Prioritizing Growth Over Profit – Lessons from Shane Mahoney of Lugos Travel

A Bold Pivot into Luxury Travel
In a recent episode of Pivot to Profit, I had the pleasure of speaking with Shane Mahoney, founder of Lugos Travel, about his entrepreneurial journey and how he’s scaling his luxury travel business. His story is a testament to the power of bold pivots, efficiency, and long-term vision.

From Finance to Founding Lugos Travel
Shane’s background in finance and sales gave him a strong foundation, but he found himself unfulfilled despite financial success. At 34, he planned to sell everything and move to France to become a ski instructor. However, a pivotal conversation with a travel entrepreneur led him to launch Lugos Travel instead. Today, his company is redefining luxury travel planning with proprietary software that delivers fully customized trip proposals in minutes—at nearly half the cost of competitors.

Prioritizing Growth Over Profit
One of the most compelling aspects of Shane’s approach is his mindset around business growth. While many entrepreneurs focus on maximizing profit from the start, Shane is intentionally prioritizing growth over profit. His goal? To scale Lugos Travel to a specific revenue target in the next 5-8 years before considering an exit. This strategy allows him to reinvest in the business, improve efficiency, and build a valuable, scalable company.

A Lesson for Business Owners
For business owners, Shane’s approach raises an important question: Are you prioritizing short-term profit at the expense of long-term value? Sometimes, the best way to increase your ultimate financial return is to invest in systems, marketing, and expansion—rather than extracting profit too early.

The Value of Experiences
Beyond business strategy, Shane also shared his perspective on the value of experiences over waiting for the "perfect time." His “18/40 rule” reminds us that we only get 18 summers with our kids and about 40 meaningful summers in our adult lives. That perspective drives his mission to make luxury travel effortless and accessible.

Tune In for More Insights
Whether you’re a business owner scaling for an exit or someone looking to make the most of your time and money, Shane’s insights offer valuable lessons. Tune in to the full episode for more on how he’s blending efficiency, growth, and luxury travel.

📱 Connect with Shane and Lugos Travel
Want to see more from Shane and Lugos Travel? Check him out on Facebook and Instagram @lugostravel. Visit Lugos Travel.