My "Middle Story"

In 2022, I found myself stuck in a rut. I was working for a company in Washington, D.C., that didn’t respect me at all. I had big dreams, yet I was pouring my energy into growing someone else’s vision as their marketing director, rather than pursuing my own. Every day, I would wake up and plead with the universe to guide me toward whatever would change my life. Little did I know, a simple vacation would bring the shift I had been longing for.

That summer, we rented a house in Wildwood, NJ, with friends. It was one of the best weeks of my life. I spent precious time with my kids, breathing in the ocean air, strolling along the boardwalk, and witnessing the pure joy in their eyes. I didn’t want to leave, and when we finally did, I cried the entire way home.

Afterwards, my husband turned to me and said, "Life is too short, let's buy a beach house." And so we did. As we searched for our second home, I felt an undeniable pull telling me that the career I was searching for was also in Wildwood. But what exactly was it? I began asking myself, "What do I love to do? Where is my passion? What am I good at?" The answer was clear: I love real estate, and I love marketing.

Over Labor Day weekend, after a conversation with a friend, the idea for Renting Wildwood began to take shape. Once the dream was born, I couldn’t stop it. Within three months of that vacation, my husband and I had purchased a beach house and invested $25,000 into starting Renting Wildwood. It was the scariest leap I had ever taken.

Doubt crept in. “My competitors have been in business for years—who am I to step into this market and challenge them?” “I’m not a realtor; who’s going to trust my opinion?” “How can I possibly compete with giants like Airbnb and VRBO?” “I feel ridiculous even trying to promote this—am I just an imposter?” These thoughts were overwhelming at times, but somehow, from Labor Day weekend to early December, I kept pushing forward and building the business.

During this time, I was also preparing to leave my full-time job. I was terrified. We were cutting our income in half while buying a second home and investing in a new business, all with two young kids. The number of times I asked myself, “What on earth am I doing?” was countless.

But despite the fear and uncertainty, I kept going. And that leap, as terrifying as it was, became the beginning of something extraordinary.

On December 1st, 2022, Renting Wildwood officially opened its doors. From the start, I knew that to make this venture work, I needed to build credibility—and quickly. The only way to do that was by taking on clients for free. I needed listings to be taken seriously, so I posted on Facebook, offering free listings. By the grace of God, people took a leap of faith and listed with me. To those first clients, I am eternally grateful.

The first few months were a whirlwind of anxiety. I’d wake up in the middle of the night to check my website traffic, knowing full well that I wasn’t just working for free—I was losing money every day. Despite the financial strain, I continued to pour everything into marketing. I spent countless hours messaging potential clients on Facebook, optimizing Google and Facebook ads, and applying every marketing strategy I had learned over my ten-year career.

During the first six months, I didn’t make a single dollar. Instead, I watched money flow out faster than it came in. Some days, I questioned why I was still going. On three separate occasions, I received harsh, discouraging messages from people who saw me as a threat to the already saturated rental market in Wildwood. I remember those nights vividly, and I remember the days I nearly gave up.

Then, in May of 2023, everything changed. I received a phone call—my first paying customer. I’ll never forget the moment I hung up, dropping to my knees in my kitchen, thanking God. It wasn’t a large sum, not even enough to cover an hour of what my time was worth, but it was proof that I could do this. That same day, another person called and listed. Tears streamed down my face—TWO clients in one day! It felt like a miracle, a sign that I was on the right path. In that moment, all the doubt melted away. I found the determination that had driven me the previous summer. It, was go time.

Throughout the summer of 2023, I pushed forward. A few more clients came in, but it still wasn’t enough to convince me that I had a sustainable business. I needed to experiment, to find what worked. I tested different ads, pricing models, and growth strategies. In my heart, I knew the only direction to go was up.

In the fall of 2023, things slowed down—a natural dip in the market, as I would later understand. But even in those slower months, I stayed committed to what I had built. I hadn’t come this far to quit. I continued testing new strategies, networking, and gradually, more clients came.

Now, two years later, I can proudly say that I have a business that’s here to stay in Wildwood. But I call this a “middle story” because I still have so much growing to do. This isn’t a tale of millions made or ultimate success. I’m sharing my journey from the heart of it, the messy middle where doubt and determination coexist.

The point of my story is that I took a chance on myself, even when it felt like I had no business doing so. I was supported by people who believed in me, some of whom I had never even met. I created something from nothing, and for that, I will always be proud. The journey is far from over, but I’m excited for what’s to come.

To those who are still in the dream process, I believe in you. To my fellow "middle story" people, I see you. And to those who have surpassed the middle and have reached the top - I am coming to join you.