Coming Up For Air

If my blog writing skills and frequency were an Olympic event, I would be disqualified.  I can't believe it's been almost 2 months since my last post.  Geesh!  I so stink at this these days.

Speaking of the Olympics... did you watch?  Did you enjoy?  Who were your favourites?  I caught some of them but I have to admit that I am a nervous Olympics viewer so I didn't watch a ton.  I did enjoy the Opening and Closing Ceremonies though and was particularly interested in the sights around London as Hubby & I will be travelling to the UK on a business trip he has coming up soon!

So what's been keeping me in last place in the Blogging Olympics this summer you may wonder?  Well... I have taken the plunge into the deep waters of a long-held dream.  After years (and more recently months after our last cruise) I decided to become a Cruise and Travel Consultant with Expedia CruiseShipCenters.  I not only am training to be a Certified Cruise Specialist with cruise lines ranging from Contemporary ships to Luxury Liners and Riverboat Cruisers, I'm also learning to sell all-inclusive land vacations and all the trimmings that go with both types of vacations, whether on land or sea.  In my first full 6 weeks on the job I have already sold my first cruise (thanks to a fabulous online friend!!) and yesterday I booked my first all-inclusive package for a friend's son and daughter-in-law here at home.  This seriously is the funnest (and sometimes stressful) job I have ever had.

What I've found really interesting in this process of becoming a "sales consultant" is how the training to become a good salesperson is directly related to spiritual lessons God is teaching me.  As I am reading and learning through books and webinars about the keys to success, God is shining a spotlight on areas of my character that He wants to refine in me as a whole in the process.  Who knew this would happen?  I sure didn't but I'm glad that God has opened this door to this dream job, and also will teach me through it how to be a better woman and Christian.

I'm considering opening a new blog (in addition to this personal one) for my business.  I have a website through my company that you can book and peruse cruises through, but I'd like a more personal spot too where my clients can go and read interesting articles about cruising, the ships, the countries they visit, and give advice, etc.  It will be a work in progress I'm sure.

In the meantime, I've opened up a "page" on Facebook that you can see HERE, as well as my company site HERE.  If you're in the US or Canada and want some cruise or travel info, email me or contact me through my company email shawkes@cruiseshipcenters.com.  I would LOVE to help you make your vacation dreams come true!