2022
- last edited on by
TsekoV
When you have been lucky enough to be selected to attend to Connect Live or receive some distinction such as being part of the Guiding Stars of the Year league, people start asking you for advice on how to succeed as a local guide.
My first answer is that this is not a competition, there are no winners and losers.
In fact, the best reward is knowing that by contributing we benefit not only ourselves but society as a whole.
However, in all my time as a Local Guide, I have gained some experience and I have a few tips to share to help you raise your game
When we start a new activity, whether it's running or changing our eating habits, everything is easy because we are motivated. But as time goes by, it's common to lose enthusiasm. To be able to stay motivated, it's crucial to know what your purpose is.
Why did you become a local guide in the first place?. Maybe it's because you want to help people with disabilities find places where they feel 100% comfortable and included.
Or because you would like to help small businesses gain visibility.
Knowing...and remembering your purpose as a Local Guide, will keep you engaged with the program.
We are all busy and our calendars are bursting with to-do lists.
Let's face it, contributing to the map may not be one of our priority tasks, so unless we make a firm commitment to get it done, we are likely to procrastinate and may never complete the task.
Choosing a time of the day or the week to contribute to Google Maps, writing a post for Guides Connect or responding to comments from other Local Guides is the most effective way to get it done.
In my case, I block 40 minutes a day for activities related to Local Guides Connect, the Argentinean Local Guides community and Google Crowdsource (my other passion).
This way I have managed to stay involved with the program consistently over time.
We all love the wonderful feeling of triumph that comes from having accomplished a goal.
Whether it's earning a new badge
or moving up to the next level before the end of the year
or receiving the much-anticipated socks from local Guides,
having a clear goal keeps us motivated to stay in the program.
4-Create a community:
"No man is an island" -John Donne
Local Guide activity can feel very lonely.
People often give you strange looks when they see you photograph your coffee.
And you will frequently get mean comments from people telling you that you are wasting your time and that no one will recognize your effort.
But that feeling of loneliness ends the minute you meet other local guides, and you discover that you are not a freak and that there are thousands of people who share your passion.
Together you can clean a beach, go on a photo tour and build a community where everyone feels included and able to grow.
Check if there are Local Guide groups in your town, city or country. And if none exist, create them yourself. Use your social networks to reach out to local guides in the area and get ready to have fun.
Everyone loves a good story, so does Google.
How did you discover the program?
What's the most extraordinary thing you've done as a local guide?
Don't be shy.
The only way to stand out as a local guide is to own your story and share it with others.
Mine is simple but beautiful: I used to travel around the world because of my job in the tourism industry, until a cancer forced me to stay at home for a long time. When I looked at the map of my town I discovered that there was a lot of data missing (in fact, it looked like a ghost town). That's how I decided to upload every business, square and place of interest on the map. And not only did I succeed, but along the way I inspired many people to start contributing and to join the program.
What is your story? I'm sure you have a good one.
These are my 5 tips to succeed as a Local Guide. Just a humble contribution to celebrate the first 5 years of Local Guides Connect.
Now I would like to know you tips.
-If a fellow member asked for your advice, what would be the top 5 tips you would give him/her.
Please leave them in the comments so we can all learn something more.
Absolutely love your article: very well-written and I have bookmarked the page.
@CaroGuiniazu The illustrations are nice as well👍
