We had failures and setbacks: Lonely Planet co-founder
Even if you’ve lived under a rock for the better half of your life, you’ll know and recognise the name, ‘Lonely Planet’, as being synonymous with travel.
Despite the ongoing trend to jump online and Google everything, once upon a time we had guide books, and today perhaps the last of its kind is the ever-popular Lonely Planet.
Co-founder of the successful business, Tony Wheeler, is soon to be down under, speaking specifically at our Travel DAZE conference. He’s pictured above alongside fellow co-founder, Maureen Wheeler, holding a copy of their first book, Across Asia on the Cheap.
He’ll be starring alongside the likes of Wendy Wu, Christian Hunter, Steven Bradbury and many more, talking failure, eff-ups and how you can take these setbacks and turn them into sweet, sweet success.
For Wheeler, starting a guidebook wasn’t an easy feat.
“There have been a few failures and setbacks,” he admitted to Travel Weekly.
“We did books that didn’t work, like restaurant guides. Even the most successful restaurant guides these days don’t work, we all just look at social media.
“We also did projects where we let the costs run amok, such as cycling guides.
“I could say another failure was not going in the right direction with the rise of the internet, but hindsight is a cheap escape, isn’t it?”
If you like what you’ve read so far, you can sneak tickets right here and even email hannah@travelweekly.com.au for a cheeky discount!
“And in terms of achieving success? Given how much disconnection there is out there at the moment, some connection with the rest of mankind doesn’t hurt,” Wheeler added.
“It’s a big world out there and it’s still possible to go out and find your own totally unique take on it.
“Look for something one off, something which hasn’t been done before. Which, in fact, was what we did.”
For more details on the superb Travel DAZE, check out the website here. The event comes to Sydney on Monday September 25 2017, so scoop those tickets fast!
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