Valerie Russell: Building a Business Abroad
Valerie Russell spent a decade in criminal justice. She worked as a corrections officer, a narcotics investigator, even on the 9/11 Human Recovery Project. But one day, she realized she wanted something entirely different. She sold everything, moved to Guatemala with just a backpack, and built a thriving travel agency from scratch.
Hear Valerie talk about:
The book that inspired her to walk away from law enforcement to start a new life abroad
What it was like to arrive in Guatemala alone, not knowing anyone
How she grew Due South Travels into a successful business without advertising
Why she feels like she lives in paradise
The importance of resilience, community, and creativity in building a life abroad
Mentioned in this episode:
Due South Travels, Valerie's travel agency in Guatemala
The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss, the book that inspired her
“I got rid of everything that I owned, basically sold it all on a weekend, my pajamas through Facebook marketplace. And I packed up and came just with a backpack.”
Episode 18 Notes
Coming soon.