Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in freelancing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Yvette Ramirez, Owner of Narito Travel Group, located in Manila, Philippines.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Narito means "here" in Filipino, and we live up to our name. You do not have to be alone in your quest for that missing piece. We are HERE!

Narito Travel Group offers the perfect solution for those searching for their missing piece or wanting to experience something new. We provide the ideal combination of adrenaline, relaxation, excitement, and peace. Get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and find what truly matters to you! And find the company on your journey and connect with like-minded people. We offer raw experiences providing the ideal opportunity to find yourself while having the time of your life. Join us on our next adventure and start living the life you were meant to live!

Tell us about yourself

I am a Filipina traveler and storyteller who has been exploring the world solo since 2015. I enjoy getting to know the locals and learning about their customs through food, music, dances, and traditions. I also enjoy volunteering, exploring the local landscape, and learning the language and culture of the community I travel to. This allows me to build meaningful relationships with the locals, creating unforgettable experiences that last a lifetime. My travels have taken me to 18+ countries in Southeast Asia, Oceania, Central and South America, the Middle East, and North Africa.

My goal is to continue learning and growing as I explore more of the world. I love learning about new cultures and sharing my knowledge through storytelling - in the form of videos, photos, and writing valuable content. I am a people person and enjoy interacting with the people I meet on my travels, my readers, and my followers on social media.

I founded filipinanomad.com to reach more people and inspire them to explore the world and discover their endless potential. Unlike most content creators, my platform will never tell you to quit your job or put a pedestal on the dream of becoming a Blogger, YouTuber, or Influencer. In fact, I will encourage you to dream more than those, build and work something more stable, transition smoothly and smartly, and master the art of work-life integration in this highly competitive world – for me. These will give you the life you've always wanted. Not the abrupt "quit your job and just go." Moreover, I aim to inspire everyone, especially women across the globe, to go out and see the world beyond what society expects women to do – with limits or without limits.

As Marc Anthony once said, do what you love, and you'll never work a day in your life. And this is the path I am taking, as I recently launched my passion project, the Narito Travel Group. I aim through Narito Travel Group to promote and engage in sustainable and conscious tourism to inspire travelers and the travel industry to be aware and support goals such as environmental preservation, combating climate change, lowering plastic consumption, promote economic development.

I believe that "TRAVEL NEEDS TO CHANGE and become more responsible, sustainable, and mindful." Mindful travel is a term that is becoming more and more popular. It's a term used to define a way of traveling and living that emphasizes consideration for the effects that our choices and movements have on the environment and the people where we travel. Is the money we're spending on our trip helping the local community? And other difficult but necessary questions mindful travel encourages us to ask ourselves. Do we have a favorable effect on the community's environment and society? Are we making thoughtful decisions about where we travel and where we stay? Do we carry a reusable water bottle to limit the plastic we use and pollute the environment? Are we respecting the locals and refraining from using them as props for our Instagram posts and selfies?

Being mindful entails being aware and includes one's spirituality. You become more aware of things when you travel cautiously. Instead of being a consumer-driven, patronizing the commodified activity intended to maximize your enjoyment and keep you distracted, traveling becomes a meditation. It is an experience of being alive in the world when done with mindfulness. Through Narito Travel Group, I am optimistic that more and more people will positively impact the world we live in.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has nothing to do with profit. It is overcoming my impostor syndrome.

For a long time, I always have had doubts about my capabilities. I am the first to wonder whether I am credible enough to do something regardless if I have long years of experience or if it is something I love and am passionate about. I often feel like a fraud. I was devaluing my worth and undermining my expertise. But I learned to be courageous and become myself's number 1 believer. It was a tough road, and sometimes I still go back to my old way unintentionally, but I am glad I am improving!

My advice to everyone going through the same thing: First, stop minimizing yourself and start accepting compliments without asking why is a critical step in overcoming imposter syndrome. Instead of prefacing every statement with "Thanks, but..." "Thanks, but it was a team effort," "Thanks, but I've done it a million times," "Thanks, but it was nothing." State, "thank you." If you must begin anyplace, pick there. Say "THANK YOU" with confidence. Period.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

As a business owner, dealing with the unknown(s) will be one of your most complex challenges. There will be new problems to solve and barriers to overcome every day. Even when you think you are well-prepared, business is never predictable. Although there is no such thing as 100% ready, if you can put yourself in a state where you can face problems head-on and come up with answers, you can get close to being "ready." Creating a habit that assists you in adopting the proper mindset each and every day is one of the finest methods to navigate the unknown(s).

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Starting a business and seeing it through to prosperity is a challenging task. Funny enough, though, my worst failures have taught me the most valuable lessons. Here are some of what I learned that might help someone who is looking to start their own business:

  1. Success in business is more about your mindset, psychology, and persistence than spotting tiny tips, techniques, hacks, and market exploitations.
  2. Start now. The only real way to learn is by doing. Therefore you can't afford to wait around for financing. Hoping that someone else will assist you in putting your concept into action or whine that you don't have the time. Making excuses will not help you launch a business or build the lifestyle you desire for yourself. Launch it NOW before you're ready. Suppose you wait until your product or service feels ideal. In that case, someone else will already provide your clients with superior solutions. Launching quickly, acquiring a limited number of paying clients, and adjusting your plan over time to make it better for them, are your way. They will help you validate your business idea.
  3. Always establish trusting connections with clients and colleagues in your field. Considering rivals as possible allies and collaborators can significantly influence your business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.naritotravelgroup.com/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FilipinaNomad
https://www.facebook.com/naritotravelgroup
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/filipinanomad/
https://www.instagram.com/narito.retreats/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/filipinanomad
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ycramirez/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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