IPL Pro Kelley Duncan-Halford: Queen Of Airbnb
Welcome to Athlete Entrepreneur Magazine, where we explore the fascinating intersection of athletic prowess and entrepreneurial success. In this exclusive interview, we delve into the remarkable life of Kelly Duncan-Halford. A name synonymous not only with triumphs in the competitive arena of the International Physique League, but also as a business maven who has masterfully blended her passion for fitness with her entrepreneurial ventures.
Kelly Duncan-Halford stands as an embodiment of resilience, determination, and multifaceted success. A mother of three, she has navigated the demanding domains family life, professional athleticism and business ownership with unwavering grace. As a Pro Athlete in the IPL, her journey towards physical excellence and unparalleled strength is awe-inspiring. However, Kelly’s narrative transcends the boundaries of sports, extending into the world of business, where she holds ownership of multiple Airbnb properties and a thriving Wellness Center. Her ability to seamlessly balance the rigors of elite competition with her entrepreneurial acumen serves as a testament to her dedication and tenacity in pursuing her passions.
...I LEFT MY CORPORATE GOVERNMENT JOB TO STAY HOME WITH THE CHILDREN. I FOUND THAT, I LOVED BEING A 'STAY AT HOME MOM', BUT I ALSO CRAVED MY OWN CAREER INDEPENDENCE AND INCOME SECURITY.
BEN YOSEF: Kelley, it’s been such a pleasure highlighting you and your journey since you first hit the IPL stage in 2022. You are such an inspiration to so many who are following your journey. I’m excited to learn more about you and your life outside of competing. So let’s start from the beginning. What got you interested in creating this Airbnb venture?
IPL PRO KELLEY DUNCAN-HALFORD: Thanks so much, Ben! I really appreciate all the work you do to create, support, and grow the IPL.
Our Airbnb endeavor began after I left my corporate government job to stay home with children. I found that, I loved being a “stay at home mom”, but I also craved my own career independence and income security.
Through college I renovated my first house and it being sold paid for my education. I rented rooms as my income during school. Although this probably sounds dreamy, I recall renovations of a roof in the cold and a toilet falling through the floor and many many trips to the hardware store for supply runs.
After graduating I bought a townhouse in Havre de grace, MD and did basically the same by renting a room while I was single. Then sold it to cash out equity.
Once married, we traveled to Florida to visit family and stayed in an Airbnb. My husband said, “we could do this”. And, I said with a green in my eye, “you wanna?” The rest is history. We went hard after finding our blue cabin and put most of our eggs in the basket, betting the Airbnb ship would sail. And it did, so we bought three more soon after and have another in the pipeline. So, far we have a cabin, aframe, atrium, glamper and soon a bus.
All of our success is a product of God’s grace granted to us for our loyalty to guidance of the most high. We call our endeavor, “Muddy Creek Monopoly”, because we are keeping the all-in-one area snuggled around a sacred creek running through PA.
It has been a hard physical and financial sacrifice to create the Airbnbs, while also operating a wellness center in MD, and having three kids under eight years old. But we consider ourselves blessed to have the energy to hustle and achieve the dream.
BY: You are very welcome! And thank you for being a part of this league and community. And being so open to sharing your journey and story with us. Congratulations on everything! This is so exciting and inspirational! At this point you have a total of four properties/projects? And another in the works? What is and aframe? What is an atrium? What is a glamper? And what are your plans for the bus?
NO PLAN TO LET UP ANYTIME SOON. THE PORTFOLIO KEEPS GROWING, WE HOPE TO LEAVE THE BUSINESS TO OUR CHILDREN.
KDH: The Cabin is waterfront with a full-sized kitchen and two bedrooms. The Aframe is a 400sqft tiny cabin with two loft beds, kitchenette and XL deck with fire pit. It’s also waterfront. The atrium cottage is all glass walls with big comfy curtains inside, kitchenette, unique art and one loft bed. The Glampers are a farm nestled beside a pond with generators, electric heat, bonfires, grill, 16ft all-weather canvas tent. The skoolie bus is next on the docket. It is a 30ft RV with kitchenette, two beds, powered by solar. It can both be road bound or parked and utilized as an Airbnb. We do have one lot that we plan to build another tiny aframe on. No plan to let up anytime soon. The portfolio keeps growing, we hope to leave the business to our children. Our wellness center, Lunar Bay, is nine office spaces ranging from skincare, massage, yoga therapy, sound meditation, acu detox, bio chemical wellness scans and a doula.
Our mission with both property getaways and wellness center is to help support people finding their way to wellness and peace of mind.
BY: You regularly post on social media visuals of you hard at work on these properties and projects. If I’m not mistaken, you are building most of these projects from scratch?
KDH: My parents lead the way for me getting into real estate, because it is what they did after retiring from the army. I grew up learning how to do a lot of the project tasks ourselves, especially if it came to hustle. Like demo, dump runs, supply runs, planning or admin like investor proposals, contracting and loans.
BY: How much of the actual work do you personally do yourself? And how much of the work is sourced out to contractors?
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE TRUSTED LONG-TERM CONTACTORS THAT HAVE WORKED WITH US AND ARE LIKE FAMILY TO US AND THE VISION, WE ARE ON-SITE FOR THE PROJECTS WITH GLOVES ON.
KDH: The contractors come into play when we deal with the need for permitting and license to build like electric, plumbing, roofing, framing. Although we have trusted long-term contactors that have worked with us and are like family to us and the vision, we are on-site for the projects with gloves on. We are at the desk getting the wet ink processed, we are the planters of the seeds. But none of it grows without blessings by our almighty creator and universal connection to our community.
BY: If I’m not mistaken, you are n Airbnb “Superhost”? Of course I could google what that means. [laughs] It definitely sounds impressive! What is exactly is a Superhost?
KDH: Yes we are a 4x Superhost. This means you get regular five star reviews, no cancellations, consistently booked calendar, high income earner, excellent communication.
BY: Balancing the demands of being a Pro Athlete in the IPL with your entrepreneurial pursuits in managing multiple Airbnb properties and a Wellness Center is undoubtedly a feat. How do you find equilibrium between your athletic commitments and your business ventures?
KDH: Family is always top priority. But self must come before all in order to care for all that has been manifested. The mother lioness must eat to feed her cubs and must continue to hunt to stay strong, teaching them their potential. Everyday we have a choice to get out bed and hit the snooze or coffee maker button. But in that same moment, we also have the choice to get on the floor, stretch, strengthen, drink water first, meditate/pray, journal the traumas out and hit the day grounded, well rested, fueled and ready to take advantage of what God has given you the opportunity to experience.
Success and happiness are a mindset. My equilibrium is remembering I can choose everyday how to live my life. Sometimes I am mama bear with a need to hibernate. Sometimes I am the champion performing on stage.
BY: Being a mother of three while excelling in your athletic career and business endeavors must involve meticulous time management. Can you share some insights into your daily routine and how you prioritize your various responsibilities?
OUR DAILY ROUTINE IS A TIGHT SHIP TO KEEP MAINTAINED, BUT WE MANAGE AND SURVIVE IT MOSTLY VIA GRATITUDE.
KDH: Motherhood has been my greatest gift and mirror into seeing myself and the things I need to checkpoint and continue to develop. So my kids can be better than me in all ways.
Our daily routine is straight to the yoga meditation mat before anything, journal, stretch, get the kind chatter right and move the body gently. In-season I add a calisthenic workout here for the booty and abs along with some Kundalini and reiki Breathwork. Then up for hydration, mineralization, supplements, herbal tea and protein.
Kids rise and we rumble through dress, hygiene, homework, making lunches and breakfast before school. After the kids and school run in the morning, I venture to clean all Airbnbs between 11am and 3pm daily, which takes two to four hours depending on bookings and the season. We run wood for bonfires, pellets for stoves, gas for grills, linens for beds, towels and restock amenities like soaps, seasonings and board games. I pride myself on the decorations and style of each cabin being unique with personality, not just a cookie cutter.
In IPL season I add a daily workout and meal planning to the schedule. Evenings are for side projects and renovations on Airbnbs and wellness center, dates with my husband and family time like dinner or hiking. Our daily routine is a tight ship to keep maintained but we manage and survive it mostly via gratitude.
BY: The transition from elite athletic competition to entrepreneurial endeavors can be a challenging leap. How has your experience as a Pro Athlete in the IPL shaped your approach to managing your businesses and navigating the world of entrepreneurship and vice versa?
…BECOMING AN ELITE ATHLETE HAS HELPED ME IN MY ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVORS BECAUSE IT PHYSICALLY STRENGTHENS ME TO BE CAPABLE OF MOVING STONE, LOADING BOARDS AND WOODS, BUILDING STRUCTURES AND DEMOLITION.
KDH: Being an entrepreneur helped bridge the transition into becoming an elite athlete because they both require determination and endurance of setting goals and taking on the hard work it requires to achieve the goals. Accomplishing your goals is only a decision away, but the long haul is not for the weary. From another perspective, becoming an elite athlete has helped me in my entrepreneurial endeavors because it physically strengthens me to be capable of moving stone, loading boards and woods, building structures and demolition. I joke often going to the hardware store is my workout today and I mean 100 pavers, five gallon water jugs, drywall, plants, etc. I’m like Rosie the Rivotor 2024!
BY: Your journey is undoubtedly multifaceted, encompassing achievements in athletics, business, and family life. What advice would you give to aspiring athletes who aspire to excel in both their athletic careers and entrepreneurial pursuits, especially in balancing these diverse aspects of life?
…DO YOUR INNER WORK FIRST. START WITH YOUR INNER CHILD AND GIVE THAT SPACE TENDER LOVE AND A DEEP LOOK AT HOW AND BY WHOM IT WAS MOLDED.
KDH: The advice I’d give to aspiring athletes is, do your inner work first. Start with your inner child and give that space tender love and a deep look at how and by whom it was molded. We are all products of our environment and are shaped by our traumas. Look into this and uncover compartmentalized emotion that no longer serves you or maybe is awakened. I believe from there a person will begin to discover their true self and any shape they take athletically from there is exquisite. Make the choice to deeply know oneself and connect to your creator and you will discover a whole new layer of conscience existence.
KBY: Fantastic advice and insight. Thank you so much, once again for being such a wonderful part of this league and community. You are truly appreciated and celebrated. Finally, when will we see you back on the IPL stage?
KDH: Thank you, Ben! Being featured is super fun and an opportunity I wouldn’t otherwise have without your hard work and desire to create and maintain a great league. I see you friend, I am grateful! I will be back to stage on April 13th for the IPL Virginia show. It’s my birthday, I’ll be 40. Leaving this decade with trophies in hand. No looking back. Rising up and through, always! AE
Share this post
More Kelley Duncan Halford
NATURALMAG – Kelley Duncan Halford – New IPL Fitness Angels Pro
“Sacramento was a bucket list check off as a mom of three. But Maryland was the desire to become an IPL Pro Athlete and Cover Girl in the future.”
VIGOROUS Magazine – IPL Bikini Athlete Kelley Duncan-Halford
“I could live without clothes, but I love a nice timepiece, bold hat and comfy but stylish shoes.”
VIGOROUS Magazine – IPL Pro Kelley-Duncan Halford
“I hula hoop, ride a motorcycle, play lacrosse, scuba dive, snowboard and rescue animals.”
More From Athlete Entrepreneur Winter 2023/2024 Issue
Athlete Entrepreneur Magazine: Kate Timp – Health, Fitness & Confidence Coach
“It’s mindset, and lack of self-worth and confidence that is truly keeping us from achieving our health and fitness goals.”
Athlete Entrepreneur Magazine – IPL Pro Heather Brice Conquers Fitness…And Ice
“To strive for perfection in art with ice sculpting and working to build my physique in the best shape I can, are an ultimate challenge for me. To improve myself, my skills, and my discipline. There is always room for improvement in both.”
IPL Pro Champion Teresa Moss Lands Cover Of Athlete Entrepreneur Magazine
“Dreams into reality! Complete elation overtook me when I was told I made the cover. Two of my passions colliding…fitness and entrepreneurship. It is a true honor and I hope this inspires others to go after your dreams and turn them into your reality.”
More From Athlete Entrepreneur Magazine
Athlete Entrepreneur Magazine – Is It Bad To “Sell”?
“…ethical selling in the Health & Fitness industry isn’t merely transactional. It’s about building relationships and fostering trust.”
Athlete Entrepreneur Magazine – 10 Tips to Secure Your Next Sponsorship
In the world of fitness, securing sponsorships is not just about displaying your physical prowess but also about marketing yourself effectively. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a rising star, landing sponsorships can significantly elevate your career and support your journey.
Athlete Entrepreneur Magazine – The Success Playbook: Strategies Every Entrepreneur Should Embrace
Just like you need a playbook to excel in Physique Competition, entrepreneurs can benefit from a well-crafted strategy to guide them through the challenges and opportunities of business ownership.