@Aj81 You should make sure you have notifications checked in your profile. Check a couple, email, text alerts, push notifications, in case one glitches out. I receive both an email notification and a text alert when I get an Inquiry or Booking Request. When I failed to receive my alerts due to an Airbnb glitch a year ago, I checked my account twice a day to make sure I hadn't missed anything.
It's unclear why you didn't know your listing was live- you listed your place, why would you assume it wasn't listed?