Have you ever had one of those moments where life hits you from every direction? That was Eysa Portugues in early 2020. After building a solid career in telecommunications and luxury goods, she suddenly found herself laid off. This wasn't just any layoff either. She was carrying major financial responsibilities for her family, and the job market was freezing up right before her eyes.

Finding Clarity in Crisis

Sometimes our biggest challenges become our clearest teachers. While searching for work and getting nowhere, Eysa asked herself a powerful question: If I could do anything and be truly happy, what would it be?

The answer came immediately: travel.

Esya had been diagnosed with cancer a few years before starting her business, and during her recovery journey, planning future trips had become her lifeline. Those travel dreams carried her through the hardest moments. She realized travel wasn't just about vacations; it was about hope, healing, and creating memories that sustain us.

But like many people, she thought the travel agency business was dead. Who needs travel agents when you can book online? Then she discovered Virtuoso, a luxury travel network, and Gifted Travel Network's Travel MBA program. Suddenly she saw a real path forward.

Here's what I love about this moment. Eysa faced her fears head-on. She could have played it safe, kept searching for another corporate job. Instead, she surrendered to the possibility that maybe this disruption was pointing her somewhere better.

Building the Business

While Eysa’s leap was bold, it wasn't reckless. She balanced practicality with her dreams and took a part-time job to keep money coming in while building her travel business. She understood success wouldn't happen overnight.

She started smart and targeted her existing network. She joined the local Chamber of Commerce and got involved in community groups, building up crucial word-of-mouth referrals. She didn't just try to sell trips and close bookings, but instead focused on understanding each client deeply, learning their preferences, and building real relationships.

Four years after losing her job and being filled with doubt, Eysa hit the million-dollar sales milestone.

When she reflects on that success, she's quick to point out it wasn't sudden. It came from consistent effort, strong partnerships within GTN and Virtuoso, and an unshakable belief in herself and what she was building.

A Path Hidden In Plain Sight

What strikes me about Eysa's journey is how relatable it is. How many of us have faced unexpected job loss? Health challenges? Financial pressure? Yet most people don't realize travel entrepreneurship is a real, viable career option.

Eysa's story reminds us that sometimes our biggest challenges point us toward our true calling. The very things that seemed to derail her - the layoff, the cancer, the financial stress - these became the experiences that gave her empathy, urgency, and clarity about what really mattered.

Her story is proof that it's always possible to build a truly splendid life for yourself, as long as you can get clear on what you truly want.

If you love hearing stories like Eysa’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.

Watch Eysa's episode here.

Visit The Splended Life Travel Designs website.

‍