Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 213

How Do You Stay Fit on the Road?

Thank you to Erin Holmes-Bender for including me in her Travelocity article: 10 Creative Ways To Stay Fit While You Travel

If you fear to step on the scales after returning from your vacation, don’t! Erin Bender of Explore With Erin has gathered some of the fittest travel bloggers in the world to help you stay fit while you travel. And not in the usual “watch what you eat” way either. These methods are anything but boring.

There is no doubt that vacations usually have us returning home a little plumper. Trying local cuisine, sipping on crazy milkshakes, spending the days on sun beds and cocktails by the pool do not help our waistlines. In fact, it’s incredibly hard to stay fit while you travel. So in 2017, I made a conscious effort to stay healthy, even while traveling and lost nearly 60 pounds.

I discovered a ton of ways to stay fit while you travel. Ones you’ve probably already used. Get a hotel with a gym, drink water, walking tours, avoiding taxis, yoga classes, wellness retreats and more. You’ve most likely read about them all. But then I discovered there were people staying fit in more creative ways. Travel is no excuse for these 10 traveling pros.

Pack A Hula Hoop

Lisa from We Said Go Travel always travels with a Hula Hoop!

“Before I left on a year excursion to travel around South East Asia, I signed up for a hula-hoop class for adults. I had no idea that I would travel the world with a collapsible hoop in my backpack. At first, I started to hoop for up to 30 minutes listening to disco tunes and developed rock star abs! Now, I have hooped in a jail in the Philippines to Gangnam Style, on a bar in New Orleans at Coyote Ugly and on the beach at sunset in Oahu. It is a great way to meet new friends and stay fit while you travel!”

READ THE FULL FITNESS ARTICLE

Enjoy my videos below of my travels with a hula hoop in jail at the Philippines, in Oahu at sunset, on the bar at Coyote Ugly,  in the Solomon Islands and Dominican Republic.

VIDEO: Puerto Princessa, Philippines: Hula Hooping Gangnam Style with Iwahig Dancing Inmates

VIDEO: Hooping on the BAR at COYOTE UGLY in New Orleans!

VIDEO: Hooping in HAWAII!

VIDEO: Hula Hoop with me in Paradise at Fatboys in the Solomon Islands

VIDEO: Hoop with me at Amber Cove, Dominican Republic

CLICK HERE for MORE Hula Hooping Videos with LISA!

 

Thank you to Cacinda Maloney for including me in her Travelocity article: Best Places to Visit in the USA in 2017

Scottsdale, Arizona 

Photo by Lisa Niver

Immerse yourself in Scottsdale, Arizona for art, architecture, and hiking. Whether you want to golf, shop or even learn to surf, this is the place for you. Discover the place that Frank Lloyd Wright called home at Taliesin West and find something for your house at one of the many galleries during Art Walk. Fantastic food, incredible mountains, and stunning sunrises await your visit.

Lisa Niver of We Said Go Travel

 

 

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How to go from City Slicker to Cow Girl

Want to Saddle up with me at Tanque Verde Ranch?

During my first horsemanship fundamentals course, I did not forget to breathe. That happened the following day when I took the same beginning class again. At Tanque Verde Dude Ranch in Tucson, Arizona, I was willing to get back on a horse. I had been terrified as a child when an adult took me riding and cantered on the horse. I had been promised we would only walk. I remember grabbing at her and screaming to get off but she just laughed and kept going. I did not ride again for decades.

Years later, I was again promised that we would only walk. This time I was in Costa Rica and again I was on a horse that was running away with me. My friend, Janine, said, “I cannot get you off of that horse until you stop screaming!” I yelled back at her, “I cannot stop screaming until you get me off of this horse.” Yes Dallas, we had a problem.

I did continue to ride that day in Costa Rica on a decidedly more docile horse but I remained so scared that at one point, my contact lens fell out of my eye and onto my jeans. I was no longer blinking and my contact simply dried up and landed on my leg.

VIDEO:  From City Slicker to Cow Girl at Tanque Verde Dude Ranch

So it was with trepidation that I agreed to try again. Braelyn, the wrangler, helped me get on my horse, Frankie, and explained the basics to myself and four other riders in the arena. We were to walk our horses around some barrels and in-between cones. I was focused on the facts that I was up high in the air and there was no seatbelt on a horse. I did as she requested and walked my horse around the arena. Towards the end of our beginner class, Braelyn came over and asked if I wanted to trot with my horse. I said, “No. Thank you. I am good.” She said, “Everyone else has done it so I just want to know if you want to try it.” I said, “Not today.”

I had no idea that there would be accidental trotting the following day. I showed up the next morning for Horsemanship Fundamentals and reminded Braelyn and the other wranglers that I wanted a nice calm horse. The class that day was much larger and we had two wranglers with us. As the children were in the closest arena, we had to walk on our horses to the next arena. I was told to lean back as we went down the incline so I would stay on my horse. I was scared but I did it and Stetson, my horse, seemed to know what to do. Someone asked me if I audited the beginner class the day before as most people were eager to get to Intermediate Horsemanship or Loping and I was taking fundamentals again.

When Nicole and Courtney told me to walk my horse around the cones, all of a sudden we were going so fast. I kept repeating, “Something is happening!” I did not scream but I was very surprised. Nicole came over on her horse and said, “Breathe. You have to breathe. Take deep breaths down to your pockets. Feel your pockets on the saddle.” I was not sure what happened exactly but Nicole said that my horse knew I was unsure of myself and was taking advantage and went trotting toward the barrel.

I was able to control Stetson during the rest of the session and even noticed how beautiful it was in the desert. I signed up for the afternoon walk ride as I was promised that we would only be walking and there would be no trotting.

When I got off my horse, it was not my most graceful walk back to the room. Another rider told me, “Motrin is your friend. We call it ranch tic-tacs.” I stretched and did not need any painkillers but I enjoyed the camaraderie of ranch life.

I loved when I was at lunch and someone told me, “I am going to saddle up right now so I will talk to you later.” I realized I did not have to go on another ride. I took two classes and I was getting over my fears. But I decided I wanted more time in the saddle to feel more comfortable.

For my first walk ride, my horse, Casey, was not renown as the best behaved. He did not like another horse right behind him or he might kick the offending intruder. He needed his space. I needed a space right near the teacher and I went on this ride right behind Wrangler Taylor. She was the perfect leader for me because she told us all about the cactus and the environment and gave many helpful tips about leaning back when we were going down and leaning forward as we were going up. If I had known we would be traveling up to Cowboy Lookout, I might have chickened out but Casey and I went one step at a time and I remembered to breathe!

The entire team of wranglers was on a first name basis with all 170 horses and extremely skilled in managing the groups of horses and riders. I was working on keeping my heels down and toes up and remembering to enjoy the moment.

I took a class with Hope, the head wrangler, and learned about her journey to the ranch. She and her family used to rescue horses in Oregon and she studied Animal and Comparative Biology of Equine at University of Arizona. Her knowledge about horses was extensive. I learned about King who is a percheron or French Draft Horse and looks like a clydesdale. This giant horse can pull thousands of pounds. I learned that a bigger horse still has the same number of vertebrae in their back so they cannot carry more weight on their backs. The limit for any rider at Tanque Verde Dude Ranch is 250 pounds.

I learned about thoroughbred horses but did not realize I would ride one the following day. These horses are more long legged and built for speed.

Did you know that horses have no muscle below their knee? They only have tendons and ligaments similar to a cow. If your horse has a healthy foot, they are a healthy horse which is why horses need their hooves trimmed and have a “shoe” nailed on. It does not hurt the horse and keeps them safe.

I learned some quirky facts about horses:

*Horses cannot throw up

*There are only male horses at Tanque Verde—-they are all geldings

*Horses do have to lay down to sleep. They can have a nap standing up but must lie down for REM sleep.

For my second walk ride, I was on Sticks, a Thoroughbred horse, and again I walked right behind the wrangler, this time with Sarah. Braelyn made sure I had a good horse and as our group was eleven riders she was with us too.

This time when we got to Cowboy Lookout, I felt very comfortable. My horse was very tall and I was breathing into my pockets. I learned so much about riding and about sitting in the saddle. I can highly recommend Tanque Verde Dude Ranch and being out in the Tucson desert.

There is so much to do at Tanque Verde. I had an evening stroll through the desert with Marcia from the Nature Center and learned about how to use a barrel cactus as a compass, when saguaro grow their arms and which plants are native to Arizona. I met Cal the 86 year old artist who gives the afternoon watercolor class and is part of the evening marketplace once a week. During the evening rattlesnake viper class, I learned that dinosaurs were really more like birds and probably had feathers.

There is something for everyone here. You can fish, swim, hike, play tennis or mountain bike at Tanque Verde. You can participate in Team Penning and round-up cows, you can take a sunset ride or sit on your porch and star gaze. There are private lessons, half day rides and two hour loping rides in the National Park. You can sign up on the website tvrfun or with the manager at dinner or just call the office. You can participate as much or as little as makes you happy.

Personally, I loved watching the sunset when the sky looks like a painting but I also loved the Sunday night homemade bread.  Every day there is a very good new flavor to try like Green Chile and Cheddar, Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia and Honey wheat. Do not miss the Cowboy cookout on Weds or Sat night and taking a horse or mountain bike to Thursday or Sunday brunch at the Old Homestead.

Tanque Verde Ranch is 2400 feet above sea level so it is cooler than Phoenix. It is about 70 miles from the Mexican border and eight hours drive from Los Angeles. There are over one million people living in Tucson but you could never tell that at the Ranch.

Spending time at Tanque Verde is a great way to relax. The desert air, amazing sunsets and fantastic food are a terrific complement to the wonderful wrangler team and all the amazing activities. The children looked well cared for during their horseback riding lessons and activities and were thrilled to eat their meals in the kids-only room in the dining hall.

Thank you to the entire team at Tanque Verde Ranch for taking such great care of me! I cannot wait for another chance to saddle up! Hope to meet you riding into the sunset someday soon.

Did you know We Said Go Travel does TRAVEL PLANNING?
Do you want to go to your first Dude Ranch?
Contact Lisa to plan your next amazing adventure.

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Are YOU ready to be part of Fat Girls Traveling?

How does Annette Richmond promote
the Body Positive Movement?

Annette Richmond is the Travel, Fashion and Lifestyle writer behind the blog  From Annette With Love.  She is also the creator of Fat Girls Traveling. She’s currently a contributor at the Huffington Post and Ravishly. This self-proclaimed Fat Girl is a staunch supporter of the Body Positive Movement. She and her Fat Girls Traveling Instagram and Facebook Groups have recently been featured in Teen Vogue, Allure, Self and Shape Magazines. There is still space for the first summer at FAT CAMP! Do you want to go? First you need to join the Fat Girls Traveling Facebook Group and then you can register!

1.)Where was the first place that you traveled that made you think WOW—travel is amazing (think history book come to life or …..)

My first international trip was to Europe. My first stop was Paris and I’d always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower and the Palace of Versailles. The Eiffel Tower was great, but Versailles transported me into a different world! I had never seen such attention to detail. The gardens, the rooms, the walls, the chandeliers. It was magnificent and grandiose, like nothing I’d ever seen before or since. Albeit, I am a history nerd, but what girly girl doesn’t dream of becoming a princess and living in a castle? Visiting Versailles was a dream come true and the start of an epic life adventure filled with travel.

2.)If you had unlimited resources, where would you go and what would you do?

That’s a difficult question to answer. But I guess I would visit every country in the world and take my mom with me. I’ve heard of Around The World Trips and that sounds tempting. I have friends who are on quests to see every country in the world, but I honestly don’t think I have enough time or money to do that. But if I had unlimited resources, that would be at the very top of my list!

3.)What were you afraid to do and how did you find the courage to overcome it?

Although I’d been planning an eight month trip through Southeast Asia, weeks before my trip anxiety started to set in. I was homeless as a child, so giving up my apartment and giving away all of my possessions before embarking on this Asian Adventure brought some of those feelings up for me. Like, what would happen if I ran out of money? Where would I go once I returned to the States? How long would it take me recoup all of the things I was so eager to give away? Then it hit me, I would figure it out if and when those issues arose. That stressing over the future was not benefiting me in anyway. If anything, it was preventing me from enjoying the time with friends and family that I wouldn’t see for months. I realized that I’d already had nothing and I was ok. Then I had nearly everything I thought I wanted and needed, and I was ok. I knew it was time to take the biggest risk of my life and I wasn’t going to let fear ruin it for me. Fear of the unknown can often keep us comfortable but unhappy. I’ve been traveling through Asia for five months and I’ve never been happier. I still don’t know what would happen if I ran out of money or where I’ll go if and when I decide to return to the states for good. And I’m ok with that.

4.)What apps do you use regularly that make your life easier?

A few of the apps that make life abroad easier are:

Maps.me is a great resource for offline directions when you don’t have data or wifi.

Rome2Rio is essential in Southeast Asia because it’s all about haggling here. With Rome2Rio I can get walking or public transit directions. It also tells me how much a taxi would be for any location I’m heading. So when it comes time to haggle, I know if the driver is totally trying to rip me off or not. It just makes me feel a little more empowered as far as bargaining.

WhatsApp is the app I use to communicate with most of my new friends. They are all from different countries and use it to communicate with people back home. So it’s perfect for that. I also showed my mom how to download it, so we text, talk and video chat there.

I don’t know what I would do without Netflix! I’m completely out of the loop when it comes to most shows, but anything on Netflix I’m probably watching it, have it in my que, or watched it already. It lets me take a little piece of home anywhere in the world.

5.)What place do you wish more people have seen?

I recently traveled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It was a beautiful city with a dark history. A history that so few know about. In the mid 1970’s there was a Cambodian genocide where over 2 million Cambodians were brutally murdered by their own political party the Khmer Rouge. Listening to the harrowing tales while walking through the Genocide Museum, I cried, I was shocked, I was confused. Why didn’t I know about this? Why was this not taught in school? We’d studied the Holocaust, but not this, why? Because America and many other countries were on the wrong side of this conflict. It needed to be swept under the rug and forgotten about, right?

So many things have stayed with me since my visit to Cambodia. One of them was the voice from the audio tour telling me to share this story. To spread the word. To make sure everyone knew about the Cambodian Holocaust. Because if I don’t, if more people don’t know about it, it can so easily happen again. I know this isn’t fun and flowery, but it’s something I wish more people knew about and visiting the Genocide Museum and Killing Fields was life changing.

 6.)Best advice you have been given and by whom?

Years ago I’d had a petty argument with a friend and wanted to talk it over with my mom. After she listened, she told me something that stuck with me. “Some friends are for a reason, for a season or for a lifetime.” At that time I took it to mean that not all friendships last forever. That doesn’t mean that there is any bad blood, it just means that sometimes a friendship runs its course and it’s best to just move forward. Now, I use that analogy for almost every situation, relationships, career, travel. Somethings are meant to last forever and some just aren’t. The most important thing is that you learn from them. No one knows how long anything will last, so treasure it while you have it. It’s okay to mourn something that doesn’t work out as you hoped, but know, if you didn’t get it or it didn’t last, it wasn’t meant to.

7.)When were you surprised by the kindness of strangers on a trip?

I am often surprised by the kindness of strangers, but one incident comes to mind. I went hiking near my hometown. I’d hiked this trail a few times, but with a friend who was more familiar with the area. So I mostly just followed along. The trail was around a manmade lake, but also took you into the redwood forest of Northern California a bit. It was beautiful. Well, I decided to take a friend on a mid-day hike, knowing that it would take 2 hours max. After two hours, I start getting a bit worried. This was my first time leading the way, had I made a wrong turn? Before long the sun was setting. Being in the forest in the dark is never a great idea. There was no cell reception and we were low on water. So we decided to take the next trial and walk to the road. When we got to the road my data was working and I could see that we had walked about three hours away from where my car was parked. We were now near the beach. I tried to get an Uber, but they couldn’t pinpoint our location and because I didn’t know where were, that was a lost cause. We started walking on the side of the road, basically hitchhiking. Eventually a car pulled over, inside was a family visiting from out of state. We asked them where we were and realized how far we’d gone off track. They must’ve seen the look of shock on my face, because they asked where we were headed. I told them where my car was parked and the husband was familiar with the area and offered to give us a ride to a nearby town where we could call an Uber. We squeezed into the car, I in the back seat with the kids and my friend in the trunk. It wasn’t comfortable and I’d never hitchhiked before. I’m not sure if that’s even considered hitchhiking, it was more like they saved our lives. It was another hour before we made it to the gas station where they dropped us. Then another hour and a half before we arrived at the State Park where my car was. When we got there the park was closed. The gate was locked, there was no way in. There was a visitor’s center, but it looked empty. Still, I tried knocking on the door. Hoping that someone was there and could help. After a while, a Ranger opened the door! He asked if that was my car parked in the lot. I told him how we got lost and had to hitchhike and Uber to get back. He made a few calls, then we all jumped into his Jeep. He opened the gates and drove us down to where my car was parked. Once there he took the parking ticket off my car and ripped it up. It was a long, quite ride home. I’d never been so thankful for the kindness of strangers than that day.

8.)What inspired you to travel for extended periods of time or live in a new country?

I’m currently in Southeast Asia for an 8-month Asian adventure. But I decided to go nomad six months before. I moved out of my Atlanta apartment in April and headed to L.A. for Coachella. During the summer, I am the office manager at a summer camp. So I stayed there for 4 months. Then I went to Miami for the first time, took a cruise to the Bahamas then headed up to New York for Fashion Week. After that I went back to the Bay Area to spend time with my family and friends in my hometown before my long trip to Asia. I’ve had a remote job as a Fashion Stylist for over four years, so I’ve been able to travel and work for a while. I also started working as a freelance writer and was able to secure a few stable clients including a few popular media outlets. So, having a stable income is the number one factor for me being able to live abroad for an extended period.

9.)I travel because….

I travel because the more I do, the more I learn about the world and about myself. I meet incredible people, I see life changing sights and put myself in positions where I’m not always in control. I would consider myself a Type A Planner, and I knew that traveling abroad for an extended amount of time would force me to realize that you can’t plan everything. And that even when you do, shit happens and plans change and you have to flexible and spontaneous. Otherwise those little ripples can turn into waves that crash down and ruin your trip. Traveling solo for the last nine months has opened my eyes and my heart to so many possibilities. I’m still Type A, but I’m much more laid back and can really live in the moment. And that’s what life is right? This actual moment. Not the past, not the future, NOW.

10.) My favorite travel or business book is…

I actually don’t think I have a favorite travel or business book. Before I started traveling I did read guides on specific countries and books about branding and public relations. But now, when I read it’s usually fiction or biographies. I read to escape, my head is filled with business ideas and travel plans. I don’t need anymore of those! I actually have friends who are in similar fields that I bounce ideas off of or ask travel advice from, some of them have written travel books. For me, It’s much easier to go to the source or to ask people in similar situations for advice. Then I can just reread Harry Potter in peace.

11.)  How about hotels?  What’s your favorite or one you’d recommend?

I’m honestly more of a hostel girl. Since I mostly travel solo, I prefer to stay in hostels because it’s easier to meet people. There are usually a mix of shared dorms and private rooms. So you can have the privacy of a hotel. But there are shared common spaces like a kitchen, lounge or living room. That’s where you can meet and connect with other travelers. My favorite hostel is Hom Hostel & Cooking Club in Bangkok. It’s in the Sukhumvit area which is central to everything you want to see in the city. It’s also walking distance to two BTS Sky Train stations. They have a full kitchen, so you can cook whatever you want which is perfect for people with dietary restrictions. They also have a delicious free breakfast every morning. A Thai chef comes nightly and prepares what will be for breakfast the next day, so guests can watch him cook

Lastly, can you please recommend a resource for up-and-coming travel writers; this could be a course you know, a book, conference etc. 

More than anything I’d say surround yourself with people who are in a similar field and hopefully more experienced. In a perfect world, you’d find a mentor, but I’ve found some great resources on Facebook like the Female Travel Blogger group and the Black Travel Blogger Chronicles. These are places you can share your work and get feedback along with asking questions. As a blogger, I think it’s important to read other blogs, so I do that often. Not only am I going to my first Travel Blogger Conference this year, I’m speaking at it! I’m super excited to be speaking at the Women in Travel Summit this summer and it will be my first time visiting our neighbor to the north, Canada. Lots of firsts! I think the WITS is a great place for female writers of all experience levels to attend. Because networking is vital. I’ve met so many amazing people through social media but it’s opportunities like this that get us all in the same room.

From dressing top models and celebrities to trend and color forecasting, Annette has had every imaginable job in the fashion industry. Currently, a Senior Fashion Stylist for an online company. she has styled thousands of women. Her goal is to continue to be a voice for Fat Travelers and Fashionistas.

Stay up-to-date on her travels through:

Web site

FaceBook

Instagram

Twitter

Our next Travel Influencer interview will be up in a week, follow the series here.

Stay up-to-date with WSGT via our blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube channel! 

The post Are YOU ready to be part of Fat Girls Traveling? appeared first on We Said Go Travel.

Are You Ready to Reach for Success with RISE and GRIND?

What is the secret to success? How do you know your new idea will work out? The truth is no one knows if something new will be great but you can create a space where you are more likely to succeed. Daymond John shares how he has been able to stay focused on his goals and asks other entrepreneurs for their daily secrets.

What do you do daily to Rise and Grind? Adopt a few strategies from the super star business people interviewed in this new book to turn 2018 into your Rock Star Year! Find out more about the 16 Powerful Stories to Help You Outperform, Outwork, And Outhustle Your Way to a More Successful and Rewarding Life in RISE and GRIND.

Daymond said: “We all get the same twenty-four hours a day, whether we have a million dollars in the bank or a hundred. This book is about how to put those hours to work for you, how to use them to outperform, outwork, and outhustle your way to the top.” This point really hit home with me. I decide where to put my energy and what I will focus on. I can spend my time creating success or being afraid that my plan will not work.

Each person has to choose: “If you want to succeed, you have to put in the work. Remember, these ultra-successful people get the same 1,440 minutes in every day as you do, and there’s plenty you can learn from how they use them…The dream is free. The hustle is sold separately.”

I found wisdom in Daymond’s SHARK Points from his book, The Power of Broke and I have been looking forward to learning his GRIND Points:


Get on it. Get moving.


Repeat. Build a meaningful routine and then stick to it.


Insist on your very best. Life isn’t what you accept, it’s what you negotiate.


Navigate.The key is navigating those larger journeys in life and moving with speed and precision, like a killer shark in the water. Keep our eyes on where we want to get to in life—our goals, our passions, our dreams—and keep moving in that direction with fury and purpose when necessary.


Desire, drive, determination to accomplish the outcomes they set out in front of them.

I found helpful suggestions from the personal stories shared by the entrepreneurs in this book but I especially liked when Daymond talked about his own issues with dyslexia and how more than 1 billion people on our planet live with some type of disability which is more than 15 percent of the world’s population. We all have challenges. We all have things to overcome. Are you willing to put in the work?

I have been working on my issues. In my late 40’s I finally dealt with an eye issue that was undiagnosed in my childhood. I believed that I was clumsy and not athletic and a terrible parallel parker. It turns out there is a reason that these thing which seem obvious and basic to others can feel nearly impossible to me. I literally did not see the same as other people. There was really no way for me to find the tetherball as it came around the pole. I thought I was incapable, it turns out I needed a different kind of help.

As an entrepreneur, I need help as well. Figure out what will put you on the path and then do it. I nearly quit what felt like a million times during eye therapy but I did it and now I know I can accomplish anything. Daymond says: “The key to success comes in recognizing your own little extra something and finding a way for it to lift you instead of bring you down.” I know what I need to do and I am working on my steps and my daily eye exercises.

Daymond talked about recognizing “sometimes you just have to look back to appreciate how far you’ve come…When we’re out on our hero’s journey, and we achieve the reward we believe we’ve been seeking, that’s when we turn and see what it is we’ve accomplished, how far we’ve come.” On my journey, I am amazed with what I created in 2017. I look forward to building even more in 2018 and I will be using the tips from both of Daymond’s books: Power of Broke and Rise and Grind.

I believe Daymond’s book is arriving at the perfect time. As he says, “A U.S. News & World Report poll shows that 80 percent of our resolutions fail by mid-February…remember, when you watched the ball drop on New Year’s Eve, you didn’t resolve to be like everyone else!” How will you keep motivated? I am going to keep reading inspiring books.

Each of the people in Daymond’s book are incredible. I wonder who will be your favorite?

I loved learning about multiple–Grammy winner Carlos Santana’s practices and philosophies. He reads from his favorite books every morning and before bed. He frames his days this way because:

“It’s like when you get in the car, and you make sure the mirrors are all set. You check the driver-side mirror, the passenger-side mirror, the rearview mirror. You make sure they’re set just right for you, so you can see what’s coming from the back, from the left, from the right. It’s all aligned for you so you can protect yourself. What do they say when you’re learning to drive, that you should know what’s going on seven cars ahead of you, and seven cars behind you?”

How do you set your day or your car on the right road? As Daymond says: “We all have our hardships, our issues. For some of us, it’s abuse. For some, it’s poverty or lack of opportunity. For some, it’s learning or physical disabilities. The lesson I get from Carlos is that it’s how you rise above that hardship, how you get past your issues, that shapes you.”

Remember what Santana does: “wake up feeling thankful, and mindful, and joyful—because, hey, might as well greet the day with a song in your heart.” What choices will you make to fill your 86,400 seconds each day in a meaningful way?

I loved when Daymond talks about his Shark Tank success stories. I have learned so much from the show and remember when he made a deal with Brittani and her dad, Al “Bubba” Baker—a thirteen-year veteran of the National Football League (and a three-time Pro Bowler!).

Bubba has said: “I WILL PERSIST until I succeed…You don’t just walk across the line and tackle the quarterback. The opportunities come when you least expect them, and you have to be moving in order to benefit from that opportunity. I had quite a few moves back when I was playing, and I’ve still got a few moves, and a lot of them came from guile and determination. We live by that in our family….Sometimes you can rise and grind, and rise and grind, and rise and grind, and just grind, grind, grind, and nothing happens. And then you have a breakthrough. But if you don’t grind, I can assure you, nothing’s going to go your way, because you haven’t lined yourself up for it.”

Hearing stories of the process it takes for other people to make it to the finish line and figure out their way is helpful because sometimes it looks like it is easy for others and hard for me. It is important to learn what it takes and to know that continuing to focus on my goals and RISE and GRIND will lead me to great accomplishments.

Daymond says there are three basic principles in all of the individuals he profiled in RISE and GRIND:


They believe that what they do matters.


They risk only as much as they can afford to lose.


They focus on what they have, not what they don’t have.

“Success is not a destination to be found, it is an outcome to be made. We rise to the challenges and responsibilities in front of us, and grind to meet them.”

What things can does Daymond recommend to take care of yourself and put yourself in position to thrive? Here is what he found from all his interviews:

they work out on a regular basis—and most hit the gym first thing in the morning, before the day takes shape and time starts running on them . . . • they spend a portion of each day networking—only not in the most obvious ways . . . they keep connected, plugged in, but they’ve each developed a signature style, a way of keeping on top of their contacts that doesn’t feel forced—in other words, they’ve found a way to keep it genuine . . . • they take some time to expand their base of knowledge, to research their market, their customer base, their competitors . . . to stay on top of their business . . . • they set goals for themselves or for their business—writing them down, in a lot of cases, visualizing or internalizing them . . . • they meditate—got to say, I’m endlessly (and, happily) surprised at the number of successful people who find a way to mute the noise of the world, and calm the chaos all around, just to reconnect with their core and their sense of purpose . . . even if it’s only for a few blessed minutes . . . • they delegate—that is, they have come to depend on trusted people around them to help grow their games and scale their businesses, while also allowing them an extra measure of freedom to pursue other opportunities and occasionally step off that moving treadmill they rode to the top in the first place . . . successful people know which tasks to tackle themselves, and which ones to assign to folks who’ll see them through . . . • they have trained themselves to think like an attorney chasing his or her billable hours. What do I mean by that? They manage their time like someone else is paying them for it—which, I guess, they are—but the way that works out is they’re looking to fill their time in meaningful ways. Every chunk of time is accounted for, even if it’s set aside as downtime. Every phone call, every meeting, every strategy session . . . it’s all programmed into their calendars in such a way that they can stay on top of whatever it is they’re doing, whatever it is they’re about to do.

Daymond’s new book is a valuable resource for me. Get your copy today! I am looking forward to meeting Daymond in person in Los Angeles on his book tour! Thank you to Daymond and all the sharks for their show and their books. I have enjoyed them so much!

Lisa Niver, We Said Go Travel

Order your copy of Rise and Grind

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Who are the Top Ten Travel Blogs For Entrepreneurs?

Thank you for including me in the Top Ten Travel Blogs For Entrepreneurs Who Keep Exploring New Business Opportunities!

By Chris Stone January 22, 2018

Travel and entrepreneurship go hand in hand, and there are countless stories where entrepreneurs go on pleasure sojourns, when all of a sudden something clicks in their mind,an inspiration forming a basis for an innovative idea to work upon. For instance,Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks,gleaned inspiration by the coffee shop experience he witnessed in his visit to Italy in 1983,where he perceived the popularity of Espresso bars in Milan, back when he was a director of retail operations and marketing.After coming back from Italy, Howard Schultz some how managed to convince the founders of Starbucks to shift their business model from supplying coffee to fine restaurants and espresso bars to creating a whole exceptional coffeehouse culture for the customers in downtown Seattle.His efforts bore fruit, and now Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, touting 22000 stores globally, over a period of 25 years.

History is abounding with business success stories, which are comprised of the experiences of the people and what they witnessed on their various excursions. People around the world have diverse styles of living, and those who keep on exploring the world through travel, bring not only the wonders of those cultures back home, but also the memories and experiences they had had on the trip.The main challenge associated with travelling is that it requires time and money, and most of the entrepreneurs are pretty busy in their lives, not being able to spare time to leave their business operations for travelling. Internet has somehow made it easier for people to experience many things while perusing at the comforts of their home.

Here we have selected a few people who cannot get enough of travelling, and have come up with stellar blogs for helping travelers and entrepreneurs in experiencing cultures across the universe by just taking out a little bit of time from their busy schedules.

Keith Jenkins

Keith Jenkins was a name to contend with in the banking industry for about a decade before he left it to follow his passion for travelling, since he often felt a void in his life, despite being so ahead in his career. Now he travels around the world and manages his blog, titled the Velvet Escape”.

Here is the sample screenshot from his visit to Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa.

Mia Voss

Mia Voss is an entrepreneur, a brand ambassador, and the ultimate definition of a traveler. Since she returned from a 3 week sponsored trip to Italy, she dove into a full term travelling career, as she loves connecting with new people. Mia has traveled the world from Italy to Austin, from the exotic islands to Americana. She manages her blog with the name “That’s what she said” and shares her trips with her audience who cannot resist virtually visiting these new places with her.

Here is the recent click from her latest trip to Jamaica.

Sabina Trojanova

Sabina Trojanova’s passion for travelling ignited with her moving around to different places where her father’s job got transferred. Now she is obsessed with travelling around the world, experiencing new fashion and veggie food as she describes on her Twitter account. She also has an amazing blog, “GirlvsGlobe”.

Here is an image of Nova Scotia where she recently paid a visit.

Jessica and Laurence

Lawrence and Jessica Norah is the couple that dreams are made of,traveling around the world and blogging about their awe-inspiring journey experiences. People who love travelling can glean amazing tips, stories, and advice for what to do and how to prepare for travelling to these places. Grab all their recent travel stories on their blog, known as the ”Independent travel cats”.

Recent click from their trip to Isle of Wight.

Stefanie Fauquet

Stefanie Fauquet is a lifestyle blogger and family traveler. She resides in the Tampa Bay area with her husband who is also a blogger and her 13 year old daughter. She has launched her blog “Mommy Musings” to share her amazing expedition experiences with travel aficionados all over the world. Here,you can join her on all her amazing excursions.

Here is a click from her recent trip to The Roman Forum.

Iain Mallory

 Iain Mallory became aware of his passion for seeking thrill, adventure and travel when he served in an Army Physical Trainings Corp, where his primary duties involved running the unit’s fitness program and providing instructions for adventurous outdoor pursuits to different corners of the world. He did some mountaineering, skiing and many other adventurous activities, which helped him gain the prerequisite skills to satisfy his passion for adventure. He started travelling across the world to different exciting places where he could indulge in his passions. So if you are fan of visiting mountainous and thrilling places, his blog “Mallory on Travel” is a perfect fit for you.

Here is one click from his trip to Mount Athos.

Johnny Ward

Johnny Ward had always sported an urge for travelling, and if you are determined and keenly want something in life, there is nothing that can stop you from achieving your purpose. Johnny Ward hailed from a poor family and spent the first 13 years of his life on welfare payments. He struggled a lot and moved to England after he turned 18, where he pursued higher studies. He later decided to gratify his passion for travelling and exploring the world. He roams around the world like a free spirit, and takes shots of places he visits and upload them on his blog “One Step 4Ward”, so that his audience can revel in the wonders of the world as well.

Recent click of his visit to Scotia Yemen. 

Becki Enright

 Becki is an award winning writer working at the British Travel Press, in addition to being an avid explorer as well. In her childhood, she used to look at maps wishfully, but did not have enough finances to embark on grand adventures. However, in her teenage years, she went to Russia and Europe on a school trip for learning more about the Cold War history and at the age of 24, she quit wasting her money on short package trips and went on her first independent trip to Vietnam. Currently she roams around the whole world exploring new places, in addition to managing her blog “Borders of Adventures” as well where top class clicks from her recent trips can be found in her blog posts.

Recent click from her visit to Roman City of Spain.

Brian Chesky

Brian Chesky is the Co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, the world’s top accommodation provider touting a presence in 65000 cities and 191 countries. Brian Chesky is lucky enough to glean great opportunities for roaming around the world and meeting different people. He loves blogging, so he shares all of his stories on his profile “Brian Chesky”.

Here is the recent picture of his trip to San Francisco

Lisa Niver

Lisa Niver is a travel expert, artist and entrepreneur.  She has explored 99 countries to date, and is continuously engaging in exploring adventures around the world. Her blog “We Said go Travel” is read by more than 300,000 people each year. She also adds videos about her travel trips which cross over 1.3 million views on three channels Roku, Youtube and Amazon Fire Tv.

Here is the recent click of her trip to Las Vegas

Conclusion

You have perused through the list of top travel blogs for entrepreneurs who wish to travel to new places for exploring business opportunities and ideas. You can also easily get connected with these influencers on their twitter for interacting with them indulging in their latest trip at home.

 Thank you to Chris Stone and Branex for including me and We Said Go Travel on your new list! I am honored to be included.
Lisa Niver, We Said Go Travel

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Will You Love Live & Dine at the Fairmont Miramar?

Did I love Live & Dine 2017?

Yes I did! I explored the tasty food treats with my friends Amy and Latifah as we wandered the beautiful grounds of the Fairmont Miramar  in Santa Monica. Angeleno Magazine from Modern Luxury celebrates the best chefs of Los Angeles and beyond each summer. We ate, we danced, we learned and we took photos with models!

It is always great to see friendly faces! I enjoyed seeing Chef Curtis Stone, Chef Kaleo Adams and of course, Chef Yousef Ghalaini!

Thank you to Fairmont Miramar and Chef Yousef Ghalaini!

VIDEO: Enjoying the Fairmont and FIG!

I loved my photo shoot with Ava Capra from America’s Next Top Model!
Thank you Zach for being in my photo shoot too!
I loved seeing Curtis Stone at Live & Dine and at his restaurant, Gwen, with his brother, Luke Stone.  
One of my favorite rock star chefs is Chef Kaleo Adams at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

VIDEO: Cooking with Chef Kaleo: Best of Beverly Hills

Thanks to Latifah and Amy for spending the day with me at Live & Dine 2017

Being at #LiveandDineLA 2017 with Amy was a blast. The grounds of the Fairmont Miramar are always beautiful, we said hello to some of my favorite chefs and made new friends. Those photos are on the way! Thank you @angelenomagazine for a wonderful day #WhereWilshireMeetsTheSea @fairmontmiramar @fairmonthotels #video

A post shared by Lisa Niver (@wesaidgotravel) on Aug 7, 2017 at 5:20pm PDT

Who was at Live & Dine 2017?

Angeleno’s annual Live & Dine LA event honors the city’s most distinguished chefs and restaurateurs that continue to shape and evolve L.A.’s culinary scene. Guests will be treated to culinary demonstrations prepared by award-winning chefs, which will be paired with delicious wines and artisanal cocktails.

2017 restaurants:

71Above | AR CUCINA | The Bazaar by José Andrés | Baltaire | Baran’s 2239 | The Belvedere at The Peninsula Beverly Hills | The Butcher’s Daughter Venice | Commerson Restaurant | Crateful | Del Frisco’s Grille |Eataly Los Angeles | FIG Restaurant | Georgie Restaurant | Gotta Have S’more | Grand Food & Beverage | Gwen | Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern | Kali Restaurant | Little Fatty | Malibu Beach Inn | Mama Lion |Manuela DTLA | miro | Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse | The NoMad | Obicà Mozzarella Bar | Ocean Prime Beverly Hills | The Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel | Rudy & Hudson | Salazar | salt’s cure | Sawyer | Spice Affair Beverly Hills | Sushi Roku Santa Monica | Tabula Rasa Bar | Woodley Proper| Zen Craft

Delicious drinks and cocktails by

Accomplice Bar | Alexander Murray Scotch | Birds & Bees | Caffe Luxxe |Calyx Gin | Cosa Salvaje Tequila | Fabbri | Jardesca California Aperitiva |KeVita | Lillet | Llanllyr Source | Miraval – Provence | Our/Los Angeles Vodka| Red Bull | San Antonio Winery (official) | Total Wine & More | VIVA XXXII Tequila

Live & Dine partners

Caligenix | CBS Los Angeles | EverSmile | Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica | Fit and Phab | FoodTrients | KCAL 9 | MetroMD Institute of Regenerative Medicine | Neon Beige | NutriFit, LLC | O’Gara Coach | Rapport International Furniture | Soroudi Advanced LASIK & Eye Center | Sotheby’s International Realty – Lindsay Galbraith and Gregory Bega | Vida Emanuel Day Spa & Beverly Hills Beauty Lounge

All guests must be 21+.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Los Angeles Mission.

VIDEO: Live and Dine 2016

Live and Dine 2016

Live and Dine 2014

 

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