Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Martha Day, Founder of Opal&Finch, located in Dallas, TX, USA.

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

Joy and happiness through travel is my business! What's better than a well-planned trip to bring a smile to the face and delight to the heart. Memories are made to be treasured for a lifetime. I get the privilege to do this every day by assisting people in getting out the door and a little deeper into life.

Opal&Finch is a full-service boutique travel company that serves discerning professionals who value knowledge, experience, and bespoke experiences by providing concierge travel consulting and planning services. We are trusted experts who assist clients, from start to finish, on trips that inspire and bring them home refreshed. We specialize in luxury Wellness, Culinary, and Adventure travel. We have connections to arrange all levels of curated travel itineraries around the globe.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Martha Day. I'm the owner and founder of Opal&Finch, a boutique luxury travel company. I am privileged to work as a designer in concierge travel; I must confess, it's a great job. When I reached my late 40s, I decided it was time to be brave and make a change after almost twenty years in hospital administration. It was time to leave a job I never really liked and do something I was passionate about. I found my way forward in travel planning and design, becoming part of the change for good in the world. Building a company working to make the world a better place by connecting people and cultures through travel experiences.
Travel is all about connection. When we travel, we connect differently to ourselves, each other, and the world. I am thrilled to create travel itineraries that bring this world to life – whether through storytelling on a private tour, a hands-on experience that brings a deeper understanding of our cultural similarities and differences, or moments when we stand in true awe at the natural world.

I believe travel is essential for a well-lived inspired life, and I consider it an honor to design these journeys of discovery for my clients. Every day I look for ways to inspire others to see the world as a place filled with goodness.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Being brave. I started this company with little experience in running a business in an industry that's more complex and involved than I knew, and then I stayed in it through a two-year global pandemic when everything around me fell apart, and many voices said to stop. I'm so proud that I stayed true to my dream, and I'm continuing to do this work. I love my job and my business.

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

For me, the hardest thing about being a business owner is accepting that I need to learn to walk before I can run – also known as patience. I want to be two years further down the road and sometimes try to skip important steps along the way. Being patient with the process is hard. But I am learning that slowing down means I won't need to repeat things; skipping steps simply slows me down rather than speeding me up.

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

  1. Start from a place of inspiration, from a place where dreams and ideas flow freely. Take the time to sketch out the big future picture, the six months down the road picture, the "it's gotten out of control" picture. Do this all from a place of non-judgment without editing the ideas. Dream and then dream bigger. Become so excited about your dream you can't stop yourself from making it a reality. Note: a place of non-judgment includes not telling your friends or family until it feels solid – you don't need their doubts and practicality to kick the stones out of your foundation.
  2. Be willing to be new at something, get a mentor, and have patience with the process of becoming. We all build our businesses differently, and comparing ourselves to others who are further down their path isn't a good idea. Your chapter 1 is not the same as someone else's chapter 32.
  3. Sometimes, building a plane while you fly is a perfectly reasonable way to get a business off the ground.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Be brave. Be bold. Be true to who you are. What you bring to the world is unique and special, something no one else can offer in the same way.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://opalandfinch.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OpalandFinch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opalandfinch/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/OpalandFinch
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/casebycasetravel/

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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