EXPERIENCE MATTERS
Who am I?
My parents are artists. I grew up poor. My community was a hippie commune. And my wish back then was to be a little more status quo.
But when you grow up outside of convention, it’s hard to acclimate to the conventional.
My professional titles and accolades are proof that sales skills are life skills.*
And they’re important ones. Especially to those of us who’ve been told we’re out of our league. Or discouraged from aiming as high as we want to go.
Personal freedom is a hardwired value. Tenacity, an intrinsic trait. Self-sufficiency, a way of life.
That’s why one of my first jobs was selling books door-to-door. Why I left college to teach scuba diving and do my own thing. Why I took a job on a cruise ship to travel and experience what the world had to offer. Why I studied all corners of the travel industry and opened my own luxury-focused travel company.
Local supplier reps took bets on when that business would fold, but we outlasted them. Then I sold the agency. Then I entered the corporate world...then I quickly rose to the executive ranks. First with Carlson (Travel Leaders), Expedia Cruises, and Windstar Cruises.
None of that would’ve happened if I’d listened to other people’s negative opinions about what was possible for me.
Or if I didn’t have relationship, sales, and prospecting skills.
Those were my survivor’s guide. Learn them and you learn to navigate your world.
Even if a door does get slammed in your face.
I share these skills because they’re fundamental. They’re powerful. And they’re doable.
And because the travel business isn’t an order taking business anymore.
Which is wonderful for those of us who’ve never liked taking orders to begin with...
* In addition to creating a successful travel business from scratch, Dan held the following executive level roles:
- Vice President of Global Sales at Windstar Cruises
- Vice President of U.S. Operations at Expedia Cruises
- Director of Franchise Relations at Cruise Holidays (Travel Leaders)
Dan and his wife are empty nesters and live in Bellevue Washington with their three dogs and two cats. A lover of the outdoors, he is an avid SCUBA diver, has climbed the Mt. Rainier, as well as hiked sections of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).