Daily Inspiration: Meet Una Wirkebau

Today we’d like to introduce you to Una Wirkebau.

Hi Una, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As an entrepreneur many years back, I found that many communities did not have a strategic plan. Being a business owner choosing to open in a particular location, it was imperative for the success of my business, that the community be engaged in forming a plan around marketing, tourism, business, and economic development. This turned into contract positions with cities and counties over 2 decades ago.

Locations like Fairbanks, Alaska, Cannon Beach, Oregon, and Cortez, Colorado Consulting have provided me with incredible opportunities around the globe. I worked for a few years as a global liaison with Tourism Australia, helped Plovdiv Bulgaria prepare for being chosen as the Capital of Culture, and have written for several news outlets in Spain. Currently, I am working with the City of Winslow, facilitating economic, business, and tourism development for the region.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I have never known the safety net of a guaranteed paycheck with retirement funds and healthcare automatically taken care of.

Having to chase your next gig, and having to sort through the challenged US healthcare system, is never a smooth road. But the payoff of being your own boss, making your own hours, and choosing when and where you work, has been worth the effort.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have always been passionate about being a voice for those who do not have one because they don’t know how or because of their location because of poor leadership or educational challenges. There are a lot of reasons why entities and individuals struggle. My superpower is the ability to connect the dots, to make connections where none were in the past. Providing the clarity of a path forward for municipalities or creating a business plan which is more inclined to offer success for the individual. Working as a consultant helps me help others.

I also offer @AccordingtoUna, which is a website/SM about travel and lifestyle, offering stories of travel and life that are set to inspire those who feel trapped in their current circumstance, providing a glimpse into a world of wonder which is open to anyone willing to get outside their comfort zone. I was a “digital nomad” long before the word was coined. Being 50 and solo when I began sharing my travel insight, older than most, heading out across the globe on my own – has been able to help hundreds of want- to -be- travelers and entrepreneurs over the years.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I am a voracious reader, which I do for leisure, not necessarily to help me do my best, other than offering an escape and education into another world. For travel, I do have a number of apps I use and tips and tricks for the best deals. But for the most part, I tend to not be overly travel-structured, and will not have my plans set in stone. Rome2Rio is my favorite by far, to help understand distances and ways to travel/time between one location and another. I also try to always book directly for accommodation.

Apps like Booking.com and Expedia take a good portion of the funds paid to a location. I will use these websites to find a couple of options, then book directly, if this is available. I have taken groups to many global locations, and keeping these groups small and intimate is key to their success as well as providing a checklist of items to bring, and only using carry-on luggage. Depending on the location I will also research blogs and find Facebook group pages on that specific area to get a better feel for the location, as well as encourage my group travel folks to do the same prior to departure.

Pricing:

• Personalized trips – dependent on group and location
• Content creation – varies per piece, avg $75 per hour
• Project management – varies with a min. of $5k
• The business start-up or expansion – varies.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.accordingtouna.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accordingtouna/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/accordingtouna