How Living Seasonally and Wild Entrepreneurship Led Tamara Jacobi to Run a Mexican Jungle Eco Lodge
What do you get when you mix a business idea with an out-of-the-box lifestyle? Wildpreneurship.
Tamara Jacobi (she/her) is the author of “Wildpreneurs” and founder of the Tailwind Jungle Lodge in San Pancho, Mexico.
Tamara has lived in the jungle on the Mexican Pacific for nearly 20 years, where she built and now runs the Tailwind Jungle Lodge. Her wild inspiration has led her to finding her Tarzan, having two kids, becoming a guide community leader at Thermal, which hosts private surf adventures globally.
We talk about...
The journey to Wildpreneurship and running a jungle lodge
Growing up in a family that "adventured to excess" with epic memories
Not being entrepreneurial in her youth, but determined
Writing a business plan in college in Vermont, then moving to the jungle at 21 to build it
The early years: the potential of a Wall Street job versus living in a tent and scrapping together money
Following passion first; taking a financially nonviable idea and making it work over time
How wildpreneurship changed Tamara from a shy introvert to an outgoing public speaker
Blending personal and professional dreams to build an unconventional business
Seasonal life: splitting the year between Mexico and the Rocky Mountains
Raising children and working with a partner while moving seasonally
Moving twice a year every year with two young children
Valuing experiences over tangible things with kids
Cultural differences when raising children in a different country that you grew up in
Educating kids about their local environment on a daily basis
When you're an entrepreneur or a mother, you have to face your demons
The challenges of motherhood and passion while trying to avoid burnout
Living and operating a business in a touristed area
Living in an area you're not from and leaving a positive impact or ripple effect on the community
Hosting many visitors, but making sure they leave inspired to protect the natural world
Balancing sustainability and environmental values with travel
Opening the lodge in 2007 alongside the San Pancho community center, Entreamigos
Bringing jobs to a place that needed them, and conserving land in a developing region
Having multiple arms of a wildpreneur work/life
Sharing a manuscript with lodge guests before deciding to publish her book
Planning a book tour with a baby in tow, then pandemic hitting-- now, wanting to share it more
How her book led her to another arm of her work, Thermal
Managing guest experiences and feedback in an environment that puts them outside of their comfort zones
Enoughness and shifting business and experiences
Choosing a small scale business model to accommodate a max of 18 guests, with no desire to expand
Being mindful of a "Then what?" lifestyle trap
Deciding when money, time, or work is "enough," and starting to say no to opportunities
Not everyone is going to be happy, and that's okay
Creating space and flexibility through shifting roles in business with her husband (Tarzan)
Deciding to take a year-long break from the lodge (will you fill their shoes?!)
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