What happens when success looks good on paper—but feels heavy behind the scenes?

In this episode, Stacey sits down with longtime friend and seasoned short-term rental operator Beata Lawrence for a deeply honest conversation about leadership, loneliness, and the power of the right community. With over a decade in the STR industry, Beata shares what it was like building before there were playbooks, Facebook groups, or proven paths—and how connection became the missing ingredient that changed everything.

This episode goes beyond tactics and into the emotional and identity shifts required to sustain success without burnout.

1. What it was really like building an STR business before community and resources existed
2. Why isolation is one of the biggest (and quietest) threats to successful entrepreneurs
3. The concept of “borrowed courage” and why even confident leaders need it
4. How to recognize when you’ve outgrown a room—and what to do next
5. Letting go of properties, paths, or identities that no longer align
6. Why alignment, nervous-system safety, and support matter more than scale alone

If you’ve ever felt successful but unsupported, confident but quietly overwhelmed, or strong while still wishing someone could walk you off the ledge—this conversation is your reminder that community isn’t a luxury. It’s a requirement.

[02:52] Beata shares what it felt like building in the early days with no roadmap

[07:14] The emotional cost of “figuring it out alone”

[10:54] Borrowed courage: leaning on others when your confidence wavers

[15:18] Knowing when a property—or a season—is no longer aligned

[19:17] Outgrowing communities and why staying too long can stall growth

[24:47] Why success without support is not sustainable

[30:04] Redefining what “enough” looks like in business and life

1. “You don’t need more information—you need the right people.”
2. “Borrowed courage can carry you until yours catches up.”
3. “Just because something is profitable doesn’t mean it’s sustainable for you.”
4. “Outgrowing a room isn’t betrayal—it’s evolution.”
5. “You were never meant to do hard things alone.”

What would your life look like if you actually designed it on purpose—down to how you spend your mornings, who you work with, and where you pour your creative energy?

In this episode, I sit down with certified Airbnb stylist and designer Erica Egner, whose journey from a burnt-out graphic designer to a thriving short-term rental entrepreneur is a masterclass in intentional living.

We talk about:

1. How Erica and her husband worked backward from a vision of freedom to escape the 9-to-5 commute and daycare cycle
2. The story of a scruffy 1970s A-frame in Washington that transformed Erica from a DIY novice into a soulful hospitality expert
3. Why Erica is choosing to keep her boutique co-hosting portfolio small to protect her boundaries and her "people-pleaser" tendencies
4. How graphic design principles translate into physical spaces to guide a guest’s eye, and their experience, through a home
5. The power of plugging into mentors and communities to build systems and avoid the chaos of figuring it out alone.

But this isn't just about beautiful interiors. It’s about alignment. Erica pulls back the curtain on the grit and creativity required to turn a tired space into a high-performing rental that guests describe as "healing." You’ll hear how she navigated the transition from remote design work to full-time hospitality, and why she views her business not as a machine, but as an engine for the life she actually wants to lead.

If you’ve ever felt like your business is dictating your life instead of the other way around, this conversation will give you the permission—and the plan—to start designing your exit. Get ready to align your daily actions with your biggest vision.

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[01:01] A short introduction about our guest Erica Egner, how she got started into the world of short term rental, and how it has changed her life

[03:35] Erica explains how shared values around time, freedom, and family guided major life and career decisions with her partner

[07:05] Erica describes how patience, research, and shared values guided conversations around starting in short-term rentals

[12:09] How reframing the short-term rental as an easy family escape helped Erica’s husband embrace the idea

[13:28] Erica reflects on how applying design fundamentals in a real-world renovation revealed a natural shift toward interior design

[17:23] How foundational design training shaped the way Erica approaches interior design in short term rentals

[18:28] Erica describes how methodical pacing and hands-on involvement defined her co-hosting growth and journey

[22:56] Erica explains how proximity, standards, and fit now guide her co-hosting client decisions

[24:28] Erica shares how learning to set boundaries became essential to protecting her time and energy, and

[27:20] How designing Erica’s own short-term rental revealed a clear and natural entry point into the interior design world

[31:40] How learning from others helped...

What does it really take to build a multi-billion-dollar real estate enterprise, raise a family on your own terms, and still have the energy to show up as the face of your brand every single day? Most people think it requires sacrificing your personal life; Avery Carl is proof that it requires a better system.

In this episode, we’re skipping the basic tactics and going deep on the woman behind the empire—the one who went from a $37,000 salary to leading the country’s largest STR-focused real estate team.

We talk about:

1. How Avery and her husband structured a massive business so that, to their kids, it feels like they have two stay-at-home parents
2. Avery’s intentional prioritization filter—how she decides what stays on her plate and what gets delegated to her team
3. Why telling a client not to buy a property is the secret to building a decade of trust (and a billion-dollar legacy)
4. How Avery dominates Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok when she’d actually rather not be on camera at all.
5. The relentless focus on what actually moves the needle versus what just feels like "busy work."

Avery pulls back the curtain on the hard conversations, the fear of letting go, and why she insists on writing every word of her books herself. You’ll hear how she transitioned from "doing it all" to becoming a leader who empowers a team, all while maintaining the boundaries that protect her family time. If you’ve ever felt torn between your ambition and your afternoon with the kids, this conversation is your blueprint.

Get ready to rethink your role and learn how to build a business that supports your life instead of consuming it.

HIGHLIGHTS AND KEY POINTS:

[01:05] A short introduction about our guest Avery Carl, a seasoned real estate investor and short-term rental expert

[03:23] Avery explains how consistency, lived experience, and transparency shaped her cohesive personal brand

[06:43] Avery shares her experience on encountering shiny object syndrome without abandoning her strategy

[08:17] Avery reflects on losing focus, learning fast, and recommitting to her core business

[09:46] How Avery Carl decides what deserves her attention inside a growing business and shares how delegation, focus, and integrity guide her leadership style

[18:19] Avery explains how fluid boundaries help her balance business demands and family life

[19:45] Avery shares how virtual assistants and AI reduce the constant demands of short-term rental hospitality

[23:57] How Avery develops content ideas, refines the message, and publishes with consistency

[26:23] Avery looks back on when she realized content creation mattered and why she started later than most

[28:06] Avery explains how she evaluates content performance beyond likes, views, followers and how her platform strategy evolved from a few core channels to everywhere

[30:47] What are the biggest lessons Avery learned about focus, credibility, and follow-through from writing multiple books

[33:38] Avery’s advice to anyone dreaming of writing a book and emphasizes...