Check Out Rebecca Burkhart’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Burkhart.

Hi Rebecca, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My parents took my sister and me on a vacation every summer. Although finances were tight, my parents prioritized showing their kids the United States, even if that meant 31-hour drives. I have been traveling my entire life. When I went to college at the University of Missouri, I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, and that was my first time out of the country. I visited a handful of European countries during my time there. I also attended two Global Brigades in college to teach financial literacy and business management in under-resourced Panamanian communities. After college, I took a solo trip to Ireland before starting full-time at Oracle. My job at Oracle led me to countless trips to the United States. My passion for travel only continued to grow with each trip. I have been to almost 20 countries and 47 states at 27.

Outside of working full-time, I run Through Becs Specs on social media, a travel and adventure social media brand based in Kansas City. I started creating travel content in 2018. My journey to the amount of traction and followers I have gained took time. Some influencers have great success stories of posting a few videos and blowing up overnight. I have been posting on & off for 6 years, with increased posts in the past two years.

My account started as a “virtual scrapbook” and grew from there. I loved sharing my travels and adventures and needed a venue. At the time, I started on Facebook and my personal Blog, Through Becs Specs. I shared mainly out-of-Missouri posts about locations and destinations in the United States and beyond, from hiking trips to international hotspots to beach vacations. I was posting everything! When Covid hit, I continued to travel through my job, but my travels slowed. That is when I started posting more about Kansas City. I posted a video of SERV and the massive Fat Sully’s pizza, and those videos took off! Now, you can find me on just about every social media platform. If you are looking for an account that shares hidden gems, unique stays, & top eats in Kansas City and beyond, Through Becs Specs is your gal!

Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Content creation always has its ups and downs. What truly matters is your goals and purpose at the end of the day. Sometimes, I will put much effort into a video or post that could do better. I was on a viral video with a total combined viewing of nearly 1 million views and over 10,000 comments. About 95% of those comments were not lovely and filled with hate. If I let every negative word and sentence said about me affect me or break me down, I would not be where I am today. Similar to content creation, if I had stopped traveling just because of 1 bad experience, I would not have been able to visit the nearly 20 countries and 47 states I have been to by age 27. I have been stung by a jellyfish in the Bahamas, had an emergency airplane landing because of fireballs shooting out of the engine next to my window, and ran out of gas in the middle of Oregon with no service and no signs of life for over 2 hours, stepped on a central red fire ant hill in South Carolina, got a bad skin rash in Costa Rica, and more. My travel stories are only sometimes perfect, which makes the experience memorable.

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work full-time as an Integration Architect at Oracle. This role requires me to oversee and manage projects with several consultants who report to me, identify and resolve risks, mitigate reported issues, manage the technical integration of clinical software for hospitals, and more. Through my job, I have traveled to New York City over 50 times, Indiana over 30 times, Canada twice, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Illinois, and more. A major perk of working in software that requires travel is using the accrued points on personal trips. I use many of the points I earn through work to cover my personal flights and hotel stays! I graduated from the University of Missouri with a BSBA in Marketing in 2017. I obtained my MBA in Marketing from Missouri State while working full-time at Oracle in 2019. I have always dabbled in the entrepreneurial world, with a product sold in 2016, a handful of successful businesses, and profitable content creation.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.

1. Never say, “I don’t have time.” That is my least favorite sentence of all time. Everyone is busy; everyone has a full calendar. What sets you apart from others is the time and dedication you put toward your goals. If you have a goal or passion, you will make the time. You can prioritize, rearrange, and reschedule, but a true goal will always have time set aside to be accomplished.
2. Don’t be scared. You cannot be afraid to fail. You cannot be afraid of someone telling you that you are doing it wrong or look bad. Again, I was on a viral video with thousands of hateful comments. Did I let it get to me? No! I am going back on the same podcast again soon. What doesn’t bring you down only makes you stronger. If people are talking, you know you made it to one of the pit stops on your journey toward success.
3. Follow your path. Your story is not the same as someone else’s. You make your own story daily, so there should be no reason to follow someone else.
4. My life motto: “Things usually work out sometimes.” Knowing it’s an oxymoron, this motto keeps me thinking positively and hopeful. If there are any times of doubt, I think about this motto, and somehow, everything turns out exactly how it should. Life is beautiful, and time doesn’t stop for anyone. Stay positive, stay hopeful, and keep your calendar full of fun and love.

Contact Info:

• Gmail: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/throughbecsspecs
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/throughbecsspecs
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beccagayleneburkhart/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@throughbecsspecs
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=2VFwVwn7M57kM7mGZuwY4Q&utm_source=ishare
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@throughbecsspecs