Chasing Horizons

By Sherry Kennedy

What is it about the travel industry that enables it to seemingly metamorphose into its own life form? Or is it that we are so attracted to it that we become the life form and the industry is the byproduct? We’ve committed to actively develop our travel business, but do we really know where we want to go, both figuratively and literally?
Someone once said to me that I am always chasing the horizon. Always looking for more, for better, for different. Because of knowing the person who made that remark, I knew that the expression was meant in the figurative sense. However, I chose to take it literally.
I grew up in Chicago, within walking distance of Lake Michigan. No matter what the season, I managed to head down to the beach, which to East Coast visitors mimicked the Atlantic Ocean in its depth and appearance. One of the wonderful things about standing at the edge of a large body of water is that when you look at the horizon, it seems to beckon you to venture forth and see what lies in the distance. It has a superb sense of magic that to me is irresistible.
Chasing horizons. I just did that. And I’d like to share with you what I learned along the way.
Home Based, Home office, Home bound. Different concepts to different people. “Home Based”...that must be a description unique to travel agents. How about the Home Based realtor, or the Home Based accountant? Not a likely term.
Home office...nice, concise, with a professional ring to it.
Home bound? That was what I was beginning to feel. After nearly 12 years of being Home Based with a home office, I was feeling home bound. For three years I had driven past a quaint little office complex a stone’s throw from my front door. It kind of looked like a converted motel. In Florida, many office buildings, like the schools, have their front doors on the exterior without any interior hallways. You could drive into the parking lot and read everyone’s little blue name plaque next to the door. I would fantasize my business name on the plaque.
The management office phone number for this complex was posted out front and one sunny day, while driving by, I picked up my mobile phone and dialed it. Betty Jo said, no, there weren’t any vacancies, no leases not being renewed, but she would put me on the wait list.
Two years passed. My business had outgrown the little extra bedroom in my condo and office sprawl was running rampant throughout my home. It was time to make a move. I was ready. Then came the phone call from Betty Jo. A ground floor space was available, the rent was reasonable and what’s more, it was so conveniently located, I could walk there. The next day I signed my very first lease. The distant horizon had just zoomed in closer.
I spent the next two weeks, painting and decorating my 500 square feet. After spending an afternoon at a mega office supply store, interior decorator Christopher Lowell and I became fast friends after I ordered all the pieces of office furniture in his new Shore Collection. Three days later it was delivered and shortly after that the boxes were opened and the furniture was assembled. It looked very nice, quite New England nautical. Outside, next to my door, was the outline of the former plaque which has been removed prior to my occupancy. Soon I’d have my sign out in front for everyone to see. I was very proud. I knew what I wanted to achieve and where I wanted to go, as if it was inevitable — it was my personal Manifest Destiny.
Living so close to my new office was, well, all too convenient. Files were brought home each night, and in the morning I’d get online, do the E-mail catch up dance, glance at the files, walk the dog, have breakfast while deleting more unwanted E-mail, check my watch, and on and on. Usually it was close to 2 p.m. until I made it to the horizon’s edge. By then it was crunch time to return phone calls, prepare bank deposit slips — everything that should have been done in the morning was now getting done late in the afternoon.
Even the cable company for my Internet access was interfering with my simple plan. They charged triple for plain old cable access because it was in an office and not in a residence. My little company was creating its own life form. Instead of it being a part of my life, now it was my life. Or I was its life. The metamorphosis was in full swing and as it gained momentum, it became clear that it was spiraling out of control.
Financially, mentally and organizationally, it was a major drain on me. The creature needed nurturing nearly 24/7 and that seemed an unreasonable demand. A decision had to be made. A letter was written to Betty Jo, the building manager, to request termination for the six months remaining on my lease. And it was granted. With one caveat — I had four days to vacate the premises without being charged for another month.
That was yesterday. Today, with the help of a friend, a trunkload of 2005-2006 brochures was driven to the recycle station, boxes of office supplies, loose papers and cruise and tour displays were packed up and loaded into our cars. I have yet to find a mover to transport my Christopher Lowell white-washed desks, filing cabinets, credenza and hutch to my new home’s newly converted third bedroom. It will be sad when I surrender the key, but it is the fulfillment of my desire to chase yet another horizon that makes it all worthwhile.
How many of us have ever imagined that we might be the next mega agency? Starting like the garage bands of the 60’s or the basement computer wizards of the 70’s, wouldn’t it be cool to say, ‘I started it all as a Home Based travel agent? This was an expensive experiment, a tiring voyage and yet, a necessary venture. If you have ever thought about moving out while just about everyone else is moving in, take my advice and think twice. It’s an amazing paradigm shift to suddenly have “normal” office hours. If it is your dream to leave home and rent office space and all that it entails, then chase your own horizon and be prepared for a change of lifestyle. Turning the key in the door of your very own office space is a wonderful feeling. For me, turning IN my key to the office manager will be a wonderful feeling. For now. As I am packing up my office-based-office, I am already visualizing another horizon that needs to be chased. Maybe next time I’ll try an oceanfront high-rise office building — with an unobstructed view of the horizon from my window, and Vacation Shoppe embossed on the building directory.

Sherry Kennedy is the owner of the Vacation Shoppe, Inc., Home Based since its inception over 10 years ago. Sherry tries to stay on the cutting edge of office mobility technology, so that she can take her business “on the road” whenever she has to travel. She is the NACTA Florida Area Director and on CLIA’s Travel Agent Advisory Board.