Comment: Doing something differently at work can be scary but is key to success

One of the areas we help our homeworkers with here at Designer Travel is encouraging them to step out of their comfort zone and try new things to improve their businesses or their lives.

It is so easy for us all to cruise along and always do what we have always done, but this approach will only get you what you’ve always had.

Staying still really isn’t an option in today’s fast?changing world. We have to be nimble, flexible and ready for change.

Trying new things can bring so many rewards, despite being a scary thought for some at first. But once you become used to making the leap, you may well become addicted as you reap the benefits and see your confidence grow.

At our company’s Christmas meetings – where we get to see and spend time with our home-based professional travel experts – we gave all of our agents five mini turtles and set them a challenge: to move the turtles from one side of their desk to the other every few weeks. There was one rule: to move a turtle, you had to do something different.

It did not need to be a big change, but it had to be something new. It could be creating a video, posting an offer, writing a LinkedIn post, visiting a coffee shop, collaborating with a local business, arranging a local event, joining a local group, making sales calls . . . the list really is just about endless.

Even within a short space of time, the results we have seen have been brilliant. So many of our professional travel experts have embraced the challenge and have created many extra opportunities for their businesses.

One of our experts arranged a local event, invited a few suppliers and provided food, a face painter and a singer. The event cost her £800 and within a week she had booked three holidays, had a number of other enquiries from new clients and came away with email addresses she can market to in the future.

Another of our experts has been giving video updates on her social media channels to bring her business and her home to life. She has had several local people recognise her and tell her how much they have enjoyed her updates, which underlines the power of authentic messages and highlights the importance of the personal touch. It also shows that well-crafted and thoughtful social media posts remain key drivers when it comes to client engagement and building relationships.

Another expert has created a wellness-themed brochure and information pack which clients and potential customers can request for free. I am confident that this side of her business will flourish, given the agent’s knowledge and skillset and growing consumer demand for health-conscious activities.

One agent has collaborated with a local wedding dress shop and offered a ‘commission back’ scheme if the staff recommend anyone to book their honeymoon.

I could go on and share further inspiring examples, but the moral of the story is simple: be brave, have confidence in yourself and don’t be afraid to try new things. They won’t all work, but some will really surprise you and pay dividends.

You can use anything to move across your desk to remind yourself to think outside the box and push yourself out of your comfort zone to try new things.

As professional travel agents, we have so much to offer our clients – including experience, knowledge and time – and we really do know where to look to find those hidden gems or amazing advice that maybe even AI can’t find.

Value your skills and don’t be afraid to show them off whenever and wherever you can.