I love subscribing to Jetsetter and drooling over amazing
places to stay.
Today’s email reminded me of my trip to Paris a few years
back. Rather than stay at a hostel or a
low-end hotel, we decided to email the owners of private flats and see if any of
them would take an lower offer than the listed price. I was banking on the notion that it would be
better for the owner to make some money on the property than no money. Luckily, we received a darling one bedroom
flat only a five minute walk from the Eiffel Tower! It was the same price as a hostel, but infinitely
better with two beds, a kitchen, a living room, and a view of the Seine. After a long day/night of sight seeing and absorbing Paris, nothing felt better than coming home to a "home" of our own.
It was a well-timed reminder that sometimes in order to get something special, you have to be willing to put yourself out there. In this case, the perfect locale didn't pop up on a travel search engine or through a friend. I wrote fifteen different flat owners and asked for a discounted price. Only one responded, but I only needed one and she agreed. But whether we are looking for the perfect dance class (like I am right now), the perfect career opportunity or the perfect man, we've got to know what we are looking for first!
Figuring out what you really want can be a bulk of the effort. What do you need? What would you like? What do you fantasize about? At what cost? In what way?
Once you know what you want and what you are willing to pay for it, then it is simply a matter of elbow grease, diligence, and patience to get there. The hardest part is not knowing in the first place.
Think in terms of a job search. When your parameters are vast, the job market can seem full of opportunities. HOWEVER, those opportunities can be tough to find when dredging through the scores of online ads, headhunters, and temporary agencies. Even getting a referral from a friend is harder when you have no clue what you are even looking for.
After you know what you're looking for, you can hone in on the best options and put yourself out there in the very best way!
Don't forget to stay pleasantly open to opportunities that might plop in your lap. Sometimes the best surprises come when we are looking for something else.
