A lot of people want to get rich while they are still young, but only a few are able to do it. I can’t believe that I made $3 million in six months when I was 20! It was an amazing experience, and it happened because of some personal problems, some opportunities I didn’t expect, and my strong desire to make something happen.
Early life: The seed of ambition
All through school, I was in AP and honors classes, so I always knew I was different. But I also knew I was different because I was a Black-Hispanic Muslim young woman. During that time in my life, I wasn’t sure about anything — not even what I really wanted to do with my life. I went back and forth from wanting to study engineering to wanting to work in interior design.
A brother’s influence
I had been living with my father and brother, Jamil, during my sophomore year of high school. It was Jamil who introduced me to key materials that helped mold my entrepreneurial mindset, such as the book “How to Win Friends and Influence People”. He had a goal that he worked towards very seriously. On his whiteboard it said, “I will be a millionaire by 22.” This statement was extremely brave considering that neither one of us came from a well-to-do family.
Turning pain into purpose
I experienced a great tragedy when I was 16: my oldest brother died. It was horrible because it showed me how short life can be. I went to live with some family friends after that, and because I didn’t have many people around me at that time, I started thinking about what I really wanted out of life. One of the things I thought about was how much time I spent on social and educational things that were supposed to be important.
The realization: Education and its alternatives
When I got to college, I was working two full-time jobs and trying to make my way through school, but the more I went, the more I felt like it wasn’t for me. I mean, I was already questioning whether traditional schooling was the only way for me to learn when I got that job taking care of that high-profile family.
I asked myself a simple question one day while I was thinking about all of this: Would I rather learn from a professor or from a billionaire who has the lifestyle I want? The answer seemed pretty obvious, and that’s when I decided to leave school at the end of my freshman year.
I didn’t want to keep going through formal education. Instead, I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I mean, I could always learn more from actual life experiences than I could from books, right?
I thought about my life during this time, and I made a big choice after my first year of college: I quit school so that I could try to make money in business. I wanted to learn from life instead of from books.
Diving into entrepreneurship
I got my start as an entrepreneur dabbling in e-commerce and stock options, but it was Airbnb that really launched me into success. I was doing rental arbitrage at first—renting apartments long-term and then listing them on the site—but I eventually figured out how to make it work for me full-time.
In fact, I was able to get up to not one, not two, but 11 places! That money definitely made people take notice—and want to know how I was raking it in so hand over fist.
Scaling success: Launching a coaching business
I noticed that I could teach other people what I knew. So, with my partner Bryson, I started a coaching business. We showed people how to run an Airbnb the right way. I was able to bring family members on board this business as well. They completely changed their lives because they learned how to make money and how to think like entrepreneurs.
Philosophy of success
I have stayed true to my beliefs and values during this adventure. These include doing things on my own, having confidence in myself, and not caring about what society or tradition says.
“If there is something that you really want to do, you should chase it and go after it, don’t let other people tell you who you’re supposed to be.” – I told this to myself everyday.
Building and inspiring
Nowadays, my business brings in money and acts as a way to motivate people, especially those who come from groups that aren’t treated fairly. Going from being a young girl with very little to a business owner who has made it shows that if you are strong and able to change as needed, you can do anything you set your mind to.
Conclusion
When I look back on my journey, here’s the advice I’d give my younger self—and you: Think bigger and learn sooner who to listen to. You don’t need anyone else telling you it’s okay to strive for greatness.
It’s challenging for young people to achieve financial independence or success, but it is possible. I’m the living proof that if you have the right mindset, take strategic action, and are willing to learn directly from life, you can make your dreams come true. And remember, taking small deliberate actions every day will lead you one step closer to your successful future.
I want every young woman who has big dreams but doubts her potential to know one thing—you’re more than capable. Use your journey as your education and let your resilience be your guide so together we can build a world where everyone pursues their dreams and judges their accomplishments based not on money made but on the change they create.