Here’s What I’ve Learned Shadowing Freelance Tour Guides in Cambodia for 7 Days
Hunger and willingness to compete are key to survival
Freelancing as a pro-bono tour guide in Cambodia did me a lot of good.
I intended to take a break. But my friend convinced me otherwise. He said this will be a great experience. I was sold.
Maybe I can be a tour guide when I retire. Maybe.
And so I flew in, thinking I would learn to be a freelance tour guide for one of the 7 wonders of the world. It turned out to be that and more.
I learned that freelancing in Cambodia is as legit as seeking a day job.
It is competitive as hell. I need to change the way I think about freelancing to get a shot for survival here.
Observation 1: Survival Drives Motivation
I study with a peer group of locals fighting hard to earn their tour guide license.
Trust me when I say this.
They. Work. Darn. Hard.
Here’s how studying with them for 5 days humbled me (I took day tours for the next 2).
- They are always prepared for required tests
- 18-hour workday makes them happy
- They work before and after classes
You might be gagged reading the second bullet point. Yes, it is true.
The pandemic years have left many locals broke, bankrupt, and jobless. They understand hardship. When opportunities come, they grab them.
And by the way, they will not stop at one.
They take what they can.
My tour guide mentor exemplifies this. He works 19 hours daily. And he picks up his phone cheerfully whenever someone offers him a gig.
Me?
I collapse in my hotel bed at 8 pm after class.
High need for survival = Sky high motivation
Observation 2: Social Media is Survival Media
Locals are fighting for a piece of airtime using social media platforms.
The Developed World focused on the perils of the Attention Economy. Cambodians rejoice. It gives them more opportunities.
This is what I see.
- Tour guides taking care of Thai tourists use LINE
- Tour guides taking care of Chinese tourists use WeChat
- Tour guides taking care of English-speaking tourists use Instagram
Now, this is the amazing thing.
They connect with the tourists before they arrive in Siam Reap. They would,
- Get their names from the Agency
- Make personal connection
- Ask personal preferences
There is this chap, Dee (he calls himself that), who would go to every attraction listed on the future schedule and do a live stream. The to-be tourists would give their yay, nay, and comments.
Dee will adjust the travel itinerary accordingly.
He commutes to various attractions in the early morning, goes live, and arrives before class starts at 8.
I am… beyond impressed.
Observation 3: Call-to-Action Is An Integrated Part of Their Daily Life
Day 2 of the tour guide practicum is at Angkor Wat.
My tour guide mentor, Sak Tun, brings us around and shows us the efficient way to navigate the temple (it is a maze) and where the best spots for taking photos are.
- “This is the spot to take couple shots”
- “Show them the giant tree taking over the temple ruins”
- “You must tell them the story of Heaven, Earth, and Hell when you are here.”
And this is the anchor message Sak Tun has for his trainees.
“Never assume tourists will tip you. Work to make them happy. Then ask for a tip. Never mind the amount. Smile. Be sincere.”
Ask, and Thou shall be given is not a mantra exclusive to the Developed World.
Dee, the hardworking chap, asks his clients for positive reviews on Trip Advisor.
I was baffled. So I asked Dee why he did that.
Dee says hotels are more willing to call him for jobs when his name is mentioned.
To the locals, 1 job leads to 2 others.
Call-to-Actions are not embarrassing.
It is necessary.
Observation 4: Be a Giant Sponge
Many of us from the Developed World thumb our noses at professional development. Me included.
The freelancers in Cambodia think differently.
Dee asked me this question.
“What are the things I must learn, can pick up fast, and earn money as fast as I can?”
When I told my mentor, Sak Tun, that I was impressed with Dee’s insatiable appetite for lifelong learning — He laughed.
I asked him why.
Sak Tun told me they do not judge one gig from the other. Many, like Dee, aim to learn and earn fast. They want to provide for their family.
Many of them are Masters of Many Things.
They do what they need.
Not what they love.
I am deeply impressed.
Parting Keynotes
Not all freelancing scenes are the same.
Many of us are fortunate enough to choose what we want to do. There are many more out there fighting for every single opportunity coming their way.
Freelancing in Cambodia taught me 4 mindset shifts I must make to compete successfully.
- Survival drives motivation
- Social Media is Survival Media
- Call-to-Action is part of their daily life
- Be a giant sponge
Every qualified freelance tour guide in Cambodia will take on jobs when there are.
There is a huge dose of humility operating as a freelancer in their Gig-Economy powered country.
I don’t know if I can ever reach their state of mind.
But one thing is for sure.
I may have gotten answers to the questions I have accumulated throughout the year. And this getaway genuinely reoriented me for the next year.
As a content contributor, I write my observations from daily life and my business exposure. Because our life experience is the bedrock of our unique perspectives.
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