Creating Community and Cashflow: The Story Behind Girls in Property with Athena Dobson

Key Topics Covered:

1. From Furlough to Property Freedom

• How COVID and furlough ended Athena’s high‑performing travel career overnight.
• Using that pause to ask, “Is this the life I want for the next 5–10 years?”
• Buying her first flat in Bournemouth, getting the numbers wrong, and why she still calls it her “baby” and best teacher.

2. Rent‑to‑Rent, Burnout and Pivoting Strategy

• Moving into rent‑to‑rent HMOs and serviced accommodation to generate cashflow.
• The reality of late‑night calls, guest issues and stress – including the Sunday night window incident.
• Handing back all rent‑to‑rent properties and feeling as free returning the keys as when she first got them.
• Pivoting to simpler, long‑term strategies: buy‑to‑lets and buy–refurbish–refinance, with flips and land development as future options.

3. Building Girls in Property: Community, Recurring Income and Support

• Walking into a networking room of 45 people with only three women and thinking, “That’s a shame.”
• Finding no UK‑based female property networks or podcasts, then launching Girls in Property in 2023.
• Growing from a passion project that made no money for over a year into:

1. A sponsored weekly podcast.
2. A £30/month online membership (two live calls a month: “prosperity” and property strategy).
3. A national community hosted on Circle, plus summer/winter parties and an annual training event.

• How Girls in Property now replaces and exceeds her old salary as a recurring revenue stream.

4. Education, Strategy Choice and Market Opportunities

• “Don’t rush to buy a course”: only invest if you can implement from day one.
• Use free education first (podcasts, YouTube, books) and do due diligence on paid training.
• Choosing strategy based on four resources: knowledge, money, time, energy – plus personality and end goal.
• Example of a mentee who came for rent‑to‑rent but was better suited to partnering with an investor on flips.
• Why today’s market, with older landlords exiting, offers opportunities if you talk to people and build relationships with agents.

5. Health, Wealth and Your Own Version of Success

• Athena’s view of financial freedom as choice – the ability to respond to life, travel and allocate time where it matters.
• Burning out twice and realising “health is wealth” – long‑term wealth is pointless if you destroy yourself getting there.
• Her guiding question: “What does your version of success look like – and who’s standing next to you on that hill?”
• Current focus: simplifying businesses, building cashflow and wealth, and aiming to be retired by 50 with businesses that don’t rely on her daily presence.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Assess your knowledge, money, time and energy before choosing a strategy.
• Use free education first; only buy courses you’re ready to implement immediately.
• Document your journey from day one to build trust with future investors and partners.
• Avoid shiny penny syndrome – simplify down to strategies that fit you and your goals.
• Protect your health and pace yourself; wealth building is a long‑term game.

Resources & Next Steps:

• Girls in Property Community & Membership
• Girls in Property Podcast
• WealthBuilders Membership: Free access to guides, webinars, and community

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• Become a member of WealthBuilders

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