Hi friends, Hannah here!

I’ve just wrapped up a really full, energizing, and snowy weekend in New York City, where I was speaking at the Travel & Adventure Show on both Saturday and Sunday, and I wanted to take a moment to share a little from the experience with you.

Create Opportunities

Saturday’s session was all about being a creator. We talked about social media, newsletters, building an audience, and turning your existing skills into a sustainable work-from-anywhere freelance business. So much of what came up directly overlaps with what we teach in the Virtual Excellence Academy (VEA), so it felt really aligned and grounding to have those conversations in a room full of people actively imagining different ways of working and living.

It was one of those moments that reminds me how transferable these skills are, and how powerful they can be when you realize you don’t need to fit into a single mold to use them well!

Unconventional Travel

On Sunday, our panel focused on solo travel, and I had the pleasure of sitting alongside Vanessa Fondeur-Adams, founder of Latino Travel Fest; Stephanie McKnight, who teaches points and credit card strategies; and Ashley Westbrook, a travel content creator. They all brought a great mix of angles and experience, and the conversation was really thoughtful overall. I spoke on the intersection of travel and remote work and how, for many of our VEA members and me, travel isn't something we must wait for PTO to plan; it's intrinsic to our lifestyle. That our freelance work is designed around our lives and not the other way around.

One question that came up, and that all of us echoed in different ways, was about the misconception of solo travel being lonely.

As an introvert who sometimes actively seeks solitude, I’ve found the opposite to be true 😂. It’s actually quite hard to be lonely as a solo traveler! The world isn’t half as scary as we’re often led to believe. When people realize you’re travelling alone, they’re typically more open, more curious, and super excited to include you. You end up having deeply authentic experiences with locals, with other travelers, and sometimes with yourself. Would you be interested in me hosting a webinar with some of our community members on this topic as well? Hit reply and let me know.

Another point brought up was that solo travel doesn’t have to mean far-flung destinations or dramatic life changes. It can be as simple as spending a weekend in another part of your city or visiting a different region of the country you already live in. It’s a beautiful way to test the waters, build confidence, and find your feet without doing anything extreme to make it meaningful.

I’ll include a few photos from the weekend below; it really was one of those events that filled my cup and reminded me why I do what I do! It was also a really cool experience to be on an all-women panel, speaking from our unique perspectives as women in both travel and business. I really encourage you to seek out experiences like these for yourself, and to be intentional about surrounding yourself with people on similar paths. It makes all the difference when you feel supported and understood as you choose a less conventional life. That’s something our VEA members often find through the community, and it’s really beautiful to witness.

If this kind of lifestyle flexibility is something you’re curious about, don’t forget we also have our first free class of the year this Friday. It’s a great place to explore VA and freelance work, understand what’s involved, how you can land your first clients, and so much more. I'm excited for it! If you're already registered, you don't need to do anything but show up on the day :)

Big love from the big apple,
Hannah

PS. The Virtual Excellence Academy opens later this week, and the waitlist currently offers early access plus additional perks before doors open to the public on Friday. If you’ve been considering working with me or exploring what location-flexible work could look like for you, the waitlist is the best place to start!

PPS. If you are new to my world and interested in reading more about my story and how I got started working online and traveling the world, I have a gift for you... You can now read and download my "Beginner's Guide to Freelancing" right here (no signup needed). Enjoy and let me know what you think by responding! 😊