Cassie Tetro is the passionate owner of Montage Travel specializing in European destinations. Her small, independent travel agency was thriving, but she found herself overwhelmed and burnt out, unable to grow the business more on her own. Faced with the challenge of expanding her services and needing expertise in areas she wasn’t familiar with, Cassie turned to Lucia to find a CoPilot who could help her manage her changing needs.
The Challenge: Overcoming Overwhelm
Before I came to you, I was getting inundated with work and had a horrible work-life balance. And I'm sure that is not unique.
— Cassie
Cassie understood that in order for her business to grow, she needed to be able to outsource and delegate tasks—but she also didn’t have the time to seek out and train the right person.
I need to learn how to delegate. I'm a perfectionist. I like to do things a certain way, but if my company is going to grow and if I'm going to keep my sanity, that's something I need to look at.
— Cassie
In particular, Cassie needed an expert on Italy to help with two upcoming trips. She wanted to work with someone who understood the industry and the destinations—and be able to bring something new to the table. Someone she could trust and have confidence in. Cassie found herself at a crossroads: “You really need help, you don't have time to train, you really like things done in a certain way, and want to be specific, how do we land there?”
Solution: Cassie and Kim Team Up
Enter Kim Gonzales, a Lucia CoPilot with specialized knowledge in Italy. Through the Lucia platform, Cassie was connected with Kim, who matched her needs perfectly. The flexibility of no initial membership cost allowed Cassie to try the platform risk-free. With Kim’s help, Cassie not only received expert insights into Italy but also learned to trust someone else to handle parts of her business. What started as one task quickly grew to trusting Kim with multiple projects as she seamlessly adapted to Cassie’s working style, providing her exactly the support she needed.
We had a great relationship right off the bat. We understood each other, and I figured out her work style right away.
— Kim Gonzales
As a part time resident of Italy, Kim was even able to go in-person to a resort on the itinerary they were working on, take photos, and get the information they were missing. By fostering a global network of CoPilots on Lucia, clients can seek out experts for various destinations who know the place intimately and bring a unique perspective.
Results: Thriving Business and Renewed Passion
I finally was able to go from this almost permanent state of stress and anxiety to relaxing. Taking the weekend off should have been a given, but it wasn't happening. It’s been wonderful. It was definitely the experience I needed to have the confidence to hire help going forward.
— Cassie
The result:
- Empowerment Through Delegation: Cassie regained her passion by delegating tasks, allowing her to focus on her core business activities and enjoy her weekends again.
- Trust and Expansion: Cassie now envisions a thriving business with the confidence to hire and outsource, no longer limited in her growth.
- Expertise and Growth: With Kim’s knowledge, Cassie now considers herself more confident in handling Italian itineraries. She gained both personal expertise and a network of trusted professionals. Plus, the ability to continue growing her business and meet the demands of her clients.
- Enhanced Productivity: The collaboration was so effective that Cassie now has a baseline of itineraries and a deeper understanding of new markets, enabling her business to grow further without the previous stress. She can confidently continue expanding her business and is seeking experts in other travel destinations to add to her trusted team of CoPilots.
- Mutual Benefits: As a CoPilot, Kim found joy in focusing on tasks she loved, choosing work that aligned with her skills and expertise. She transitioned from using Lucia as a side gig to making it her primary work.
- Empowerment Through Delegation: Cassie regained her passion by delegating tasks, allowing her to focus on her core business activities and enjoy her weekends again.
- Trust and Expansion: Cassie now envisions a thriving business with the confidence to hire and outsource, no longer limited in her growth.
- Expertise and Growth: With Kim’s knowledge, Cassie now considers herself more confident in handling Italian itineraries. She gained both personal expertise and a network of trusted professionals. Plus, the ability to continue growing her business and meet the demands of her clients.
- Enhanced Productivity: The collaboration was so effective that Cassie now has a baseline of itineraries and a deeper understanding of new markets, enabling her business to grow further without the previous stress. She can confidently continue expanding her business and is seeking experts in other travel destinations to add to her trusted team of CoPilots.
- Mutual Benefits: As a CoPilot, Kim found joy in focusing on tasks she loved, choosing work that aligned with her skills and expertise. She transitioned from using Lucia as a side gig to making it her primary work.