With the Tuesday Q&A series, CatMax Photography introduces you to exceptional entrepreneurs who have gone through the CatMax Personal Branding Experience.
Today, we’re featuring Laura Mooney, an investor and entrepreneur who’s the founder of OSG Fishing & Surf Charter and owner of the Boho Tamarindo Hotel, House, and Experiences. A lover of adventure, Mooney also has a personal brand website, Mooney Explores, where she shares advice and uplifting stories from her life to “inspire others to fearlessly discover and follow their goals and dreams.”
In this post, we dive into how she balances running multiple businesses with achieving personal goals, her tips for embarking on your own adventures, the details of her Personal Branding Experience, and more.
Laura Mooney, investor and entrepreneur
Photo Credit: CatMax Photography
Why do you think adventure-based vacations are becoming popular?
I think people want to see as much as they can, and it’s now doable. It’s accessible to travel around the world on all the available flights, so why not save the money to go on the adventure of a lifetime? Our parent’s generation didn’t have access to fly around the world at the drop of a hat, and we now have that ability. I think people would rather have an adventure than a handbag. The handbag just sits there, and memories will last forever.
In addition to running multiple companies, you also go on several adventures yourself. What are some things that help you prioritize experiences and achieve new goals while being a busy business owner and mom?
This is the hardest thing that I do. Balancing time, I think, is the hardest thing for any mom. I have to preplan and set goals and priorities. My two boys always come first. They are my number one priority. Then, I set my week up for my training goals. The past few months have been a little different because I recently acquired a boutique hotel in Costa Rica, and I've had to put work over workouts. Now that the hotel is up and running, I’m back to doing workouts and training ahead of work. When I plan my week, I look at the family schedule, then training, then work, and then my social life. I have to stick to my training commitments to climb the mountains that I plan to climb. I recently climbed Mount Vinson in Antarctica in January of this year.
What advice would you give someone prepping for their first international adventure-based vacation?
Things aren’t going to go as planned, so just be ready for that. It always works out in the end. Keep an open mind and enjoy each moment. There will be amazing times and times of struggle, but all those moments together will make it the trip of a lifetime.
Photo Credit: CatMax Photography
What are some of your favorite exercises/activities for preparing for mountain climbs and other excursions?
I love to get on the trails! Those are where I’m at peace. I also like to train with weight on my back. When I climbed Mt. Vinson, I had 50 pounds on my back and was pulling a sled full of gear. So, I had to train with weight on my back to prepare for this added weight. I also had boots and crampons that weighed 6 pounds. So, I also train with ankle weights. I actually love to train!
Which photos from your Personal Branding Experience are some of your favorites?
I love the one of me sitting on my desk because it's casual, which best represents me. I also like the one in my pink dining room because I just love the color pink.
What advice would you give a business owner considering acquiring or starting a complementary second business?
Take it one small step at a time. I sometimes find myself working all day, every day. After I closed on the purchase of the hotel, I realized that I had worked for over 40 days straight without taking a day off. The day I realized that I needed time off, I decided to take the weekend off and not work at all. I was able to reset and refocus on the things that needed to be done each day. I saw challenges in a new light on Monday when I was well-rested after the two-day break. I’m always going to go to bed with an important task still on my to-do list. The work will always be there. I have to remind myself to take it one step, one task, and one goal at a time, the same way in which I climb mountains.
It's OK to work hard but take a break when needed. There are seasons for hard work and seasons for breaks. Having the freedom to make those choices and to pursue your passions is exhilarating.
Stay up to date with Laura Mooney on Instagram at @mooneyexplores.
