Interview with Wildlife Enthusiast & Nature Lover from Wander with Jo

Today’s Entrepreneurs Talk is with Jo, a wildlife enthusiast and nature lover from the lovely travel blog Wander with Jo. She has been featured on Huffington Post and has visited 30 countries.

She is part of the ongoing Entrepreneur’s Talk series, which features self-employed women across all walks of life following their dreams and living their best lives.

The series has featured ladies from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and America. Some of the previous interviews include:-

• Interview with Michelle Schroeder-Gardner, Founder, Making Sense of Cents
• Entrepreneur’s Talk with Yetunde Jude, Founder of Yelani Hair Care Line
• Interview with Adebisi Adeusi, CEO, Luxury shopper NG
• Interview with Meg Jerrard from Mapping Megan

Entrepreneurs Talk with Jo from Wander with Jo

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

My name is Jo. I am a wildlife enthusiast, nature lover, and a complete adventurist.

What made you start Wander with Jo?

After spending one year in Indonesia, I realized there was nothing else I wanted to do other than being on the road and constantly travel.

My friends had been nudging me to start a blog for over a decade and I finally decided to start one as a hobby/ diary to document my travels.

Wander with Jo soon became a full-blown passion project and a full-time job.

What was your career before you became a travel blogger?

I was working in India’s biggest travel agency – MakeMyTrip as an assistant manager.

Afterward, I became a freelance writer. It was an obvious choice of combining all my passions and skills.

What’s a typical day like for you?

When I am not traveling, it starts with coffee and answering emails. I also work as an outreach manager for top travel brands (connecting them to bloggers and influencers).

This takes up most part of my day, then I hit the gym in the evening. When I return from a solid workout, I spend some time writing posts/ optimizing content or posting on social media for the blog.

My evening ends with a beer and Netflix.

What’s the most challenging thing about being a travel blogger?

Juggling travel and work have been my biggest challenge. When I am on the road, I just want to be outdoors exploring all the time.

Evenings are spent having good conversations over sundowners, leaving little or no time to work. Finding this balance is my goal now.

How do you generate income with your travel website?

There are many different ways that contribute to my monthly revenue – sponsored posts, paid press trips, social media campaigns with travel/lifestyle brands, banner ads, outreach, freelance travel writing, and more.

How do you handle things like insurance and healthcare while traveling full-time?

I always buy travel insurance before starting my trip from India. I usually have to return every few months for a new visa or to finish the work backlog, which gives me a chance to buy new insurance based on my destination.

How do you handle any emergencies that show up while traveling?

Being street smart helps. I have had many misadventures on the road so tackling tricky situations, even though is always a challenge, it makes you more confident of overcoming hurdles on your own. You simply need to find solutions yourself.

Do you plan to retire early or you plan to continue traveling as long as you can?

Slow travel or settling for a few months in a lazy beach destination is the ideal scenario for me. This helps overcome travel burnout while you are actually on the go.

Do you have any favorite travel books?

Many actually but my latest find is from a lovely author I met last year – Meet Me at the Border by Raj Ahluwalia.

Meet Me at the Border by Raj Ahluwalia

If you had to do it all over again, would you do anything differently?

Yes, I would start blogging sooner. Even though I have been traveling for over a decade, my blog is just shy of being 3 years old.

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a full-time travel blogger?

Just do it. I kept this on the back burner for way too long. Travel blogging can bring so many wonderful, unexpected opportunities your way.

Start now! Don’t overthink anything – if travel is your passion, just go for it.

Are you living your best life? Or do you feel you’re still working your way towards it?

Absolutely, I am living the dream  However, it’s always a work in progress and there are always goals to achieve. You are nothing if you have no goals or aims in life. Aim for the stars.

You can find Jo online and follow her adventures at Wander with Jo. If you have any questions for Jo, do ask in the comments section. 

Interested in starting your own travel blog? Have a look at this free Blogging Basics Blueprint to jump-start your business brain. 

A common trend across a lot of the Entrepreneur’s Talk series is that the ladies wish they’d started earlier, including me.

Like I always say, there’s never a time like the present to get going with a plan. If you have something in your mind you’ve always wanted to do, now is the time to start planning for it.

Don’t delay. Don’t procrastinate. Just start.