Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Takenaka & Jeremy Burge.
Hi Dana Takenaka, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We are Dana and Jeremy! I am a Real Estate Advisor and Entrepreneur with 30+ years of experience as a born and bread Austinite. Jeremy arrived in Austin in 2004 from a small town in South Texas, Victoria. He is a full time Middle School Educator, Entrepreneur, Musician/Artist Manager and Published Author. Having originally met in 2008, while working at Best Buy, we both fell into ‘young love.’ After a couple of years together we would go our separate ways, reuniting after a five year departure in 2016. In December 2018 we married and have been pursuing life together ever since. We also welcomed our first baby into this world in February, 2022! While each of us has seen Austin change and grow, each of us has changed and grown. Not only as individuals but as husband and wife and now, parents. We both continue to look forward to what future endeavors may bring in both our businesses and faith.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been smooth at all! With both my parents being immigrants from Korea and entrepreneurs, that entrepreneurial sense I had was definitely a driving factor in putting that burning desire to work towards endeavors that had the potential to create financial independence and freedom. This would ultimately lead my husband and I to an MLM. While not completely being what either of us wanted in a business, after spending a few years in the MLM environment, the opportunity did allow for us to get around people with both bigger bank accounts, ideas and discipline at achieving goals. Those few years spent within that MLM culture is something we would not take back for anything! It was definitely a catalyst to waking us up to new ideas and concepts, while also stoking the fire more for myself, and rekindling the flame, for Jeremy. It was a really a fast track to getting our reading habits, as well as our personal and business habits, in check. After leaving the MLM we needed to figure out what area we could pour our new found energy and vigor into. We wanted to create something together, while also leaning into each other’s strengths. The move to pursue in the area of Real Estate seemed like a no brainer with my background in Real Estate, for 7+years and I knew that with Jeremy’s creative background we could both curate something special and unique. Thus, after a few trials and error, including a failed business venture with a friend, the idea for Desert Den Lodging was born. Vacation rentals were always a stand out business to us because it contained something different than standard real estate. Hospitality. Not only is hospitality the heart of vacation rentals but, we both enjoy crafting and providing a private experience to our guests that will hopefully stand above the rest. That is our heart and soul! We light up and get excited every time we see a new booking come through! For us, it’s a very fulfilling process.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Even though I’m incredibly proud to operate within the real estate sector, these days I am excited about my organization and curation of The Desert Den Lodging and most of all, being a full-time Mom and wife. I was never one who really wanted children, or [I thought} if I did end up having them, I never thought that I’d want to be a full-time parent. But alas, how life changes. Actually, it’s funny because, I told my colleagues that I’d be back at work 30 days after having my daughter – my my how the parents laughed on the inside! Once I hit that 30 day mark and realized that being a mother was now a major purpose in my life and one that I deeply desired to fulfill, The Desert Den started to become more and more of a viable option in our minds.
Aside from that, I’m incredibly proud to be married to my husband, Jeremy. He has a powerful resilience and drive to create and serve the community around him. Over the last couple years, he launched a game company called Light Bros Games where they were able to create their first card game called West! He also launched a music studio and independent label to help local artists and take them under his wing to manage, like local Austin artist Slow Cargo. In addition, Jeremy is also a published author! His book, Your Devil Is Too Big, was published in October of 2021 by Wipf and Stock Publishing. You could definitely say I’m a proud wifey! Shameless plug, be sure to check out his studio: www.lastadamstudios.com and his book available through Amazon or Wipfandstock.com
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
On our listings for The Desert Den, you’ll notice that it states that events can be discussed on a case-by-case basis. While we aren’t the right property to host a huge gathering/party. We are, however, the right property to host a photoshoot, video production, music video, small ceremonies or get togethers (10 or less people), and similar events. We are happy to discuss with each person and see if our property would be a good fit. These shoots or events would be a great way to collaborate with us as we can run cross-promotions and different marketing campaigns to grow your business and hopefully ours too.
You can definitely follow and engage with us on social media! Instagram is our most active site right now. Our handle is @thedesertdenatx
As far as support goes, come book with us! We’d love to host you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thedesertden.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedesertdenatx/
Image Credits
Rudy Lara
