The dreams are not always possible in reality. I had a big dream to get the sponsor for the trip, but I didn’t know how to make it a reality.
I got the e-mail from the NBE to remind me of registering information for the MATKA Workshop Day, so I might have the chance to get the 15 min speed meeting. The MATKA suppliers are the potential business partners for the global travel companies and media. For the travel bloggers the MATKA suppliers are the potential sponsors or the business partners.
Ok! Let me say that the game rule is the suppliers are like the bosses, the buyers (traveling bloggers, the travel companies, media) are like the candidates. The bosses can make the decision to accept your requested meeting or not by your profile and you if match the condition they are looking for.
Every supplier listed what kind of business partners they were looking for. Of course, travel blogger never on the list. Both parties can request, accept and decline meetings. Meeting requests must be confirmed by both sides in order to be scheduled. It means the meeting will be canceled once you haven’t been accepted or been rejected.
Business is business, the suppliers will chose the main target buyers, even though they are looking for the bloggers, they must chose the top travel bloggers. I’m not famous enough, I have no local social relationship. It seems like the mission impossible to get the 15 min speed meeting for me.
I will have no chance to get the sponsor trip if I didn’t get any speed meeting. Even though I have the speed meeting chance, it can’t guarantee I would win the sponsor.
It’s like looking for the job and be a sales. The first step is to send your profile to request the meeting. The supplier accept your request, then you will have the speed meeting. The second step is you are attending the 15 min one to one speed meeting. You must proposal yourself for your purpose in English. Successful or not relied on your presentation and communication with the supplier.
At the beginning I was looking for the Australian suppliers, but I couldn’t find any on the supplier list. I started to send the Asian and Africa countries, but I didn’t get any answer or been rejected.
Zero meeting sounds no good at all. Maybe I only attending the NBE for this trip. It’s not bad, whatever nobody knows my big dream, even though I don’t make it. I was on fire to chase my big dream, I haven’t had the ambition for a dream and challenge for a long time.
Ok! Then I changed my mind to only focus on the Finland suppliers. At first I also didn’t get any answer or been rejected again. Finally one supplier accepted my request. This meeting was meaningful for me. It gave me the confidence, no matter if I was successful or not.
I almost finished my Finland travel schedule when I got the first meeting permission. I found out that I would only have few days in Finland after MATKA Workshop Day. I was setting my basic goal that to get at least one night accommodation sponsor. Not only save the money, but archive my dream and overcome the big challenge. I wanted to build a milestone for my travel blogger career on 2015.
I renewed my profile and sent the request to the meeting request. This time I only sent the request to the supplier where I might go there, then some suppliers accepted my requests. Final I had 7 speed meetings.
I felt it was not real when I knew I would have 7 speed meetings. I never present a proposal overseas before, I never think of my first proposal overseas would be from Australia to Finland. It was my first time to take a flight over 24 hours.
Actually no one could help me how to write the English sponsor proposal, most of my top blogger friends don’t need to write the proposal for the sponsors. You only need to write the Chinese if you are looking for the sponsor in Taiwan. I was going to have the meeting with the Finn, so I got to write the English proposal. The only way was to do it by myself without any help.
Honestly, most people would think that I didn’t have the chance to win the sponsor. I need to compete with other buyers and top bloggers. I need to impress the supplier within 15 min speed meeting by my presentation and communication, even though my English was not fluent, then make it so they would like to sponsor me.
Anyway, I have a stubborn personality that I go on undeterred by the dangers ahead. I want to overcome the challenge when I know it is hard to make it. It’s not my style to quit without trying. I was thinking that I would only get the chance once to try it, otherwise I would never have the chance. The worst situation is that I fail at all the meetings, but it didn’t mean I lose anything. It means I earn 7 meetings experience with Finn. Once I won 1 meeting, it means I got 14% performance for the first experience overseas. Yes, I was ready for the worst situation, but I was still keeping positive. I was promoting myself as the product.
＊＊＊＊＊＊MATKA Workshop Day 1＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
Finally I was on the MATKA Workshop Day. 15 min speed one to one meeting was very exciting. There was one host on the stage to count the time, it would be your loss if you were late 1 sec. She rang the bell every 15 min and announced to finish the meeting. It means you have another person was waiting beside the table when you were having the speed meeting with the supplier. It was a kind of pressure meeting as well.
1st meeting. My first speed meeting was before the first NBE course. I would be lying to you if I told you I was not nervous at all. As a matter of fact, it was my first time to touch business and to attend the one to one meeting with European during these 3 years.
Probably I was brave but a little bit silly, I thought I was meeting with a travel agent in Levi, but I just found out I was meeting with Levi tourist office. OMG!
I was a little bit embarrassed at the beginning. I knew I was not familiar the Finland, so I check the google map before the meeting. But I still made the mistake about the location.
15 min speed meeting finished very fast. I was nervous during the meeting, but the atmosphere was quite relax. The sales manager said she couldn’t make the decision to sponsor me, she needs to ask her supervisor. She gave me a buff headwear with Levi logo for the gift. I was not sure if the sales manager would help me to get the sponsor or was she just being polite to reject me. I felt so relax when I finished the first meeting. I was so glad that I already had the first step for my dream.
2nd is a hotel. I had meeting with the sales manager. I already knew I won’t get the sponsor at the beginning. Obviously she was not interested in bloggers at all. She was focus on another buyer with another manager. Her face showed she was not interested in me. I was feeling she’s a little bit rude, but I still appreciate her gave me the chance. I completely finished the proposal, she said it’s ok, then she kept focus on the another buyer. It was the fastest meeting. It took me less 10 min.
3rd meeting. One travel agency in Kemi. He was a nice man. His English was also not fluent. He said he couldn’t help me for the sponsor, he would still be in Helsinki at the date I request. He can ask his college, but he couldn’t promise me anything. Even though I didn’t get the sponsor from this company. The most important thing was I felt respected and had a happy chat. Final he sent me the message to show he cared about me and if I had a good time in Kemi. It was a happy ending for me.
＊＊＊＊＊＊MATKA Workshop Day 2＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
2nd Day speed meeting at a small space. There were not many suppliers on this day. Most of suppliers already focus on the travel exhibition.
4th meeting on the second day. This meeting was quite important for me. I was going to meeting with an accommodation owner from Inari. I flew far away from Australia to Finland, so I would not miss to see the Northern Lights in Finland. Many Taiwanese backpackers recommended that Inari is one of the great places to see the Northern lights.
There were not many accommodations in Inari. It is a not cheap there as well. It would help me to save the money if I could get the sponsor in Inari. I couldn’t find the owner at the beginning. The staffs told me he must be at the exhibition, I can find him there. I couldn’t find him within 15 min that I had to meet with him, but I had another meeting after this meeting. So I planed after next meeting, I would go to meet this owner.
5th meeting. I was having a meeting with a managing director of a travel agency. They can arrange all the tourist schedule for you. She said she didn’t have right to make the decision to sponsor me, she only helps to organize the trip. She wrote down a name on a note for me, she suggested to me to meet the guy, and told him that she recommend me to meet him. I was not pay attention to the note. I was thinking I was going to meet the 4th meeting owner.
4th meeting continuous. I immediately went to the Inari exhibition after the 5th meeting. Finally I saw the owner. He looked so busy, I had the one to one meeting after he finished. He was nice and looked a little bit serious, I couldn’t tell his emotion on his face. He straight told me that he would be still in Helsinki on my request sponsor date. He could ask his employee if there were any available room for the date, but he couldn’t promise me that he can sponsor me. I saw the note after the 4th meeting, then I found out it was coincidence that the name was the owner I just met with.
6th meeting was a famous hotel. It was a surprise. I didn’t consider the location before I sent the request. I sent the request was before I finished my Finland trip schedule. I was meeting with the sales department assistant. She was kind and nice. We discussed my Finland schedule, but we found out I couldn’t make it to this hotel this time. She said that’s ok, next time you can come here with your family. I can still sponsor you. Next time you come to our hotel, you can stay longer to enjoy the place. So I won the sponsor for my next Finland trip in this meeting.
7th meeting. It was my last meeting and all suppliers last meeting as well. The speed meeting would be all finished the meeting in 15 min. The finale meeting, I had some hope, but I couldn’t have too much expectation.
Why did I say that? Because I was going to have meeting with a sales & marketing manager of a resort. The emphasis is the resort. You must know the glass igloos if you have noticed the Finland high level Northern lights tour. I saw the description on the website, it looked so fantastic. I was thinking it’ll be amazing if I could stay at the glass igloos one night.
To be honest, I didn’t know the glass igloos until I searched the Finland tourist information for my trip. I started to realize how famous the glass igloos is. There were only 65 patent glass igloos at the resort in the world. It’s really hard to get a glass igloos, especially in the Northern Lights season. I saw the news that one famous Taiwanese TV show tried to book the glass igloos during the Northern Lights season, but they didn’t get it. Finally they only booked a cabin, but many Taiwanese started to know the places in Finland, because of the Taiwanese TV show.
It looked like a mission impossible for me to get the sponsor. Because it’s my last meeting, I only felt relax. I didn’t worry too much. After all I can’t control the game, the only thing I can do is to try my best, then to see how it does work. I was quite surprised that when I saw the manager. I have met her before when I was looking for other meeting. We didn’t know each other, we just smile and nod.
She straight answered me that she can sponsor me after she heard my proposal. I was so shock and happy, I asked her” Is it real?” Then she surprised me again said I’d like to sponsor you 2 night accommodations if you have enough time. You can stay at glass igloos one night, and another night at cabin, then you can enjoy 2 different accommodations. It was so unbelievable. I was so happy and got crazy, but I still tried to stay calm.
Because I had a verbal contract with the Inari accommodation owner first. I was still waiting for his e-mail answer. Although I didn’t know if I could get the sponsor from the owner. I didn’t want to break a promise with him. I have told him I would wait for his answer. Maybe some people would think the chance was so rare, they would directly answer yes to the manager, but I insist that the honesty is the most important thing. I had met a friend and a college who broke a promise, because the benefit to them, we didn’t have a happy relationship anymore. “Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you.” My character is my goodwill now, then being honest is essential.
I honestly replied her” I’m so happy you can offer me 2 night accommodations, but I’m still waiting for the answer from another supplier. I can’t promise you I can stay 2 nights now, but I will tell you if my plan has change.”
I had a really happy conversation with the manager, the coincidence was she would back to resort on the date I request. She was going to host other media from the world at the same day. She knew my travel history during the meeting. She was so exciting said that “I would introduce you to our boss. He’s so nice, you must like him.” I was so surprised again. I was going to live at the glass igloos and meet the resort boss. It was like a dream, wasn’t it?
The last meeting was the perfect ending. The happiness came so fast and sudden on me. I didn’t expect that I would get my first sponsor from this meeting, because it seemed like the mission impossible.
Now everyone must curious how many sponsors I had after 7 speed meetings.
Final, I won 5 days 4 night accommodation and some tours. It was about au$ 5,000 (about NT$ 12,500), I will write the sponsor trip detail in the following articles.
It was not only a travel, but a dream chasing journey for me. I was so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and took the courage to take the longest trip in my life just for chasing my longtime dream in my heart.
Yes I had come true my 2/3 dream during the 2 workshop days. 1/3 was I attending the NBE to learn how to be a professional travel blogger, another 1/3 was I did my first proposal & meetings in Finland. I promoted myself in English, I earned the sponsors and respect.
What was my last 1/3? It would be I was going to enjoy my 5 days 4 night sponsor trip, I earned this by my hard work. I was going to build my milestone for my travel blogger career this year.
2 workshop days, 7 one to one speed meetings, 105 min, 5 days 4 night sponsor trip, value au$ 5,000, Priceless meeting experience with bosses and managers in Europe.
You are scared the future is unknown. Sometimes you put all your effort avail you nothing. It is the best part when you are chasing your dream and overcome the challenges even you were scared but you kept going. I don’t mind you laugh at me. I haven’t touched the business over 3 years, I didn’t know it would be a tough challenge in 3 years. In spite of it was my first speed meeting overseas, I had better than 0 performances. I can laugh at myself I was not over the hill.
The speed meeting was like a mission impossible for me. Final I earned the sponsors depended on my personality, ability and past experience in work, study and travel experience. Never stop doing what you love no matter what the odds are; as long as you keep at it, someone will praise and appreciate what you do eventually.
I’d like to share the words to you” Life is beautiful. The beauty of unknown. The beauty that you can see the achievement when you are working hard for your goal, but the life is so short. Sometimes the biggest achievement was not just achieve yourself, you just less the regret in your life. Everything is possible. Don’t hesitate when you are young, every time you make an effort, you will meet yourself in the best way.”
You might have obstructions, some people don’t understand and despise your dream when you are chasing your dream. No worries. It’s normal. You don’t need so urgent to refute or explain how meaningful you dream is. You don’t need to upset from these people. You just need to focus on how to achieve your dream. You have your own life, you are the only one to enjoy the accomplishment when you achieve your dream. Only you can define the meaning in your life, no one can judge or criticize it. Try to make your life shining and build up your confidence, bring the positive energy to the people, then it will be the best thing!
I’m Nobody! No trick in my life to achieve my dream. I’m just willing to enrich myself with the knowledge and experience. Sometime I love to challenge myself for the mission impossible, and I insist to come true my dream. One thing I’m lucky is my partner always support me to come true my dream.
I hope one day you also can come true your dream whatever it is small or big, it is a wonderful thing when you step out of your comfort zone and try the first step.
Una Finland Trip got sponsored by the following,
KAKSLAUTTANEN ARCTIC RESORT
Official Website http://www.kakslauttanen.fi/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kakslauttanen
VISIT INARI LAKE & SNOW INARI
Official Website http://visitinari.fi/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VisitInari
LEVI TOURIST OFFICE LEVI
Official Website http://www.levi.fi/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/levi.center
Thanks to all the sponsors who gave me the great opportunities to enjoy Finland in such fantastic way. I had amazing trip in Finland because of you.
Thanks God for guiding me the amazing adventure in my life journey. (not end yet)
往往夢想跟現實總是有差距的，雖然Una出發前有著贏得贊助商的宏願，卻不知該如何下手？
先是收到研討會的通知，要求Una註冊研討會資料，就有機會跟參展旅遊博覽會的廠商有15分鐘的1對1速時會議。對於旅遊業和媒體來說，這些廠商就是潛在的合作對象；對於像Una這樣的旅遊部落客來說，這些廠商就是潛在的贊助商或合作對象。
簡單來說，遊戲規則是這樣：參展的廠商就等於是老闆，旅遊部落客和旅遊業者等於是求職者。老闆最大，所以15分鐘的會議會不會成立的基準點，在於他對你的自介有沒有興趣，再者就是看你是否符合他要合作的對象。每家廠商其實都會在自己的檔案清楚寫著自己需要哪類的合作對象，想當然爾當然沒有廠商檔上會寫出需要旅遊部落客這個項目。
買家(旅遊業者、旅遊部落客等)都可以跟任何廠商丟出會議邀約，甚至廠商也可以主動對買家丟出會議邀請。但重點來了，如果到指定日期前，受邀的一方沒有任何回應，或是回應後，另一方沒有確認，就代表這場會議取消。如果受邀者直接拒絕你的邀約，當然就是直接取消。
這樣看來，Una當初許的宏願看似有希望，卻又很渺茫。因為這種在商言商的15分鐘速時會議上，廠商顯然會先以有直接有利益幫助的旅遊業為主，再者廠商真要找旅遊部落客的話，一定也會先挑選世界頂尖的全職旅遊部落客。以客觀條件來看，像Una這樣半旅遊部落客的身分，既名氣不夠大，當地也沒人脈，若是想要得到這15分鐘的會議，機會可以說是微乎其微。
不過當然如果連廠商的15分鐘速時會議都沒約成，那肯定是完全沒機會得到贊助。即便會議約成了，也要看廠商對你的提案是否滿意？還有一點也滿重要的，就是廠商有沒有跟你投緣？接著才會有所謂合作的機會。
說穿了，這有點像是在求職和跑業務一樣。第一關是先丟自介，跟廠商邀約會議，如果對方答應要見面了，才能進入第二關的15分鐘的一對一會議。第二關就是正式進入1對1的15分鐘會議，在這短短的15分鐘內，你必須用英文跟對方簡介自己和自己想合作的方式。而會不會合作成功，就取決於這15分鐘的表現，還有和廠商的互動狀況。
說實話當Una一開始看到滿滿的廠商列表，有點摸不著頭緒。原本想說自己住澳洲，那就看看是否能先找到澳洲的廠商，結果發現竟然沒有澳洲的廠商在會議列表中。後來又亂槍打鳥的丟了幾個亞洲、非洲國家的會議邀約，結果全部都貢龜。
好吧！會議成果是零。這下真的慘了，難道這次去芬蘭就真的只單純參加國際研討會而已？雖然這樣聽起來也不錯，反正也沒人知道我立下的目標。但是對於自己追求夢想的慾望，仍是在心中澎湃不已。是說自己已經好一陣子，沒有對一個挑戰如此有鬥志。
好吧！最後看來還是要針對芬蘭廠商丟邀約。一開始Una先丟了幾間廠商的邀約，不是沒回應，就是被拒絕，直到後來終於有一間廠商接受會議邀約。這個會議成立給了Una很大的信心，姑且先不論到底會不會談成功，至少給了自己一針強心劑。
等到這個會議答應時，Una也已經把這次要去北歐的旅遊行程規劃的差不多了，仔細盤算了一下，扣除掉本身規劃的行程外，真正待在芬蘭的時間也沒幾天。所以，Una最基本的目標就是希望至少能贏得芬蘭一晚的免費贊助，當然除了省下一筆旅費外，最重要的還是來自能克服挑戰，達成藏在心中已久的願望成就感。2015年，Una想讓自己在這旅遊部落客的生涯中，建立一個小小的里程碑。
Una最後一次丟出邀約，決定這次就只針對行程中有可能經過的觀光單位丟出會議邀約，也把自介再次好好的修改一番。在目標鎖定後，丟的幾家廠商開始有人接受會議成立，最後會議成立的共有七場。
在發現有7場會議成立後，Una心中才開始感覺到好不踏實。是說生平沒在國外提案過，沒想到第一次在國外提案，卻是要特地從南半球的澳洲飛到北半球的北歐芬蘭，這是Una目前這輩子飛最遠的距離，整整超過24小時的飛程。對於要寫英文贊助旅遊的提案，身邊也沒人可以帶領，因為Una身邊厲害的旅遊部落客，他們得到的贊助旅遊都是廠商主動找上門。若Una真的要在台灣找贊助商，其實只要寫中文就可以。但這次面對的是芬蘭人，當然全部都得是英文，所以這次提案內容，當然都得靠自己。
客觀來說，一般人肯定覺得Una贏面不大，看起來就是穩死的。Una不但要跟參展的觀光業，還要和頂尖的全職旅遊部落客競爭。然後在這短短的15分鐘的會議中，要用那不甚流利的英文跟廠商自介和溝通，還要脫穎而出的讓廠商願意來贊助自己。
不過Una有個好強的個性就是『明知山有虎，偏向虎山行。』有時愈有挑戰的事情，就特別想要達成。還沒努力就直接放棄，這太不符合自己的個性。當初Una的想法很簡單，『所有的事，都是試了才知道有沒有機會；但是沒試，絕對是沒機會。』往最差的狀況想，就算到時七場會議都失敗了，自己不但沒有任何損失，反而還賺取跟歐洲人的七次開會實戰經驗。但只要贏得了一場，那至少Una這菜鳥，第一次在歐洲談業務的業績也有達到14%。對！Una做了最壞的心理準備，但又是如此樂觀。反正任務就是把自己當成業務，把自己好好的推銷出去。
＊＊＊＊＊＊研討會DAY 1＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
總算等到國際旅遊研討會當天，15分鐘的1對1速時會議很刺激，講台上有個人會計時，如果遲到1秒鐘都是自己的損失。每當15分鐘一到就會按鈴，交代大家換人。所以當你跟廠商開會的同時，會有下一組人在旁邊等候，可以算是另一種壓力式會議。
Una的第一場速時會議是在研討會的課程之前，若說自己不緊張，那絕對是騙人的。不瞞大家說，這可是Una這三年多來，第一次再接觸商場上的事情。再者面對歐洲人一對一的開會，這也是生平頭一遭。
第一場會議是Levi觀光單位，Una可以說是憨膽，開會前還傻傻地以為是Levi當地的旅行社之類的，但後來完全沒想到，第一個會議對象竟然是芬蘭滑雪勝地Levi市的觀光單位。換句話說，Una就是在跟Levi市的觀光局開會啦!
一開始的會議其實有點糗，Una知道自己對芬蘭地名沒甚麼概念，前一天先用Google查了Levi這地方。開會當天很興奮的說，我知道你們就位在芬蘭的哪裡。沒想到馬上就被對方指正Una找錯地點啦！真是超囧的。
短短15分鐘結束，整個過程雖然帶點緊張，但氣氛還算輕鬆愉快。這位經理說她沒有辦法做決定是否能贊助Una，她必須詢問她的主管。當場她還送了Una一條Levi市的魔術巾當見面禮，讓Una真的很開心。不管這位經理是否真的想幫我問她的主管是否能贊助Una，還是職場上的客氣話，結束當下Una只覺得終於鬆了一口氣，也很高興自己有鼓起勇氣踏出夢想的第一步。
(第一場速時會議結束後，跟經理的自拍!)
第二場是某間飯店，接待我的是業務經理。不過這個會議，一開始就知道不會成功。很顯然的就是這個業務對於旅遊部落客完全沒有興趣，她完全把重心放在跟飯店經理開會的觀光業客戶上。對方臉上表現就是興趣缺缺，當下雖然覺得不太受尊重，但還是很感謝對方給了自己這樣的機會，完整的把簡報講完。對方說這樣就可以了，接著她繼續把重心放在觀光業客戶上，這場會議是所有會議中最快的一場，大概講不到10分鐘吧！
第三場是位於Kemi的一家旅行社，是一位很和氣的大叔，他的英文也不甚流利，他聽完Una的提案後，就很直接的說他沒辦法答應我，因為我要求贊助的日期，他人當時還在赫爾辛基。他說他可以問問他同事，但也無法確定。雖然這場會議最後並沒有得到贊助，但從頭到尾都有被尊重的感覺，談話也算愉快。後來這位大叔還是有寫信關心我是否在kemi玩得愉快，也是個很開心的後續。
＊＊＊＊＊＊研討會DAY 2＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
第二天15分鐘速時會議的地點僅在一個小場地，這天有在會議列表的廠商本身就不多。因為這一天，廠商的重心都已經擺在旅遊展了。
Una的第四場會議就在第二天，這場可以算是自己比較重視的一場會議。這是Inari某間旅館的負責人。由於這次特地到芬蘭參加國際研討會，行程規劃當然不會錯過看極光這個行程。而網友們最推薦芬蘭看到極光的地點，Inari絕對是首選。Inari的住宿選擇少，價錢也不便宜。若是能得到一晚的贊助，著實省了不少旅費。不過繞了半圈，竟然沒看到這間飯店有在會議中，詢問了相關單位人員才知道這位負責人已經在旅遊展參展，他們叫Una可以去那裏找他。一轉眼15分鐘過了，Una的下一場會議即將開始。所以Una打算在第五場會議結束後，再去找這位負責人。
第五場會議，是位於Inari的一間旅行社的常務董事開會，他們公司負責安排當地旅遊行程。Una跟她講完提案後，她說他們公司主要只是幫忙代訂旅遊行程，並沒有贊助的決定權。她抄了一個名字給Una，建議Una去找那個人提案看看。當時拿了紙條其實沒有認真看，心裡只想著先去找第四場會議的負責人。
第四場會議續攤。第五場結束後，立刻到旅遊展的Inari會館，果然找到那間旅館的老闆，但他看起來很忙。待他結束後，才跟他一對一的面談。感覺他人還滿和善的，只是表情有點威嚴，看不出他到底在想甚麼?他聽完Una的提案後，很直接地跟Una說，Una提出的贊助日期，他人當時還在赫本辛基。他可以詢問他的員工訂房狀況再跟Una聯絡，但並不能肯定一定能贊助Una。後來會議結束，Una看了紙條才發現，原來第五場會議旅行社業務經理留下的名字，就是這位Inari負責人，真的很巧。
第六場會議是間知名的連鎖飯店，這個會議有點算是意外的驚喜，因為這是Una在訂行程前的會議邀約，當時並沒有考慮到廠商的地點是否能跟Una的行程搭上。跟Una開會的是業務部員工，態度很好很和氣，我們兩個很認真討論Una的行程後，發現Una這次的北歐之旅完全不可能有時間到當地觀光。她說沒關係，下次你可以跟你的另一半一起來，我們還是可以贊助你，下次你來就可以在我們這裡待久一點。這樣Una也算是有贏得下次來芬蘭的贊助旅遊，只是何時會再來芬蘭觀光就不知道了。
第七場會議，是Una的最後一場會議了，這也是廠商們的最後一場會議，因為15分鐘後，所有的速時會議即將結束。這場壓軸場，Una是抱著希望但又不敢有太大期待的一場。
為什麼會這樣說?因為Una這場要面對的是某間渡假村的行銷業務經理，不過行銷業務經理不是本次重點，重點在於這家度假村。若有在注意芬蘭極光團的朋友，應該會注意到高價位的極光團，肯定都會安排極光玻璃屋的住宿行程。Una看著台灣高價旅行團對極光玻璃屋的描述，覺得好夢幻，當時心裡幻想著，如果有一天能住進去這樣的極光玻璃屋不知道該有多好。不瞞大家說，Una原本並不知道有極光玻璃屋這樣特別的地方，直到這次要去北歐參加研討會，上網查了當地旅遊資訊，才發現這極光玻璃屋超夯，全世界就只有這65間專利的極光玻璃屋。特別在極光旺季，更是一房難求。Una看到之前的新聞知道，就連食尚玩家浩角翔起當初來芬蘭出外景時，也是訂不到極光玻璃屋，只能訂到一間小木屋。
看起來這種狀況下，Una要贏得這場贊助，根本就是不可能的任務!不過因為這已經是Una的最後一個會議了，Una當下只剩豁出去的輕鬆感。畢竟輸贏非操之在己，當下能做的就是盡人事，聽天命了。會議一見到這位經理有點訝異，因為先前Una在找其他廠商時，就已經看到她，我們還彼此點頭微笑，或許這就是緣分吧!
她在聽完Una的提案和所希望贊助的日期時，她竟然很阿莎力的一口答應！Una當下傻眼，直呼：『這是真的嗎？』 後來她又冒出一句令Una更吃驚的話，她說：「如果你有時間多待一天的話，我可以贊助你兩晚，一晚是玻璃屋，一晚是小木屋，讓你體驗不同的住宿風格。」Una當下真的驚喜若狂，但還是有保持理智。
因為先前Una已經跟Inari的老闆有口頭約定，等他回覆是否能提供Inari一晚的贊助。雖然還不確定結果如何，但也不願意因為一時高興，就成為失約的人，因為先前Una已經答應會等他回覆。或許有些人會覺得能入住這間渡假村兩晚的機會難得，而選擇一口答應，但Una堅持做人要有誠信原則。過去自己曾遇過朋友和職場上，對方因為利益而背信，造成最後彼此不愉快的後果。所謂的『己所不欲，勿施於人』，既然現在Una的人格就是Una的商譽，那誠信就是最基本的。
Una很誠實的回答：『我很高興你願意提供我兩晚的贊助，但因為我還在等另外一位贊助商的回覆，沒辦法答應是否能待上兩晚，但若有變動我會再通知你，很感謝妳願意提供兩晚的贊助機會給我。』整個會議過程中，Una跟這位經理相談甚歡。巧的是Una提出贊助的那天，她剛好當天要回渡假村，也要招待幾位來自世界各地的廠商。她在聊天過程中，知道Una過去的旅遊經歷，她興奮的說：『到時你來渡假村，我會把你介紹給老闆。老闆人很好，你一定會喜歡他的。』這場會議真的給了Una好多驚喜，沒想到除了得到免費贊助外，還要跟老闆碰面，這實在太刺激了!
當時她有擺一個極光玻璃屋的小小展示品在桌上，還有開關可以有燈光。她說Una到度假村的話，她就會送一個新的給Una當禮物，Una真的太幸運啦! 最後一場會議是這兩天會議以來，最完美的落幕。所謂『幸福來得太快、太突然』，大概這種感覺吧!
Una完全沒料到這七場會議中，最快得到贊助回應的，竟然是這個看起來最不可能和最沒希望的會議。
到了這裡，大家肯定很好奇，在Una參加了這7場會議後，最後到底贏得了多少贊助？(Una就當大家都很好奇啦！哈）
最後，Una贏得五天四夜的住宿和一些行程贊助，換算下來這次贊助價值約5,000澳幣(台幣約125,000)，詳細內容會陸續在後面的遊記提到。
與其說，這次到北歐是場觀光旅行，倒不如說，這是一場夢想追求之旅。很高興自己能跨出當時的舒適圈，而鼓起勇氣，坐了這輩子有史以來最遠的飛程，來追求自己藏在心中已久的夢想。
是的，藉由這兩天的會議和研討會，Una已經在第二天美夢成真了2/3。第一是參加國際研討會，學習如何朝向更專業的旅遊部落客邁進；第二是第一次跟外國人(歐洲人)提案，不但用英文來推銷自己，並贏得贊助和尊重。那麼Una剩下美夢成真的1/3是甚麼呢?那就是去享受靠自己努力賺來的5天4夜贊助旅行，為自己的旅遊部落客生涯，立下一個新的里程碑。
2天研討會，7場速時會議，105分鐘，5天4夜贊助，替自己賺得5000澳價值，跟歐洲主管和老闆開會的無價實戰經驗。未知雖然可怕，努力也不一定有成果。但在追求和挑戰夢想的過程中，雖然害怕卻仍然勇往直前，戰勝恐懼的感覺卻是最美好的。不怕大家笑，其實Una已經3年多來沒再碰職場上的事，沒想到再遇上就是個高難度的挑戰。還好第一次海外出擊，業績沒有掛零，還可以笑笑自己寶刀未老。
雖然這次的速時會議，Una就像在挑戰不可能的任務。但最後Una能贏得這些贊助，是因為Una個人特質再加上過去幾年累積的經歷和能力得來的。只要你認真去經營過去的每一條路，未來你就會在某個時機嘗到美好的果實。
最近看到一段話是這樣說的：「人生很美，美在它的不可預知，美在你每往前衝刺一步，都可以看到一點成績；但是，人生也很短，有時候最大的成就，不只是成就自己，而是將自己人生減少遺憾。一切皆有可能、趁年輕、莫遲疑、一步一台階，就能遇見最好的自己。」
在追求夢想的過程中，或許身邊會有阻饒、看不起、不理解的聲音存在，這些都很正常。你不用急著跟那些人抗辯或解釋自己的夢想有多麼的重要，或因為這些人的言語覺得很沮喪。你只要專注想著如何去達成自己的夢想，因為你的人生是屬於你自己的，當你夢想達成時，享受的成就感也是屬於你自己的。你的人生意義由你自己定義，別人都沒有資格插嘴去批評。試著讓自己活得愈光彩愈有自信，帶給人們正向的思考力量，這就是最棒的事。
Una跟大家一樣也就是個平凡人，去實現自己的夢想並沒有技巧。只是在追求夢想的過程中，願意去充實自己的能力，願意去挑戰不可能，願意堅持下去。或許比較幸運的是，身邊有願意支持自己去實現夢想的另一半。
Una在這祝福你們也能有美夢成真的一天，無論夢想是小是大，只要願意踏出了舒適圈，嘗試了第一步，就是件很棒的事。
以下為此次Una在芬蘭旅遊的贊助商名單：
KAKSLAUTTANEN ARCTIC RESORT 極光玻璃屋、小木屋、聖誕老人村
Official Website http://www.kakslauttanen.fi/ 官網提供中英文
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kakslauttanen
VISIT INARI LAKE & SNOW INARI Inari住宿、Inari行程安排
Official Website http://visitinari.fi/ 官網提供英文
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/VisitInari
LEVI TOURIST OFFICE LEVI 芬蘭滑雪勝地Levi觀光單位
Official Website http://www.levi.fi/ 官網提供中英日文
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/levi.center
在這Una感謝所有的贊助商給了 Una這麼棒的機會去享受芬蘭，才會有這場美妙又驚喜的芬蘭旅遊。
感謝主，帶領Una經歷這場奇妙的夢想追求之旅。（待續）
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(photo from kakslauttanen arctic resort)
(photo from kakslauttanen arctic resort)
（到研討會才發現被選中的唯二華人旅遊部落客，根本就是神人等級後，一點都不覺得失落。）
孕。極光寶寶 (5)
