We were lucky to catch up with Mary Alys Foutz recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mary Alys, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
“The 2022 Marvelous Mouse Travel Agent of the Year Award goes to… Mary Alys Foutz.” Those words had me in shock and disbelief as I walked on stage to accept my award. I was completely humbled that my colleagues had voted for me. Though I did not know it then, this esteemed honor would catapult me into the deepest form of imposter syndrome that I had ever experienced.
The distinguished award, which should have brought me so much pride, instead brought so many ugly thoughts in my head. They don’t know the real me… They wouldn’t have voted for me if they knew x,y,z… They only voted for me because they think I am something I am not. I literally could not handle thinking that others put me up on a pedestal that I felt I did not deserve. After a couple of months of struggling with these ideas, I actually put my award away in my closet. I did not want the constant reminder visible to me.
Thinking back to this time makes me quite sad for that woman– the woman who felt so inadequate that she had to hide her award. Thankfully that woman is gone, but it took a lot of time, a lot of work, and a lot of grace with myself.
It was so challenging to teach myself to ignore the negative self talk. It took months to get back on track. I was very intentional about surrounding myself with positive people, attending virtual sessions focused on overcoming imposter syndrome, and even speaking with a therapist. This may sound extreme, but I was in such a dark place that I knew I could not overcome the deception that my brain had conjured up on my own. Simply put I was not proud of myself, and I was equally disappointed in thinking so poorly about myself.
Part of my journey led me to try new things and get out of my comfort zone. I joined local women’s groups and forced myself to speak highly about my career and accomplishments. I met a lovely group of women through a Think Like a Woman event who, in just one day, truly inspired me to be proud of strengths and not hide behind a mask of unworthiness.
Through events, therapy, and my support system, I learned to overcome imposter syndrome. I now accept compliments without beating myself up, and think highly of my accomplishments without undermining them. Although I still have some negative thoughts pop back in from time to time, I am happy to say my confidence is back up and my award is too.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I never thought I would have a career that others only dream of! Traveling the world and helping others plan their adventures as a travel agent is such an honor.
As a child, I was very lucky to travel twice a year with my family. Even though my parents were educators and didn’t have a lot of extra money, they instilled a passion in me for experiencing new places.
I didn’t start off in a career in travel though. I actually spent 12 years in education, but during COVID I knew I wanted more for myself. I took a leap of faith, and quit teaching during the height of the pandemic (probably not the best idea looking back on it). I knew at some point the world would open back up, and with that travel would be booming.
Fast forward to today, and I am so happy that I made the decision to follow my dreams. I absolutely love helping others create memories that last a lifetime, just like my memories of traveling with my family as a child.
I have worked hard to set myself apart from other travel agents in my industry. Through social media, I have created my personal brand that establishes me as a relatable mother who gets that it’s just plain hard to parent, have a career, and also take time for yourself and your family. That’s where I come in! My job as a travel agent is to handle all of the logistics so busy moms don’t have to. My previous career in education taught me a lot of skills that are applicable to being an efficient travel agent- short and longterm planning, organization, and attention to detail.
I pride myself in selling the destinations that I am well-traveled in. I don’t want to send one of my travelers to a place that I cannot speak to the personal details. I want to be able to treat their vacation with the care and detail that I would give my very own. When those busy moms want to plan a magical family vacation, I am ready to help them with all of the insider tips and tricks for Disney Destinations. On the other hand when mom is so overwhelmed and is in desperate need of a relaxing getaway, I am there to plan an unforgettable all-inclusive trip to Sandals Resorts.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My career journey has been heavily influenced by my ambition. I innately always want to do more and be more. No matter what I am involved in, I am giving 150%. When I was a teacher, I always wanted my students to be the best they could be so I strove to lead by example. This is still true as a travel agent. I want to be the best in my specialty areas and continue to learn and grow to be even better.
Beyond being ambitious, I am also very detail-oriented and organized. This has proven itself to be extremely instrumental in allowing me to keep track of hundreds of people’s vacations. I keep color-coded calendars, running checklists, and set reminders to make sure that every detail of my travelers’ trips are taken care of with finesse. This methodical planning provides my clients with a stress-free travel experience.
My best advice for people who are just entering their own journey is a motto we used to say in education– steal from the best and learn from the rest. You are going to have people who inspire you no matter what career field you are in. Take the time to observe what they are doing that inspires you, and learn to implement that in what you are doing. Do not copy them exactly, make your own path, but they are doing something right so try to mimic it! And of course, there are also going to be people who are not the best examples in their field. Learn from their mistakes so you don’t have to make them yourself!
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I have a creative mind and am always looking for new people to collaborate with. It challenges me to think about others and their industries, and how we might be able to support one another’s businesses. I love to support other small business owners who are just as passionate about their career as I am mine. If you are a small business owner looking for innovative ways to grow your business, I would love to chat with you to see how our business may compliment each other. The best way to reach me is via email at maryalys@marvelousmousetravels.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://maryalysmmt.blog/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryalysmmt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryalysmmt
- Other: Pinterest- https://pin.it/3m2y2q9 Email- maryalys@marvelousmousetravels.com
Image Credits
All images are owned by myself.
