Meet Andrea Valeria of it’s a Travel O.D.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Valeria.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Right out of college (Mass Communications degree), I landed the job I thought I had always wanted – TV News Reporter. I was a one-woman band “team” which meant I wrote & shot my own stories, edited them, and was in front of the camera. While this was the best training for effective storytelling with a fast turnaround time & on-camera practice, I was covering a lot of crime which wasn’t the most inspiring. I eventually left that job to pursue something that I actually loved. In order to gain some direction, I enrolled in college again to get a Master’s degree in Entertainment Business. While being a student, I needed a creative outlet, which is when I made the decision that changed the course of my career… I started vlogging. My first channel allowed me to gain practice in this new field, and within six months I was nominated for Shorty Award in the Best Video Blogger category. At that point (even though I didn’t win), I knew I had a long way to go in the field of vlogging. After landing my first paid project, I was certain I was doing what I love.

A few months later, I got the opportunity to have a great position in Hospitality and Photography and in a dream destination… Hawaii. I packed up and moved to Hawaii. Lived there for two years, and experienced a lot of professional growth learning about business operations, tourism & hospitality, & photography. However, having a corporate job wasn’t what I aspired to do, so I started thinking what project I could start on the side that would allow me to do something different. I took a look at my education, experience, and skills to create my travel-related platform of information for people who wanted to travel full-time and work remotely. Just like that, it’s a Travel O.D. was born – initially as a “side hustle.” With this platform, I aspired to offer valuable information about the “digital nomad” lifestyle for those who wanted to embark on a similar journey.

When I realized that my corporate job could be done remotely, I convinced my bosses to allow me to travel and work remotely. I wanted to keep my well-paying position to fund my travels and help me grow my business. It was a more sustainable idea than just “leaving my 9-5 to travel the world.” After doing this job remotely for some time (full-time), I eventually switched to part-time – when I had enough clients and projects with my own travel project. Whenever someone asks me about how to change from 9-5 to a location independent lifestyle, this type of slow transition is what I always recommend. During these 3+ years, I have created a lot of tools & resources to educate (always with a touch of entertainment and humor) those about being a full-time traveler and working remotely. My main source of income being my vlogs for travel brands/companies. I also have sources of passive income like a book on Amazon “So You Want to Vlog?” (https://amzn.to/2MzqEkZ) and video courses. Nowadays, I travel the world, continue to work remotely and vlog – and share all my secrets so others can do the same.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Going from 9-5 with a steady income and “regular schedule” to being self-employed and balancing travel with work, has required a lot of discipline. Finding that work-life balance has been key in producing all the content I want to produce, helping my clients around the world — and still having time to explore, sightsee and immerse myself in the culture of every country I move to. Of course, having a work setup in which you need to find your own clients and opportunities (instead of relying on a paycheck) is quite an adjustment any freelancer/business owner has to deal with. Building passive income channels has helped to have a cushion.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about it’s a Travel O.D. – what should we know?
We offer resources/tools, support & content for people who want to start working remotely – whether it is finding a remote job or providing ideas for them sell their services and products online. We offer courses, books, tools and personalized strategy/brainstorming video calls for support feedback and accountability as it pertains to working remotely or while traveling. I also work with travel brands to create organic, shareable content for their internal use, social media or for promotion. As a personal brand/face behind the platform, I am known for being open about my journey and offer realistic tips and ideas that would get you from point A to point B — instead of just showing the finished product which is what a lot of other platforms/content creators in my field do.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Continue working with travel brands that align with my message. As a full-time traveler with the flexibility to move anywhere, big changes are almost part of the routine. Who knows where I could move to next. In terms of resources, my new Remote Job Directory has been taking off. I share remote job opportunities (for free to the audience!) for those who want to work from home or work while traveling, so I’ve been focusing on finding more quality jobs to share with my audience. With these opportunities, I want to people realize that working remotely is doable for everyone!