Today we’d like to introduce you to Krystal Eicher.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My name is Krystal, the Girlfriend Getaway Guru. I’m a foodie, yogi (that should do more yoga), coffee addict, and travel junkie. I am a mother of daughters and mil spouse.
Born and raised in Kansas, I was a small-town girl with big dreams beyond the sunflower state. It was there that I met my husband – an Army ROTC cadet. In a spur of the moment decision, we eloped and a few months later moved to Mannheim, Germany. Three months later, he deployed for a year to Iraq. Stuck in Europe, totally alone in a foreign country, what was a girl to do? I traveled. I signed up for every spouse club trip, and USO tour. I bought Rick Steves Guidebooks and just went for it. A new passion was born. Traveling with other military spouses is what helped me keep my head above water. I became braver and stepped out more on my own.
We lived in Germany for six years non-consecutively. Through that experience, my family and I were able to travel to 14 different countries.
Seven years ago my oldest daughter was born with special needs. At five days old we were told she would never walk, talk and have severe mental deficiencies. Going back to work in a traditional full-time setting was not an option for me and I transitioned into her full-time caretaker. For several years I was a stay at home mom, shuffling from therapy appointment to therapy appointment. Soon after she started Kindergarten (walking and talking I might add but with minor developmental delays), I was ready to go back to work, but still needed the flexibility to take her to doctors appointments. After planning countless adventures for ourselves and family and friends, I realized my true calling – travel advisor. Being able to use my own experience traveling and my intuition to help people really see what they want to see has brought me so much joy over the years. Now I help other military spouses do the same – start a rewarding career from home that not only gives them the flexibility to be their own boss, but also pays the bills.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not at all!
Starting business is hard. Don’t let anyone tell you any differently. But it’s important to remember that it’s not hard because you are doing it wrong. It’s hard because you are trying to do something hard! But we can do hard things!
It’s hard to learn all the things you need to know – digital marketing, business systems and operations – there’s planning a trip and there’s knowing how to make money doing it.
Now throw a pandemic in the middle of it. This year I have lost most all of my income for the year. Similarly, I was juggling the same thing that so many women are juggling right now – homeschooling, small kids at home, all while trying to keep a business afloat.
I am grounded in my mission and I know that travel will return. But I do anticipate 2020 to be a bit of a travel bust for many. And I’m starting to be ok with that.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Serendipitous Traveler – what should we know?
I love helping women reconnect to themselves and each other through the joys of travel and girlfriend getaways. You work so hard taking care of everyone else, let me take care of you by helping plan custom and unique travel experiences. Nothing brings me more pleasure than exceeding your expectations and helping you find the serendipitous moments in your journeys.
I believe in the serendipity of travel. I believe there is joy in the unexpected. I believe that travel makes us better people, expands our horizons brings us together, builds relationships, challenges our thinking, centers our world, makes us brave, and brings to mind what’s important. Mostly, I love to help people discover these things for themselves.
As a marketing strategist with Kinship Vacations, I love working with other military spouses and aspiring agents to create a fulfilling career. So often, military spouses put their own careers on the back burner to follow their soldier. I myself moved seven times in 11 years. Creating portable career can be so personally rewarding for so many. Now more than ever, it’s so important to understand the digital marketing landscape. The one on one marketing and business coaching we provide is changing lives. We are thrilled to see how people take off when we aren’t under the thumb of a pandemic.
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
There are a few things that come to mind. First, women are chiefly responsible for 80% of the household and children load in their families. The pandemic and quarantined brought that issue front and center. Because my husband was the chief breadwinner, most of the shift and responsibility of homeschooling, lunches, caring for the kids on the daily fell on me. And I actually think my husband is more involved than most.
Second, women often fail to recognize their own brilliance. And when they do they are way too humble. When I work with coaching clients, we work to tease this out of women. Why? Because if you can identify your brilliance you and use it in your marketing message, you can rise above the noise.
Third, women put everyone’s needs ahead of their own. It’s why my travel niche is focused on girlfriend getaways. So many women will spend money on family vacations, summer camp for kids, entertainment and activities for their family, but not on themselves. And ladies, we NEED it. So that’s my mission.
Pricing:
- Free 15 minute initial Trip Consultations over the phone
- $100 Domestic Travel Planning Concierge Service fee
- $250+ International Travel Planning Concierge Service fee
Contact Info:
- Website: www.serendipitoustraveler.com
- Email: krystal@kinshipvacations.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/serendipitous.traveler
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/serendipitoustraveler
- Other: www.kinshipvacations.com
Image Credit:
Kristina in Miami for Flytographer
Patricia Nichols
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