Just one year ago, Robin James and Carolyn Renee Murray made a decision that would change the direction of their professional lives. Both women had already built successful and fulfilling careers, but travel had always been something more than just a hobby.
The two had previously worked for a TRUE-accredited travel agency, where they developed their skills as travel advisors and gained valuable experience in the industry. Over time, they realized they shared not only a professional background but also a vision for what they wanted their future to look like. Instead of continuing to work within someone else’s business, they began talking about creating something of their own.
A year ago, those conversations became a reality. Robin and Carolyn decided to become partners and obtain their own TRUE accreditation, officially launching RCR GlobalWorld Travel. By combining their individual travel interests and experience, they created an agency that reflected both of their personalities and perspectives.
Both women had been working full time in careers that were stable and rewarding. But the pull toward travel was stronger than either expected. Rather than continuing to balance their passion around other work, they made the choice to pivot and focus on what they loved most. Travel became not just something they talked about or enjoyed occasionally, but the center of their professional lives.
From the start, the business was unique in another way. Robin spends part of her time living in the Midwest and part in Puerto Rico, while Carolyn is based in the Southeast. The distance between them could have made things more complicated, but instead it expanded their reach. Working from two different regions allowed them to connect with different travel communities and opportunities.
During their first year in business, they focused on building the foundation of their new venture. They organized group trips, began developing marketing strategies, and worked through the many practical steps required to launch and promote travel experiences. They explored the technology needed for booking and client management, experimented with new sales tools, and gradually began shaping their presence in the travel industry.
Like many small business owners in their first year, they were learning constantly—figuring out what worked, adjusting what didn’t, and continuing to move forward.
Then an unexpected moment created an opportunity they never could have planned.
While attending a gathering in Puerto Rico, Robin struck up a conversation with a couple of other small business owners. It was one of those casual social situations where introductions happen naturally and conversations move easily from one topic to another. Among the people she met that evening was someone connected to a local social media and radio broadcasting company.
The company reaches audiences not only in the United States but also across Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia. What began as a simple conversation quickly turned into a discussion about shared interests and the challenges that small businesses face when trying to grow.
Instead of approaching the conversation as a sales pitch or a business transaction, everyone simply talked about what they were building and where they hoped to go. That openness led to the idea of collaborating.
Soon afterward, Robin and Carolyn were invited to participate in a one-hour interview about their work in the travel industry and group trips. The interview will be broadcast on the radio, introducing listeners to their story and their perspective on travel.
What makes the collaboration particularly meaningful is that it happened without any financial arrangement. The radio station did not charge the travel advisors for the interview, and RCR GlobalWorld Travel did not pay for advertising. Instead, both sides saw the value in supporting one another.
The interview will also be edited into shorter segments that will be shared across YouTube and other social media platforms. As the clips play online, a banner displaying the travel agency’s contact information will run across the screen, allowing viewers to connect with them if they are interested in learning more.
For the radio and media company, the content helps them expand their programming and build audience engagement. For the travel advisors, it offers a chance to share their story with a wider audience.
It became an example of how collaboration between small businesses can create opportunities that benefit everyone involved.
Moments like this are often described as being in the right place at the right time, but timing alone rarely explains the outcome. Robin and Carolyn recognized the potential of the connection and acted on it quickly. Instead of letting the conversation fade into a pleasant memory, they followed up, scheduled meetings, and turned an unexpected encounter into something real.
That willingness to recognize opportunity—and not hesitate to pursue it—has become part of the story of their first year in business.
Looking back, the journey of RCR GlobalWorld Travel has been shaped by a mix of preparation, passion, and chance. They launched a business that operates across regions, organized trips for travelers eager to explore new places, and continued learning what it takes to grow an agency from the ground up.
Along the way, they also discovered that some of the most meaningful opportunities come not from carefully planned marketing strategies or expensive advertising campaigns, but from genuine connections with other people who are building something of their own.
Their story is still in its early chapters. But the events of this first year already offer a reminder that entrepreneurship is often less about competition and more about collaboration. Sometimes the most powerful support comes from other small business owners who understand the journey and are willing to share the stage.
And sometimes all it takes is a conversation at a party to start something entirely new.