Today we’d like to introduce you to Adriana Meza.
Hi Adriana, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m originally born and raised in Santa Rosa, Ca. I’m an only child and have always gravitated towards “adults” or activities that kids my age normally wouldn’t. I might also call myself an old soul. I think I’ve always had a desire to work and be a part of something! I remember going to my first job at Muffin Street, a local bakery, and just barely old enough to obtain a workers permit at 15 1/2. I worked with them through high school and even on occasion during summer breaks from college. But I didn’t stop there! Through my high school career, I also worked for a local website development company and was able to travel and experience a true professional atmosphere. I always loved school as well and took advanced International Baccalaureate classes, community college classes, all while balancing extracurricular sports like soccer and badminton. I’m very grateful that my parents instilled a strong work ethic, fearlessness to try new things and pave my own way. Part of this adventurous outlook took me to San Diego State University in 2005 to pursue a focus in International Business— and a new relationship. Fast forward a couple of years and I was married to a Camp Pendleton marine, thinking this was a dream! But it could’ve been a dream or possibly a foggy nightmare in which I lost track of where I was headed, felt I was living someone else’s dream (my parents) and ended up quitting school and jumping again into the workforce. During that phase in my life, I was trying to discover what happiness meant. In retrospect, I feel I was too young to be in such a serious commitment and we both had issues to work through that couldn’t be accomplished together.
But I always try to look at the positive! During that time, I worked in commercial banking and developed from a banker to branch manager in about 6 years. I was the youngest manager (26) in my local region. I again thought this is what I wanted to do! I met great people, learned a ton about business and finance, and really saw a future. However, I started to see the silver lining when I worked myself ragged and even succumbed to shingles during the end! Crazy! That was a wake-up call along with the shocking news I was being let go. Most people don’t know this part as I often felt shame around it. But you know what? People make mistakes and the only responsibility you have is to pick yourself up and learn from it. In short, I signed off on an account that eventually scammed our branch into a loss. Yikes! My intuition feelers are definitely up more since that l experience and I’ve learned to be cautious when I get a specific notion.
But during that time, it wasn’t all terrible. I met an incredible man who is my partner in life and business. He is supportive, shares the same passion and purpose in life, and is quite the opposite of myself! He is one of 9, and an immigrant who had quite a tough life compared to mine. However, through it all, his love for family, passions such as woodworking/finished carpentry, and automotive hobbies have made him quite resilient and successful in his own right. Together, we are currently building our vacation rental business, remodeling/investment business, and automotive business. Some may know and appreciate that working with your significant other is a unique, challenging yet rewarding experience. We have been through many ups and downs but always remain each other’s number one fan!
That brings me to what I’m working on today. Aside from overseeing and being quite involved with our boutique vacation rental management business, I am also an active REALTOR®. My mission is to educate and empower everyone to achieve homeownership for both a primary need, as well as the vehicle for long-term wealth creation. I truly can assist anyone with their situation with my vast network. Ultimately, my life-long passion is to create a national dog sanctuary that will be able to assist shelters in dire need and of course the fur babies who desperately need a warm home to call their own. My plan is to fund the financial gap through creative real estate.
Speaking of fur babies, we have 2 dog rescues, Max and Baya, and two kitten sibling rescues, Chaz and Cooper. What a crew! They keep me both busy and entertained throughout the day. They are my daily joys mixed with the occasional hair-pulling as they all have their distinct personalities! I love them to the moon and back and frankly, don’t know if we will have children. However, I think with our dog sanctuary, we will ultimately have thousands 🙂
In the downtime I do have, I enjoy fitness, actively participate in Muay Thai at Extreme Power gym in Oceanside (my kru says I have very fast hands but I also think I’m not fast enough!), gardening (when I’m not killing the plants!), hikes, good wine, BBQ’ing, cruising in my fun cars or out a Barona Speedway (yes, a drag strip! My fastest time so far on 1/8 mile is 3.42 seconds in my 2017 Golf R that is most DEFINITELY not stock. Of course, custom-built by Miguel and his shop :)) and anything involving quiet moments to just sit and zone out on Netflix!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think if I were to look at all the businesses, I have been a part of or built, the thing that sets me apart from the rest, is that I truly care about making a difference. I want to be able to impact everyone in a positive way all while being myself! For example, at StayCoastal Vacations we are re-launching our “StayCoastal TV” that highlights local businesses in Oceanside for our guests. As a hospitality business, our goal is to ensure our guests have an incredible experience. So, it’s one thing to place a pin on a map and say “Go here!” and another to actually bring that business to their home before they arrive at us. We select local businesses and do a high-quality, business highlight/interview (at no cost to the business) and share it with our guests, the business, and the world. We’re really excited about this project and can’t wait to release the first few in the coming months. At the end of the day, if we can help amazing local businesses stay connected with new customers, I think we all win as a community. You never know when that patron just might become a local!
To borrow a quote from one of my inspirations, Gary Vaynerchuk, “Doing the right this is always the right thing.” The bottom line will always take care of itself. I feel I am very giving because mentally, I live in a world of abundance. Even when there were times when I was flat broke, I always felt light and capable of overcoming any obstacle. I sometimes get flak from my other half, which is fine because a little resistance is good. Just makes me want to do and give more! I think that’s the stubborn, slightly rebellious, only-child in me!
The most recent challenge was covid. Our vacation rental business came to a shuddering halt in March 2020 and there were many days where the gloom of not being able to pay expenses, debts, and payroll loomed very heavy on my shoulders. I honestly didn’t think we could make it. Though it was a global issue, I felt responsible for not being responsible ENOUGH to weather this storm effectively. I remember watching Steve Harvey’s video on how he got his first few gigs and his courage to keep going when he was down, which still pulls at my heart. You just have to keep going, no matter what. This may be where my “fighting” spirit comes from and why I gravitate to Muay Thai for example. It’s an incredibly tough sport but I’ve found that all I need to succeed is inside, I just need to listen a little more at times.
I will always find a way to succeed, just watch!
Pricing:
- Coastal vacation rentals range from $120 – $700 + a night. We have something for everyone and every budget.
Contact Info:
- Email: adriana@staycoastalvacations.com adriana@amezarealtor.com
- Website: www.staycoastalvacations.com and www.amezarealtor.com
- Instagram: @staycoastalvacations and @amezarealtor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StayCoastalVacations
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNcJpZ1oY3ffak-eXr_SvCA https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChoM6IAo61v33Tm6IcK1BPA
Image Credits
Prodigy Studios
