Life With Landing / Meet Our Members

Meet Our Brand Ambassadors: Brandon Farbstein!

By Landing | Mar 30, 2022

Starting in 2022, Landing is thrilled to be partnering with members from all over the country as they travel, explore, and live their best life while staying with us. Empowerment speaker, author, and activist Brandon Farbstein has been living with Landing in San Diego and hopes his experience can inspire others to take a leap and move somewhere new. 

Read on to learn about Brandon’s life in San Diego, how Landing helped make moving across the country a little less daunting, and his advice for others thinking about living the Landing lifestyle. 

Tell us about yourself and your background!

My name is Brandon, I am 22 years old, and I am an empowerment speaker, author, and activist. I was born with a rare form of dwarfism and want to use this unique journey that I’m on and lived experience to raise as much awareness as I can and build as much empowerment within as many people as I possibly can. It’s one thing to be inspired and motivated, but it’s another thing to actually go out and do something. I’m not really looking to be your inspiration—I’m looking to be the fire under you to catalyze whatever it is you’re looking to do and have you leave the biggest impact you can. 

I gave a TED Talk when I was 15 and I have been on this journey ever since of being a speaker, advocate, and somewhat of a social media influencer (though that’s not really a title I love using because it’s not always viewed in the best light). I want to be more of a thought leader and help shift perspectives as much as I can. Sometimes that’s through diversity and inclusion, through the lens of living with a disability and what it’s like living in a world that’s not built for you. 

I also want to emphasize the importance of empathy, not just for other people but for yourself, first and foremost. Self-love is everything when it comes to how we show up for ourselves and others. All of that to say, I am on a mission to elevate empathy. 

Tell us about how you came to live with Landing

I was invited to live with Landing through Landing’s influencer program. I was only supposed to be here for three months, but that has morphed into an indefinite stay because I fell in love with my apartment and San Diego as a whole.

I first visited San Diego when I was 14 and knew from then on that I wanted to live here at some point in my life. But I never really pulled the trigger on that because I was nervous about being locked down in a lease and moving all the way across the country without having any friends or family around me. It would have been way too much of a feat. 

So, when Landing and I started talking, San Diego was definitely No. 1 on my list. It’s awesome that I have the flexibility if I do want to move somewhere else within Landing’s network, but quite frankly, I love it here so much that I don’t want to leave anytime soon. 

There is a perfect synergy between the journey that I’m on and Landing’s mission of empowering more flexible living. I’m always on the move with a lot of things happening, and I love avoiding the stress of being tied down to a long-term lease.

What is your life like in San Diego? 

The cool thing is that I don’t have any typical days—every single one is different. Usually, I block off the morning or afternoon for calls or Zoom meetings with clients and partners. Then, I take some time to go on a hike, go for a walk, or go to the beach. That’s non-negotiable for me now. I have to get outside and get into the sun. 

I’ve noticed that there’s a correlation between my mood and my energy level if I’m in a bleak environment or don’t have the ability to get outside and in the sunshine. It really makes a difference in how I feel and how I show up. So I’ve definitely been embracing the fullness of where I am and how close I am to the beach and beautiful greenery. This has made such a significant difference in my life, from my business to my personal life and my mental health. 

What is your advice for other people thinking about living with Landing? 

I think that we often psyche ourselves out before we even look into something, and that was definitely the case for me. Allow yourself to stretch a bit beyond your comfort zone—sometimes you have to get out of the norm to get to the next level. That’s exactly what I did for myself by moving across the country and not knowing anyone here. It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made. My best advice would be to just do it! 

Overall, I also just wish more people knew about Landing and how it’s such a great fit for so many lifestyles, from entrepreneurs, digital nomads, and influencers to anyone who doesn’t want to be locked down in a conventional lease in one place. Landing is the perfect option for all of those different people. Even if I wasn’t in the position that I’m in now with my Landing partnership, I would be a Landing member.

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Landing

Ted may be the world's slowest typist and struggle to hold a pen, but he has mastered how to pursue a more flexible lifestyle throughout his airborne adventures around the U.S. Whether you're looking for more information before migrating to a new city or want to find an easier way to rent a nest—erm, apartment—Ted will always be here to share his best advice for where to live and how to thrive.