Tell me a little about you and your company.
Well, my name is Shieka Doctor and I am the owner of Doctor’s Travel. I am also a wife of 12 years to the hubby and a mom of 3 (ages 15, 11 and 6). We are here for all travel needs but I specialize in planning destination weddings and honeymoons. I also have a travel and lifestyle blog called A Doctor’s Life.
How long have you owned your own business?
Doctor’s Travel has been open since July 2015 but I have always planned trips for my family and friends.
What made you decide to start your own business?
Why not? I have always been the go-to person for my family and friends when it’s time to plan trips. I figured I should branch out and start helping plan for everyone. I also decided to specialize on the destination wedding and honeymoons as I have always helped my mom with décor for weddings.
What was the best advice you received when you started your career?
The best advice was that building a business takes time and heart. If you are in business just to get rich quickly it doesn’t happen that way. You have to put in the work and the time to make it.
What do you wish someone had told you when you started your business?
I think I wish someone would have told me about how many sleepless nights I would have. I expected to not sleep as I also work full-time and I would work on things for the business after work, but for me it’s the fact that I have so many ideas running through my head. I have a hard time turning it all off.
What are the three skills that new entrepreneurs need in order to succeed?
I think the main three would be the ability to learn as you don’t know everything but you can learn anything, time management and organization otherwise you will never get anything done and be willing to take criticism from others.
What routines do you have in place to help your days run smoothly?
I plan my days out the night before by using my planner that is always with me. I’m still old school in that I write in an actual planner instead of using an app. Once I plan out my day I break things down into how long it will take me. I do this since I also work a full-time job if it's something small I tackle it on my lunch hour. I also always have my tablet and notebooks with me and I take them and work while I wait on my kids to get done with after school activities.
How do you find balance as an entrepreneur?
I think I find balance by forcing myself to know when to turn it all off. I learned early on I would burn myself out because I tried to do everything every day. I started scheduling my posts out for the blog and for my social media accounts to free up more time.
What is your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?
The best thing for me is the ability to have something that is completely my one. I can work when I want to and make all the decisions with no input from anyone else.
What do you do to unwind?
I am a huge reader so I make sure I read for at least 20 minutes at night to end my day. I also unwind by hanging out with my family. We are huge tv show watchers and have tons of series we watch as a family.
What is a project that you are working on right now or just finished?
I am currently working on putting together a group cruise trip.
How can people get in touch with you?
You can reach me in multiple ways.
My email is doctorstravels@yahoo.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Doctors-Travel-432770483575705/?ref=hl
IG: http://www.instagram.com/doctors_travels
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorsTravels
Website: www.doctorstravels.com
Blog: www.doctorstravels.org
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