When the Dream Feels Heavy
Let’s talk about the days you don’t post on social about.
The days when:
- Three clients in a row ask if they can “just book it themselves online.”
- A group you’ve been nurturing for months suddenly falls apart.
- A supplier drops the ball and you’re the one cleaning it up at 11:47 p.m.
- Inquiries slow down and your brain starts whispering, “Maybe this was a mistake.”
You love travel. You love your clients. You believe in what you do.
But some days, the weight of it all makes you wonder how long you can keep going like this.
That’s where Gaman comes in.
What Is Gaman?
Gaman (我慢) is a Japanese concept often translated as:
- Endurance
- Perseverance
- “To bear the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity”
It’s not about pretending everything is fine.
It’s about holding steady—emotionally and practically—when things are not fine.
Gaman says:
“I will not let this hard season define me. I will endure it, learn from it, and move through it with as much grace as I can.”
In a travel business, Gaman is the quiet strength that keeps you from:
- Burning your whole business down after one bad month
- Lashing out at clients or suppliers when you’re exhausted
- Making desperate decisions that don’t match your values
What Gaman Is Not
Before we go further, let’s be clear about what Gaman is not:
- It’s not stuffing your feelings down and pretending you’re fine.
- It’s not tolerating abuse from clients or partners.
- It’s not “hustle harder, never rest, never complain.”
Gaman is:
- Feeling what you feel
- Taking care of yourself
- Choosing your response instead of letting circumstances choose it for you
You can practice Gaman and still:
- Set boundaries
- Fire a misaligned client
- Take a day off to reset
Endurance doesn’t mean self-abandonment.
Gaman in a Travel Business: Real-World Moments
You’ve probably lived Gaman without having a name for it.
The Wave of Cancellations
You know this story.
Trips you spent months designing get canceled. You’re:
- On hold with suppliers
- Reworking itineraries
- Trying to protect your clients and your own revenue
You’re tired. You’re frustrated. But you:
- Keep your voice calm on the phone
- Communicate clearly and honestly
- Do the right thing even when no one’s watching
That’s Gaman.
The Slow Season Spiral
Leads slow down. The numbers don’t look how you hoped. Your brain offers:
- “You’re not cut out for this.”
- “Everyone else is doing better than you.”
- “Maybe you should just get a ‘normal’ job.”
Gaman doesn’t ignore those thoughts. It answers them:
- “This is a season, not a sentence.”
- “I’ve gotten through hard things before.”
- “I can take smart action without panicking.”
You:
- Look at your numbers honestly
- Cut what needs cutting
- Double down on the basics (follow-up, outreach, relationships)
That’s Gaman too.
Why Gaman Matters for Travel Entrepreneurs
Travel entrepreneurship is not a straight line. It’s:
- Waves and droughts
- Wins and disappointments
- Seasons where everything clicks and seasons where nothing does
Without Gaman, every dip feels like a verdict on your worth.
With Gaman, a dip is:
- Data
- A chapter
- A chance to refine how you operate
Gaman lets you say:
“This is hard, and I’m still here.”
Sometimes, staying in the game long enough to see the payoff is the bravest thing you can do.
Practicing Gaman Without Burning Out
So how do you live Gaman in a way that strengthens you instead of hollowing you out?
1. Name the Season You’re In
Gaman starts with honesty.
Ask yourself:
- “Is this a hard day, a hard month, or a hard year?”
- “What, specifically, is making this season heavy?”
Write it down. When you name the season, you stop treating a temporary storm like permanent climate.
2. Separate Your Identity from Your Results
You are:
- A human
- A leader
- A Phenomenal Force
You are not your last month’s revenue.
Practice saying:
- “My numbers are data, not identity.”
- “This launch underperformed. That doesn’t mean I am a failure.”
Gaman holds the tension: you can care deeply about results without letting them define your worth.
3. Shrink the Game (for Now)
When everything feels overwhelming, shrink your focus.
Instead of:
- “I have to fix my entire business,” try
- “What are the next three things I can do today that would actually help?”
Examples:
- Reach out to two past clients
- Clean up one messy process
- Follow up on three open leads
Gaman is not about heroic, dramatic gestures. It’s about faithful, consistent steps when you don’t feel like it.
4. Build a “Gaman Circle”
You are not meant to carry this alone.
Identify 2–3 people who:
- Understand the industry
- Can handle your honest “this is hard”
- Will remind you who you are when you forget
That might be:
- A fellow advisor
- A mentor
- A small mastermind group
Your Gaman gets stronger when you’re not the only one holding it.
5. Create One Non-Negotiable for Your Well-Being
Endurance without care leads to collapse.
Choose one simple, non-negotiable practice that helps you stay human:
- A daily walk
- A hard stop time for work most days
- One screen-free evening a week
- A weekly “CEO hour” where you think about the business, not just work in it
Gaman is not “grind until you break.” It’s “honor your limits so you can keep going.”
A Story of Gaman in Action
I know an advisor who went through a brutal year:
- A major group canceled
- A key supplier relationship shifted
- A family health crisis pulled her attention away from the business
She considered quitting more than once.
Instead, she made a Gaman decision:
“I’m not going to try to grow this year. I’m going to stabilize.”
She:
- Cut non-essential expenses
- Focused on serving existing clients exceptionally well
- Maintained a simple, consistent presence with her audience
- Gave herself permission to have a “maintenance year,” not a “massive growth year”
Was it glamorous? No.
Did it save her business and her sanity? Yes.
The next year, when life calmed down, she had a stable base to grow from—because she didn’t burn it all down in the storm.
That’s Gaman.
You Are Allowed to Stay
In a culture that glorifies reinvention and “burn it all down and start over,” Gaman is a quiet rebellion.
It says:
- “I am allowed to stay.”
- “I am allowed to weather this.”
- “I am allowed to keep building, even when it’s not Instagram-pretty.”
You don’t have to pretend it’s easy.
You just have to decide it’s worth it.
You are not weak for feeling tired.
You are strong for still being here.
Your Next Step with Gaman
Take a breath and ask yourself:
- Where am I tempted to give up right now—not because it’s truly wrong for me, but because it’s hard?
- What is one small, steady action I can commit to this week that honors my long-term vision?
Maybe it’s:
- Reaching out to one past client you loved working with
- Finally looking at your numbers instead of avoiding them
- Blocking time to rest so you can come back clearer
Write it down. Commit to it. Let it be your Gaman move for this week.
You are a Phenomenal Force.
Hard seasons don’t change that. They reveal it.
I’d love to hear from you:
What’s one area of your travel business where you need Gaman right now—quiet endurance instead of dramatic change?
Share it in the comments below, and, if you’re willing, tell me one steady action you’re committing to this week. Sometimes just naming it is the first step toward getting through the season you’re in.