Meet Kenya Reeves-Costa

We recently connected with Kenya Reeves-Costa and have shared our conversation below.

Kenya, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I didn’t know I was resilient until I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease (rhuematoid arthritis) A year after I got married and 3 years into my new career, I woke up in excruciating pain, swollen knees and couldnt walk without a cane. It was devastating because my life just stopped. I was fearful that I wouldnt be able to continue doing all of the things I had always done. How could I work out, wear heels, sell homes, and raise a child? All of the plans I had for my life seemed so far away. The first few years with this disease were super challenging. Turning a door knob for my clients hurt like hell and I couldnt walk up stairs. I was afraid to disclose my RA for fear that I wouldn’t get hired. Sucking it up is exhausting. However, I had to suck it up as I had goals. When we decided to have our daughter, I knew that I would have to be strong for her. I powered through the pain, researched RA and with the help of a great rheumatologist and dietician, was able to get the disease under control. Looking back, the setback showed me that I can push through and still create the life I want even with challenges. I wear the challenge with a badge of honor, and frankly, no setback, big or small can top the first few years after my diagnosis.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I run a small but mighty team of 7 agents and an EA. I’ve been a realtor in Los Angeles with a focus on NELA, Glendale and Pasadena for the past 17 years. Real estate is the perfect career (for me) because every single day looks different. From marketing to contracts and everything in between, it’s an exhilarating job. I don’t think there is a career out there that challenges you to be flexible, problem solve, negotiate for wins, and stretch your people and leadership skills quite like real estate. I learn something new every day and the industry is constantly changing. It forces you to change with it and learn new skills daily. I live for challenges and I get to constantly expand and grow. Leading a team is the newest aspect of this career, and it brings me so much joy to see the agents on my team grow and thrive in such a competitive business.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three qualities I believe are most important are: Sticktoittiveness (not a real word) but you have to hang in there. The prize comes right when you want to throw in the towel. Keep pushing.
Hunger for knowledge. Never stop striving to know more about your field, and always work to improve. Challenge yourself to stretch out, take on a part of the job that scares you. I heard once that if your dreams don’t scare you, they arent big enough!
Forgiveness. Give yourself grace. It’s not always going to be perfect and there is nothing wrong with failing forward

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I’ve found that meditation, prayer and the gym (shout out to orange theory fitness in Glendale) have been big stress relievers for me. When I need to take a beat and think, I take the time. That may mean zoning out and watching TV with my family, going for a walk around the block, or just hanging at home in my pj’s for the day. Real estate can be an around the clock job as clients never realize you have other clients, and you work around their schedules to get the job done. This means weekends, early mornings and late nights. One of my biggest stress relievers is cuddling with my daughter and swapping war stories about our day before bed. The point is, make room for the things that bring you joy. Especially when things get tough.

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Image Credits
Katee Grace-Katee Grace Photography Sergio Garcia- Sergio Garcia Photography

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