mytropicalescape.com

Where are you? Why I am on BLOGCATION!

Mark — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:20:48 +0000

Greetings - someone recently emailed and asked if I was going to be posting anything soon. That made me feel good because I thought only my mother read this site.

It has been a VERY long but good year since we bought our business here in the Caribbean. Unbeknownst to me my drive for writing, which is minimal to begin with (remember - I am an idea person!) decided to take a holiday.

So, being that I am going on a real vacation to Nicaragua next week, I decided to declare myself on blog + not writing + vacation = blogcation

When I get back some friends of mine and I are going to launch a pretty cool humanitarian project that we have been working on putting together for the past couple of months. I think eventually we will have the ability to help some people that don’t necessarily need our pity, but they need our ACTION. Some of you already know what the premise is and for the rest I look forward to your feedback once we go live.

Everybody take care, and if I can help you with anything feel free to get in contact mark_w_hayward@yahoo.com.

Until September, here is a picture of a portion of 10×7 Culebra from the air.

Don’t Let Anybody Tell You That You Can’t

Mark — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:27:10 +0000

If you are going to create and implement meaningful, proactive projects then there are going to be many ‘naysayers’ along the way.

Don’t listen to them.

In fact turn around and head in the opposite direction. There are people out there who believe in you. Who want you to succeed and can even help you to get started.

We all have self-doubt to contend with so adding negative people into the mix can stop you, or worse, they can add to your frustration and cause you to give up in anger.

You have the power in you. In fact, you (we!) can change the world.

It is easy to become cynical and negative. Sometimes we have to change ourselves before we can change the world, but it can be done.

What is it that you want to do? You CAN do it. I believe in you.

Have a great weekend.

Mark

Welcome Islands Magazine Readers - Best Islands to Live On: Culebra

Mark — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:31:51 +0000

What a nice surprise to be featured in Islands Magazine this month in their “Ten Best Islands to Live On” article. Almost exactly one year ago Terrie and I purchased the Palmetto Guesthouse after living overseas for many years.

We are both originally from Massachusetts and we had the dream of owning our own business for many years and finally saw that goal come to fruition with the purchase of the Palmetto here on Culebra.

Our travels have taken us to Europe, Central and South America, the South Pacific, and of course, the Caribbean.

Some background information

In 1997 we joined the U. S. Peace Corps and served in the remote Lakekamu Basin rainforest in Papua New Guinea. While there we worked on an alternative income generation project to try and help preserve the rainforest. Our primary project was to work with villagers to help start and run the Hinowattie Guesthouse and Research Camp.

Funnily enough, at the time, we had no idea that our travels would take us on further extended trips to both Samoa and the Caribbean (British Virgin Islands) and finally coming full circle owning and managing our own small guesthouse.

If you have any questions about our travels, Culebra, or living overseas please feel free to contact us! Should you be coming to Culebra (U.S. citizens no passport required) we would love to host you here at the Palmetto Guesthouse and check out Culebra Blog.

A Rookie Entrepreneur Looks Back at Lessons Learned During Year One

Mark — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:02:06 +0000

Are you an entrepreneur? Or do you long to take the leap and become one?

A disclaimer: I have only been at this for a year and realize I still have a TREMENDOUS amount to learn! Especially as I am now working on a new and completely different project and I feel like I am starting anew all over again. I offer up this post with the hope that others might share their experiences as well and we can all learn.

Some background info…

Almost exactly one year ago today a lifelong dream of mine to become a small business owner and entrepreneur was realized. Don’t get me wrong, I hold no misconceptions and I certainly do realize that I did not create a Microsoft like software dynasty, a dynamic online shoe business, or seek venture capital for a bio tech firm.

But, for me, jumping head first into small business ownership was a personal and financial risk taken and a goal heartily pursued and accomplished!

We didn’t officially open the business until September 1^st but the day we signed the mortgage last June is the day that I considered myself no longer an employee but rather, a real business owner and a rookie entrepreneur.

Certainly, I can still remember walking on the tarmac in the Caribbean summertime heat and boarding the small plane from Tortola, BVI to San Juan, Puerto Rico. And that I wanted to savour every detail from the day that we signed the business mortgage and changed our lives. In fact, I vividly remember thinking, “the next time I am on the plane back to Tortola I will own my own business.”

Strangely enough, when we finished signing the papers and all was complete, like the culmination of so many goals, there really wasn’t any fanfare. Only the realization that within a couple of hour’s time we had just amassed a pile of mortgage debt and I had the throat constricting realization that we really had no idea what the hell we were doing…

My Most Important Lessons From the Past Year as an Entrepreneur

When I read about entrepreneurs and their experiences I always want to know two things:

what has been their most important lesson?
what keeps them going?

Instead of going through bookkeeping details, how I deal with customers, and other day to day business functions I thought that it would be most valuable to you if I focused on the key lessons that I have learned from the preceding year.

Listed, in no particular order they are:

Passion – most likely the key element that got you through all of the hurdles just to be able to open your business or pursue your entrepreneurial goal. If you are not passionate it is going to be awfully hard to maintain focus and perspective when things go wrong.

Patience – people will not necessarily work on your schedule and you will also encounter plenty of rude jerks [breath deeply].

Persistence – it can be awfully hard to muster the resolve to call the same office for the fiftieth time for some permit or piece of equipment but you must persist.

Online/Internet return on investment (ROI) can be hard to measure – this one is funny…for the business about 75% of our customers come directly from our website and TripAdvisor. What I am really referring to is online networking. A couple of months ago I was completely fed up with trying to promote our small business through various activities online. However, when not one but TWO international magazines (Conde Nast Traveler and Islands Magazine) contacted us completely out of the blue for interviews regarding our personal “cubicle to Caribbean” story I once again became a firm believer in the power of personal publishing and social networking. When I inquired as to how they found us, both of the magazine reps stated that they found us through our blog. (Note: I also run culebrablog.com)

Some days are going to really SUCK – this one speaks for itself but, try to maintain your conviction and believe in yourself (also refer to passion, patience, and persistence).

Expect criticism – from your customers, clients, and competition. If you expect criticism then dealing with it head on becomes much easier and you can move on quickly.

You can’t do it all – you have to give in and hire people for projects that you can’t do.

Bonus tip (thanks to marketer extraordinaire Seth Godin) - people will perceive you, your business, or your venture depending on the story that you tell.

Of course there are many more lessons that I have learned but I wanted to leave out the fluff and just get to the plain facts. I must say, that although this past year has required a tremendous amount of hard work, at the end of the day, I am my own boss. And when people ask me what I do for a living I can honesty answer, ‘I own a small hotel in the Caribbean’!

What do other entrepreneurs have to say?

Additionally, because I still have so much to learn and experience as an entrepreneur I decided to seek some words of wisdom from people who have been at this game longer than I have and asked for their input on the following question -

What has been your greatest lesson as an entrepreneur?

Darren Rowse - Internet Kingpin, ProBlogger, and VP of b5 Media

Stick at it, do something useful for people, do something you enjoy.

Tony Hsieh - Online Shoe Store Magnate & Zappos CEO

Follow your passion. Do something you’d love doing even if you never made any money from it.

Naomi Dunford - Home Business Marketing Mogul and Founder of IttyBiz

My biggest lesson has been one of scalability. When I started consulting, I was so enamored with the money I was making that I didn’t realize it was totally unsustainable. If I had a sick day — like the three I took last week — I was totally fucked. Based on the business model I’d created, there was absolutely zero room for error. I mean, hello? I’m home schooling for crying out loud. Things come up!

Now we’re in the process of creating numerous income streams — the SEO School book is one example — that give me some margin when it comes to time and money. Oh, and a bonus lesson: Start before you’re ready. Jump and the net will appear. Whatever cliche you want to use, it’s true. If you wait till you’re totally ready, you’ll be dead and buried before you hang up your shingle.

Terence Chang - Online Entrepreneur

Willing to admit failure and make significant change. Don’t follow the flow, make yourself different from others. Keep the faith.

Sharon Hurley Hall - Entrepreneur and Freelance Writer

Always keep a record of what you decide and what you have to do - memory is unreliable.

Soul Travelers3 - Global Nomad Family and former entrepreneurs

Be bold, fearless and commit 100%…think out of the box.

I have some other BIG entrepreneurial plans coming up soon, but for now it’s your turn. What has been your greatest lesson as an entrepreneur or aspiring entrepreneur?

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39 Things I Have Learned As I Prepare to Turn 40

Mark — Tue, 27 May 2008 02:14:19 +0000

How old are you? What are some of the life experiences that you have been through and what have YOU learned?

I don’t turn 40 for another month and half but while I was out running yesterday I started to think about all of the stuff that I have witnessed, learned, and been exposed to during my thirty nine years.

There are many people out there who are far more sage than I ever will be! However, one thing I really enjoy is to hear about, and learn from, what other people have experienced. As I head towards forty I thought I would just jot down some of what I have learned.

Please note, the ideas expressed below are purely my own and are not meant to offend in any way, but they are a reflection of what I have observed during the reality of my life thus far.

You can’t remove an arrow from someone’s head in the middle of the rainforest with a pair of Swiss army knife tweezers.
If you don’t believe in yourself chances are nobody else will either.
No matter what you do or how nice you are some people are NOT going to like you and that’s okay.
Acts of kindness can come from people you hardly know.
Public speaking is easy, effectively communicating your message to an audience takes hard work.
At the end of the day there will always be someone who is more intelligent, more creative, and better looking than you are so just do the best you can.
If you are not living in a war torn, drought ridden, famine experiencing country you should consider yourself lucky and be thankful every day.
If you don’t like yourself today start tomorrow by acknowledging that you are a good person.
Although it can be intimidating it’s okay to pursue your OWN path to happiness.
Travel will change you in ways you never expected.
Failure sucks! But, not trying sucks even more.
Some of the nastiest human beings I have ever met presented themselves as all knowing religious zealots (I am not saying ALL).
In most circumstances being a good listener is much more important than being a good talker.
Flying through a mountainous country in a small old plane with rain and wind pouring through the windows can make a grown man want to kiss the ground.
Sooner or later you must be willing to take a risk.
Bad things can happen to good people.
Your pet just might be smarter than than you are.
Four legged rats are a fury nuisance, it’s the two legged rats that are dangerous.
Shitty jobs can be a great motivator.
Even a little bit of exercise everyday can make you feel better.
You can’t take your money with you when you go so go ahead and take that trip, sabbatical, or mini-retirement.
Some days are just not going to be pleasant and that is where goals and passion can help you to maintain focus.
There are some incredible, amazing, and truly inspirational people out there.
Often it will be the people who have the least that will offer you the most.
If you have a great idea, but feel overwhelmed and intimidated at the possibility of implementing it, don’t be afraid to collaborate with others.
Life is short, quit making excuses and get on with it.
Frustration is worse than fear.
Many people will expect you to fail. They don’t necessarily want you to fail, but they do not believe you will succeed, either.
It is impossible to be productive if you spend all day reading about how to be productive.
It’s not fair but, success in most circumstances comes down to who you know and not what you know.
Some goals take a long, LONG time to achieve.
Never turn your back on the ocean (…it can break your ankle!).
It does not take that much effort to be nice to someone.
Buying more stuff does not necessarily lead to more happiness.
If you get a funny feeling about someone right off the bat then your initial gut feeling is usually correct.
Clinical depression and mental illness aside, we have the ability to make a conscious choice every day to be happy or miserable.
We have the power to believe.
Somewhere in your late 30’s your days of effortless running (for exercise) start to decline.
Racism, xenophobia, homophobia, and fear and hate mongering SUCK! There is no place for it in society.

How about you? What have you learned thus far in your life…please educate me as I look forward to turning forty.

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