After nearly 30 years in education, most people would double down on what they know. But every now and then, someone chooses reinvention over routine. That's exactly what Tracy Husted did.
When Tracy joined me on The Travel Business Unpacked podcast, she shared a story that will feel familiar to many advisors building this business alongside careers, families, and obligations. Her path wasn't fast or flashy—it was slow, steady, and deeply intentional. And in today's industry, that matters more than ever.
Before launching Legacy Travel Designs with her longtime friend and business partner Sandy Fisher, Tracy spent decades as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and ESL educator. Travel was always a passion, but never the plan. Then 2020 cracked open the world and opened a door.
But Tracy didn't sprint through it; she walked. She built her business part-time while maintaining professional boundaries and honoring the work she still loved. She gave herself permission to grow at a pace that aligned with her capacity. That level of patience is rare, and it's one of the biggest reasons she's thriving now.
One of my favorite parts of Tracy and Sandy's story is the way they built something that didn't require either of them to carry the full weight alone. Neither came from a business background, but they shared values, complementary strengths, and the belief that a strong foundation mattered more than rapid scaling. Together, they created a full-time presence while each working part-time. That's not luck, that's strategy.
Tracy also shared that while partnership gave them capacity, support from Gifted Travel Network's Travel MBA program gave them structure. Starting a business in the middle of a global shutdown isn't for the faint of heart. Having a roadmap and a community made the difference between guessing and growing.
For years, Tracy kept her careers distinctly separate. She taught by day and planned travel by night, always mindful of ethics, energy, and expectations. But at a certain point, momentum began to speak louder than fear. A surge in booking revenue. Structural changes in her school district. A growing sense that staying safe was now holding her back.
All of it added up to a clear message: it was time. After 30 years in education, she stepped fully into entrepreneurship from a place of readiness, not restlessness.
Tracy creates travel experiences that stay with people, sometimes forever. Like the multigenerational family trip to Quebec, designed for clients navigating a father's terminal illness. The client later told her she had given them "a gift." Or the widower who rebuilt his life through travel and trusted Tracy to design a honeymoon through Milan and Switzerland with his new partner.
Now fully in her business, Tracy is focused on the clients she wants to attract, the partnerships she wants to deepen, and the ideas she and Sandy have been saving for years. They're not trying to build an empire. They're building a business that supports their lives, honors their strengths, and delivers meaningful work. That's a model more advisors should give themselves permission to pursue.
Tracy's journey is a clear example of what we tell advisors every day. You don't need to quit your job to start. You don't need a business degree to grow. You do need support, clarity, and the courage to follow the signs when they appear.
And above all, your business doesn't have to look like anyone else's to be successful. Her path is proof that slow growth doesn't equal small growth, but sustainable growth.
Maybe you're where Tracy was a few years ago, balancing roles, dreaming bigger, trying to decide when or whether to take the next step. Let her story serve as a reminder that reinvention doesn't require recklessness. It requires intention. You don't need to rush. You don't need to know everything. You just need to keep moving forward with purpose and surround yourself with the right people. The long game is where the transformation happens.
If you love hearing stories like Tracy's, tune into The Travel Business Unpacked podcast! Each episode dives deep into the real stories, practical strategies, and transformational moments that turn travel dreams into thriving careers. Listen and subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and check out Tracy's full episode here.
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