Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Saper-Bloom.
Hi Lisa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been a Certified Life Coach since 2005. Twenty years ago, Coaching was not yet a buzzword. I studied with the highly respected, accredited, Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. Back in 2005, Coaches didn’t work from virtual spaces. Coaching was a new concept. And the term “coach” wasn’t well known. All of that said, I struggled to find my way as a Coach. I did have clients. I did find work. But it all centered around health, which I have a passion for, but most others seemed to make excuses for.
Throughout the years, my husband and I had pets we did not trust with others. We had job schedules that did not align with the same opportunities for time off. And Steve, my husband, slowly lost interest in travel. Maybe more honestly, he never truly had a big interest (outside of concert events and national parks).
I, on the other hand, grew more and more into traveling. In fact I used traveling to overcome what I refer to as a midlife crisis 13 years ago, which became my first international (other than going down to Mexico, which is just across the border from Arizona) trip! I decided at the time that I could either downward spiral, or do something bigger than me. That was the pivotal moment I decided to journey to Uganda (via London, with a 5 day safari in Kenya), helping women with AIDS, who were about to give birth, through yoga, massage, and aromatherapy!
Once you decide to do a trip like that on your own, Solo Travel just becomes natural!
Now, Solo Travel for women has become a movement. While I never thought of it as such, this is what I find: There are two kinds of women when it comes to Solo Travel. The first, women like myself, who jump right into it! The other, women who, for a variety of reasons, fear Solo Travel.
It is my passion for both Coaching and Solo Travel that I decided to merge into becoming what I refer to as a Solo Travel Coach! I want nothing more than to help the women who fear Solo Travel, to get going!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It depends on how you look at it. Considering I have been a Life Coach since 2005, but never really had a niche, you can say it took 20 years in the making.
However I choose to look at it like this: virtual coaching sessions did not exist 20 years ago, and solo travel was not the same as it is today. Both aspects needed time to evolve.
Launching this business a year ago has definitely been a smooth transition at this point! Social media allows for connections! Podcasts allow for a greater audience! Websites make financial transactions seamless, taking some of the more awkward side of business out of the equation.
The one thing I do struggle with is authenticity of others, which is why I love Voyage Phoenix Magazine! You come from a person-centered space, which is the same space I come from. It’s not all about media numbers (numbers take time to build) and how we are doing as “influencers”. It’s about the story, journey, and mission to help others succeed.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I consider this business a creative business. Meaning, I created something out of nothing. I married two of my greatest loves in life, travel and coaching. The creative side of me took full ownership over content creation of my website. All of the content and photos, including the background (sand from my solo trip to Mexico) are photos I took on solo trips! I wanted my website to be 100% authentically me! I did not want to hire someone to try to understand me. Instead, I let my own creativity flow into what you see today.
In addition, I created my own, proven, unique, three-session coaching product! This product is how I became 1 2 3 Go Solo! While these sessions were built on classic coaching principles and tools, I created them to meet the needs of women who desire solo travel, but hold themselves back for a variety of fearful reasons.
In Session 1 we identify the fears, diving into your hopes and dreams of solo travel. We uncover what excites you! And together, tackle any fears you have. This is where the adventure begins! In Session 2, we keep the momentum going! This is where the research, planning and solo steps get FUN! By Session 3, you are confidently stepping into your solo journey, whatever that looks like to you. Your first experience doesn’t have to be a month in a different country! For you, it may be as simple as exploring your own town on your own and working your way into the bigger world!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
You cannot beat the weather in Phoenix between October and April! Originally from Chicago 36 years ago, I have Chicago sports running through my veins! Living 20 minutes from Sloan Park, the Chicago Cubs Spring Training facility, is a true blessing every spring! I am also 20 minutes from great hiking and only two hours from the changing of the seasons! All of this draws major crowds throughout my favorite months. With that, traffic and pollution are what I like least.
Pricing:
- My pricing is very different from other Coaches today. I do not feel a need to overcharge someone just because I can. I like to be affordable, especially being on the front end of travel.
- $100/session
- $275/bundle
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.123gosolo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/123gosolo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/1-2-3-Go-Solo/61572977905275/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-saper-bloom-986a31340/
