We had the good fortune of connecting with Matthew Kepnes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matthew, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started my blog because I wanted to be a travel writer. My hope was that I could showcase my writing on my website, and use the blog as a resume of sorts to get my gigs with publications like Lonely Planet. I never intended for the website to get popular or make money. It was just a temporary stepping stone to get me into the industry.

A few years after I started, however, the blog had a large audience and was starting to make money. That’s when it dawned on me that I didn’t need those other gigs. I could be my own boss.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve been working in the travel industry for over 15 years. I’ve learned a lot of lessons during that time (many of them the hard way). Most importantly, I’ve realized just how much luck is involved in success. Of course, hard work has its place, but luck is always going to be involved to some degree.

Just as important, I’ve realized that failure is an inevitable part of the process. But it will also teach you a lot of important lessons. I’ve had a lot of failed ideas over the years, from an app to T-shirts to a hostel. Some of those ventures stuck for a while; others were immediate failures. I’m constantly trying new things, and sometimes those things don’t work. That’s ok. Learn what you can from the experience but don’t let it get you down. You can’t succeed without failure, so embrace the lessons it offers.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to shoutout my team! It takes a village to run a company, and I couldn’t do it without the team members — past and present — who have helped keep things running smoothly. I couldn’t do it without them!

Website: www.nomadicmatt.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nomadicmatt

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nomadicmatt

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