On the surface, real estate in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles is a world of high stakes and higher expectations. But sit down with broker Matias Baker Masucci and the conversation quickly turns from square footage and sales figures to something deeper: humility, resilience, and the discipline of building a life as carefully as one builds a business.
Fresh off his appearance on Lifting Others As We Rise with host Lisa Parenteau, Masucci spoke candidly about the habits that keep him grounded in a volatile industry, the lessons he inherited from mentors and family, and why he believes marketing — not the market — is what ultimately drives results. What follows is a conversation that moves easily between personal philosophy and professional insight, offering a glimpse of what it takes to thrive in one of the most competitive real estate markets in the world.
Listen to the full interview on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6tksl818bv4uTDVRCeaCih?si=9aa534aac2af415b
The Interview
Lisa: For those who may not know you, give us the quick version of who you are and what you do.
Matias: I’m a Beverly Hills–based real estate broker serving clients across Los Angeles County. My path wasn’t glamorous — I started at the very bottom as a resident manager, learning the business through hands-on experience. Over the years, I built an operation grounded in systems and accountability. My role today is simple: I sell and advise, my team executes, and everything is measured.
“From my father I learned two gifts that still guide me: never take yourself too seriously, and live without prejudice.”
Lisa: Who were the early mentors who shaped you?
Matias: My father. He had this passion for philosophy and storytelling that made knowledge exciting. He’d burst into the kitchen reciting Dante or Plato and then make us laugh about it. From him I learned two gifts that still guide me: never take yourself too seriously, and live without prejudice. Growing up, I never heard my parents show prejudice or judge people based on preconceived biases. That shaped how I see the world.
Lisa: How has that “don’t take yourself too seriously” philosophy helped you?
Matias: It’s a reminder to put challenges into perspective. Even in the face of serious loss, my family always found space to laugh. That resilience taught me not to let setbacks define me. In real estate, that’s invaluable — you lose a listing, you drive by and see someone else’s sign. It stings, but you keep moving. I’ve learned that just because something could have gone differently doesn’t mean it would have gone better.
Lisa: You’ve described meditation as life-changing. How did that practice begin?
Matias: In 2019, I started transcendental meditation after reading Principles by Ray Dalio. I’d heard about meditation before but dismissed it as abstract. Dalio’s perspective made me take it seriously. What it gave me was a pause — a buffer between reaction and response. I used to react impulsively, now I respond with more thought. Twice a day, twenty minutes at a time, it keeps me steady.
Lisa: What does your morning actually look like?
Matias: I wake naturally around 4:30 or 5 a.m. — no alarm clock. I sit in my meditation chair, spend twenty minutes in silence, then enjoy a cup of tea before the house wakes up. That quiet time is mine alone. By 6:45 I’m waking the kids, and the family routine begins. In the late afternoon, I fit in another session before picking the kids up from their after school program. Consistency is the secret — once you make it non-negotiable, everything else falls into place.
Lisa: You’ve even created “mindset alarms.” Tell us about that.
Matias: Most alarms tell you what to do. Mine tell me how to be. At 9:45 a.m., one buzzes with the word “Focus.” At 2:00 p.m., “Relentless.” At 3:45, “Unplug.” They’re small nudges that interrupt the day and pull me back to my priorities. It sounds simple, but those reminders help me show up with consistency for my clients, my team, and my family.
Lisa: What’s the advice you’d give your younger self?
Matias: Embrace humility sooner. The world rewards flash and ego, but humility is what builds trust and resilience. For a long time, I thought recognition mattered — top rankings, awards. But clients don’t hire you because you’re number one in the office. They hire you because you listen, because you show up, because you serve. Humility makes all of that possible.
Lisa: You’ve had some powerful compliments along the way. Is there one that stands out?
Matias: Recently, a real estate investor I respect stopped mid-conversation and said, “Why not you?” He was challenging me to think bigger, to take the same advice I give others. It struck me because he saw me as the rainmaker, the one who should be making bold moves. It was both a compliment and a challenge — don’t play small.
Lisa: Real estate can be a rollercoaster. How do you personally handle chaos when it shows up?
Matias: Two things help: short mindfulness resets and movement. If I feel myself getting pulled into stress, I’ll stop for two minutes, close my eyes, and repeat the word release. It’s amazing how quickly it grounds me. And sometimes the best medicine is just walking around the block. My office is in Beverly Hills, the weather’s usually nice, so I take advantage of it. A walk clears my head and gets me back on track.
Lisa: You’re also raising four kids. Has fatherhood shaped your approach to resilience?
Matias: Absolutely. Kids are loud, unpredictable, and sometimes completely overwhelming. When my middle two start fighting, I’ve learned not to panic. Instead of trying to control the chaos, I let it run its course. Within minutes, they’ve usually moved on. That patience has carried into my business. Six years ago, I would have reacted instantly to stress. Now, I give things time to settle before responding. My fuse is longer, and I think that makes me a better father and a better broker.
Lisa: Do you approach first-time buyers differently than luxury clients?
Matias: I’m price-agnostic. A first-time buyer might not be purchasing a mansion, but their experience is no less meaningful. In fact, those transactions remind me what this job is really about — the joy of discovery, the pride of ownership, the little details like pointing out a kitchen cabinet pull. Some of my wealthiest clients buy homes for their adult children, and those deals feel just as special. At every level, you’re helping someone move forward in life.
Lisa: You said earlier that humility is a daily practice. How do you keep it front and center?
Matias: By remembering that this business is service at its core. We’re not selling widgets, we’re helping families through one of the biggest financial and emotional decisions of their lives. If you keep that perspective — that you’re here to serve, not to shine — humility follows naturally.
Lisa: I saw something you posted recently: “It’s not the market, it’s your marketing.” Can you explain what you mean by that?
Matias: Too many agents blame the market when a home isn’t selling. Interest rates go up, inventory shifts, and suddenly it’s the market’s fault. But here’s the truth: we can’t control the market. What we can control is the marketing. That’s where the responsibility lies.
An agent’s job is to adapt. If buyers are cautious, you need sharper targeting. If properties are sitting, you need campaigns that cut through the noise. Consistent, intentional marketing delivers results in any cycle — or at least gives you the best possible chance. My philosophy is simple: stop blaming conditions you can’t change and double down on the actions you can.
Lisa: So for you, there’s no such thing as a “bad market”?
Matias: Exactly. Every market has opportunities. In slower cycles, sellers need strategic positioning more than ever. In hot cycles, buyers need stronger advocacy. Blaming the market is an excuse. Striving for consistent results regardless of conditions — that’s the standard.
“We can’t control the market — what we can control is the marketing. That’s where the responsibility lies.”
In the end, what stands out from the conversation isn’t a checklist of tactics or a promise of overnight success, but a philosophy of how to carry yourself in an unpredictable business. Yes, there are systems, workflows, and marketing strategies, but the real thread is balance — the ability to stay consistent without becoming rigid, to take the work seriously without taking yourself too seriously.
Real estate, like life, rarely unfolds in a straight line. Markets rise and fall, deals fall apart, clients change course. What matters, as Masucci suggests, is not clinging to what can’t be controlled but finding steadiness in how you respond. Sometimes that means a process. Other times it’s a pause, a laugh, or even a reminder alarm that simply says “relentless.”
It’s a grounded perspective, one that shifts the focus from numbers and rankings to resilience, humility, and human connection. At its core, the business isn’t only about properties bought and sold, but about how you show up — for clients, for colleagues, and for yourself. And that, perhaps, is the quiet lesson worth holding onto.
For the complete conversation and more insights, tune in to the full interview on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6tksl818bv4uTDVRCeaCih?si=9aa534aac2af415b
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