Successful Travel Agents Set Goals

So you have a pretty solid knowledge of the major destinations your clients like. Great.
And you're getting a good handle on the ins and outs of the travel business. Terrific.
And you've discovered you have a natural talent for selling. Fabulous.

Now for the bad news:
You're just getting started. Knowledge and ability can only take you so far. To truly maximize your potential, you have to develop a whole range of skills and then make them an integral part of your daily routine.

To ensure that you'll meet your goals for your home-based business, take a few minutes for a quick review of your work habits, communications and organization skills, motivation and personal goals. Try writing down an honest answer for the points below, or maybe rate your self on a scale of one to ten.

WORK HABITS
* Do you do something every day to promote your travel business?
* Do you prioritize your work?
* Do you set specific goals for each day and week?
* Do you manage your time effectively?
* Do you have a plan to fall back on should a booking fall through unexpectedly?
* Do you do your paperwork thoroughly, neatly and on time?
* Do you make it a point to pre-qualify prospects before you set up a face-to-face sales call with them?
* Do you have a system for marketing?
* Do you make efficient use of the telephone?
* Are you on time for appointments?
* Do you keep your commitments and promises?

COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS
* Do you keep your customers informed of any changes in schedules, pricing, payment due dates, and so on that may affect them?
* Are you an effective liaison between your customers and your suppliers?
* Are you confident that your writing and speaking skills are polished enough to serve you well?
* Are misunderstandings between you and your customers rare?

ORGANIZATION SKILLS
* Can you usually find needed information or brochures within a couple of minutes?
* Do you schedule your marketing campaigns at least a year in advance so that you have one or two major promotions for each quarter?
* Do you have an effective tickler system, so you never miss a deadline and always follow up appropriately?
* Do you track your bookings religiously so your customers are never surprised by payment deadlines?

MOTIVATION
* Do you feel good about yourself and what you do?
* Do you believe in the travel products you market?
* Are you proud of your level of service or could it be improved?
* Do you weigh your accomplishments against your expectations?
* Do you think positively?
* Do you know what things interfere with your discipline and drive?
* Do you know how to overcome the occasional slump?
* Do you set realistic goals for yourself?
* Do you give yourself time to play?

PERSONAL GOALS
* Have you articulated your personal goals -- to yourself even if to no one else?
* Do you feel you are making progress toward your goals?

An Observation:
Like professional goals, personal goals provide benchmarks against which you can measure your progress. Whatever your personal goals -- a new home, a dream vacation, a happy marriage, a secure retirement, etc. -- you'll get more satisfaction from your work if you feel that it is helping you achieve those goals.

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