Airbnb的逆襲HOW AIRBNB GOT ITS START
付不出房租的男子，創造「共享經濟」 It all happened because two guys couldn’t pay their rent
十二年內，從一家新創公司到營收三十四億美元、房源遍及全球十萬個城市，不是一件容易的事。
這要有決心以及毅力，而Airbnb的共同創辦人布萊恩˙切斯基、喬˙傑比亞和納森˙布萊察席克辦到了。
二○○七年，Airbnb草創於舊金山，主要為了滿足兩項需求：共同創辦人需要錢付房租，然後民眾需要地方住宿。
當時市中心剛好要舉行一場大型會議，這意味著所有飯店的房間都會被訂滿。
機會似乎悄然來臨，於是切斯基和傑比亞買了幾張充氣床墊，並在他們新成立的網站上打廣告：充氣床加早餐。
他們收取每人每晚含早餐共八十塊美金，並成功讓三個人投宿在他們的公寓。
他們覺得應該大有可為。
當「西南偏南音樂節」在德州奧斯汀舉行時，他們只收到兩個預訂，因此他們著手改造網站使其更容易使用，並且尋找投資者。
即便如此，每一個他們接洽到的天使投資人都拒絕投資這種商業模式。
債臺高築的兩名創業家持續尋找備受關注的活動，以便提供解決住宿需求的高規格方案。
二○○八年，正式提名美國總統候選人的「民主黨全國代表大會」便帶來了契機。
Going from a startup to having a revenue of US$3.4 billion in 12 years with listings in 100,000 cities worldwide is no easy feat. It took determination and persistence, but Airbnb cofounders Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia and Nathan Blecharczyk did just that.
Airbnb's humble beginnings took place in San Francisco in 2007 to meet two needs: The cofounders needed money to pay their rent and people needed lodging. A conference in town meant all hotel rooms were booked. Opportunity seemed to be knocking, so Chesky and Gebbia bought some air mattresses and advertised on their newly developed site: Air Bed and Breakfast.
They charged $80 a person per night, which included breakfast, and had three takers stay in their apartment. They felt they were on to something. After failing to get more than two bookings in Austin, Texas, for the SXSW Music Festival, they made their website more user-friendly and looked for investors. Even so every angel investor that was approached rejected their business model.
Knee-deep in debt, the entrepreneurs kept looking for high-profile events to
provide a high-profile solution to housing needs. In 2008 the Democratic National Convention, which picks people to run in America's presidential election, presented one.
four vs. for
revenue（.）
persistence（n.）堅持；鍥而不捨
Sam felt his persistence had paid off when he finally got a raise and a promotion. 堅持不懈有了回報
Paul’s persistence in learning Spanish meant that when he went to South America, he could talk to anyone.
persistent（adj.）
Be persistent when learning a foreign language, and you will find it is worth the hard work when you can use it.
lodging（n.）借宿或暫時住宿的地方
After searching for two weeks, Willa finally found lodging near her office.
lodge（n.）度假用的鄉間小屋
After skiing for a couple of hours, the girl went into the ski lodge to get something to eat and drink. 滑雪小屋
lodge（v.）借宿；借住
At this Airbnb, Chas lodges travelers who are traveling through the mountains in California.
to get one’s start
If something gets its start, we’re talking about how that thing or company began.
rent is due
past due vs. overdue
past due 逾期
means the money has not been paid in the immediate past.
overdue
means the money has probably not been paid for a long time
no easy feat
feat means accomplishment
kind of emphasizing how difficult it actually is
to meet a need
opportunity is knocking
air mattress 攜帶式氣墊床
run with it 某樣東西發揚光大；發展得有聲有色【正面的成果】
The Japanese took that technology and ran with it.
to run with something
investor（n.）投資者
When Abigail decided to open a small cafe, she found ten investors to help with expenses. 支付開銷
invest（v.）投資
Those who invested in Abigail’s cafe made a profit from their investment within five years.
investor（n.）投資者
If you invest time in your studies, you will find that you will learn a lot.
high-profile引人注目的；備受關注的（adj.+n.）【複合形容詞】
Thousands of people followed the high-profile court case on TV. 法庭案件
Will Smith is a very high-profile movie star. 引人注目的電影明星
high profile【-可以省略】
The Queen of England is so high profile that people watch every move she makes.一舉一動都備受關注
taker
to take someone up on an offer
they have offered something, and you’re agreeing to it
to be on to something
It means that you have discovered something important or that you have information that is likely to lead to an important discovery
SXSW in Austin, Texas
knee-deep in debt
When you're knee-deep in something, it means like there's a lot of it, and you can't get away from it.
Danny wants to have lunch with his coworkers, but he's knee-deep in a project that's due soon, and he can't go.
It's just Mr. Smith asked the interns to pitch some ideas for products to him.
to pitch
to give a presentation that attempts to get people to buy or do something.
So I worked all month brainstorming product ideas and practicing my pitch.
Because today we gave our pitches, and I presented five great product ideas. But Mr. Smith shot almost all of them down!
to shot someone or something down
to reject or be very critical of someone or something
I didn’t realize! Thanks for the pep talk, Mr. Jones! 鼓舞士氣的講話
Do you think you could be an entrepreneur
self-motivated
give it a shot試一試
