We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jacqlyne Mba-Jonas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jacqlyne, 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 found my purpose in helping people experience the world. I love traveling and I want to share that love with others. I believe that travel can be a powerful way to learn about different cultures, meet new people, and expand your horizons. I am passionate about helping people create memories that will last a lifetime.
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 own an Independent Travel Agency called Journeys by Jacqy. As a travel agent, my role is to simplify the trip planning process for clients (individuals, groups, corporations), arrange travel on their behalf, and ensure they experience the best trip possible. I assist with anything travel-related, like flights, cruises, rental cars, hotels, resorts, vacation homes, excursions, events (sports, concerts, theater), vacation packages, etc.
So rather than spend a couple of weeks researching your needs for a trip, you can come me, tell me where you want to go, how many people, what your budget is and I do the work for you while you go about your life. Within a short timeframe, you’ll receive a detailed trip proposal from me with options for everything you need for your trip. I assist with reserving your selections and all you have to do is pack your bags and go! In summary, I save clients time and money.
To top it all off, I do not charge for my services. My clients pay me absolutely nothing. Instead, I earn a commission from travel suppliers for a booking. Not only do my clients get a free, convenient service, they also have the potential of paying less than whatever they would find on their own online. By working with an industry insider, they get access to special industry rates as well! My clients also have the opportunity to pay off a vacation over time, no interest or credit checks involved! Working with an independent travel agent has a lot of great benefits.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey are:
Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks and challenges. This is essential for anyone who wants to succeed in life. There will be times when things don’t go your way, but if you have resilience, you will be able to overcome these challenges and keep moving forward.
The best way to develop resilience is to face challenges head-on. When you encounter a setback, don’t give up. Instead, learn from it and use it as an opportunity to grow.
Adaptability: The ability to change and adapt to new situations. The world is constantly changing, and if you want to stay ahead of the curve, you need to be able to adapt to change. This means being willing to learn new things and being open to new ideas.
The best way to develop adaptability is to be open to new experiences. Try new things and be willing to step outside of your comfort zone. The more you experience, the more adaptable you will become.
Communication: The ability to clearly and effectively communicate your ideas to others. This is an essential skill for any career, but it is especially important for travel agents. You will need to be able to communicate with clients, suppliers, and other travel professionals in order to plan and execute successful trips.
The best way to improve your communication skills is to practice. Talk to people, write, and give presentations. The more you communicate, the better you will become at it.
How would you describe your ideal client?
My ideal client is someone who is organized, pays attention to details and have a good idea of what they want out of their trip. Someone who is communicative, easy to work with and willing to give feedback so I can improve on my services.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.journeysbyjacqy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeysbyjacqy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeysbyjacqy
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/journeys-by-jacqy-houston
