Meet Eric Camela-Howard

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eric Camela-Howard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Eric, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I firmly believe in the truth behind the saying: “You don’t find your dream. Your dream finds you.” This concept has proven itself in my own life countless times. From a young age, I have been captivated by an unyielding curiosity to explore the world around me. Perhaps this curiosity stemmed from my early years in rural Kansas, where I had plenty of time to dream of what else was out there. Regardless of the reason, the idea of embarking on adventures and discovering distant places has been ingrained in my very being for as long as I can remember.

As an introvert, I spend a lot of time in thought and introspection. At times in my development, I’ve disliked this personal quality as it made me feel “different.” Now that I have matured, I have embraced the qualities that make me unique, including my introversion. Although the introspection that comes with being an introvert may feel burdensome at times, it has played a crucial role in shaping the person I am today. It has allowed me to dream of far-flung adventures in locations nearly 10,000 miles away and has empowered me to transform those dreams into reality.

Furthermore, this introspection has also given birth to my passion project, www.AmazingSoutheastAsia.com. Through my extensive travels around the world, I have discovered that my purpose is deeply rooted in staying curious, learning about diverse cultures, observing different ways of life, and exploring the varied landscapes and vibrant cities our world offers. This is what truly fulfills me. My motivation extends far beyond material wealth; the opportunity to explore the world makes me feel like the wealthiest person alive. Now, I’m turning this passion into something even more special through the skills I’ve developed while living purposefully.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Travel has always been my passion, and over the last decade, I’ve been fortunate to explore various continents through work and personal adventures. However, it was my transformative year-long backpacking journey through Southeast Asia in 2018-2019 that truly changed my life. After saving for a year, selling all my possessions, and booking a one-way ticket to Bangkok, I embarked on an unforgettable adventure.

During this incredible year, I traversed Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Singapore, using various modes of transportation, including boats, buses, trains, tuk-tuks, and even motorbikes. These adventures have become cherished memories. From watching the sunrise over the breathtaking architectural marvel Angkor Wat to exploring the ancient temples of Bagan, “The Land of a Thousand Pagodas”, Southeast Asia left an indelible mark on my soul.

After returning home before the 2020 pandemic, there wasn’t a day that went by where Southeast Asia wasn’t on my mind. I eagerly revisited Southeast Asia at the end of 2022, retracing my steps in Bangkok and Northern Thailand while adding a new adventure in the Philippines. Inspired by my experiences during both trips, I launched www.AmazingSoutheastAsia.com, a travel guide, blog, and platform to share my photography. This passion project has become a second full-time job, yet it feels like anything but work. The website and its social media channels, notably the Amazing Southeast Asia Facebook page with nearly 160,000 followers and an Instagram account exceeding 16,000 followers, have experienced remarkable growth in a short period. I’ve also added accounts on Twitter, Threads, and TikTok, which continue to grow, and a Facebook group where members can share stories, ask questions, and share photography from their Southeast Asian adventures.

Social media has been vital in marketing www.AmazingSoutheastAsia.com as it continues to grow. In December, I was thrilled that my website had the highest traffic since its inception. I was even more excited to see that January tripled that traffic, and February is also off to a great start as well. As tourism in Southeast Asia recovers in the region post-pandemic, all indications are that this passion project will continue to grow exponentially.

I also want to mention NoSweat, the company I work for as an operations manager. We manufacture innovative solutions to protect apparel from sweat. Our primary product is our patented disposable hat, helmet, and visor sweat liners that protect headwear while keeping the wearer’s face free from sweat. This Minnesota-based company continues to grow, and we continue to add products to our popular brand. You can find our products on www.NoSweatco.com and Amazon.com. NoSweat has played an essential role in my professional journey, and I look forward to our continued success alongside the success of my website.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
One quality essential for achieving significant accomplishments is resilience. I credit the areas that I’ve succeeded in with this quality. My resilience has empowered me to persist in the face of setbacks and challenges that have sometimes seemed insurmountable. My resilience has been challenged in the last few years on various fronts, but I’ve become a stronger person through overcoming those challenges.

Maintaining a sense of optimism about the future has also been vital to my journey. Believing that the future holds promise has given me the confidence to pursue my interests and resist settling when faced with easy alternatives. While I may not make progress every single year, my commitment to stepping forward and improving my situation has gradually brought me closer to building a meaningful and fulfilling life.

As I have mentioned, as an introvert, I value and embrace time spent alone to pursue meaningful goals and develop my interests. This inclination toward solitude has granted me a sense of freedom, leading to numerous positive experiences in my life. Despite questions about potential loneliness while traveling solo, I find joy and freedom. That same sense of freedom gave me the confidence to create www.AmazingSoutheastAsia.com.

For those embarking on their journey, my advice is not to fear pursuing what you deem important. While it may sometimes feel selfish, living the life you desire grants permission to those around you to do the same.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
With Amazing Southeast Asia and www.AmazingSoutheastAsia.com, I’m actively seeking collaborations to propel the project to new heights. I’ve initiated conversations with potential partners, and others have also reached out to me. The year 2024 holds significant promise for growth, and I am eager to forge partnerships that will contribute to this expansion.

I am particularly interested in collaborating with tour companies, video content creators, SEO experts, and social media influencers. While I’ve dedicated considerable time to growing my social media presence, engaging with users, and curating content, the process is time-intensive. Creating partnerships will free up more of my time, allowing me to focus on developing new ideas, including transforming Amazing Southeast Asia into a tour company.

I’m taking steps in this direction as I’ve integrated 3rd-party tours into my website through an affiliate program with Aviator.com. This partnership enables me to earn a percentage of each sale for experiences booked by travelers exploring Southeast Asian countries. This is one of the first exciting steps as I begin to monetize Amazing Southeast Asia and continue to develop my dream. I’m excited about what the future holds for Amazing Southeast Asia.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
I am the owner of all these photos.

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