Send us a message!In this episode, Alex & Annie sit down with Arlen Busenitz to talk about his unconventional path from a Kansas farm to pastoring a small-town church, volunteering as an EMT, working with NASA through a defense contractor, and ultimately becoming CEO of Destin Dreamers. Before he was running a luxury vacation rental company on Florida's Emerald Coast, Arlen was hauling 500-pound rocks in a 1976 Jeep pickup to pay for college. It's an unlikely origin story but one that laid the foundation for everything he's built since.Packed with practical frameworks, hard-won wisdom, and what Annie coins "Arlenisms," this is the story of how grit, perspective, and a relationship-first philosophy built a standout brand in one of the most competitive vacation rental markets in the country.We cover:1️⃣ Why people do not buy stays, but experiences, outcomes, and peace of mind2️⃣ How calm leadership changes the way teams, guests, and owners respond under pressure3️⃣ Why simplifying operations is the real foundation for scalable growth4️⃣ How to identify owner fit and why saying no protects your team and your culture5️⃣ Practical frameworks for preventing issues and responding clearly when they arise6️⃣ How Destin Dreamers balances systems, structure, and human judgment7️⃣ Where AI fits in guest communication and where it should not8️⃣ What it means to lead in a competitive market without panic or burnoutConnect with Arlen:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abflorida/Website:https://www.destindreamers.com/ Get 20% off any yearly or bi-yearly Lodgify plan, plus free personalized onboarding (a $3,000 value).👉 Use code AAA20 at checkout. Offer valid until December 31, 2025.#vacationrentals #shorttermrentals #propertymanagement

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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