We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Melissa Okabe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Melissa below.
Melissa, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I feel like it’s common for imposter syndrome to arise every time we push ourselves to step outside of our comfort zone. It means we are taking on something that we have a huge opportunity to grow into.
In addition to reframing my mindset on what the feeling of “imposter syndrome” means (thanks to my coach), these practical steps have helped me to overcome imposter syndrome: skill acquisition, building and expanding your knowledge and skill set, finding a mentor to shadow and do as they do (as success leaves clues) and getting your reps in- practice, iterate, refine to embody that skill and make it your own- and infuse that into your identity in order to truly become the expert. As you become the expert through skill acquisition, you become confident and certain in the value you bring to the job/ situation- there’s no more room left for imposter syndrome.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Melissa Okabe and I am a 2nd Generation Real Estate Broker-Associate at Alta Properties, specializing in Residential Real Estate in the Los Angeles-South Bay area. As your Real Estate Advisor, my aim is to create an all-inclusive real estate experience where each of my clients feel completely supported and taken care of, as they list or buy their home.
The way that I approach real estate differently is that it’s not just about buying or selling property, it’s about helping my clients to open or close significant life chapters through the purchase or sale of their homes.
I am committed to empowering my Sellers to Close that Chapter of their Lives on the Best Note Possible – honoring the memories and important moments they’ve enjoyed in this home by finding the right next owner and closing that chapter of their lives with a beautiful last page.
For my Buyers, I am honored to be their real estate guide to begin a special new chapter as a Homeowner. I believe successful buyers are prepared buyers, so I provide my buyers with a Future Home Buyer Guide, as well as educate them through the home buying process along the way.
Finally, In addition to being a full-time Realtor, I am honored to serve as 2024 Chapter President of AREAA LA Coastal (Asian Real Estate Association of America). I am proud to be part of a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable home-ownership opportunities in the AANHPI community and the diverse communities we serve. Our chapter provides the real estate community and homeowners with the right tools, education and information needed to achieve our mission.
We have monthly educational and networking events, and would love for you to join us. For more information please visit: https://areaalacoastal.org
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
3 qualities that I believe have been impactful and important on my journey are:
1. Deeply Listen to Others with Curiosity and Presence: To me, true, genuine connection makes a huge difference both in business and in life. Everyone wants to be heard, and everyone has a story worth telling. There are pearls of wisdom that we can gather from every conversation we have- whether it’s learning something we didn’t know before, or better understanding the perspective of the person we are speaking with (what matters most to them)- which helps again to build more solid and authentic connections both in interpersonal and business relationships.
2. Deeply Live with Passion & Let your Purpose Ignite You from Within: We all can sense when someone is filled with passion, vitality, and fire for life- it’s inspiring and infectious in the best way. In order to keep the passion alive in my projects/ goals/ intentions- I have found it useful to both feel into that passion- reflect on what excites you, what lights you up, what gets you feeling those butterflies- and then connect that passion with how it positively affects not only yourself, but in the service of others as well.
3. Deeply Know Yourself to Anchor Your Confidence and Self Worth: No matter who comes or goes from your life, the person you can always count on to be there is You! So you may as well take the time to get to know yourself really well – in this way you can: (1) Be confident in your strengths, what you bring to the table, and the value you as a unique person give to the world just by being you (2) If there are areas within you that you want to build, grow or expand, you will have that honest assessment of where you are now, and can make a plan on how to grow those desired areas in yourself (3) Because you know yourself well & are in the process of continuing to grow and expand, you can stand in your own worth a lot more confidently. I was once told “We often accept what we think we deserve”- so know for yourself what is acceptable or not, and don’t discount yourself for anyone. You’re worth every penny, every dollar, every $100,000 dollars- You just have to really believe it.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Yes! I love community and collaboration! If you are a local business in the LA-South Bay area, I’d love to collaborate with you! From community events, fundraisers, business education seminars (such as co-hosting a first time buyer workshop, real estate investing workshop etc), cross promotions, and more- I’d love to connect and see what we can come up with. I absolutely believe that magic happens when we come together, and I’m excited to see what exciting new opportunities we can create with one another!
If you are interested in collaborating, the best way is to contact me via email or through my website: https://www.melissaokabe.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.melissaokabe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissaokabe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissaokaberealtor
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AltaProperties
Image Credits
Photo Credit: Chelsey Rose Studios FrameX Studio Kevin Nakasone
