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WHAT IT TAKES AND THE ART OF REINVENTION

Russell Hannon - May 27, 2016

With college graduations taking place all over the world, hundreds of thousands of graduates are embarking on grand journeys. Some are traveling the world this summer, others starting their careers, and many are pondering their next move.

When I was in Santa Barbara for this Around the World Travel TV interview, I had a few hours to stroll through town. That's when I came by this college graduation ceremony in the Sunken Gardens behind the Spanish Colonial Revival Courthouse:

To my delight, the commencement address got underway just as I arrived, and as I listened to the speaker's top 10 pieces of advice to graduates, it reminded me of the privilege I had two years ago of sharing my advice about life after graduation to students at the University of Ottawa.

I usually only blog about ways to travel more on less, but with college graduations taking place, it seems like the right time to share this interview which also gives insight into what it took to write Stop Dreaming... Start Traveling. If you prefer to stick to my top budget travel tips.

CLICK HERE for a Santa Barbara News Press article about me titled 'The Frugal Traveler.'

Russell Hannon on Life After School, What it Takes and the Art of Reinvention

Russell was a Gee-Gee's running back in the late 90's including the 1997 Vanier Cup run. He has since discovered a passion for travel, and his website BreakTheTravelBarrier.com offers tools and resources that will save you money traveling.

Russell will be publishing 'Stop Dreaming Start Traveling: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling More & Spending Less.' The book shows how to use lean principles to travel at a fraction of the going rate. In the meantime, he works in a fulfilling corporate career.

What is your best memory of your time with the Gee-Gees?

I have so many precious memories playing football with the Gee-Gees. The entire 1997 season was a precious life experience. I'm blessed to have been part of such a talented group of athletes (nine players and one coach went on to the CFL).

Even greater than that was the phenomenal character of so many players, coaches and therapists. I have as many fond memories of the little things that happened at practice and the speeches our coaches gave as I do from our on-field success. Combining that with our run to the Vanier Cup made it a life experience to cherish - even though the outcome of our final game wasn't what we wish it would have been.

Russell Hannon rushing the football in the 1997 Vanier Cup

What would your former teammates be surprised to learn about what you've been up to? They would be surprised (and glad to know that my back problems from my football days have subsided. They would be even more surprised to learn I will be publishing a book soon.

What did you go on to do after graduation? I started my career in Business Development selling advertising for Rogers Media which owns dozens of magazines. My career took a side turn when I was laid off. I then went down a completely different path as an Internal Controls Analyst with Coca-Cola and progressed into an Internal Audit and Compliance role with Rona Inc.. I eventually moved to Calgary where I got into operational excellence and built an operations oversight department with Flint Energy (now named AECOM).

Who inspires you the most? I admire athletes like George St-Pierre who strives for perfection yet remains so humble. I was also inspired watching Eugenie Bouchard's rise at Wimbledon. As tough as her loss was in the final, this is just the first act of her story, and I believe she will demonstrate how you can emerge from disappointments to come back stronger than ever:

What are you most proud of? Over the years, I'm proud that I stuck to the goals that were most important to me until I finally achieved them.

As a kid: It was growing from a clumsy kid to playing in a national college football championship game.
In school: It was how I overcame low grades in high school to getting a Commerce degree.
In my career: It took years of learning and slow progression before having the opportunity to build a new department in a Corporate oil & gas company.
Most recently: It’s about how I dedicated thousands of hours over the last few years to transform my passion for getting the best travel deal to launching a travel writing business.

How did interuniversity sports affect your life both during and after your studies? The confidence that came from overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and the satisfaction that can only come from countless hours of devotion proved to me we can achieve amazing things if we want something badly enough and are willing to do what's necessary to put ourselves into a position to make it possible. The discipline it took to draft a 60,000 word book was the same discipline it took to balance school with athletics and to train even when the season was eight months away.

What advice do you have on life after graduation?

On life after University: As exciting as graduation is, many graduates -myself included- initially struggle with the change in lifestyle and in letting go of our self-identity from student life. What I want to share to those who may have anxiety about moving on is that no matter how great your current situation is, letting go of one chapter opens doors to re-invent yourself in new and amazing ways you may not yet see. There is so much to do and experience in the world and it's all evolving so quickly that its important to constantly reinvent yourself.

On finding a career: What impresses me most about summer students and recent graduates in our office are those who bring a positive 'can-do' attitude to anything that comes their way, and have the confidence to ask questions and seek help when they need to.

I found the corporate world to be very different from what I had envisioned it to be while in school. Keep an open mind to career opportunities that arise even if you have hot yet considered them. If you go into a large organization or the public sector, go in with the mindset that your first few years are going to be to learn. Offer to help any way you can, and take advantage of that time to learn from those you work with to constantly reinvent yourself.

If you have entrepreneurial ambitions, there has never been a better time to start a business. The internet has given rise to unprecedented opportunities to claim your position as an expert without having to spend much money.

Once feeling unable to afford to travel, Russell Hannon uses lean principles to travel at a fraction of the going rate. He has been featured on CNBC, FOX, America Tonight, CBS, CTV, CBC, the National Post, Around the World Travel TV and nationally broadcast lifestyle and personal finance shows. He's also the author of ‘Stop Dreaming Start Traveling: The Ultimate Guide to Traveling More & Spending Less’.

FREE GUIDE: Download 'Beat the Best Online Fare - Every Time, Every Flight' at BreakTheTravelBarrier.com