"Make sure that you know your business from top to bottom including tasks that you do not plan on doing" with Dr. Terika L. Haynes

Dynamite Travel, LLC is a five-star rated luxury travel consultancy that has been providing travel planning service excellence to clients for over a decade. Dynamite Travel was founded by Dr. Terika L. Haynes in 2008. Dr. Haynes, a savvy business professional, sought out to create a company that would not only assist customers with purchasing travel services and products but would also assist customers with creating unique travel experiences. As such, Dynamite Travel, LLC is a company dedicated to creating unforgettable vacation experiences and making sure that each client’s experience with Dynamite Travel is So Dynamite!

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I have a background in healthcare administration, education, consulting, and sales. While my background is pretty diverse, it has worked to my advantage as a business owner.  

What inspired you to start your business?

I initially started working as a travel advisor to earn extra money to address my student loan balance. After entering the field, I discovered how much I enjoyed the travel industry and being my own boss. As such, I decided to expand my business and work as a full-time entrepreneur.

Where is your business based?

My business is based in the Orlando area; however, I work with clients all across the US as well as internationally. 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

I did not start as an apprentice or have a travel industry mentor when I started, so I had to work that much harder to teach myself about the travel industry. I took many courses online and attended workshops and seminars. I engaged in professional development courses that allowed me to become certified in many different areas within the travel industry. I also attended local and national conferences and networking events to build my brain trust and gain mentors. I traveled extensively to experience properties firsthand and also to establish local contacts in various destinations.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

Social media has been very beneficial and effective in raising awareness for my business. I am grateful because this is a free tool and all it requires is your time. Word of mouth referrals from clients, client loyalty and testimonials have also been invaluable to our company. 

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

Start-up costs have been a major challenge. You can have many great ideas and solid strategy but without capital it can be difficult to bring your plans to fruition. Also, I entered an industry that I did not know much about from a business standpoint so there was a large learning curve on how to manage a business in the travel industry. I’ve learned to take a step-by-step approach to my goals so that the capital requirements do not seem as overwhelming. Each year I create an annual plan for goals I want to achieve along with a budget with step-by-step objectives and metrics. I also learned to travel more and experience things firsthand  and that has helped tremendously with learning the travel industry and making invaluable connections. 

How do you stay focused?

I use various planners - both electronic and an old school planner that I can write in. I keep my goals on a notepad that I can see frequently. I try to exercise regularly as it helps me to declutter things in my mind. I remember that I am a role model to my daughter and others and use leading by example as a reason to stay focused.

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?

Customer service is very important to me. I try to differentiate my business form others by providing them with high-quality service. From timely responses to personalized packages in the mail I focus on the ‘little things’ that other companies may miss. 

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Social media has been my most effective marketing strategy. I use social media to highlight trips and adventure as well as client testimonials.

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

Make sure that you know your business from top to bottom including tasks that you do not plan on doing. I’ve heard many people say “I plan to outsource xyz” and that’s great but I think that you should still have a basic/fundamental understanding of everything related to your business. It helps you as the owner to fully understand how everything operates and is connected. Knowing the entire business from top to bottom also helps you to be an excellent trainer to employees that you hire. 

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

I really like the ‘4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferris’. While I don’t think the book was exactly applicable to my business and industry it really made me pause and think about ways to further automate my business and do a better job at balancing work and life. It provided numerous tips that I was able to apply immediately and benefit from them. 

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

Zapier has become one of my top business tools. I love it because it allows me to automate various types of tasks that I no longer have to do myself or hire someone else to do. Zapier saves me time and money. 

Who is your business role model? Why?

I can’t say that I have just one role model. I’ve had some fantastic role models and mentors over the span of my career stemming from various industries that have all helped to shape me into the business leader that I am today. They all deserve their flowers and I’d be remiss to name just one. 

How do you balance work and life?

I try to set daily boundaries and stay true to my work hours. These have adjusted over time as I’ve learned the importance of having a true work-life balance. I try to leave the evenings and weekends free to spend time with my family, rest, and recharge.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

I absolutely love hot yoga! It has many physical and mental health benefits. 

What do you have planned for the next six months?

Due to COVID-19 the travel industry has been severely affected. Over the next six months, I will be pivoting the business to focus more on luxury domestic vacation packages as well as our products that we offer until clients resume to traveling internationally. 

How can our readers connect with you?

Your readers can connect with me at @dynamitetravel on all social media outlets, at www.sodynamite.com or info@sodynamite.com