{"id":2897,"date":"2016-01-26T04:43:57","date_gmt":"2016-01-26T04:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.diningtraveler.com\/?p=2897"},"modified":"2023-03-15T16:08:30","modified_gmt":"2023-03-15T20:08:30","slug":"travel-influences-jody-harris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diningtraveler.com\/2016\/01\/travel-influences-jody-harris.html","title":{"rendered":"Travel Influences: Jody Harris"},"content":{"rendered":"
I first met Jody Harris (virtually) when I was planning the Women of Color Travel event. \u00a0She was generous enough to share her\u00a0innovative travel \u00a0product, Yuk-B-Gone with our attendees. If you hate the icky feeling of an airplane toilet…. you need to have Yuk-B-Gone in your life! \u00a0I was immediately taken by her story and how she’s a fine boss lady, constantly inventing products to make our lives much easier. \u00a0I asked her about how travel influenced her to be a successful entrepreneur. This is what she had to say:<\/em><\/p>\n Tell us about your first trip as an adult? What were your impressions?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I will never forget walking out of my boss\u2019s office after finding out I was heading to a business conference in Orlando, Florida. \u00a0Not only was this my first business trip but my first time to fly as well.\u00a0 And I was going to be spending a full day at Disney World too!\u00a0 Being a budding professional, I kept my enthusiasm to a minimum, but I was silently singing Disney songs in my head all the way to my car.\u00a0 Two weeks later, I was settled into my airplane seat.\u00a0 It was a little unnerving.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t begin to imagine how this huge plane going to get off the ground. I was no longer white knuckled once we reached flying altitude…..By then I was hooked and haven\u2019t stopped traveling since.<\/p>\n Which place\u00a0has given you a completely different perspective on travel?\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n In 1995, I had the privilege to go to Europe for 10 days.\u00a0 My first stop was Paris and after an eight hour flight, I had no idea what to expect. As soon as we landed, we taxied up to a free standing unloading dock, deplaned and were escorted to a bus by armed guards. I was very uneasy and kept thinking something bad had happened.\u00a0 Once inside, we were hurried through customs and I quickly realized this was normal protocol in Europe. Later that day, I went to the Gare Du Nord train station where I encountered more armed guards making their presence known and securing trains after they had entered the train station.\u00a0 I felt a sense of security and came to the conclusion that Europe was ready and on guard at all times for any threat that might occur.<\/p>\n You invented the product “Yuk-B-gone”.\u00a0 What inspired you to create this product?<\/strong><\/em> Which destination has been\u00a0the most interesting to explore? Why?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n I loved Amsterdam because of the people and its history. \u00a0It was an amazing experience to explore the museums, walk through Anne Frank’s house, float on the canals and view this beautiful city once ravaged by war. \u00a0I loved seeing the variety in Amsterdam and really enjoyed observing people from all walks of life.\u00a0 The sense of community harmony with such diversity among the people of Amsterdam was inspiring.<\/p>\n Share\u00a0an essential business travel tip.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n When I travel for any reason, I pack each pair of my shoes in a plastic shower cap so my dirty shoes don\u2019t come in contact with my clean clothes. Also, I prevent my clothes from wrinkling by covering clothes that need to be hung up with dry cleaning bags.<\/p>\n Big thanks for Jody Harris for sharing her travel influences story. \u00a0Are you an entrepreneur? How has travel influenced your business?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I first met Jody Harris (virtually) when I was planning the Women of Color Travel event. \u00a0She was generous enough to share her\u00a0innovative travel \u00a0product, Yuk-B-Gone with our attendees. If you hate the icky feeling of an airplane toilet…. you need to have Yuk-B-Gone in your life! \u00a0I was immediately taken by her story and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":2901,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,294],"tags":[457,227,295],"class_list":{"0":"post-2897","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel","8":"category-travel-influences","9":"tag-entrepreneur","10":"tag-travel","11":"tag-travel-influences"},"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>
\nNecessity has been my inspiration for both of my inventions. YukBGone was invented because of my encounters with dirty toilet seats during my travel. I was tired of trying to do my yoga pose while in the bathroom. YukBGone, a non-toxic toilet seat spray, was born. You just spray and it instantly sanitizes. Wipe off the excess and it gives you peace of mind and a clean seat every time.\u00a0 ZippedMe was my first invention.\u00a0 There were many times on the road I had to call the hotel desk or go out in the hall and act like a damsel in distress to have someone help zip me up.\u00a0 So I invented ZippedMe.\u00a0 It allows you to zip up your dress in the back when you are alone.\u00a0 It\u2019s a beautiful accessory that can also be worn as jewelry after you use it.\u00a0 Just clip it to the zipper and pull gently.<\/p>\n<\/a>