Marc Cappelletti 4/4/19 Marc Cappelletti 4/4/19

Matt Long -- Landlopers

An experiential luxury traveler at heart, Matt Long shares his adventures with thousands of readers every day through his award winning site LandLopers.com. I’ve followed him on Twitter for a while now and love everything he shares and creates; where to go, what to see and how to experience it all—he’s nonstop with great advice. Based in Washington, DC, Matt has been to more than 95 countries and all 7 continents. He also hosts his new, weekly podcast Explore the World Travel Podcast. (I told you. He doesn’t stop!)

1. What were you initially searching for in your travels? Have you found it?

I’ve always had a very strong compulsion to see the world, ever since I was a very young child. I don’t think I’m looking for anything in particular, rather it’s a need to satiate my inherent curiosity.

2. What has your journey taught you about yourself? What has it taught you about other people?

That it’s just that, a journey or evolution. Traveling to different spots around the world has taught me that the vast majority of people are basically good and that we all want the same things out of life. Whether you’re a tribesman in Tanzania or a stock broker in New York, everyone wants the best life they can live and for their loved ones to be safe and happy. Once we understand that, then the world starts to look a whole lot different.

3. What ideas about travel did you once have that have been proven wrong?

I don’t think I fully understood just how impactful the travel experience can be. Sure, it’s about seeing new things and visiting different spots, but it’s also an intensely personal experience. We always grow and improve as a result of the travel experience, whether it’s a very short trip or an epic journey.

4. What would you say to someone who says they’re content with staying where they are, or are even anxious about going somewhere new?

Travel is personal, there is no right or wrong. If someone is dead set against going anywhere, that’s up to them. I don’t want them to feel bad about their preferences. However, if someone is thinking about traveling but is hesitant or unsure, I would definitely encourage them to at least take the first step. Plan a long weekend somewhere and then see how they like it. We only learn by doing and we all have to start somewhere.

5. What do you want the people who follow you to come away knowing? Feeling?

I started my site in large part to help inspire people; to help them get over their fears and inhibitions and do what makes them the happiest. If I can do that for just one person, then I would be very satisfied.

6. Where is your happy place, and why?

Ultimately it’s at home. While I love to travel, I equally love being at home with my partner and dogs. I call myself a traveling homebody and I need both in equal amounts.

Marc Cappelletti 3/14/19 Marc Cappelletti 3/14/19

Annette White -- Bucket List Journeys for All

Annette White is on a mission. Like many, her journey began with a realization: severe anxiety was limiting what she knew deep down should be a more fulfilling life. After 20 years of missed opportunities, she promised herself never to let fear make a decision for her, and to start living her bucket list. Now, she is an experience collector, blogger, author and restaurant owner living her personal bucket list. Her site, https://bucketlistjourney.net/ , is loaded with tips, lists, inspiration and some quirky travel fun to get you going. I recently enjoyed her post, How to Make a Travel Itinerary: Creating the Perfect One for Your Next Trip and think you will too.

1. What were you initially searching for in your travels? Have you found it?

Not only did I want to see the world, but also wanted to expand the boundaries of my comfort zone—to become less fearful of living my dream of living my bucket list. This happens with every new experience I have, with every new city I step foot in and with every new person I meet along the way. I wouldn’t say that I am now completely fearless, though my comfort bubble has grown exponentially and I now know that I am a stronger woman than I ever thought.

2. What has your journey taught you about yourself? What has it taught you about other people?

The most important thing this journey has taught me about myself is that my passion is undoubtedly for having new experiences. I love trying anything for the first time! I have also learned that inspiring others is almost more rewarding than completing a goal and that writing doesn’t have to be a God-given gift, but can be a learned talent.

I have learned about people that even with the many different cultures and traditions around the world, we are all similar in so many ways. We all want to be happy, nurture our families, fall in love and have a sense of security. All this makes it less intimidating to form a connection or just simply have a conversation.

3. What ideas about travel did you once have that have been proven wrong?

There is a false perception that you need to be rich to travel, which simply is not true. I know dozens of travelers who live off of less than ten thousand dollars a year and travel every day of their lives. Being driven by their passion, they found unique ways to make it happen. They may use couch surfing sites for their lodging, earn extra money teaching English classes abroad, or survive off of economical street food for their meals. I am not saying that everyone has to be that extreme, it’s just an example of the lengths people will go to follow their dream.

Of course travel will take some money and you may have to make some sacrifices (say good-bye to expensive frilly cocktails at trendy lounges), but it may not be as much as you think depending on where and when you go and the way you travel. A plane ticket can be bought strictly on rewards points and hotels can be secured cheaply with loyalty programs, plus every destination has free attractions to see. The trick is to use the savings techniques that professional travelers use and create a financial plan.

4. What would you say to someone who says they’re content with staying where they are, or are even anxious about going somewhere new?

The benefits of going somewhere new has the ability to push you to step outside your comfort zone and each time you try something for the first time you will grow—a little piece of the fear of the unknown is removed and replaced with a sense of empowerment.

Also, don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s not worth even beginning any goal (no matter what it is!) if you are only able to make a small start. If your goal is completing a marathon, put on your running shoes and walk around the block. If it is learning how to speak Italian, memorize one word a day or even a week. Every accomplishment starts with one single step; it doesn’t matter how big or small, as long as you are making the effort to move forward.

Creating these types of baby steps is especially helpful when you are trying to tackle a major trip. It is less daunting to focus on each small task, plus you will get a confidence boost with each little milestone reached, as you will realize that you are one step closer to your goal. When you are looking at the big picture in its entirety, it can seem overwhelming and intimidating, which can promote procrastination. Breaking it down into bite-sized pieces and concentrating on each one individually makes it seem more doable.

5. What do you want the people who follow you to come away knowing? Feeling?

It is not only important to me to live my very best life, but it’s also important to be able to share what I have learned so others can live theirs and tackle their bucket list—one checkmark at a time. I hope in some way they will be inspired to create their dream life, by picturing their ideal future and then taking the steps necessary to go out there and get it.

6. Where is your happy place, and why?

I am happiest whenever I am having a new experience, so technically my happy place can be almost anywhere in the world. With that said, I find such a sense of peace being out amongst nature. So, if I had to pick a place it’d be on the tippy top of a mountain at sunset.

For more from Annette, visit https://bucketlistjourney.net

Twitter: @bucketlistjrny

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BucketListJourney

Instagram: @bucketlistjourney

Marc Cappelletti 6/18/18 Marc Cappelletti 6/18/18

Jill Cruse - VP of Guest Experience for Olivia Travel, OWN Ambassador

As VP of Guest Experience for Olivia Travel for 29 years, Jill Cruse has helped thousands of women become inspired by the world around them. She is an avid photographer (took home a first-place win in a national competition for InterContinental Hotels/National Geographic!) She also serves as an OWN Ambassador, promoting the Oprah network via social media and has appeared as a special guest on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday.

As VP of Guest Experience for Olivia Travel for 29 years, Jill Cruse has helped thousands of women become inspired by the world around them. She serves as an OWN Ambassador, promoting the Oprah network via social media and has appeared as a special guest on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday. Jill is also an avid photographer (took home a first-place win in a national competition for InterContinental Hotels/National Geographic!).

I knew Jill for years through email and coordinated voyages for her groups. But I was so taken by her spirit and passion after meeting her in person that I had to reach out and invite her to the Explorers' Corner.

1. Starting big: You've traveled the world and have overseen guest experience for Olivia Travel for 29 years. That takes an incredible amount of energy and passion. What drives you?

Gratitude! Every morning I say "Thank you" for getting to do something I love. I am incredibly grateful for this work I get to do. I know that we change the world a little bit at a time when we do these trips. Whether it’s changing the life of our guest to have an experience they might not have had or to change the perception of our group with the staff and crew we work with, or with the people we meet in the countries we visit. The icing on the cake is that I get to travel the world. I take a lot of pride in serving our guests and making sure their experience and expectations are met.

2. What would you consider your biggest accomplishment? Biggest failure? From both experiences, what did you learn?

Honestly, I never really have thought about this, and I struggled with an answer! My entire life I view as an accomplishment because I have lived it with passion. From that, my photography has become pretty good. I've won a few awards, and I've used my photos in our marketing materials and shared my photos on FB so that others who cannot travel can vicariously travel with me. I can name drop and tell you I know Oprah, met with her 5 times and was on a Super Soul Sunday episode with her and don Miguel Ruiz, which was a great accomplishment and I hope inspired others. But really, I feel that anything that had to do with helping a young girl or even a guest feel better about who she is I think is a great accomplishment – Having been a camp counselor and camp director, coach and now my present job of VP-Guest Experience accomplishes this every day.

“I don’t think we really have failures. We make mistakes, or stay at a job (or in relationships) too long that do not make us happy. We lose people we love and get our hearts broken. We move to a new place, and have no friends or support system. We can find ourselves alone and afraid. Did I do the right thing? But as I look back on my life, I am grateful for all of it, because it lead me to my passion and made me who I am today. They were all learnings and completely meant to be. ”

One example was that I was fired once from a private school teaching job. They wanted me to teach something that I was not trained to teach, and they basically gave me a babysitting job after school for K-12. I was fired, but I quickly learned to be grateful it happened as I decided I would never do a job that I didn’t enjoy or feel good about. I never really worried about failures as it does not define who I am. I moved to San Francisco and changed jobs for a relationship that ended two weeks after I made the move. I mean, c'mon! Really? But had I not moved here, I would not have had the job I presently have. I'm completely grateful for that! If that's a failure, then bring them on!

3. What advice do you have for young people interested in the travel industry? What common career advice should they ignore?

I didn’t start out thinking I would work for the travel industry and have this dream job for the last 29 years, so unfortunately, I can’t come from a place of “You should take this class, or work at this place”. I would say make sure your intentions are pure. Is it something that feeds your soul, makes you happy and serves others? Or is it just because you want to travel? I have seen some great Travel Agents who really serve their clients well, and get the perk of travel, and I have seen others in it just so they can get free travel. Be pure with your intentions.

“Dream big. Don’t worry about where the money will come from, how it will happen or when. Then WRITE IT DOWN. ”

My experience is a spiritual one, and I am presently writing a book about this journey. When I was 22, I wrote down in a journal that I wanted to travel the world, experience different cultures, do something to empower women and use my photography in my work. I had no idea what that would look like or how I would get there. At the end I wrote “and how cool would it be to work for an all-women’s company like Olivia, which at the time was an Women’s Record Company (Independent label) and later became a travel company. This is where I presently workt. At the time I was a camp counselor and was about to start teaching High School Physical Education and coaching. So I am not even doing what I went to school for – most people I know are not. I truly believe I set that intention in motion when I wrote it down, with the Universe or God, whatever you believe, on that day. From there I lived my life doing my best at whatever I was doing, and moving on when it was not feeding my soul.

In short, my advice is to think about what in life you really want. Dream big. Don’t worry about where the money will come from, how it will happen or when. Then WRITE IT DOWN. Your job is then to do whatever you are presently doing with love and passion, work hard at it, do your best, pursue what makes you happy and when it doesn’t, make an exit plan. Don’t settle, whether it's work or a relationship. Good things always happen and work out when we take big risks. That is, giving up something that may feel secure (home, job, health insurance, financial reasons). Go for what will make you happy and nurture your spirit. Figure out what you have to do for the money part, even if it's just scraping by and taking a part time minimum wage job. I quit a good paying, Community Services Supervisor recreation job at the age of 31. I liked it, but I could not see myself being there forever. I was no longer passionate about it. I looked at the parts I liked about it, like the creative side of making flyers, and decided to pursue computer graphic design. I took out all of my 401K to go back to school to learn computer graphics, and had enough to live on for 6 months. It may not have been the smartest thing to do, but I loved this new chapter in my life and the possibilities. This risk lead me to a freelance graphic design job at the company I now work for. Having the right last name to be a Cruise Director actually worked out. The point is, all my experiences and the risks I took lead me here. That's another story and chapter in my book! Trust that the money will come, but we have to sometimes make those sacrifices and just trust it will all work out in the end. Because this I know for sure. It always does.

4. Kodak Scenario: you're given the last roll of Kodachrome and can go anywhere to use it. Where do you go and what do you shoot?

Great Question! I love nature photography, and I have two dreams, so I'll take 1/2 a roll in each place :-). I've been to Antarctica 4 times, but never made it to South Georgia. So my dream is to make it to South Georgia and photograph the King Penguins and Tonga and swim with and photograph the Humpback whales.

5. What can you not travel without?

Besides my camera, good coffee!

Follow Jill on Instagram

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