Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn Small.
Hi Shawn, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Wonder Voyage was born out of a collision of heartbreak and possibility. In 1999, after a decade of pastoral youth work in Dallas churches, I asked myself what I wanted to give the rest of my life to. What would I regret if I never tried it? My youth work during my twenties was a mixture of the pure joy of exposing young people to God’s love and frustratingly rigid church culture of the day. During that decade, my family and I endured two devastating car accidents on top of working in two unhealthy churches. Those trials grounded us in the gift of life, not taking the moments we are given on this planet for granted. Wonder is abundant. Even in tragedy, beauty, love, and wonder are present.
During my season as a youth minister, I took our teens to extraordinary places. We spent two weeks in the mountains of Guatemala, serving an indigenous population while learning their stories. Art exchanges to Ireland and Canada, where we performed an original Celtic stage production, Immrama, were glorious. Several service trips to New Orleans to serve in the Fisher Projects broke our mindsets about communities vastly different from our own. Those, and several more voyages, during my tenure, convinced me that I wanted to spend the rest of my life as a doorkeeper to the wonders of this world.
Wonder Voyage is the result of that dream. We’ve taken out thousands of people, giving them opportunities to serve local communities, hear storytellers, dive deep into history, explore off-the-grid locals, enjoy culinary delights, meet interesting people, and experience the wonder abundant in our world.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Struggles galore! We started our non-profit organization with no money, office, no employees, zero business training, minimal plans, almost zero clients, no advertising… complete naivety. We started in January 2000. With a burning vision in my heart and the desperation of wanting to create an organization that brought wonder to the world, we had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Thankfully, I had a partner in my wife who was willing to back my crazy dream as the primary breadwinner when we started. Seven years went by before I received a regular paycheck. I worked as a security officer in the evenings at the beginning to pay the bills and took odd jobs to make ends meet. We’ve survived 9/11, the recession of 2007 – 2009, and Covid. Those are a few of the struggles. PS- we are a non-profit that does not rely on donations.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Wonder Voyage is not a travel agency or a mission ministry organization. The voyages we create are unlike anything else out there. We have one-of-a-kind journeys for students, churches, business folks, adults, families, schools, adventure travelers, etc… This is more an art form than a travel organization. A Wonder Voyage is a way people describe our trips because they are so unique. I think it’s more about the focus we put on those traveling and who we travel to. We want our participants to be like family and friends, invited into a lifelong love for traveling and serving others.
I am also an author and documentary filmmaker, really a storyteller. https://
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Every story has a beginning. You are at the beginning of your story. How do you start a business with minimal resources and help it thrive? Three things are needed:
A Distinctive Idea
Success is the establishment and impact of a distinctive idea. Something that you created is touching the lives of others. “Where do my unique abilities and resources meet the needs of many people?” Develop your distinctive idea into a workable business, and let it evolve.
A Steady Pace
Starting a business takes the discipline of a steady pace. A business founder has to see what is ahead and prepare properly. You need to be aware that the first few years of establishing a business will consist of long work weeks and there will be seasons when the work consumes you. A business is a long hike with trials and beauty around every bend. Be prepared for a steady pace if you wish to make your business last.
A Fervent Persistence
Any business will not succeed if the owner and management team is not exceedingly disciplined. Fervent persistence is the resolve to push through storms no matter how severe.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wondervoyage.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wondervoyage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wondervoyage/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/WonderVoyage
Image Credits
Shawn Small
