The Story of Brian Chesky and Airbnb, which includes their dismal App turning into a $44 Billion empire
A shaky architect turned an unimaginable idea into a global phenomenon
The occurrence That ignited an inexplicable desire
Believe in your vision, even before the world’s potential is impeded by small ideas
In 2007, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia were left bankrupt
They had recently moved to San Francisco. They were unable to afford the rent on their apartment. They were unemployed
While sitting in their apartment one evening, they made a small discovery
A significant design convention was taking place in the urban center. ✔ Hotels were completely booked. Individuals traveling had no accommodation available
They were struck with an unusual idea at that moment
” What if we rented out air mattresses in our apartment for travelers?”
It sounded ridiculous
But it worked
Three guests paid them $80 a night to sleep on an air mattress in their living room
That weekend, Airbnb was born
The Hardest Part—Nobody Believed in Their Idea
Brian Chesky and his co-founders thought:
” Those who opt for air mattress purchases may pay to stay in someone’s home rather than staying in a hotel.”
Excited, they built a basic website and started pitching investors
💬 “Nobody will ever want to stay in a stranger’s home. ”The idea is too risky and will never be successful. ”💬 “Why wouldn’t people just book a hotel? ”
They were rejected over 1,000 times
✔ Every investor laughed at them. ✔ No bank would give them money. ✔ They had maxed out their credit cards
Most people would have quit
But they didn’t
They Kept Going—Even When They Had Nothing
With no money left, they started selling cereal
Yes—cereal
✔ They created special Obama O’s and Cap’n McCain’s cereal boxes during the 2008 U. S. Election. ✔ They sold them for $40 a box. ✔ They made $30,000—just enough to keep Airbnb alive
They still had no investors, no success, no sign that this would work
But they kept going
And then, one investor finally said yes
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The Breakthrough That Changed Everything
Paul Graham, the co-founder of YC ombinator, saw something others didn’t
✔ He invested $20,000 in Airbnb. ✔ He told them to go door-to-door and personally recruit hosts. ✔ He pushed them to think bigger
And that’s when Airbnb exploded
✔ More people started listing their homes. ✔ Travelers loved the cheaper, unique stays. ✔ Word-of-mouth spread like wildfire
By 2011, Airbnb was in 89 countries. By 2014, Airbnb was valued at $10 billion. By 2020, Airbnb was worth over $100 billion
The same idea investors rejected 1,000 times became a global empire
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The Struggles Didn’t End—How Airbnb Survived the Pandemic
By 2020, Airbnb was one of the biggest travel companies in the world
But then, COVID-19 happened
✔ Travel came to a halt. ✔ Airbnb bookings dropped by 80%. ✔ The company lost $1 billion overnight
Experts predicted Airbnb wouldn’t survive
But Chesky refused to give up
✔ He cut his own salary to zero. ✔ He laid off 25% of the company to save the business. ✔ He pivoted Airbnb’s focus to long-term stays
Within a year, Airbnb rebounded
✔ By 2021, they were worth more than ever before. ✔ They launched an IPO that raised $3.5 billion. ✔ Today, Airbnb is stronger than ever
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The Lesson: Why Most People Give Up Too Soon
Most people quit when things get hard
✔ If they hear one rejection, they stop trying. ✔ If they run out of money, they assume it’s over. ✔ If people laugh at their idea, they let doubt win
But Brian Chesky didn’t quit
💡 The best ideas don’t always look smart at first. 💡 Success doesn’t come from luck—it comes from resilience. 💡 If you believe in something, keep going—even when no one else does
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What You Can Learn from Brian Chesky
You may not be launching a startup, but if you have a dream, a business, or a goal, here’s what you can take from Airbnb’s story:
1. Rejection Doesn’t Mean You’re Wrong
✔ Airbnb was rejected over 1,000 times. ✔ Investors told them the idea was stupid. ✔ Banks refused to help them
But today? They’re worth billions
🌿 Rejection doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re ahead of your time
2. Adapt and Find Another Way
When they had no money, they sold cereal to survive
✔ They didn’t complain. ✔ They didn’t quit. ✔ They found a way forward
🌿 If one door closes, find another way in
3. Success Comes from Taking Risks
✔ They rented out their own apartment before asking others to. ✔ They invested their last dollars when no one else would. ✔ They risked everything to prove their idea worked
🌿 Playing it safe never leads to breakthroughs
4. Small Ideas Can Become Global Movements
Airbnb started with one apartment and three guests
✔ Today, it has millions of listings worldwide. ✔ It changed the way people travel. ✔ It made home-sharing normal
🌿 Your idea may seem small now, but it has the potential to be huge
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Why This Story Matters Today
We live in a world that glorifies instant success
But real success?
It comes from: ✔ Rejection (over 1,000 times) ✔ Failure (running out of money) ✔ Belief (even when no one else believes)
Brian Chesky didn’t start with money, experience, or connections
He started with a crazy idea, determination, and an air mattress
The question is: What crazy idea are you willing to fight for?
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Lessons to Remember
✔ Rejection doesn’t mean failure—it means you’re ahead of the curve. ✔ If one path doesn’t work, find another. ✔ Risk is scary—but without it, there’s no breakthrough. ✔ Small ideas can become billion-dollar businesses
So tell me—what’s one idea you refuse to give up on?
💬 Drop it in the comments, and let’s celebrate persistence together