What We Learned (and What Comes Next) We held our first Founding Members Roundtable this week—and while attendance was small (thank you, Kim Linney, for showing up 🙌), the conversation itself was exactly the kind of signal this community is built for. No presentations. No selling.Just a real conversation about travel—and the overwhelm that often comes with it. The Core Theme: Travel Overwhelm Is Real The biggest takeaway was simple but important: Travel isn’t hard because people don’t want to go. It's hard because people feel overwhelmed by where to start, who to trust, and how to decide. That overwhelm shows up as: - Too many options - Too much conflicting advice - Not knowing if a trip is the right fit - Waiting on friends who may never be ready This roundtable confirmed something we already suspected: The real value of this community isn’t just trips—it’s clarity, reassurance, and shared momentum. Member-Driven Suggestions (Signal Worth Listening To) A few strong ideas came directly from the discussion: 1️⃣ More Community Connection Through Shared Experiences Not just “group trips,” but intentional opportunities to connect—starting closer to home. 2️⃣ More Live Video Sessions Live conversations help cut through hesitation, answer real questions, and remind people they’re not navigating travel alone. 3️⃣ Start Where the People Already Are Right now, most of our members are based in: - Texas (≈30%, with a strong concentration in San Antonio) - The Northeastern U.S. (≈40%) Rather than immediately jumping global, the group felt it made sense to: - Start with regional meetups or trips - Build trust and familiarity - Then expand outward together A Clear Direction for the Year Ahead Based on this conversation, a tentative goal is forming: 👉 Within the next year, we aim to host: - One community trip or meetup in San Antonio - One community trip or meetup in the Northeastern U.S. These wouldn’t just be “destinations”—they’d be connection points. Low pressure. High trust. Shared experiences that make future travel feel easier.

I was asked for the recording of my first Skool presentation. Lol it was rough around the edges but ..Give me a break.. It was my first live!! 2026 Trip Preview

As we head into January, I want to set a goal that directly benefits you: 👉 Reach 100 members in One Step Away Travelers. Why? Because you’ve already made something clear —New Orleans is high on the interest list. So here’s the deal 👇 🚶‍♂️ “Invite One, Travel Better” Mini-Challenge If this community has helped you feel more confident, connected, or clear about travel, I’d love your help growing it intentionally. How to participate (simple + human): - Invite one person who’d genuinely enjoy this space - After you invite them, comment: “Invited ✔️” That’s it. No leaderboard. No pressure. Just momentum. 🎉 What Unlocks When We Hit 100 Members When we reach 100, I’ll unlock a private live planning session: 🟣 Live Event: Planning New Orleans — Together - What people actually want to do - Best time of year - Budget comfort zones - Food, music, culture, free time vs structure This won’t be a sales pitch — it’s a co-creation session. 👉 Based directly on that session, I’ll then build an official New Orleans group trip for later this year. ⭐ First 100 = First Dibs Anyone who is part of the first 100 members will get: - 🎟️ First access to the New Orleans trip - 🔓 Early details before it’s shared publicly - ✈️ Priority booking window (before any outside promotion) This is my way of rewarding the people who helped build this from the ground up. This community already feels special. Let’s turn that into something we actually go experience together. If you have questions, ideas, or want help inviting the right person — just comment or DM me. Let’s make 2026’s travel plans start now. 💙✈️ [MILESTONE | ROAD-TO | 100 | GROWTH → TRIP | NOLA | 2026-01-XX]

Tonight we talked about the direction the group will be taking in 2026. We had 19 members participate. We received a lot of great feedback. Trip interest highlights: Wine tours, Argentina, New Orleans, Cruises... This was my first live so please pardon my stammering and adlibbing. I had a script but went off the rails. I promise I will get better

🕕 Wednesdays at 6:00 PM CST | Drop in anytime Camera optional. Chat optional. Just showing up counts. Starting NEXT Wednesday, Dec 10, 2025 A relaxed midweek meetup to connect, chat, and unwind together. Join us every Wednesday at 6:00 PM CST for a warm, relaxed, camera-free weekly hangout! This is our midweek moment to pause, connect with friendly people, and enjoy conversations that feel good — whether you want to talk travel, life, hobbies, wins, challenges, or just say hello. Everyone is welcome. Jump in for two minutes or stay the full hour — there’s no pressure and no expectations. What We Do Each Week ✨ Meet new members✨ Share stories, ideas, and midweek wins✨ Chat about life, travel, and fun topics✨ Invite friends to join the conversation✨ Build real community week after week No video. No awkwardness. Just a friendly conversation inside a safe and welcoming space. How to Join When the event starts, go to the pinned LIVE Chat Thread in the Community Feed titled: “🌟 Wednesday Connect & Chat — LIVE Event Thread” Type “hello!” and you’re in. Simple, easy, and fun. 💛 See you on Wednesday! — Michael [ENG-MAG | SERIES | WEEKLY-RHYTHM | FOUNDING-ROUNDTABLE | RETENTION | 2025-12]