Today, I celebrate 6 years as a Local Guide for Google Maps. I’m also a Level 10 (well, my announcement is belated, as I reached Level 10 in November 25th of this last year).
I thought I wouldn’t reach Level 10 when I first started. It seemed lightyears away, but that Thursday- I got to that milestone. I was happy, but on a deeper level, I am happy for how Google Maps and Local Guides has been the light through all the storms of those 6 years, how it has gotten me through so much.
About 6 years ago, I moved to Arizona. It was a new start for me, and in my mind, I was going to leave the chaotic days of the past behind. I remember the sun shining on me and as I came out of the airport, the first thing I did was turn on Google Maps and slowly and shakily navigate the busy highways. The roads seemed much more crowded and faster-paced than what I was used to driving on. Searching for a new apartment, buying groceries, getting takeout- from one stop to the next, Google Maps guided me everywhere. It was my invisible passenger, pointing me in the right direction in this big city and the sea of intersecting roads.
One day in early 2016 (which now seems eons away), I received an invite to be a Local Guide. I remember that day, I was two months into my new job and I was already in a rut; I was not very good on the phones and there was quota to hit… but the invite cheered me up. It made me feel special. I was curious and read a little more into it, initially thinking it was a tour guide gig. Then, I understood it was more about adding photos to places (or so that is what I believed it to be). It all seemed very intriguing and the levels made it seem even more exciting.
One of the first places I went to was Papago Park- I had driven past it before and I was interested by the rock formation (Hole in the Rock). I was going to take to some pictures for Google Maps. That day was middle of the week. Callers hanging up on me, still behind quota, and my migraines starting- I decided to just take a sick reset day. I felt guilty to not be at work, and I questioned if I should just give up and try to find another job. Reluctantly, I started to walk down the sidewalk to the small pond. I snapped some pictures. Then, I saw another sidewalk and I followed it to see where that led. Snapped more pictures. The sidewalk then branched off, and I decided I would follow it. It passed through the canal, and on the way back, I saw the rock formation too and from there, there were more trails to see. I lost myself rambling along the park and before I knew it- I had walked almost 5 miles. I uploaded my first photos onto Google Maps.
The next few weeks, I would sporadically continue to upload photos. If I went out, then I would take pictures. Normally, I would go out on weekends to see what was around, and going out was my antidote to the fatigue and stress of work. One of my top photos that quickly gained popularity was my photo of Piestewa Peak. It reached a few hundred thousand views. That was my first actual hike in Arizona, and the peak was anything but a beginner’s hike but it was well worth it. I started out feeling ho hum, but I ended the hike not only with scenic pictures for Google Maps and I left feeling lighter.
Another place that quickly got popular was my photo of the Tempe Public Library. The library was one of my favorite places to go to, because I could check out books and I could lose myself reading them.
As time went on, I started learning more about the Google Maps features. I saw that not only could I add photos but that I could add videos. It was fun doing live recorded clips of the places I visited. Some days when I felt more extroverted and wanted to be around people, I would go to plazas and malls. Other days when I wanted more of me-time and to be an introvert, I would find a new trail to see. At that time, I only knew of the McDowell and Sonoran Mountain preserves and the various trailheads; each weekend, I tried to go to another trailhead to sample a different trail. With my love for takeout too and fast food, I also ate out before and after exploring and also as a treat for those tough work days. I took pictures of the food and drinks too, and of the restaurants too while standing in line.
A few years passed and I went through a few more phone-based sales jobs. It was the same old stress of hitting quota and having stuff out of your control. Throughout all of that, Google Maps kept me going. One year, I was let go from a job for not hitting quota, and I went out exploring to clear my mind. I walked along the Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt. From there, I discovered more trails and parks that I wanted to explore. There was just so much to see! It took my mind off the stress of job hunting.
Later, I would transition into an email customer support role which did not have the stress of quotas. That meant I had more energy to explore. I discovered the Cultural Pass in the local library that would give free admissions to museums. As such, I spent the hot summer weekends going to museums- enjoying the cold air conditioner and reading and learning and taking pictures and videos for Google Maps. In the cooler months, I went out to explore parks and playgrounds- it makes you feel like a kid at heart, and the play equipment was very modern and funner than what I had seen before in my childhood when we just had wooden equipment.
My points quickly racked up, and I got a rush out of it! I even got so obsessed that I would purposely drive to plazas in the mornings before work just to get more photos in. I would also go to plazas after work too. I wanted to be there when there was not as many people so I could get clearer shots. I even woke up early on a weekend to beat the crowds so I could shots of the downtown storefronts.
I also learned about being able to leave reviews on Google Maps, and since I like to write, it was fun and relaxing to type out reviews of places that I visited and had been to in the past. Pretty soon, I was at Level 9 which in itself felt like an achievement.
Unfortunately, not even a year in, things took a downhill turn at work. We were transitioned to working on the phones and with understaffing issues, the workload became high. When COVID hit and among other personal issues and the endless hours of hearing upset customers, I was so tired every day I would just sit on the sofa after my 9-5 and watch mindless hours of Youtube. I had taken a break from Google Maps at that time. I felt no motivation to get up and do anything.
But the hours of Youtube weren’t for nothing…
The start of last year, it was announced that COVID was on the decline, and I got this idea that I would create my own Youtube channel and film the places that I explored while “guiding” for Google Maps. I started off by uploading some of my older videos but officially around summer that year decided to film some new content to keep it going. I reluctantly dragged myself out of my home, treated myself to an extra strong coffee, and walked into the Tempe History Museum. Filming the museum allowed me to slow down and savor each crook and cranny of the exhibits. It took my mind off the defeated feeling from work and brought a sliver of light to my weekend.
I then came up with the idea that starting in fall 2021 that I would start uploading a video a day for 90 days and launched the challenge off by posting this video. This pushed me to get out more as I had to get out more to keep up. It also helped me to achieve more points as a guide as being out meant more exploring which in turn meant more photos and reviews.
Once the 90 days was up, I wanted to continue with this video a day challenge and thought I would post videos of playgrounds and parks. . I made a list of the parks and playground that I wanted to film. On weekends, I would get up earlier to avoid the crowds and get there early to film. It gave me a reason to get up and get out, although work and other personal things were still trying to drag me down. While walking around the parks, I even found some cool outdoor gyms too such at this one in Chandler:
The added benefit of going to this list of new parks, playgrounds, and the surrounding areas was that I was able to capture more photos and reviews that helped to continue to increase my points on Google Maps. I also took the time to start an Instagram page to cross promote my Youtube channel and vice versa, and with both mediums- hoping to increase awareness of Google Maps and Local Guides. Instagram was used more so for the aesthetic pictures that I would take during my trips.
Although 2021 was a tough year, Local Guides gave me something to look forward to. While filming and taking photos, I also added more photos, reviews, and videos to Google Maps. I also was able to continue to edit and add places as relevant.
The process of getting up from the sofa to to the car after a draining week would be hard but it would always be worth it. The feeling of uploading and getting views and points filled me and made me feel whole.
Now we are in 2022 and though my year has been off to a rough start, my brightest days have been exploring for Google Maps. I plan to continue to contribute to Local Guides on Maps and also on Connect. I want to add more photos, videos, reviews, and build out places. I also want to continue to increase awareness for Local Guides through my Youtube Channel and Instagram. I’m still uploading a video a day of a new local place and I would love to continue the challenge of a video a day for at least a year.
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Really appreciate you.
Best of luck to you too on your journey to get to Level 10. 
