August 2020 - Not Your Average Gal

Not Your Average Gals are kickass, blazing-their-own-path, independent-minded, free-thinking, kind-hearted and all around wonderful humans beings. We learn a lot about ourselves from the people we choose to look to for inspiration or friendship. I'm excited to introduce you to some of them.

World, meet Jen of Jen on a Jet Plane. I became kindred spirits with Jen while living in South Florida and following her life back then of balancing being a full-time lawyer while also traveling the world.

She used to live on the west side of Florida and I’d often see her post about her east side road trips to my side of town. She gave me plenty of things to do even in my own city that I didn’t even know about.

But she doesn’t live in Florida anymore.

In fact, she’s not even practicing law full time anymore.

Get this.

She quit being a full-time lawyer, moved to Puerto Rico and (before COVID) travels for a living educating the masses about how they can work remotely and do the same.

She’s now a #1 Amazon best selling author, TedX speaker and TikTok extraordinaire.

I’m so incredibly grateful Jen is sharing her story with me. She’s most definitely a Not Your Average Gal you’ll enjoy learning from. Let’s go!

Jen Ruiz
Jen on a Jet Plane, Solo Female Traveler & Entrepreneur

What's your passion—the thing that makes you a Not Your Average Gal?

I love to travel the world solo and on a budget, and help others do the same.

When did you start this passion?

In 2017, I set out to take 12 trips in 12 months while employed full-time as an attorney before my 30th birthday. While I was professionally accomplished, I felt like I was lacking personally since I had failed to acquire a husband or start a family before the milestone birthday.

I’d tried countless dating apps and websites but the interactions all left me feeling depleted and devalued. So instead, I quit dating altogether and focused on making my travel goal a reality.

I ended up taking 20 trips in 12 months, finding deals that were too good to pass up, like a $38 flight to New Zealand and $16 flight to Ecuador. I wrote a book about finding cheap flights that become a #1 Amazon bestseller and 2018 Readers’ Favorite award winner. After that, I decided to quit practicing law and pursue my passion of traveling and writing. I’ve since given a TEDx talk about the power of flying solo, published a second book that cracked Amazon’s top 150 list overall, and have been feature by The Washington Post, Huffington Post and ABC News.

Do you make any income with your business?

My books provide me with a steady stream of passive income through Amazon royalties every month. I launched a companion course on affordable travel that did well and have also worked to monetize my blog by learning more about SEO best practices and increasing organic traffic to my site.

Do you have a â€œday jobâ€ that is different from your passion or business?

I quit my “day job” but I teach English online in the mornings to help pay the bills. It started out as a side gig and then became ideal when I transitioned to the digital nomad life as the pay is reliable and the hours are flexible. I can teach anywhere with decent WiFi.

What lead you to your current path? (What was your previous job or background or experience that got you to where you are today?)

I used to work at a nonprofit law firm, and I enjoyed my job. I had great coworkers and a sense of purpose. However, I had to fight with people on a daily basis. Not a day would go by that I didn’t get stressed out or irrationally angry, and it didn’t seem sustainable. I practiced law for 5 years before I decided to make the switch.

In pursuing something less than conventional, did you face any pushback from family, friends or even strangers? If so, how did you deal?

Surprisingly, my friends and family were very supportive. I even had a coworker buy me a book for Christmas about the business of being an author with the inscription, “Go ahead, be happy.” I can’t tell you how much that meant to me.

What are 3 things that you've gained from doing what you love and perhaps going against the norms?

I’ve learned to enjoy life in all its stages, instead of wishing I could fast forward to the next.
I’ve learned to be happy for my friends instead of resentful or envious that everyone I know is getting married or having a baby except for me.
Lastly, I’ve learned that the world is filled with experiences that can make you feel whole, and that kindness and a smile can surpass all language barriers.

Tell us something about yourself people would be surprised to hear!

I’m left handed, I took Chinese for three years in high school but can’t speak a lick of it, and I was once invited on stage to be David Copperfield’s magician’s assistance. Hobby-wise, aside from traveling and writing I love to read and get lost in completely non-productive books like a YA series or romance novel. Karen Moning’s fever series got me through law school — it’s a guilty pleasure!

Are there any words of advice you can offer readers who struggle creating their own path?

Focus on what you have instead of what you’re lacking. I didn’t have a boyfriend, husband, children or even dog, but that meant that I had no one to tie me down, no obligations and complete freedom to go wherever I wanted. There’s always an upside if you’re willing to find it.

Any favorite mottos or quotes that you live by?

“The quicker you let go of old cheese, the sooner you find new cheese.”
– Spencer Johnson, author of “Who Moved My Cheese?”

“The best adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.”
– Oprah

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
– Mark Twain

Be sure to follow all of Jen's adventures here:

Bolding throughout article is my own emphasis.

Sneak attack! Caught working on a layover in the lounge.

Oh God, the dreaded Facebook group invite. The one inviting you to another virtual party for jewelry, skin care, make-up, nail kits, magnetic eyelashes or what were those leggings called that everyone swore by but ended up being a total scheme and women lost thousand upon thousands of dollars…? LulaRoe!

Often when we talk about small businesses, these multi-level marketing businesses come to mind. Most likely because they are so in our face in across social media.

It certainly feels like everyone is selling something or has an ulterior motive when reaching out via direct message when I haven’t seen you in 20 years. I’m looking at you, acquaintance from middle school gym class.

It’s great that so many people have enjoyed the MLM field and I don’t want to bash the enthusiasm that is involved in that world (seriously, these women are often at a 10 when I need them at a 2). We support these friends, acquaintances (or rando mom I just met at my niece’s soccer game), by saying yes or kindly saying no. A Like on a page, joining their group or buying their products is how to support their adventures.

But, for sanity’s sake, those MLMs are not what I’m talking about when I refer to supporting small businesses.

(In fact, the darker side of MLMs has been published time and time again. I encourage you to read more about them here and here.)

When we talk about small businesses, we are referring to your friend who is a graphic designer on the side or sister that started selling products on Etsy or nephew that has a photography business or grandma that finally turned her passion into a brick-and-mortar bakery! Snickerdoodle cookies for the win.

We are talking about businesses that are not a subsidiary or associated with an overarching corporation that cuts the paychecks. We are talking about the blood, sweat and tears of starting from scratch and creating a product or service of your own.

It’s scary shit.

I’m a little over 2 years into running my own business and I’m still learning about some silly mistake that cost me money or figuring out marketing myself and my services. It’s a constantly evolving game that takes patience and grit. Pursing your lips grit. Big girl balls grit.

Grit.

So how do you support your friend with grit?

While discussing my business with friends and family, many often ask how it’s going—which BAM!—is the first on this list below. But sure as shit, the follow up question usually involves how they can help more if I open up that I’d like to add more clients or I’m struggling.

These tips below are a godsend to that friend crafting away in the evening to get another product out, writing witty words to attract more clients or holed away creating another masterpiece she hopes someone sees (and buys!) in time to make rent.

How You Can Support Your Friend’s Small Business

1) Ask how they’re doing.

It really is the simplest way you can support your small biz pals. I’m happy to talk about how things are going because 1) I’m an open book which means I will tell you about the delicious mac ‘n cheese I had standing my kitchen pantsless during my lunch break and 2) It keeps the people updated!

Going a step further is helpful too. Ask about their favorite client. Ask about any project wins they’ve had lately. Ask about how sales are going for the new product launch. Heck, ask about if they have anything really special they’re working on. As business owners, there’s typically 18 things going on the back of our minds and talking about it with someone outside the circle of our business world is super helpful!

2) Go to their social media pages—across all channels—and hit LIKE.

This nearly tied for the #1 slot. It certainly is possible to have a successful business without regular social media posts, but having a presence is key. Having an audience gives your biz that extra command of influence.

It’s those simple likes that can go a huge distance for a small business. Even better than following/liking their biz pages, is interacting on their posts.

Go on and follow mine:

Pro Tip: If you don’t want newsfeed clutter, like a page and then turn off notifications or hide their feed.

3) Talk about their business to friends who don’t know them.

I was at my niece’s 4th birthday party, chugging beer in a corner at Chuck E. Cheese, when my sister-in-law introduced me to one of her friends. Her face lit up. “Not Your Average Gal! I follow you!” It was a surreal moment for a Z-list celebrity like myself. But it was incredibly sweet because it meant my sister-in-law has spoken about me to her friend and the friend even recognized my beer-chugging ways…err…I mean…remembered I’m a copywriter who puts out fun-loving blog posts that she likes.

4) Refer their business.

This probably goes hand-in-hand with the one before. (But sometimes ours friends and family don’t need our small biz friend’s business, so it’s nice to even mention them.)

Cold, hard fact: A majority of my business is from referrals. Referrals from past clients, former colleagues, friends, family and even people I have met at travel blogging conferences. When you do good work, people remember and happy clients share happily. *adjusts halo*

Even if you think that it may not perfectly align with what product or service your friend may offer, refer away. Repeat after me: Refer away!

It can’t hurt at all. At all. AT ALL.

5) Share their business online.

Did your pal post about their newest product? A sale? A well-written blog? (Ah-hem.) Share that puppy!

It’s nearly better than word of mouth because after you speak about it (share it), it stays in internet history—like that bad photo of you riding Magic Mountain, your face-fat slammed to the back of your ears with such a forced smile that it looks like you may be taking a poop. Not that I know about that…

“Hey my friend sells these sweet notebook that I’ve given as gifts. She’s having a sale for the holidays. Take a looksie.”

“I couldn’t agree more with this. <insert friend’ name here> hit the nail on the head again with this post.”

That’s it. All it takes. You share everything the Kardashians are doing, everything your kids are doing—down to potty training pics—why not share your pal’s side hustle or small business?

6) Take some business cards.

My mother-in-law asked for some of my business cards once and I thought, “Damn. That’s a really good idea.” If your friend is just starting out or you’re at a store you love, grab some business cards. You never know when you may be exhibiting step # 3 and having the business card to back it up is gold.

7) Buy their products or services.

This one is last for a reason. Your support doesn’t have to be monetary. There are 6 other steps above that can go a long way towards a sale where you don’t have to be reaching for your wallet.

But, if you so happen to love their services or products, why not #shopsmall? As small businesses owners know, when you #shoplocal or purchase from a small business, you aren’t lining the pockets of a CEO that hasn’t set foot in the office for years and still can’t get Kyle’s goddamn name right. You’re helping the small guy or gal put some awesome services or creative products into the world.

The statistics behind small businesses are scary and daunting for any small business owner who knows them, especially now during COVID. The percentage of failure rates or profits after the first year (or five) would make anyone a bit nervous to dive into the business owner pool. But we did!

We did and we’re serving Mai Tai’s over in the shallow end, y’all!

Don’t think that your support goes unnoticed. I make it a point to thank people in-person and also online for their unwavering fandom. Every little bit can literally make a sale for your friend, even without buying one product.

Now go ahead and share this puppy with your social scrolling pals so we’re all on the same supportive page.