By Business & Finance 
Sharon Jordan, country manager, The Travel Corporation Ireland, takes the Business & Finance 60 second challenge.
Q. What was your first job?
I first worked in Roches Stores. I loved the atmosphere and social life.
Q. What would you regard as your greatest achievement to date?
Buying my first home. It’s an amazing feeing to know you have somewhere to call your own.
Q. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is to remember that people don’t work at the same level as you – hope for 100%, but be happy with 70%.
Q. If you could step into the shoes of one business person for the day, who would it be and why?
Michael O’Leary. Well, who wouldn’t want to see what he does on a daily basis? Plus, I’d imagine that I’d learn so much by working for just one day with him.
Q. In three words or less, how do you define success?
Happiness in work.
Q. How do you motivate yourself and your staff?
The travel industry is a very exciting industry to be a part of. We get really cool incentives, such as free holidays and cruises, so these tend to be big motivators for everyone.
We also get the opportunity to eat in extremely nice restaurants and our training sessions are mostly about countries and destinations – what more motivation could you need?
Q. How do you relax?
I need to walk every day. If I don’t, I feel that stress can get on top of me.
There is nothing like walking in the woods or on the beach to relax me.
Q. What’s your motto?
Collect memories, not things.
Q. What are your aspirations for the future of your business?
The aspirations are to see it grow and expand and to help more Irish people to travel on our award-winning tours and river cruises.
There is nothing like walking in the woods or on the beach to relax me
A GUIDING LIGHT
The Travel Corporation‘s goal is to become Ireland’s number one supplier to the travel trade.
It is a family-run company with 24 award-winning brands. In Ireland it offers Insight Vacations, Uniworld, Contiki (18-35s) and Red Carnation Hotel Group.
The company has been in business for over five decades, across three generations.
It operates in over 60 countries, with approximately 40 offices around the world and has many highly regarded and established brands that are independently managed. These comprise tour operations, luxury boutique river cruises and luxury hotels.
