Diva Maverick Mavens interview
10-04-2009 : Dez Bartelt is a world traveler and environmentalist who runs an adventure vacation company for women. Dez in currently traveling around the world in an environmentally friendly vehicle that will support women's projects.
Dez Bartelt is a world traveler and environmentalist who runs an adventure vacation company for women. Dez in currently traveling around the world in an environmentally friendly vehicle that will support women's projects.
Diva Maverick Mavens: - When did you begin traveling?
Dez Bartelt: - Fifteen years old. I backpacked around the US No mom mom did not know. They thought I was at a summer camp. I was climbing all around the US.
DMM: - Do you think you got your spirit of adventure from your parents?
Dez: - My mom yes.
DMM: - How?
Dez: - Well that's hard. She was not a climber or anything like that. However. When she wanted to do or see something she did it. She told me to do what I wanted to do as long as I was safe.
DMM: - How has this philosophy helped you with your present day business?
Dez: - The thing is. I hope people let go of all the issues that hold them back. they have to know there is more to life then work. People want to explore but they tend to hold back. I try and help them understand nothing should stop them for life.
DMM: - Tell me if you could encourage a woman who did not have this kind of support, what advice would you give her?
Dez: - Well lets see. Life will not stop for them. If they don’t live it. It will pass them by. They can go back to the 9 to 5 job but if they take some time to explore their inner adventure. The 9 to 5 will be like a cake walk so will the day to day with the kids and husbands.The 1st step in the support is to sit down and say what I have wanted to do. Surf, ski, travel to a different country. Then start to research. There so many vacation packages on the world wide web now a days for women to take an adventure. They don’t have to go with someone like me but they need to do the research. Traveling with a company like "Best of Both Adventures" will make their trip so much easier and less stressful. We have a group of women and they bond and that make a life time trip.
DMM: - I read that you do white-water rafting, sea kayaking, ice climbing, and skiing, as well as teaching wilderness survival techniques. Tell me about these hobbies?
Dez: - Well, I would not call them hobbies. Most of them I did as a pro.
DMM: - Tell me about being a pro?
Dez: - It takes lots of hard work. As a woman in the world of extreme sports it’s not easy. However it is fun and life changing.
DMM: - What has been your biggest challenges in business and with being a pro in these extreme sports?
Dez: - In the past when I was sponsor. It was making sure the sponsors had the same beliefs and ideals as I do. I would not work with companies that did not work to help the environment. I would not work with companies that did not support women. Now days I guess it is the same. I was lucky there were very few women pro climbers so I could be a little strong in my beliefs. Funny story. Last week. I went to buy a new pair of climbing paints. It was in a north face store. I happen to have a dress on. Not looking like a climber I guess. When I asked the sales guy if they had some alpine paints. He asked for whom. When I said me. He started to chuckle. That was always very hard for me in the past and also in business. I pointed out that he may want to look in his North Face books as he might come across a picture of me in them.
DMM: - What advice can you give for a woman running into this kind of chauvinism?
Dez: - Just as long as she knows who she is. she can do anything. Chauvinism is insecurity.
DMM: - Good now tell me how you started Best of Both Adventures for Women and why?
Dez: - I had a co-ed adventure company before hand. But I found the women on the trips held back. I found that Insecurity frustrating as heck. I went home and told my husband tha I was changing directions. I’m going with only women's trips. Women need their time. They need to feel the support of other women. They need to feel strong and I wanted to help with that.
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