Meet Shane Mahoney

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shane Mahoney. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Shane with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

The short answer is my Mom and Dad.

Growing up, I felt like they never stopped, and after being an adult, I found out why—they needed to be able to put food on the table. I come from humble roots, and my family’s journey has had more downs than ups.

But their work ethic taught me so much, like how to stick to the challenge, engage more focus, and be there for family. But the story doesn’t end there.

Quite the contrary.

It took me a few years to discover that I was a workaholic, just like my parents. It started after college when I got my first job with Ford Motor Credit in Dallas, TX. I was so proud to be working for a great organization that I clocked many late hours, often so late that I would meet and eventually friend the cleaning staff. I was addicted to getting ahead and staying ahead.

After Ford, I moved into the dealership side of the business and went even deeper, often working 80-90-hour weeks. At the time, I was the definition of success. I had a house, boat, cars, a girlfriend, and money in the bank.

Or did I?

I started to question what life was all about. Upon reflection, I realized I wasn’t even happy and was wearing golden handcuffs. I needed to change, and I embarked on a years-long quest to find my purpose.

I was lucky that I found my calling as a luxury lifestyle specialist just five years later when I started Lugos Travel.

Over more than a decade, I’ve realized how to harness my work ethic. Rather than letting it go wild (which is easier when you love what you do), I’ve learned to work when I must and let go of the rest.

These days, it’s essential for me to spend time with my wife and son and work on balancing my life.

Through that journey, I’ve learned how to impart more relaxation into my own life and that of our clients. I’ve honed the skill of allowing our clients to let go and de-stress so that when they return from their vacations, they can dive back into their work ethic to great effect.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

The brand, Lugos Travel, embodies our ethos.

Back story: I’ve always been a bit of a nerd about mythology, and I’m also the son of an immigrant mother from France. So, when I named my company, I chose Lugos because he was the Gaulish (pre-France) god of all arts and protector of all travelers.

At the heart of it, I wanted to create a safe experience for travelers. It’s all about structuring every part of the travel experience, from booking to going, to be less stressful. This way, our clients can enjoy themselves that much more.

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?

The three most impactful qualities in my journey have been my tenacity, belief in myself, and ability to convince myself that everything will work out.

The last one is probably the hardest because in entrepreneurship, the going does get tough, and I’ve learned that having a positive mental outlook allows you to seek and find opportunities when it seems nothing is working.

Tenacity is all about staying the course. This one is also challenging because there are all sorts of squirrels to chase, and sometimes, it’s easy to get off track. Getting off track will burn time and resources, detracting from the primary mission. So, get and keep focus. It’s vital to push through.

As for believing in myself, you may find many reasons, and people will say you won’t make it. But this is your game; only you can tell when the job is done. Keep pushing and believe in your previous self.

What does that mean?

Always realize that you make the best decisions when you stay true to yourself and analyze all the variables. Later, though, you may question your choices and consider changing course. My advice is to trust the person who made the decision and use your present self to figure out how to make that decision work. Don’t get caught in the trap of constantly changing course. Too much time is wasted.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

My favorite business books are Gay Hendricks’s The Big Leap, Brent Adamson’s The Challenger Sale, and Oren Klauf’s How to Pitch Anything.

My favorite personal books are anything by Alan Watts, the Dalai Lama, Ray Dalio, and Ray Kurzweil, as well as various biographies, like Phil Knight’s Shoe Dog.

Although I took a lot from these books, the lesson is just to read. Commit to ten pages per day, and you’ll change your life.

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