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If you’ve ever felt like everyone else knows something you don’t…
If you’ve ever asked a question in a Facebook group only to be met with sarcasm…
If you’ve ever wondered whether you belong in this industry because it feels more competitive than collaborative…
I want you to know something.
You’re not alone.
When I first became a travel advisor, I imagined an industry filled with people who loved travel, loved helping others, and genuinely wanted to see everyone succeed.
And while those people absolutely exist (I’ve been fortunate enough to meet many of them), I also discovered another side of the industry that no one warned me about.
The gatekeeping.
The negativity.
The scarcity mindset.
Today I want to share what I wish someone had told me years ago—and hopefully save you some frustration along the way.
The Industry Isn’t Perfect—And That’s Okay
I’ve been in the travel industry for nearly seven years now.
During that time, I’ve met incredible mentors, supportive colleagues, generous educators, and lifelong friends.
I’ve also encountered people who seemed more interested in protecting information than helping others grow.
Whether it was being excluded from Facebook groups because of my host agency, watching advisors publicly criticize one another online, or hearing experienced professionals refuse to offer even the smallest piece of encouragement, I’ve seen firsthand that this industry isn’t immune to negativity.
But here’s what I’ve learned:
Those people do not represent the entire travel industry.
They’re simply the loudest voices sometimes.
Scarcity vs. Abundance: The Real Difference
After years in entrepreneurship—not just travel—I realized this isn’t really a travel industry problem.
It’s a mindset problem.
There are generally two ways people approach business.
An Abundance Mindset
People with an abundance mindset believe:
- There are enough clients for everyone.
- Helping someone else doesn’t hurt their own success.
- Collaboration creates bigger opportunities.
- Sharing encouragement costs nothing.
These are the advisors who answer questions, celebrate wins, recommend suppliers, share resources, and genuinely want others to succeed.
Ironically, they’re often the ones with thriving businesses.
A Scarcity Mindset
On the other hand, scarcity says:
- If someone else succeeds, I lose.
- If I share my strategy, someone will steal it.
- There’s only room for a handful of successful advisors.
- Everyone else is competition.
When someone operates from scarcity, everything becomes guarded.
Questions feel like threats.
Success feels limited.
And instead of building relationships, they’re protecting imaginary territory.
One Podcast Answer I’ll Never Forget
Recently, I listened to a podcast featuring an advisor who had built an incredibly successful niche business.
At the end of the interview, the host asked a simple question:
“What advice would you give someone who’s just getting started in this niche?”
Her answer surprised me.
She said:
“Don’t call me.”
She explained that she wasn’t interested in sharing her secrets and that people needed to figure it out themselves.
That answer stuck with me—not because I expected her to hand over years of expertise for free, but because there were countless ways she could have encouraged someone without giving away her entire business model.
She could have suggested:
- Do your market research.
- Stay consistent.
- Find your ideal client.
- Build relationships.
- Serve people well.
Encouragement doesn’t cost anything.
And sometimes it’s exactly what someone needs to keep going.
The Best People Are Usually the Quiet Ones
One thing I’ve discovered is that the most generous people aren’t always the loudest.
They’re quietly answering questions.
They celebrate your wins.
They introduce you to helpful connections.
They collaborate instead of compete.
Those are the people worth finding.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to build relationships with advisors who freely share ideas, celebrate success, and genuinely want others to win.
They’re proof that this kind of community exists.
You just have to find your people.
Five Ways to Rise Above the Negativity
1. Stop Looking for Validation
Not everyone has to understand your business.
Not everyone has to approve of your goals.
Your job isn’t convincing people.
Your job is serving clients and continuing to grow.
2. Curate Your Environment
If a Facebook group constantly leaves you discouraged…
Leave it.
Mute notifications.
Unfollow negativity.
Protect your mindset.
The content you consume every day shapes how you show up in your business.
3. Focus on the Helpers
As Mr. Rogers famously said:
“Look for the helpers.”
That’s just as true in entrepreneurship.
For every negative voice, there are dozens of people quietly lifting others up.
Spend your time with them.
4. Ask Better Questions
Instead of asking someone to reveal their entire business strategy, try asking:
- What would you do differently if you were starting today?
- What’s one mistake you wish you’d avoided?
- What’s one lesson that changed your business?
People are often much more willing to share wisdom than hand over an entire blueprint.
And honestly?
Relationships matter.
When you build genuine connections, those conversations happen naturally over time.
5. Become the Person You Needed
This might be the biggest lesson of all.
If you wish people were more encouraging…
Be encouraging.
If you wish people answered questions…
Answer questions.
If you wish the industry felt more welcoming…
Help create that culture.
You don’t change an industry by complaining about it.
You change it by modeling something better.
Don’t Let Gatekeepers Define Your Future
If you’re new to the travel industry—or if you’ve simply had some discouraging experiences—I hope you’ll remember this:
Someone else’s scarcity doesn’t have to become your mindset.
There isn’t a secret vault of information only a select few have access to.
Successful travel businesses are built on surprisingly simple principles:
- Consistency
- Relationships
- Visibility
- Trust
- Follow-up
- Excellent service
- Showing up again and again
That’s the formula.
Not hidden secrets.
Not exclusive Facebook groups.
Not gatekeeping.
You Don’t Have to Learn Only From Travel Advisors
One of the biggest reasons my business has grown is because I stopped limiting myself to only learning from people in travel.
I’ve learned marketing from real estate professionals.
Sales from business coaches.
Systems from online educators.
Customer experience from entirely different industries.
Sometimes the best ideas come from outside your own niche.
If you think of yourself as a business owner first—and a travel advisor second—you’ll start seeing opportunities everywhere.
Final Thoughts
The travel industry is full of amazing people.
It’s also full of imperfect people.
Don’t let a handful of negative experiences convince you that there’s no room for you.
There is.
Keep learning.
Keep serving.
Keep showing up.
Keep finding your people.
And most importantly…
Be the person who opens doors instead of guarding them.
Because that’s how we build stronger businesses.
And that’s how we build a better travel industry together.
Connect with Lindsay
Travel Advisor | Agency Owner | Business Coach
Helping travel advisors build profitable businesses with confidence, systems, and strategy—without burnout.
Website: At Last I See The World Travel
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The more we choose collaboration over competition, the stronger our industry becomes.
