How to Package your Expertise and Get Paid to Share It (with Ralph Velasco)

Ralph Velasco has been a full-time travel photographer and international tour organizer for 16+ years, having created and led over 120 highly-rated international tours in well over 30 countries on 7 continents (plus over 100 domestic tours in the U.S.) He's spoken all over the world and in the U.S. at the Travel & Adventure Shows and the New York Times Travel Show, as well as travel blogger conferences (in Spain, Sweden, Israel, and Ireland) and the IOETI digital marketing conference in Cairo, Egypt (see more at https://continentaldrifter.co/speaking/) When not traveling, Ralph is based in Chicago. However, he's been location-independent for 11+ years and traditionally spends anywhere from 8 - 9 months on the road internationally scouting and leading his tours. Tom and Ralph dive into the importance of mindful travel and putting the experience above everything else, offering valuable insights for aspiring travel entrepreneurs and travelers alike. DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE ~02:15 Ralph's Journey from Restaurant Owner to Travel Photographer ~03:27 The Dawn of Digital Photography and New Beginnings ~05:10 Building a Photography Business in California ~06:48 From Hobby to Full-Time Travel Photography ~09:09 Teaching Photography and Organizing Tours ~10:42 Evolving the Travel Business ~17:24 Crafting Unique Travel Experiences ~20:18 Using Content to Attract Clients ~20:49 Building a Personal Brand for Travel Tours ~22:53 The Importance of Personal Connection in Business ~24:31 Creating a Community Before the Trip ~25:11 Introducing the Tour Organizer Training Course ~26:50 Target Audiences and Learning More ~30:02 The Mindful and Intentional Traveler Series ~36:30 Final Thoughts and Travel Philosophy FULL EPISODE VIDEO https://vimeo.com/1085885201 CONNECT WITH RALPH Website: https://continentaldrifter.co Books: The Cultural Etiquette Handbook (FREE): https://tinyurl.com/etiquetteebook How to Be a Mindful Traveler Using Your 5+ Senses (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DFM2P87D) Travel Activity Book for Adults: GRATITUDES Edition (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0D3MKB1TP) 60 AFFIRMATIONS for Travel (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQPLBM6T)