Well it’s just been a little over 1 1/2 years since I started renovating my home and turning it into an airbnb business. After I opened my first 2 room suite. I renovated another room, with 2 beds, to be used as an add on room for extra guests.
Renovating this room gave me an opportunity to make a second website for guests who were looking to rent a room for 4 people. Or just add on a bed.
As luck would have it.
The next, Private entrance suite that I am in the process of building, is also connected to this room. So it can be added on to any reservation. This makes it financially versatile, in so many ways. When it’s finished, all three spaces, will be interconnected; allowing 6 guests to stay together & still have the privacy of two suites, by simply closing a door.
When it’s all finished, My home will be separated into 3, private entrance, airbnb Suites. Once this happens, I will be at the stage, that allows me to build my own personal, dream, space.
There are a lot of people out there jumping into the airbnb business. They are buying apartment buildings and 4 plexus and extra houses. I think that is amazing and maybe once I get my place developed and going strong, I will look at expanding my business, outside of my own home. But right now for me and my life, it’s important that I am able to maintain a happy, financially balanced existence.
I never want to lose site of my vision. To be self sustaining and Happy in life. I can not afford to take on more debt. than I can maintain. It would be counterproductive to my goal. I can never forget what caused me to make my life changing decision, to open my business.
A snowstorm nearly shut down our town & forced me to stay home, for 3 weeks, with out pay. It really could of been a devastating thing. A sane, person, would of spent their time worrying, about how they were going to make it. Not me!!! instead of stressing, I decided I would just close my eyes & pretend I was skipping school. I would just let go of my worries and embrace it, as a 3 weeks vacation.
It was the best 3 weeks of my life!!!! Staying up, sleeping in, painting at whim & writing. It was a beautiful, quiet moment in time. I had never, had so much alone time, in my life. It was so freeing, So emotionally & spiritually cleansing; to be alone with myself.
It was such an uplifting & eye opening experience. I loved it so much, I wanted to find a way, to keep that feeling, for the rest of my life. The calm, the peace, the clarity & the security of self.
My stay-cation, gave me a chance to evaluate my life & realize, that I really wasn’t very happy, with the way things were going. I didn’t have a retirement & I was almost 50. What would I do, if I really did lose my job.
I had no one else to financially, fall back on & a new career was the scariest thought. I couldn’t even imagine wanting to go back to college or start over again, after all these years. I needed to make some big changes.
That night I went to sleep, looking for answers and praying for a miracle!!! The next day, I found an ad for airbnb & knew, that was my miracle. That was what I had to do & I jumped… feet first into the idea, with no reservations. I drained all $4,300 out of my retirement, Threw $1000 at, Uncle Sam, for the Tax’s & used the rest to start a dream.
There have been many moments during this new adventure, when I was lost and uncertain, about what I was doing. So many construction projects that I had to do myself. I was afraid of messing up and honestly didn’t feel my body or mind was strong enough for the task. But I was determined, I could not give up. I had a vision & I was going to do everything humanly possible & muster up the strength to accomplish it.
I am now about 2 weeks out from finishing my next suite. I am physically tired, but emotionally strong. I have pulled down Sheetrock, put up walls, tape, textured, painted & tiled the walls and floors.
Every time I got close to being finished, the task master, in my brain, would hand me another idea, to make my dream better. Sleep has not been a luxury, it has only been time, for my mind to work and figure out what projects, I needed to do next.
These are the days, I wished I was born a man, with strong hands and muscles, suited for the task. Lol. Don’t get me wrong, I love being a woman & I have found myself empowered, by what I have achieved, in such a short period of time. It truly has been a life altering experience.
Because I tried, fear can no longer stop me. I will never use the words, I can’t, ever again. Challenges in life are now, only the building blocks to my amazing future. I will no longer quit, when I’m tired or stop reaching, when it seems to hard. I will dig deeper, when I’m tired & face life head on. I will gain strength with every struggle and believe, I can achieve anything, if I put my mind to it.
We all have struggles. We all have dreams. We all have times, when we are tired and afraid, but we can’t quit. We must get up, look fear in the face and fight for what ever we believe in.
Whether it’s Love, life or situation.
Life is full of opportunities ready to be taken. Follow your heart and fight for what you love. Dreams can come true, for those, who are willing to reach and work hard.
Dream big & reach higher, life’s an adventure. Love it, before you leave it. Rise up to the challenge, your not dead yet. Get up and reach for another day!!
Debbie Smalley (Deb’e)
mywings.blog 