Need to Know About the Latest COVID-19 Relief Package
  6. American Airlines Launches Health Passport to Help Passengers with COVID Test Requirements
Tip of the Day

I think being in contact with [my clients] gave them more confidence in me and the suggestions I offer.

Linda Kinsey, Custom Travel & Cruise

 Share...
Daily Top List
Brought To You By

5 Things Every Travel Agency Should Do To Boost Business

1. Specialize
2. Give a personal touch
3. Find your niche and sell an experience
4. Maintain a high standard of quality
5. Become a salesman…but inspire trust

Source: Azavista.com

 Share...
Previous Daily Top List
Riviera
TMR Recommendations
Daniel Zim
Zim Travel Law, PLLC. Demystifying Complexity with Down to Earth Advice. Attorney Advertising.
hbar
Rodney Gould
Rodney E. Gould concentrates in travel and tour-operator litigation and regularly counsels travel-related entities worldwide.
hbar
Tom Carpenter
Carpenter Law Office - Representing clients in the travel and tourism industries. Attorney Advertising.
hbar
Top Stories
Video: Why Consumers Should Use a Travel Agent in 2021
Video: Why Consumers Should Use a Travel Agent in 2021

The latest episode of TMR's MasterAdvisor tackles the big question for consumers. 

Read...
Federal Mask Mandate for Planes, Airports, and Trains in U.S. Signed into Law
Federal Mask Mandate for Planes, Airports, and Trains in U.S. Signed into Law

A new executive order is reinforcing face mask policies on interstate U.S. travel. 

Read...
American Express GBT Acquires Ovation Travel Group
American Express GBT Acquires Ovation Travel Group

GBT will take over the $1.7 billion travel management company.

Read...
ACTA Calls for Advisors and Agencies to Support Association
ACTA Calls for Advisors and Agencies to Support Association

'We are asking every travel agency and travel agent to please consider joining ACTA now, so that we can continue to fight for you in 2021.'

Read...
Video: What Can Advisors Do About Late Commission Payments?
Video: What Can Advisors Do About Late Commission Payments?

FROSCH Travel's Marc Kazlauskas talks to Daniel McCarthy about how advisors can approach late or missing commission payments from suppliers.

Read...
Reports: Europe and Brazil Travel Restrictions from U.S. Will Not Be Lifted
Reports: Europe and Brazil Travel Restrictions from U.S. Will Not Be Lifted

Despite news breaking Monday that travel restrictions would end, the timeline for unrestricted travel is again unclear. 

Read...
News Briefs
  • Consumers Deterred by COVID-19 Are Banking on Traveling in Early 2021
  • ASTA Asks Advisors to Fill Out Survey on COVID Impact
  • Travel Edge Completes Two-Day Virtual Event
  • World Travel and Tourism Council to Host COVID-19 Summit
  • Travelport Launches COVID-19 Response Microsite
  • World Travel & Tourism Council Postpones Global Summit
TMR Outlooks
Expedition 2020
Wellness Outlook
Distribution Outlook
View All
Advertiser's Voice
https://img.youtube.com/vi/-C65Uqm5evk/0.jpg
Video: Why Consumers Should Use a Travel Agent in 2021
About Travel Market Report Mission Editorial Staff Advisory Board Advertise
TMR Resources Webinars Calendar of Events
Subscribe to TMR
Select Language
Do You Have an Idea Email
editor@travelmarketreport.com
Give Us a Call
1-(516) 730-3097
Drop Us a Note
Travel Market Report
243 South Street, OysterBay, NY, 11771
News|Leisure Travel|Land Vacations|Cruise|Canada Retail Strategies|Well-Being|Luxury|Training
© 2005 - 2021 Travel Market Report, an American Marketing Group Inc. Company All Rights Reserved | 243 South Street, Oyster Bay, NY, 11771 USA | Telephone (516) 730-3097| Terms and Conditions
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy