Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Ruiz.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a full-time travel writer, content creator, and author. I started with a blog as a creative outlet and side project while practicing law. That led me to become a contributor for websites like Thought Catalog and Elite Daily. My articles did so well that they caught the attention of an editor at Paste Magazine who asked me to write for their travel vertical. This is where the shift from general lifestyle content (“I think I want to write for fun versus all legal writing”) to travel content (“I’m going to go places and write about them”). It’s also how I rebranded to Jen on a Jet Plane.
In 2027, I set out to take 12 trips in 12 months while employed full-time before my 30th birthday. I ended up taking 20 trips, to 41 cities across 11 countries, all while being back in time for court on Monday morning. At the end of the year, I wrote my first book answering the one question I kept getting — “how are you affording all this?” I found that once you get the flight for less, you can find affordable food and accommodations in most places. So my first book was called, “The Affordable Flight Guide.” It became a bestseller in 8 categories on Amazon and won a Reader’s Favorite Book Award.
Encouraged by this success and having already had a job teaching English online remotely (started this during my year of adventure to help fund the trips), I decided to take a leap and go into freelancing and entrepreneurship full-time. Over the next two years, I monetized my website by joining a publisher network, self-published 4 more books, won another book award, and gave 3 TEDx talks.
When the pandemic hit, I figured it was a good time to try and get a traditional book deal. I have now traditionally published two memoirs, 12 Trips in 12 Months and the sequel that just launched, All You Need is Flights.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has been far from a smooth ride. Entrepreneurship and navigating an industry that didn’t even exist a decade ago is extremely challenging. Traditional markers of credibility like education or experience don’t matter as much. The people who succeed online are those who know how to command attention in a noisy digital space. I have had my TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram shut down, at times before I was about to give a presentation about that very platform. I’ve lost all my blogging revenue. which made me question the wisdom of going all in on any one income stream. As a result, I’ve been stretched thin over many income streams, covering my bases and bracing for the next pivot. I also noticed that in freelancing, seniority doesn’t count in the same way, and you can find yourself commanding the same rates for years without an increase, and sometimes even seeing a decrease due to saturation and increase in demand.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a travel storyteller specializing in promoting women- and minority-owned businesses around the world. My beats include culinary travel, solo travel, and arts and culture. I have been to 50+ countries, edited Lonely Planet’s Central America guidebooks, and am a writer for the Fodor’s Travel guidebook to Puerto Rico. It is a privilege to travel the world, learning about the life work and traditions of others, and sharing them with my audience.
What makes you happy?
My dog makes me happy! It can be difficult to have a routine or sustain relationships when you’re always on the road. My dog has given me a sense of stability when everything else (including me!) is up in the air.
Pricing:
- I have a $12/month Substack where people can find remote jobs and travel opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jenonajetplane.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jenonajetplane
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/jenonajetplane
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-ruiz-75791663
- Twitter: https://x.com/@jenonajetplane
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jenonajetplane
- Other: https://jetplanecrew.substack.com
