I’ve just returned from a rather extended visit to my house in Bali. For those of you who don’t know it, check it out here: Villa Pantulan It is one of the most beautiful spots in the world, and I’m very fortunate to own it. But on the downside, I get to spend very little time there because it is the other side of the world and I’m busy building my Fearless Fifties business here.

So after I’d taken in the solitude, the rice fields, the crickets, frogs, roosters, lizards, geckos, butterflies, sunshine and rain, it was time to get down to business. I had gone there to ostensibly hire a new manager, but things are never really straightforward in Bali (or anywhere else for that matter), and I found myself faced with several challenges. Finding good help is hard wherever you are, but finding someone with a strong sense of motivation, discipline and honesty is even harder.

Now here’s the lessons I have learned:

• You can’t have a drop-dead gorgeous piece of property and expect it to sell itself! (I was very negligent for a long time and basically left it to the guy who was running it to do as he pleased. It took me a while, but I finally woke up.) Sales and Marketing are part of everything you do.
• When you are the manager, it’s no fun trying to flog the horse into action when they are used to standing around waiting for things to happen. (My staff had a routine. I changed it. It created a bit of a problem.) I essentially shook up the routine and lost one of my staff as a result. It happens.
• That some of the best people are right under your nose and it helps to give them some rope and hope they don’t hang themselves.  I’ve been fortunate. I’ve had the same people working for me for five years and they are doing a good job The house is immaculate.  The guests are very happy.  And everyone wants to be busier.

Villa Pantulan is one of the best kept secrets in Ubud, and I don’t want it to be a SECRET anymore.  So if you’re in the travel business and you’d like to represent us, let me know.  Or you just like to travel or have friends who travel,  and you think Bali is on your route, then contact us. We have all kinds of special deals going on.

To find out more go to www.villapantulanbali.com