These days, I find myself up in the middle of the night more often than not (thanks to a growing toddler).

And last night at 2am, I found myself thinking back to 2014.

At that time, I was desperate to create a life I actually loved..

..because sitting in a financial planning office for 45+ hours a week did not feel like living.

Around that time, I took my first trip abroad with a friend who also wanted more than the rat race and a job that didn’t light her up.

We planned everything. Every hostel, every train, every route.

The planning was exciting, but the trip itself changed my life.

It felt like the first time I woke up.

I woke up from the idea that I had to live a cookie-cutter life. That I needed a “stable” job, a house, a partner, retirement, and only then could I enjoy my life.

I remember thinking during that trip, “Well, I better soak this in, because I probably won’t be able to do this again for at least five years.”

Even if I could travel sooner, it would have to fit into whatever vacation time my job allowed.

Two weeks per year. 80 hours. And out of 2,000+ hours worked each year, that's just 4% of my life.

Insane.

Yesterday, I was listening again to one of my favorite books, You Are a Badass at Making Money, and the author talks about how we’re living on a floating rock hurtling through space.

When you zoom out like that, it makes you wonder…

How did we decide it was normal to enjoy this one precious life only 4% of the time?

That’s what I woke up to on that first trip.

I realized I couldn’t go back to the life I had before. I needed something more.

And no, I’m not special. I wasn’t born with a trust fund.

My mom was a nurse for 44 years. My dad worked in the library at the University of Minnesota.

Growing up, we took a trip about once every five years because that’s what we could afford.

I’m grateful for that upbringing. But I also knew there had to be another way.

And that’s why I pursued travel blogging.

It’s why I’ve spent the last decade learning everything I possibly can about this opportunity, and building a life that once felt completely out of reach.

At first, the people in my life didn't *really* support my goal of being a travel blogger. I heard a lot of,

"Why don't you get a real job?"

or

"Get it out of your system now because you won't be able to do that when you have kids."

And if you're hearing those things from people around you, I want you to know you're not crazy.

I think it’s crazier to believe that life should be something we enjoy for just 4% of the year, and grind through the other 96%.

Travel blogging was never straightforward for me. There were huge ups and downs, especially because I didn’t have a mentor, a course, or anyone showing me the right next move.

But what kept me going were the success stories.

Proof that someone out there had figured it out, which meant maybe I could too.

So, if you're anything like me, I've got some success stories for you to read through.

These are all students of my course, Scale Your Travel Blog (now called Scale Your Blog 2.0),

and you may have read a few of them since they were all previously broadcast via email.

But I think reading through success stories more than once can push you to take that first step. To really believe anything can be accomplished, no matter what obstacles stand in your way.

Travel Blogging Success Stories

​Success Story #1​

​Success Story #2​

​Success Story #3​

​Success Story #4​

​Success Story #5​

​Success Story #6​

​Success Story #7​

​Success Story #8​

​Success Story #9​

​Success Story #10​

​Success Story #11​

Scale Your Blog 2.0: Course

And if you’re sitting there wondering how to actually do this yourself, I wanted to share this too, since we've had a LOT of questions about Scale Your Blog 2.0 over the past two weeks.

Our coaching program is currently closed for enrollment, but you can still join us inside the course and community through the course-only option.

Inside, I teach the Email-First Blogging Framework, which is the only strategy I’ve seen consistently work long term without depending on algorithms you don’t control.

Enrollment for the course-only option will be closing soon.

If you want to build a sustainable blog that actually lasts, you can learn more here:

>> Scale Your Blog 2.0: The Email-First Blogging Framework Course & Community Option​

*Note: If you decide later that you want to upgrade to the coaching program once it opens again, we will credit 100% of what you paid for the course-only option toward your upgrade.

We also give our students the first opportunity to join before opening it to the public.

Win $1,000 For Activating Travelpayouts Drive

Quick heads up!

You might remember I shared Travelpayouts Drive with you recently as a way to monetize your travel content more easily. Now there is another reason to turn it on!

Starting February 16, they are running a Drive Giveaway where you could win $1,000 just for activating the tool and using it on your site.

To enter, enable Drive by March 8 and get at least 10 bookings through it by April 5.

If you do both, you will be entered into a drawing on April 10 where five bloggers will each win $1,000. If your blog is getting traffic or you are preparing for the busy spring travel season, this is an easy way to boost your earnings and have a shot at the prize.

Have a great week!

Laura