Meet Courtney: The Explorer
If you want to learn how to travel on a budget AND travel solo as a woman, Courtney is your girl! She has all the travel tips you need ready to go for North America, South and Central America, and more on her blog. Have you been wondering how it’s possible to afford travel or maybe even quit your job to do what you love full time?! Courtney spills the all those deets and more below: read to find out!
1. Tell us about who you are and your journey to where you are now!
My name is Courtney and I run a travel website called Courtney The Explorer. In addition to blogging, I am a freelance writer, online English teacher and a Zumba instructor.
I had a pretty normal midwest American upbringing. I got good grades, was on my high school dance team, and went to a Big 10 University. I studied business in college and thought I would work in Human Resources. I did everything that was expected me; filled my resume with leadership positions, internships, and volunteer jobs. I was all set to get a good job after college and live "the American dream." During my last year of college, I decided to study abroad in Brazil for the summer. Something told me I couldn't graduate without that experience. Maybe it was for my resume or maybe a gut instinct leading me to my purpose. My 3 months in Brazil completely changed the course of my life. During a short break, I took a solo trip to Rio, Brazil and stayed in a hostel for the first time. I met backpackers and solo women travelers from around the world. It expanded my mind. I realized that I didn't have to get a job after college, I could choose to backpack the world. I'm not sure if anyone believed my dreams at the time.
I graduated a few months later and worked the corporate life for about 6 months. I worked my 9-5 during the day and a serving job on the nights and weekends, saving every last penny. I quit my jobs and flew to Lima, Peru for the start of my first solo backpacking trip. About 6 years later and 4 long-term backpacking trips, I don't think I'll ever go back to a 9-5. I started my blog Courtney The Explorer in 2015 to share travel stories. Within the last year, my website has gone from a passion project to my business.
2. What is the mission of your brand? How does it empower women?
My mission is to empower women to travel the world. I give women the tools to travel solo on a budget. Fear is instilled in women from a young age. When women say they have traveled solo, usually the first response is, "that's not safe." There is a community of thousands of women who travel the world solo. Bad things happen everywhere, we cannot let that hold us back. It is more dangerous to live a stationary life, held back by fear. The world is a beautiful place, we deserve to see it regardless of our gender. It is my mission to share my personal stories and travel tips to inspire growth as well as help change societal norms around women and travel.
3. How do you collaborate with women working towards a better world?
I recently started a YouTube channel where I interview other female bloggers. The interviews are a way to share tips to my audience, but also highlight female bloggers in Chicago. There's power in rising together. It shouldn't be a competition. I believe we all have special and unique talents that we can learn from each other. If you run a website, I recommend collaborating with women in your niche. I often times go to blogging happy hours and local workshops to network and meet other women in the blogging world.
Also, I try to collaborate with female-owned brands and support local female entrepreneurs. I believe little things are what drive the biggest changes.
4. What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to press through as a female entrepreneur and what are the steps you’ve taken to overcome it?
I would say being confident in my brand and my business was my biggest challenge. I had to shed my narrative of being a "broke backpacker" and embrace where life was taking me. I hired a business coach who helped me work through those mindset blocks. While working with her, I was able to step into my power and own it.
In addition to working with a coach, I went to almost every single blogging and networking event in Chicago this year. Most recently, I went to Boston to a travel blogging conference. I joined every Facebook group. I followed hundreds of female bloggers and entrepreneurs on Instagram. I really made an effort to be around like-minded women. You have to build community and find your people.
5. What advice would you give to a female entrepreneur in the beginning stages of launching her brand or business?
Be clear on what your mission is and who your audience is, but it is okay to pivot and grow along with your business. Invest in yourself and your brand. Don't try to do everything yourself. I recommend hiring a coach, take a course or a mastermind in your field, or hire an assistant.
Also, stay on top of trends; read, listen to podcasts, network. I try to listen to at least one podcast episode a day which usually inspires a post or a future goal for my website. Make sure you are doing your "zone of genius" and hire out for the rest.
One of the best pieces of advice I was given and still live by is to take one step at a time. So many people will quit when things get hard, it's you and me who keep putting one foot in front of the other who will be successful.
6. What sets your brand apart from others?
There are a million travel blogs. I just went to a conference with 800 travel bloggers from around the world. I believe everyone has a unique story. All 800 of us can be successful travel bloggers and creators. In my industry, finding a niche is preached. My niche of free and budget travel sets me apart. Not many female travelers hitch hike, couch surf, and volunteer abroad. I also have sub-niches of teaching English online/abroad and vegan travel. It's important to own your differences and highlight them.
Also, I don't just share travel guides and tips, I open myself up and share my story in hopes of helping others and healing myself. I talk about things that make me uncomfortable like my sexuality, my relationship, my travel fails. Vulnerable is everything in a world of sameness. I believe as a blogger, it's my responsibility to be vulnerable and share my voice for those who don't have one. Transparency has helped me grow, but more importantly connect and develop meaningful relationships with my community.