What work had been you doing beforehand?
I used to be the Vice President of Gross sales for Weatherbeeta Ltd, one of many main world equestrian wholesale companies.
I used to be accountable for delivering the gross sales throughout Europe and North America.
What are you doing now?
I’m now working my very own enterprise, Bea Adventurous Ltd, a journey weblog and small group tour firm.
The weblog goals to encourage others to journey extra authentically, exploring locations past the highlights and interesting with locals alongside the best way.
In addition to writing about locations I additionally host small group excursions that allow off the overwhelmed path journey, deep cultural immersions and entry to work with charities and organisations in any other case not accessible to the general public.
Why did you alter?
I used to be feeling unfilled at work.
I’d put all my efforts into climbing a ladder that I realised too late was pitched in opposition to the incorrect wall. By my in depth travels, particularly to growing nations, I additionally modified as a person discovering my true self alongside the best way which led to a misalignment with the values of the enterprise.
This shift made it a lot more durable for me to deal with the stress and ever-mounting workload at work, which in flip made me more and more extra sad.
When was the second you determined to make the change?
I’d been contemplating the change for the reason that first yr of the pandemic.
The next yr I mentioned my aspirations with my boss who was supportive and allowed me to make some modifications to my working hours to allow me to comply with my dream.
Sadly these modifications didn’t work for both the corporate or me, so my plans had been placed on maintain once more till this yr, once I determined to drag the plug and focus solely on my enterprise.
How did you select your new profession?
It got here naturally.
I’ve at all times loved sharing my travel-stories which at first would occur by means of emails and social media. However an increasing number of individuals more and more steered I begin a weblog, and so I did.
As my travels began taking me to extra distant nations, an increasing number of of my followers began expressing an curiosity in travelling with me which is how my first ever small group tour happened. Each features have grown organically from there.
Are you proud of the change?
It’s the finest choice I’ve made.
What do you miss and what do not you miss?
I miss the problem that comes with account administration.
I at all times thrived on pondering exterior the field and serving to our prospects enhance their gross sales and enhance their enterprise.
It’s due to this that I work as a advisor with various small unbiased journey companies and guides to supply them with the assist they should attain their potential.
I predominantly concentrate on customer support and gross sales coaching in addition to serving to them enhance their admin processes. I get a large amount of pleasure from serving to others.
How did you go about making the shift?
It’s been a gradual course of.
It began with a imaginative and prescient of what I wished, I simply wasn’t very clear on learn how to get there. I wanted the excessive paying job to maintain my life-style (a non-negotiable in my marriage) and subsequently I felt trapped.
I spoke to my firm about my ambitions and so they had been very supportive. We tried various completely different work preparations to present me the time to construct my enterprise however fact be advised, none of them labored.
The workload and expectations of my company job didn’t change, so in actuality all that occurred is that I ended up growing my stress.
I used my spare time to realize all the required information and did what I may to construct my weblog. I even ran a few excursions alongside my job, nevertheless it was clear to me that I couldn’t do each.
After a lot consideration I not solely determined to vary careers however I additionally ended my marriage, offered all my belongings and got down to obtain the approach to life that I wished.
How did you develop (or switch) the talents you wanted on your new position?
Most of the expertise are transferable and have been invaluable.
My gross sales background and negotiating expertise have positively made pitching collaborations considerably simpler as I’ve at all times approached it with the identical mentality as an account supervisor would a buyer: how can I add worth and enhance this enterprise.
As a gross sales supervisor I’ve additionally perfected the artwork of managing teams, bringing individuals collectively, entertaining and storytelling, all of that are invaluable when main small group excursions.
Nevertheless, there have been different expertise that I didn’t possess which I needed to study, comparable to search engine marketing, online marketing, code, web site constructing, advertising and marketing, social media, video modifying, pictures.
Nevertheless, studying all of those gave me an edge inside my company job.
What didn’t go nicely? What incorrect turns did you are taking?
The most important mistake was not taking the plunge sooner.
I created an entire load of distress for myself whereas attempting to stay at my company job regardless of turning into more and more mis-aligned with it, and never making progress with my enterprise as a result of I didn’t have sufficient time.
How did you deal with your funds to make your shift potential?
My enterprise has been a low funding begin up, and all the things I earn I re-invest straight again into the enterprise.
What was probably the most tough factor about altering?
Giving up the safety of my company job and having the center to comply with an unconventional path.
What assist did you get? 
I spoke to plenty of people that had already made the change, who had been completely satisfied for me to bounce concepts off them.
I additionally labored with a few coaches. I discovered this extremely worthwhile and I’d positively suggest discovering an expert to assist you (and problem you) by means of the change.
What have you ever learnt within the course of?
Except for studying numerous new expertise, I’ve additionally realised that at occasions one door wants to shut earlier than others open, and you’ll want to have the self-belief you could make it work.
Doubting my very own skills made me keep longer than I ought to have in my company position, the place in the end I used to be turning into more and more sad. As quickly as I made the choice to vary and I put myself on the market, alternatives began to current themselves.
Operating your personal enterprise is difficult, and I’m hustling simply as a lot now as I did in my company work, most likely extra, however I’ve discovered a work-life stability that I haven’t had for years.
What do you want you’d completed otherwise?
My solely want is that I might have made the leap sooner.
What would you advise others to do in the identical scenario?
Residing an unfulfilled life is a depressing existence.
If in case you have a calling or a ardour you need to comply with, comply with it. However don’t leap blindly.
Write or draw out your imaginative and prescient and create a roadmap that may get you there. Put money into your personal growth to be sure you have the talents to make it occur. Speak to your family members to realize their assist.
Prioritise your funds so that you’ve got safety whenever you make the change.
However above all, don’t simply dream about it, be sure day by day you might be doing one thing that will get you a step nearer.
We caught up with Bea not too long ago to see how her shift was understanding, one yr on. This is what she’s been as much as, and the largest classes she’s discovered.
What’s modified for you in your profession since we first printed your story?
Lots, in the absolute best approach.
Bea Adventurous has grown from a easy weblog right into a multifaceted enterprise. I now run small group excursions in locations like Tanzania and the Basque Nation.
I work in partnership with Maasai-owned and conservation-led safari corporations, and collaborate with world journey manufacturers by means of writing, consulting, and affiliate partnerships.
My web site site visitors and viewers have grown considerably. I’ve expanded into teaching and mentoring native guides and journey enterprise house owners to assist them talk successfully with worldwide travellers.
Most significantly, I’ve constructed a enterprise that genuinely displays my values: moral journey, deep connection, and empowerment, each for travellers and for the native communities I work with.
How do you’re feeling about your work now?
I really feel like I’ve lastly discovered my rhythm.
Operating your personal enterprise isn’t “straightforward”, nevertheless it’s deeply fulfilling. Each undertaking, weblog put up, and tour seems like a mirrored image of who I’m and what I imagine in.
I get to mix creativity with technique, and journey with function.
I additionally love the flexibleness that comes with it. It doesn’t suggest there aren’t lengthy days, there completely are, however I get to decide on how I prioritise my time.
Typically meaning not working in any respect so I could be absolutely current with my new household.
Different days, it means leaning into my pure circulate, if I am feeling artistic, I write; if I am not, I change gears and do one thing else.
That sense of autonomy has been life-changing. There are nonetheless moments of uncertainty, however they’re full of which means.
I now not get up with that sinking feeling of dread, as a substitute, it is pleasure.
What challenges have you ever come up in opposition to since making your shift, and the way precisely have you ever handled them?
The most important problem has been juggling all the things.
As a solo entrepreneur, you put on each hat: author, marketer, accountant, customer support, internet designer… and typically therapist.
The educational curve has been steep, particularly balancing creativity with admin and enterprise growth.
Monetary unpredictability was one other main hurdle at first. I handled it by setting clear revenue targets, diversifying my income streams (advertisements, associates, consulting, excursions, model offers), and systemising my work to keep away from burnout.
How is the monetary aspect of issues panning out, and is that this what you’d anticipated?
It is exceeded my expectations.
Not essentially in uncooked numbers (but), however in sustainability and progress. The enterprise is now worthwhile and rising steadily.
I’ve constructed a number of revenue streams that give me flexibility: I earn from my web site by means of partnerships, writing and search engine marketing collaborations, affiliate gross sales, and excursions.
It took time to get right here, and the early months required self-discipline, however now I am at a degree the place my revenue feels steady, and extra importantly, it aligns with how I need to reside my life.
Freedom and adaptability have change into my new type of wealth.
What have you ever discovered, since making your shift?
That freedom is not present in leaving a job.
Freedom is in selecting your self each single day. I’ve discovered that alignment issues greater than achievement.
You could be “profitable” by conventional requirements and nonetheless really feel empty in case your work does not feed your soul.
I’ve additionally discovered that braveness compounds, the primary leap is terrifying, however each time you again your self, it will get simpler to belief that issues will work out.
Is there anything you’d prefer to share?
In the event you’re sitting on the fence about making a change, know that you simply needn’t have all of it discovered.
You simply want to start out: imperfectly, quietly, persistently. Take one small step towards the life you really need.
The readability, confidence, and alternatives come later, however solely after you start.
To seek out out extra about Bea’s enterprise, go to www.bea-adventurous.com
What classes may you are taking from Bea’s story to make use of in your personal profession change? Tell us within the feedback beneath.