How a Disney Tour Guide Created Her Own Career Path: And You Can Too!

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We're talking about the beauty of unexpected pivots, following your passions, even when it feels scary, and how your wildest detours can actually lead to exactly to where you are meant to be. And today's episode is truly extra, extra special because I'm joined by someone who's been a really big part of my life for the past 16 years.

. Elisa and I met way back in: 2009

And that's how we, it all began. We started talking, we ended up going to a party and the rest is history. And we've been through so much together over these last 16 years. We both Germans living in Hawaii, chasing our dreams, figuring out our careers, navigating love, navigating marriage, and now motherhood.

It's been a wild and beautiful ride, and I'm so thankful for Elisa's friendship, and I can't wait for you to hear the incredible insight, heart and humor she brings to today's conversation. So wrap your coffee or a cup of tea like me, get comfy and let's dive into one of the most heartfelt and inspiring journeys yet.

areer Clarity Unlocked. I am [: 00:02:00

So welcome to Career Clarity Unlocked. Thank you. Thank you for having me. I want to start in the beginning and for our audience here about the twists and turns of your professional journey. I know for you it hasn't been a straight line how it's for most people. Would you mind sharing what were some of your biggest moments that shaped where you are today?

Alica: Yes, absolutely. Um, you are right. It's definitely not a straight line and I don't think it ever will be, especially now that I actually realized I don't want a straight line. That's just not who I am. But of course, there was a time where I thought, that's just kind of what everybody does. I should have a straight line.

. And that's just not how it [: 00:03:00

So I was born and raised in Germany. But I also always worked with children, so it was actually a big deal when everyone in Hawaii heard that Aulani, the Disney Resort, was coming to Hawaii, and so a lot of people were like, oh, this is perfect for you, you know, it's in the travel industry management field, but also there's a job with children.

a few areas that I thought I [: 00:04:00

One was like fitness, one was animals, and one was travel. But I always thought like, okay, travel, who actually gets to work in travel when you get like a travel degree? Like, what are there even, what kind of jobs are there that allow you to travel? And it never crossed my mind that I could be a tour guide, but so when that came up, I applied and it was extremely hard, a lot of applicants, I had to fly to California.

So it was the most expensive interview I have ever been on since I had to, you know, pay for a flight, pay for a hotel. That was my first time also going to Disneyland because, you know, I was already there, so why not go? So I get the job and... It's my dream. I'm sure we'll talk more about that specific job.

ow and she is the love of my [: 00:05:00

It's actually very recent that I found out I cannot return. It's a, it's a long story and maybe not interesting for this podcast, but I'm pretty heartbroken. We just had different expectations. And it's just not going to work out. So anyway, when I was pregnant, I then started working or I applied to be a wedding officiant.

iously COVID, COVID affected [: 00:06:00

Theresa: Oh my God. I totally remember when you were in the coffee shop in Kailua. I think that was the last time we saw each other in person. Me that you're going to China for a tour guiding, um, for a tour guiding summer. And that was the last time we saw each other before the shutdown happened.

Alica: Yes, because then I actually still went to Australia. I still had a tour in Australia. And then during that trip, um, Everything shut down and my tour got interrupted and canceled halfway through and then I had to fly back home from Australia. So and then I know we didn't see each other for a while because then COVID was already there.

Theresa: Yeah.

life, what else you can do. [: 00:07:00

I, I've always considered myself as somewhat healthy person, but definitely during COVID and getting a certification made me even healthier and made me really realize that I need to take care of myself, not just physically, but also mentally, emotionally. And so with the, uh, I learned a lot of tools of how to deal with stress and anxiety and just have mindset shifts.

. I feel like a lot of times [: 00:08:00

Theresa: Yes,

Alica: 100%.

Theresa: Yes, I agree with that.

Alica: Ja, also das Coaching, leider muss ich sagen, ich will nicht das Wort verfehlen, aber auf eine Art und Weise fühle ich mich verfehlt, weil ich es nicht mehr wirklich mache, aber der Grund, warum ich nicht wirklich sage, ist, weil ich immer noch offen bin zum Coaching, ich liebe Coaching, ich hasse einfach alles um ihn herum, ich bin nicht gut beim Marketing und das ist, wir reden darüber immer wieder, du machst so einen großartigen Job und ich denke, du genießt es.

y certification. But I'm not [: 00:09:00

Yeah,

Theresa: and I can see that in you so much. I mean, yes, as you said, you were always passionate about fitness and health, but you are such an incredibly healthy person now and how passionate you are about it. So I think it has just been such a positive shift for you. Yeah,

Alica: no, definitely. Um, and then so, Just to continue after that.

een able to rent out wedding [: 00:10:00

I, I'm just not in it. I, what I'm lacking in that job is the connection with my family. The people there is usually just a quick email. Hey, can I rent this? You know, this is when my wedding is I meet them for three seconds to drop off and and and it's part of me is sad about it because I do think I could really make it a business, but I'm just not into it.

So I can't do it. And that is a big part of my personality. If I'm not fully feeling it, I just can't do

Theresa: it. Yeah, and that's what I love. Love about you is that you're I love you. so passion driven or you follow your heart so deeply and you do really what what lights you up and not just anything it has to really be aligned

i like this why can't i just [: 00:11:00

This is not for me. So, but then I know if I continue to stay excited, then I know like this is for me. So I really do need to listen. Also, durch das Coachen, kam es dazu, dass ich durch eine Mastermind-Klasse, die jetzt eine wirklich gute Freundin ist, wohnt in Kalifornien. Ich habe sie aber nur einmal getroffen, aber wir haben entschieden, zusammen einen Podcast zu machen.

Und wir haben einen Podcast genannt Hungry for More, der alles umfasst, was wir gerade über die Gesundheit- und Lebensstil-Podcasts gesprochen haben. Ich genieße es, das zu machen! Oh

ein Teil deines Sparky Type [: 00:12:00

Aber eine der Dinge, die ich auch über dich weiß und über die wir gesprochen haben, ist, dass du wirklich mit Leuten arbeitest, um andere zu kümmern, andere zu beurteilen, andere zu trainieren, andere zu mentorieren. Und

you're training with Disney is so cool.

So many people dream of working at Disney and you shared that you were working as a youth activities lead at Aulani, as well as Adventures by Disney Guide. And you've already touched on it, but would you be open to sharing more about how those roles allowed you to tap into your passions and your talents for nurturing, guiding, supporting others?

Yes. Um,

y what I love the most with, [: 00:13:00

Ciao! Ciao! Ciao! I'm almost sad to say, but it's, it really just, it would light me up to just build relationships with these people. And to just, yeah, like I said, I know I'm repeating myself but having that connection and the best trips. We're always the ones where I could fully be myself and like, be funny, joke around, be there for them, help them find solutions.

hour days, so like weeks at [: 00:14:00

You know, for some people it was like the first time overseas or the first time traveling with the company or the first time traveling with their children. Like there were so many firsts and so many of our guests felt like on. Or maybe not at ease all the time in a foreign country and that's just where I could step in and make them feel comfortable and really truly enjoy and make memories.

It's so special

Theresa: when you get to be at work and be fully yourself. Es ist etwas, was viele Menschen vermissen, aber ich höre von

,

u in einem Roll sein kannst, [: 00:15:00

Das spricht wirklich Volumen darüber, wie viel der Workout mit allem alignt war, was du gesucht hast.

Alica: Yes, I definitely agree.

Theresa: Yeah, and I know the last year has not been easy with the change of moving out of guiding and hopefully one day you can go back to it because it is something really, really special.

But I also know your baby is still there. Und das ist noch besonderer. Um eine Mutter zu werden, verändert sich so viel für uns. Und ich wollte wissen, wie es für dich war, eine Mutter zu werden. Wie hat es deine Perspektive auf dein Leben und deine Karriere verändert? Und auch, wie sieht Verfüllung oder Erfolg

Alica: aus?

I always told myself before [: 00:16:00

But I have to say I saw it more as that. Now I just have an additional thing I take care of. And I mean, it probably even goes back to what we've talked about. It's like I love taking care of people. So of course I love taking care of my own baby. So to me, it never came as another chore. I'm not seeing other moms say it.

That baby's our chore. But when you really think about it is a chore, right? Like, I mean, we have to do so much for our kids. But for me, it was really more, you know, now she's my priority, but she's just part of me. She just comes along. And just because I have someone new in my life, someone so important, that doesn't have to mean I have to change my career.

oned I kind of did, but that [: 00:17:00

And I'm not just talking about work. I'm talking about the everyday living. I'm talking about my hobbies. I'm talking about seeing my friends. I'm talking about staying healthy, staying in shape, self-care, you name it. I think you can . I love that and throughout the change of leaving Disney, you've really created

Theresa: a super

ficiant, podcaster and guide [: 00:18:00

Thank you very much.

Alica: Yeah, I think I said it before for me. It's all about the human connection and about being who you truly are, but also making others feel like they can be who they want to be. And I think that's with with all all my careers I've had or the podcast. I think it's about being genuine. um wirklich eine Veränderung zu machen.

e I was successful with that [: 00:19:00

And I, I think it was able to make people feel like they matter. And like I said before, make comfortable. And with the podcasting, for example, it's just my favorite way of using my voice. I am not very good on social media. I mentioned that before. I hate all the marketing stuff and I don't actually do much on social media anymore.

Podcasting is kind of fun. I feel like I can truly share what my values are, what I think is my truth and people can take it or leave it, you know, um, but it's also a way to share my knowledge, share what I know about. Gesundheit oder Mindset. Alle Werkzeuge, alles, was ich mit meiner Zertifizierung gelernt habe.

ls wäre das ein schwieriges [: 00:20:00

Ich hoffe, es hat euch gefallen. I'm very sure they are. You've had some incredible

Theresa: podcast episodes and highly recommend everyone to subscribe to Hungry for More. It's an amazing podcast and you and Jessica are so passionate about everything that you talk about. And I'll- Yeah. I love sharing, um, love hearing in your answer of how you've had so many different pieces of your career, but there is that common thread that pulls through all of them that is about the connection with people and how you make the people feel that you work with them.

ear path, right? But so many [: 00:21:00

Alica: Oh, yeah. I mean, for the longest time, I thought I would just have to have this one linear path and it's not like I would sit down in the evening and journal about it or think about like, oh, you know, what should I do? It's just, I feel like that's what we're taught. I think that's what society, maybe not so much anymore.

aught or how, yeah, you, you [: 00:22:00

They probably went to school and they're still probably, if they're not retired, doing exactly what they went to school for. And for me, I had kind of a problem with that for about two years before I left Aulani because I knew I wasn't happy anymore. I knew I wanted to leave and I just was afraid to do it.

I didn't really know what my alternative was, which at that time I was already with Adventures by Disney. So for about six years, I actually did both. I was working at Aulani and then also working as an adventure guide. So I did both, which was a lot and my heart really was with Adventures by Disney, but It wasn't as like secure, safe of a job compared to Aulani.

i, uh, had health insurance. [: 00:23:00

So it for two years. I didn't even consider it. Um, but also I wanted to say since we've been friends for so long, I always wanted to be. Like you. Um, because it seemed like you had that straight path and I thought, you know, I was gonna be a manager at Aulani. I would move up to. And the funny thing is, though, that even though I felt like somewhat even jealous, maybe, And you kept moving up and you had like these amazing company cars and all of that.

d not want what you had. And [: 00:24:00

Ja. But sometimes you had phases where you were really happy, you had a new position, you were thriving in it. And then there were times where you were just so overworked and burnt out. So... I didn't actually want that. Um, and I, I honestly think I only in the last few years realized maybe probably once I finally left Aulani and then a few months in or maybe a year after that realized like it's totally okay to not have a linear path.

ergangenheit getan habe, ich [: 00:25:00

Aber gleichzeitig ist es für mich wichtiger, dass ich glücklich bin. Also, wer weiß, ob du es als Job oder Karriere nennst. Es ist wichtig, dass ich glücklich bin. Und eine weitere Sache, wie zum Beispiel für den Hinweis, ist, sich selbst zu hören. Wie gesagt, ich wusste, dass ich nicht glücklich war. Aber ich habe es irgendwie abgeschafft.

and if you've never actually [: 00:26:00

Do you not sleep well? Are you irritable? Like so many things. Do you have gut problems? Do you have bathroom problems? Like there is so many signs and we often just think, oh, I ate something wrong or I shouldn't have eaten that or it's just the food we put into our bodies, which often it is, but not only.

ause I'm constantly stressed [: 00:27:00

Is it job related? Or is it actually health related and I need to go see a doctor and something else is going on? Is it your environment? It's honestly your body is constantly talking to yourself and you have the choice to make a change and even things like you constantly lashing out to your partner.

You shouldn't be lashing out to your partner or getting, you know, stressed with your kids or snapping at your kids. We often let it out with the people we love the most, right? Or the people that we're around with the around. äh You're just not happy in the relationship or something else is going on, but it could be a sign if you come home all irritated.

ce. Just listen to yourself, [: 00:28:00

Wow.

Theresa: Thank you for sharing that Alisa. And there is so much that came up for me while you were sharing that. Yeah. Thank you for sharing so openly about the time when I was still in my old role in corporate. And I actually didn't know that there was a part of you who was wondering what I had. Um, and I think there was really two parts of it.

Like right on the outside, you can look at someone's career and be like, they drive a nice company car, they get promoted, they make a good salary. Um, they must have the perfect life. But then you at the same time saw the other side of me, where I was. I used the word burnout carefully. I wasn't quite at a burnout stage, but I was deeply unhappy in that work.

aren immer, es war immer das [: 00:29:00

Aber du hast beide Seiten gesehen, es sah toll aus, aber als du wirklich wusstest, war ich nicht glücklich, als ich von der Arbeit nach Hause kam. Ich meine, ich erinnere mich, als ich zu deinem Ort kam, I didn't enjoy my life outside of work. And that is something. And when you said that about listening to your body, it's something that I didn't grow up knowing how to do.

usst, Ja, ich war gestresst. [: 00:30:00

I mean, also for you it took two years, right, to make that big change, um, but you're someone who can listen to your body and act on that.

Alica: Yeah, now I can, but back then I, I didn't, you just don't know about that. Like unless you're really into health, you just don't really understand it. You have a symptom and you go to the doctor.

And then the doctor doesn't find anything and then you just live with it. I think that's a very typical story for a lot of people. And I had the same, I forget around what time, but I know it was when I was working at Aulani, I constantly had night migraines and I constantly had upset stomach for the long.

as, yeah, just not happy and [: 00:31:00

100 percent agree on

Theresa: that, yes. Und ja, es ist wirklich wahr, dass wir nicht genug realisieren, wie viel Einfluss es auf uns hat. Und auch die Gesellschaft sagt uns, dass es normal ist, genau wie du es gesagt hast, richtig? Es ist normal, bis du ausbrichst, um zu arbeiten. Wenn etwas falsch ist, gehst du zum Arzt, sie geben dir vielleicht einen Schmerzkiller.

Um wirklich darüber nachzudenken, woher diese Unzufriedenheit kommt, oder dieser Missalignment. Und dann zu haben, den Mut, eine Veränderung zu machen, was falsch ist. Und ich denke, dein Beispiel, deine Geschichte ist so großartig, weil du auch nicht, nicht, es war nicht wie über Nacht, dass du aufgewacht bist und gesagt hast, I don't like this job anymore.

ore where you got to a point [: 00:32:00

Alica: I mean, I actually remember exactly what happened. I know eventually I would have left anyway, because like you said, it just added up, but I remember one of my co-guiding friends.

He. So basically what the arrangement was when I was still working at Aulani and for Adventures by Disney, I was for the most part only able to work for Adventures by Disney in the summer because I had to still be available for, which was my main job or my main career at Aulani. But then, so it was springtime and one of my co-guiding friends had said, Hey, I just got this trip.

I really don't want to do it. Do you want it? And I knew for me in order to take that trip. That would mean I would have to leave that moment. I just knew I actually received that email at work. I was like, this is it. I'm taking this trip. It was my favorite trip too. It was Costa Rica. I'm like, it's a no-brainer.

over to my manager and said, [: 00:33:00

Theresa: leaving. Wow. And that was it. That's incredibly brave. And I admire you so much for being able to do that.

Alica: Yeah, I guess something like that had to happen for me to make that very spontaneous decision, yeah.

Theresa: And I see that as a lot of people where things are slowly building up of this isn't aligned, this is not what I want to keep doing.

I'm not feeling healthy, I'm not the best version that I can be, I'm unhappy, it's impacting you in multiple ways, but it adds up. It's more and more and more and more, but at some point something happens where you have to make a decision. And I hope that people listening to it, to this episode, can realize those steps sooner than later, because the more you let them add up, the harder it becomes to get out of it.

l. Yeah. It really will. You [: 00:34:00

I don't even think so. I wasn't married. I didn't have a backup. Things will fall into place if you let it. Yes. As

Theresa: long

Alica: as you stay

Theresa: open-minded,

Alica: things can work out. Und ich sage nicht, dass du das tun solltest, wenn du keine Ersparungen hast oder so. Natürlich bist du witzig darüber, aber ich denke, dass es

Theresa: Möglichkeiten gibt.

Ja, ich stimme dazu, dass du witzig und bist. Du solltest es durchdenken. Ich empfehle dir nicht, einfach zu deinem Manager zu gehen und deinen Job abzuhalten. Es gibt keinen Back-up-Plan und keine Ersparungen in der Bank. Das würde dich in eine wirklich schlechte Position stellen. Aber wenn du es durchdenkst, musst du es durchdenken.

, die negativen Auswirkungen [: 00:35:00

Um das in die Entscheidung zu faktorisieren, ob wir bleiben wollen oder eine Veränderung machen wollen. Vielen Dank für's Zuschauen.

Alica: Yeah, I think at this point it is important to me to mention that there was nothing wrong with working at Aulani. Aulani is an absolutely beautiful place. I think what was hard for me was, one, I had to drive pretty much on the other, to the other side of the island, which I know people on the mainland think that's not far, but for people who live in Hawaii, that was pretty far.

Yes, it was a huge

Theresa: commute. And then I had

etimes had to work weekends. [: 00:36:00

Often it's not the job itself. It's the environment or it's the people or in my case, for example, it's just, I didn't have a social life and that's what I missed. I just didn't have the social life because I was working pretty much the opposite schedule of all the people in my life. Ja,

Theresa: ich erinnere mich.

Ja, und es ist eine sehr lange Reise für die Menschen, die hier leben. Ich kann das einmal im Jahr fahren. I could not make it every day.

Alica: Yeah, I actually remember for us to see each other, I would meet you during your lunch break and I would come with my dog so we could walk together. Yes. And that's what we did.

as great, but that was hard. [: 00:37:00

Theresa: It's really hard, yeah. Working shifts is really hard. It's hard on your health and your body, on your social life. It really impacts everything. And talking about health and lifestyle, um, I want to talk more about your podcast.

I know it is something you are very passionate about and I love that so much. Um, your podcast Hungry for More dives into all things health and wellness. Um, maybe start with sharing what inspired you and Jessica to create that platform and how does it connect with you? It's your love and passion for health and wellness and advising and supporting others.

Alica: Yes, I think it was my idea to start this podcast and I thought Jessica was such a good fit because we got along over Zoom and she was a certified health coach and I was a certified life coach. So it was just perfect. I know I'm certified as a life coach, but yet I just always into my coaching. I bought in like a lot of health.

I'm plant [: 00:38:00

You just always see that on social media. But to me, I truly live by that, like live your best life. And that's Untertitel der Amara.org-Community wirklich, was der Podcast darum geht, ist es, nicht für weniger zu verabschieden. Das Leben ist zu kurz, also verabschiede dich nicht für weniger. Das ist eigentlich in unserer Intro.

ich einfach frustriert, nur [: 00:39:00

For example, like you just never know what's going to happen. So I want people to understand that like, it is now that you're living, you get to write your own story, happiness doesn't come to you, you have to create your own happiness. And you have to find happiness within yourself first. And you need to do all the things that you can.

Bring you joy that light you up. This is totally up to you. And if you are a person who gets tired at night and just wants to sit on the couch and you're thinking about, Oh, you know, it would be so nice to, I don't know, go out again, dance again, do a hobby, but I'm just too tired. I understand that. But that's still up to you.

'm kind of getting off topic [: 00:40:00

So from for us how I just said to. truly be happy and truly live your best life. We can only do that if we're healthy. So I think that's the perfect combination for a podcast. It's like have that mindset, have that motivation, have those tools you need in order to live in the present, to be mindful, to do the things you love, but at the same time, you know, have that health aspect and There are just so many things people don't know or even I didn't know.

We have amazing guest speakers like all the toxins in the world right now and like all the things that might make you sick. And because of those things that make you sick, you are not living your best life. So there's just so many things I want to dive deeper into. And that's where the podcast just comes in again to motivate, inspire people, lifestyle hacks, so on and so forth.

I love that so

h. And there is no doubt how [: 00:41:00

But what we can do is to make this happen. I love that you're in my life and keep reminding me of that. And, um, and I want to ask for everyone who's listening in and is inspired by your journey. What's the first step that you would recommend that they take if they want to build a career or a life that's as unique and fulfilling as yours, where they can live their best life?

ple as that. There is no big [: 00:42:00

If you truly do what you love doing, you will succeed. dann wird das deinen Erfolg bringen, egal ob in einer Karriere oder in der Leben. Und ich meine, noch einmal, das geht zurück zu meinem Podcast oder meiner Zertifizierung zu, ist wie, warte nicht, mach es heute und beginne, selbst klein, wenn du musst, beginne klein mit kleinen Dingen.

I love that so much. [: 00:43:00

Theresa: the perfect place to start. to wrap up this episode is to follow your heart and take small inspired action, take small steps, but listen to your heart and always say listen to your gut of it knows it's guiding you and we sometimes just need to pause and actually listen to it.

Lisa, wo können unsere Zuhörer sich mit Ihnen verbinden und mehr über Sie, Ihre Arbeit und besonders Ihren Podcast lernen?

Alica: Ja, Sie können mich auf Instagram finden, was ich wiederum nicht viel da drüben mache, aber ich poste meistens politische Dinge oder mein Baby. Es war früher eher ein sehr motivierendes Profil, aber ja, ich mache nicht viel, aber ich liebe es immer noch.

st and share things that are [: 00:44:00

name. And, uh, email is the same alisa.panzer at gmail.com. Even if since I am still doing it, if you want to get married in Hawaii, I do have wedding decor for you. You can email me here. Yeah, the stuff I have actually is really beautiful and affordable and, you know, way more sustainable, way better for earth and your wallet.

the Hungry for More podcast, [: 00:45:00

Theresa: Perfect. And we'll make sure that all of these are linked in the show notes. So all you need to do is scroll down to the show notes and click on the link and you will find Alisa and the Hungry for More podcast. Thank you so much for being here today. This was an incredible conversation, Alisa, and I'm so grateful that you joined me for this today.

Alica: Yeah, it was super fun. My baby cooperated. She's still sleeping, so we were able to get it all in. So thank you. Thank you.

t, trust your instincts, and [: 00:46:00

And remember, it's never too late to rewrite your story, and the best time to start is right now. And here's a little bonus. Treat. Elisa will be back next week for a special episode where I'll be coaching her life. On this podcast,

we'll be diving into a career clarity coaching session to help her find what's next for her professionally. So now that you know her amazing story, you absolutely cannot miss next week's episode. It's going to be inspiring, real and full of those aha moments that you don't want to miss. And if today's conversation sparked something inside of you and you are ready to get serious about creating a career that lights you up, I'd love to help you book a free consultation call with my team.

The link is right here in the show notes. Thank you for tuning in everyone, and I'll see you next time.