Greetings Adventurers!
I’ve been thinking about a topic like this for a while and with all of the changes in the economy and the world for that matter, it’s important to remember that one of the things we can personally do is have forward thinking and not be short sighted by the current events, especially from this past week. No doubt that it’s serious and that the effect will be long lasting, I get that, however it doesn’t mean that we give up and stay consumed by the constant media coverage. Like many of you I have been watching more news than usual and have succumbed to the gloom and darkness of it at moments, however I made a conscious effort to stop and get back to focus. I am choosing the view from 30,000 feet and remembering words like
Perseverance, Faith, Focus and Mindfulness.
So, to get back to the topic at hand:
Below is a list of 5 Attributes of an Expert and as you’ll see I’ve included some notes on how they pertain to my line of work as a travel, spa & wellness writer and spa vacation expert, however they can be translated to any industry and although there are more, let’s start with these:
1. Stress Manager
If I’m working on a spa vacation, this means planning and handling everything for my client. From guiding them through the process of gathering information and the best rates and promotions, however it also means making sure that it’s the right fit for their needs and goals, thus eliminating the stress of seeking information from various resources and eliminating the confusion from reviewing all of it.
2. Caring, Personal and Thoughtful
This is one of the best responses I’ve ever received from a client, she said “You sound like I want to feel when I get through this week. You sound very confident, positive.” Wow – I had no idea that I conveyed that and what a fulfulling thing to hear. So with #2 I really mean this – are you communicating that you care? Are you identifying with your client and really hearing their personal needs and wants?
3. Passionate
Do you love what you do? Spa is my life….I live it, I breathe it and I am spa! I know, that might sound a little over the top, however when we are passionate about something it comes through us and we attract like minded people and people that will benefit from our knowledge. We all know this, yet do we convey this in our lives? My expertise is lifted because of my passion. Spa is a lifestyle for me as it connects my personal and professional life.
4. Confident
Being an expert means having a confidence in what you are doing. Connecting with someone and really listening to what they’re saying helps in making the suggestion that is right for them. There is a level of trust because they can hear it in your voice. Their confidence in you will lead to referrals and as we know, word of mouth is the best form of advertising. With that said, we have to have a confidence in ourselves as well so if you have a day where you’re a little off your game, take a look at those testimonials and thank you notes from existing clients and notice the immediate boost!
5. Time is of the Essence
We are all busy, and seeking an expert saves time. When someone calls I can answer all kinds of questions based on my knowledge. I know the promotions going on at most of the spas, I know the nuances of each, I know what they offer, and more. There is value in knowledge and value in saving my clients the time and effort and yes, even #1 above…stress….over finding the right spa for their needs. In a lot of cases the rate may be the same whether they call the spa or call me, however isn’t it better to know that you have someone who is unbiased and knowledgeable in the field and someone that will listen and be their ‘counselor’ to be sure it is the right fit?
That’s one of the greatest benefits of seeking an expert – being that ‘go to’ person. Being the person that cares and has your best interest in mind. There are times that monetary savings are greater because of the knowledge of an expert.
There are many benefits in seeking an expert and I’ve only touched on a few here. If you have any comments, please send them to me and I’ll include them in a future update.
I am grateful to be in an industry that helps people change their lives for the better……I work with people looking for spas to help them with weight loss, jumpstart fitness, stress reduction, smoking cessation, disease prevention and control, finding joy and other healthy living goals.
My vision and purpose is to promote healthy living through spa vacations and assist clients with planning so that they can take that first step that could ultimately change their life for the better.
