The No BS Travel Advisor™️

Marcie Muensterman Use PODCAST11 to save 11% on my Signature Courses _______________________________________________________________________________ Feeling “busy” but still not making the money you want? In this episode, Marcie, your No BS Travel Advisor Coach, calls out the real reason your travel business feels chaotic: mismanaged time, weak workflows, and boundaries that don’t stick. We’re talking about the habits that quietly drain your revenue—quoting in DMs, instant replies, random trainings, pointless events, overthinking content, and saying yes to things with zero ROI—and the CEO-level shifts that actually create freedom: calendar control, alignment, automation, and repeatable systems. This is the episode for travel advisors who want to grow faster in 2026 without burnout, and who are ready to stop treating their time like it’s optional. In This Episode, You’ll Learn Why “busy” is not a personality trait… it’s usually a profit problem The biggest daily time-wasters travel advisors normalize (and why it keeps you broke) How to stop training clients to expect you 24/7 (and still deliver great service) What “alignment” really means (hint: not fonts and brand colors) Why you don’t need more trainings, events, or FAM trips—you need a plan How workflows + systems create consistency, confidence, and better clients Why your business can’t run on “random tasks” and vibes (sorry, it just can’t) The CEO move that changes everything: audit your time and protect your best hours Connect with Mary Beth Lynn: https://www.assistantsthatwork.com/ Join her Travel Advisor Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lifechangingassistants Real Talk: The Biggest Time Wasters for Travel Advisors If you’re doing these regularly, you’re not “busy”… you’re bleeding time: Answering texts, DMs, calls, and emails at all hours Checking email nonstop instead of batching Rewriting the same replies instead of using templates Quoting trips in DMs for unqualified leads Saying yes to last-minute “quick checks” (nothing is quick) Overthinking content, Canva-ing everything to death, and posting inconsistently Going to conferences, supplier lunches, and trainings with no ROI plan Multi-tasking constantly and finishing nothing Action Step (Do This This Week) Audit your time for 2 weeks: Write down what you do each day Label each activity as: Revenue / Reputation / Relationships / or Bullshit Then choose one change to implement (and yes—turn on an out-of-office if needed) Mentioned in This Episode Mary Beth Lynn’s “Gold Couch Series” (alignment + CEO foundations) coming in Q1 2026. If You Loved This Episode… Leave a 5-star review (it tells me it’s worth keeping these solo episodes going) Share it with a travel advisor friend who’s constantly “busy” and constantly stressed Want systems, boundaries, and a real sales process? Check out my programs inside my world (you know where to find me). Save 11% using code PODCAST on all my Signature Courses: https://thetraveladvisormarcie.com/courses SEO Keywords (for search + platforms) travel advisor time management, travel advisor workflows, travel advisor systems, travel agent boundaries, travel advisor burnout, travel agent productivity, travel business alignment, travel advisor CEO mindset, stop quoting in DMs, travel agent automation, travel advisor marketing consistency, travel advisor social media burnout, travel advisor ROI, travel agent conferences worth it, travel advisor client boundaries, 20 hour workweek travel advisor

Marcie Muensterman Maximize Your Travel Advisor Business: Building a Profitable TA Career: https://www.facebook.com/groups/maximizeyourtravelagentbusiness Use PODCAST11 to save 11% on my Signature Courses _______________________________________________________________________________ Show Notes Mindset, abundance, and self-trust aren’t “nice to have” — they’re the foundation of a sustainable travel advisor business. In this episode of the No BS Travel Advisor Podcast, Marcie gets deeply personal about burnout, imposter syndrome, and the mindset shifts that allowed her to rebuild her business from the inside out. After years of high sales, long hours, and constant pressure, Marcie realized that success without abundance leads straight to burnout. She shares how shifting away from scarcity, competition, and self-punishment helped her create a six-figure commission business — while working fewer hours and selling less gross travel than ever before. This episode is for travel advisors who are building, rebuilding, or pivoting and want to: • Stop comparing themselves to others • Release imposter syndrome • Set boundaries without guilt • Trust themselves again • Build a business that fits their real life If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing everything right” but still exhausted, this conversation will hit home. You’ll learn: • Why high sales don’t equal success • How an abundance mindset actually works (without toxic positivity) • Why comparison creates decision paralysis • How to set boundaries without guilt • Why belief matters more than pretending • How Marcie built six-figure commissions working fewer hours Marcie shares real stories from her career, including how scarcity thinking, competition, and imposter syndrome impacted her confidence — and how an abundance mindset helped her rebuild with clarity, boundaries, and self-trust. This lesson encourages travel advisors to define success on their own terms, take action despite fear, and stop measuring their worth by sales alone. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS (Cleaned for Platforms) 00:00 – Introduction & Why Mindset Matters04:58 – Navigating Criticism & Building Confidence09:25 – Scarcity vs Abundance Mindset14:06 – Client Interactions & Energy18:43 – Self-Belief & Redefining Success24:11 – Letting Go of Old Definitions of Success29:00 – Affirmations & Rewiring Belief34:39 – Abundance Creates Opportunity38:32 – Boundaries, Rest & Self-Care42:54 – Affirmations for Self-Worth & Confidence Mindset is the foundation of long-term entrepreneurial success Imposter syndrome thrives when self-trust is missing Sales alone don’t define success or fulfillment An abundance mindset reduces fear and comparison Boundaries protect mental health and creativity Comparison leads to hesitation and decision paralysis Action creates clarity, not the other way around Affirmations help rewire limiting beliefs Rest is essential, not optional You are deserving of success, peace, and joy travel advisor mindset abundance mindset for travel advisors imposter syndrome travel advisor burnout in the travel industry travel advisor confidence mindset coaching for travel agents building a travel advisor business redefining success as a travel advisor boundaries for travel advisors self-trust in entrepreneurship mindset for women entrepreneurs independent contractor travel advisor

Marcie Muensterman Links: Cookie Shop in Amsterdam: https://vanstapele.com/en/home/ Dive into niching in Commission with a Comma: https://thetraveladvisormarcie.com/commission-with-a-comma Learn my Help and Release method in Propose to Close: https://thetraveladvisormarcie.com/propose-to-close-course Use PODCAST11 to save 11% on my Signature Courses _______________________________________________________________________________ If you’ve ever told someone when they ask you what you do as a travel agent that you “sell everything,” this episode is your official intervention. I’m walking you through the real definition of niching, why generalists burn out faster than someone who has focus and how I went from booking 239 destination weddings (yes, really) to becoming an Italy-obsessed luxury specialist who wakes up excited to do this work again. Let’s get down to the business of niching: How to know when you're ready to niche (hint: your stomach already knows). • Why “Europe specialist,” “groups,” and “luxury” are NOT niches. • How niching makes you referable, profitable, and peaceful instead of panicked. • The cookie shop in Amsterdam that sells ONE cookie and has a line down the damn street and what that teaches you about becoming KNOWN. • How I phased out destination weddings over three years without tanking my income (and how YOU can pivot without blowing up your business). • The “help and release” method and how to stop apologizing for evolving as a business owner. • Why passion + clarity = visibility, better clients, and a way more sustainable business. • A full “niche intersection” writing exercise to help you figure out what the hell you actually WANT to sell. This episode is for the advisor who’s ready to stop chasing every client, every destination, every lead — and start building a business they actually f*cking love. _______________________________________________________________________________ Other links: Italian Tourist Board Training: https://www.italia.it/en Ultimate Jet Vacations (Italy webinars + luxury vendor trainings): https://www.ultimatejetvacations.com/ Your Travel Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/maximizeyourtravelagentbusiness _______________________________________________________________________________ EPISODE CHAPTERS 00:00 – Welcome Back / Who I Am Now Recovering people-pleaser, burnout survivor, Italy-obsessed CEO era unlocked. 02:20 – Why “I Sell Everything” Is a Red Flag And why it’s wasting your time, money, energy, and sanity. 06:11 – The Gut Check: How You Know You’re Ready to Niche Spoiler: your stomach has been screaming at you for years. 10:40 – What Niching Actually Means in the Travel Industry And why 90% of advisors are completely misunderstanding it. 14:55 – The Amsterdam Cookie Shop That Proves the Point One cookie. Line out the door. Lesson delivered. 20:02 – Pivoting Without Panic: My 3-Year Exit from Destination Weddings 239 weddings → zero. What changed, why it mattered, and how income DIDN’T collapse. 29:14 – My Love Story With Italy How one trip flipped the switch and confirmed my passion-led niche. 36:22 – Passion as a Sales Strategy If you can talk about it for three hours without breathing, THAT’S your niche. 40:18 – How to Write Your Niche Intersection The 3-column activity that will change your business. 46:40 – Real Niche Examples (Italy, Caribbean, USA, Destination Weddings) Steal these structures and plug in your niche. 52:10 – Scarcity Mindset, Imposter Syndrome & Why You’re Freaking Out Fear is loud, but passion is louder. 58:33 – The Power of Saying “My Business Model Has Shifted” A masterclass in confident communication. 1:04:20 – Why Passion Beats Hustle Every Single Time And why generalists burn out. 1:08:55 – Final Pep Talk + My Ask Downloads are down. Your girl needs five-star reviews to live. _______________________________________________________________________________ SEO Keywords: travel advisor niche, how to niche travel business, travel agent burnout, luxury travel advisor tips, destination wedding burnout, Italy travel specialist, travel advisor marketing, how to pick a niche, travel advisor mindset, CEO travel advisor, luxury Italy planner, boutique travel planning, travel advisor boundaries, help and release method, travel advisor pivoting

Marcie Muensterman Marcie Muensterman - https://www.facebook.com/MarcieMuenstermanPropose to Close Course - https://www.facebook.com/groups/proposetoclosewithmarciemuensterman/Maximize Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/maximizeyourtravelagentbusiness/ _____________________________________________________________ 🎧 PODCAST11 Exclusive OfferUse code PODCAST11 at checkout to get 11% off all 4 Signature Courses: First Class Community Facebook Group Course Propose to Close From Closed to Home Commission with a Comma Start leveling up today! _____________________________________________________________ Show Notes: Burnout in the travel industry is not a badge of honor, and it’s definitely not a business model. In this raw solo episode, Marcie shares the unfiltered story of how she went from working 24/7 as a travel advisor, answering emails from the bathroom with the flu, working through holidays, skipping maternity leave, and treating her own family like an interruption - to burning out so hard she left the industry for three years. When she came back in 2018, she refused to rebuild the same travel agent monster. Instead, she rebuilt her business around boundaries, calendar control, and a 20-hour workweek that actually supports her life as a mom, caregiver, and CEO. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: Why “hustle culture” in the travel industry is outdated and harmful. The one regret she has about early motherhood (and why it shapes her boundaries now). How she decided which rules to make for her business—and how to stick to them. Why she no longer works nights, weekends, or big holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. How and why she refuses to book clients over key dates like family birthdays and her annual Christmas beach trip. Why she doesn’t travel when her clients travel and how she plans her year nearly 12 months in advance. How office hours, appointment-only consults, and clear expectations changed her client relationships. Why aligned clients respect boundaries (and misaligned ones fire themselves). How you can start moving toward a six-figure, 20-hour-per-week travel business, slow and steady. If you’ve ever thought, “I love being a travel advisor, but I can’t keep living like this,” this episode is your blueprint for doing it differently. 🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned Propose to Close™ – my step-by-step consult + sales framework for travel advisors: https://thetraveladvisormarcie.com/propose-to-close-course 👉 Use code PODCAST for 11% off Propose to Close™ First Class Community™ – my Facebook Group course that turns your community into a client pipeline: https://thetraveladvisormarcie.com/fb-group-course 👉 Use code PODCAST for 11% off First Class Community™ Episode Timestamps / Chapters Use these for show notes + YouTube description: 00:00 – Welcome + Why This Episode Matters Setting the tone: no fluff, no fake positivity, no glorified burnout. 03:30 – The Season of 24/7 Hustle Nights, weekends, no maternity leave, panic attacks under the desk, and treating family like an interruption. 09:15 – The Moment Everything Broke Burning out so hard you left the industry for three years and what that actually looked like. 13:40 – Coming Back to Travel With New Non-Negotiables Therapy, mindset work, support, and deciding you won’t build the same monster twice. 18:30 – The One Regret: Early Motherhood in Hustle Mode Working through grief, daycare guilt, and redefining what “success” means. 23:00 – Realizing 24/7 Availability Is NOT Professionalism Panic attacks, answering emails from the bathroom, and recognizing “being accessible” isn’t the flex you thought it was. 27:45 – You’re a 1099, Not an Employee Why hosts don’t own your time, your calendar, or your boundaries. 32:10 – Learning to Say No (Kids’ Birthday Parties, PTA, and Beyond) Practicing boundaries in your personal life first so you can carry them into your business. 38:20 – Setting Rules for Your Business (And Owning Them) What you don’t do anymore: instant replies, quoting in DMs, nights, weekends, and apologizing for policies. 44:00 – Office Hours as a Non-Negotiable Designing your days, working 20-ish hours, and refusing to bully yourself with endless to-do lists. 50:00 – Holidays, Birthdays & Blocking Life First Why you don’t work over Thanksgiving, Christmas, or family birthdays—and you don’t book travel over your own key dates. 55:30 – Not Traveling When Your Clients Travel Planning your own trips a year in advance so you’re not a crisis manager on your vacation. 1:00:00 – The 20-Hour Workweek Mindset Why you don’t believe in the 40-hour week for travel advisors and how marketing + boundaries replace “more hours.” 1:06:30 – Eat That Frog & Managing Your Day Tackling the big tasks first, using reminders, and not letting social/media distract you from actual work. 1:13:00 – When You DO Break Your Own Rules (On Purpose) Deciding consciously when to respond after hours and taking responsibility for your own boundary breaks. 1:18:00 – Planning a Year in Advance Blocking out travel, holidays, and time off so you’re not in constant reaction mode. 1:24:00 – Clients Don’t Need Unlimited Access—They Need Clear Expectations Resetting expectations with old clients and why aligned clients stay. 1:30:00 – Why You Don’t Do Conferences, Ear-Splitting Noise, or Old-School Schmoozing Building relationships your way, with BDMs and vendors who respect you. 1:35:00 – You Can Make Six Figures in 20 Hours a Week Letting go of the “more clients, more hours” lie and choosing boundaries instead of burnout. 1:40:00 – Final Pep Talk: Redefine Success & Block Your Calendar Encouragement to start now, not on January 1st, and design the damn business you actually want. travel advisor burnout travel agent burnout travel advisor boundaries travel agent boundaries 20 hour workweek travel advisor 20 hour work week travel agent work life balance for travel advisors travel advisor hustle culture travel advisor coaching travel agent business tips how to set boundaries with clients travel advisor office hours stop working 24/7 as a travel agent

Marcie Muensterman Marcie Muensterman - https://www.facebook.com/MarcieMuenstermanPropose to Close Course - https://www.facebook.com/groups/proposetoclosewithmarciemuensterman/Maximize Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/maximizeyourtravelagentbusiness/ _____________________________________________________________ 🎧 PODCAST11 Exclusive OfferUse code PODCAST11 at checkout to get 11% off all 4 Signature Courses: First Class Community Facebook Group Course Propose to Close From Closed to Home Commission with a Comma Start leveling up today! _____________________________________________________________ Show Notes How to Leave Your Host Guide: https://marciemuensterman.mykajabi.com/offers/Q8QLQSFJ/checkout Join Maximize Your Travel Advisor Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/maximizeyourtravelagentbusiness In this solo episode of the No BS Travel Advisor Podcast, Marcie goes all in on a topic most host owners hope you never fully understand: what actually is and is NOT your travel agency owner’s business when you’re a 1099 independent contractor. If you’ve ever: Called your owner “boss” Felt nervous to share an idea in your host group Overshared how you run your business Thought you “owed” two weeks’ notice to leave …this episode is your wake-up call. Marcie shares her own journey from straight-A, gold-star, Dairy Queen rule-follower to overachieving travel advisor who trained for free, ran social for free, and bent over backwards to be the “favorite” in a host environment where she was never actually an employee. She unpacks how that people-pleasing, “don’t rock the boat” conditioning bleeds into the travel industry, keeping advisors small, scared, and dependent. Inside the episode, you’ll hear: The difference between wanting support and mentorship vs. wanting supervision Why your only real “boss” is your client, not your host The legal and practical line between a W-2 employee and a W-9 independent contractor What your host can reasonably require (IC agreement, commission tracking, basic policies) And what is absolutely none of their fucking business: Your CRM, workflows, systems, automations, templates Your website, email list, social media, funnels, and lead magnets Your fees—what you charge, when you charge, who you charge Your networking, BDM relationships, fams, and community marketing Marcie also breaks down why you do NOT have to “give notice” to a host, how to transition quietly without drama, and why any owner who wants complete control (over your trainings, fam photos, content, and even which coaches you listen to) needs to switch to a W-2 model and put people on payroll. If you’re feeling stuck, codependent, or low-key terrified to leave a misaligned agency, this episode will remind you: You’re the CEO. You pay for your independence. And most of what you’re building is none of their fucking business. Chapters / Timestamps 00:01 – When You’re in Marcie’s DMs, It’s Probably Time to Go Gut feelings, toxicity, and why deep DMs about leaving are the final sign. 02:10 – You Signed a W-9, Not a Job Offer Jumping in without vetting, not reading the fine print, and what it really means to be a 1099 IC. 04:20 – Your Only Boss Is Your Client Wanting “family,” belonging, and why you don’t owe performance energy to your host. 06:10 – Support vs. Supervision: They Are Not Your Boss Meetings, trainings, fam expectations and the difference between guidance and micromanagement. 08:30 – Gold-Star Girl: Marcie’s People-Pleaser Origin Story Latin exam 50¢, Dairy Queen, loving rules, and being obsessed with being the best. 14:10 – Challenging the Status Quo & 24/7 Hustle Culture Indoctrination, “falling in line,” and why the 24/7 grind model is bullshit. 18:40 – You Are a Business: LLC, E&O, EIN & Independence Why your own structures matter even under a host; starting scared, confused, and learning as you go. 20:55 – Who Are You Overachieving For? Clients vs. owners, designing your own life, and the “who are you showing up for?” gut check. 23:20 – W-2 vs W-9: Where Control Crosses the Line What hosts can require, what they can’t, and why control + risk don’t mix. 25:40 – What Is None of Their Business (CRM, Systems, Fees) Internal operations, separate CRM, website, workflows, seller of travel, and fee freedom. 28:35 – Stop Telling Them Everything Fam photos, social media access, lead magnets, networking leads—why oversharing gives away your power. 30:40 – BDMs, Fams & Industry Relationships: You Don’t Need a Gatekeeper The “you’re not allowed to talk to your BDM” myth and reclaiming your industry connections. 33:05 – You Don’t Have to Give Notice to a Host Ending contracts vs. quitting jobs, dual-hosting quietly, and why “notice” is a corporate concept. 36:00 – Some Hosts Melt Down: How to Protect Yourself Petty reactions, cut-off access, delayed commissions, and why you leave quietly and clean. 39:05 – How to Actually Say ‘I’m Done’ (Without a 14-Paragraph Goodbye) Simple offboarding language, no emotional essays, and no exit interview required. 41:40 – If They Want Control, They Need a W-2 Model Controlling training, social, fam content, and even which coaches you follow—why that screams W-2. 44:00 – Stop Oversharing & Start Acting Like a CEO Mistakes vs autonomy, finding mentors with no stake, and making friends outside your host bubble. 46:20 – Your IP, Your Independence, Your CEO Era Not signing away your creations, paying for independence via splits/fees, and standing Wonder Woman-style in your own business. 49:10 – Final Pep Talk: They’re Not Your Boss (And Please Stop Calling Them That) IC laws, covering your own ass, DM’ing Marcie if you’re in a toxic situation, and remembering most of your business is none of their fucking business. SEO Keywords & Phrases travel advisor independent contractor 1099 vs W2 travel agent host agency red flags toxic host travel agency leaving your host agency do travel agents have to give notice travel advisor IC rights travel agent W9 vs W2 oversharing with host agency travel advisor boundaries with host travel agency owner vs host agency how to end IC agreement travel agent Marcie Muensterman No BS Travel Advisor host agency control vs independence travel advisor business to business relationship how to leave a toxic travel agency quietly