From W-2 to Airbnb Empire - Fouad Bazzi

From a New American family, to 20 years in banking, to building a luxury short-term rental empire - this is a masterclass in betting on yourself.In this episode, Fouad Bazzi shares his journey from W-2 banker to entrepreneur, walking away from a stable career to prioritize faith, family, and freedom. After paying off all debt and hitting major financial milestones with his wife, Fouad took the leap - launching a coffee shop, navigating COVID shutdowns, and ultimately building a thriving Airbnb portfolio.Today, he owns nine luxury properties across Arizona and Florida and co-leads a management company overseeing 80+ short-term rentals nationwide.We dive into:Why asking permission to pick up his kids changed everythingTurning adversity (COVID + family health challenges) into opportunityRaising money to scale real estateLuxury vs. long-term rentalsRisk mitigation vs. risk eliminationWhat he’d tell his 10-year-old self about entrepreneurshipHow to raise entrepreneurial kids in today’s worldThis episode is about more than real estate - it’s about designing a life on purpose.