Finding Balance: How Melissa Machat Transformed Her Real Estate Success Into Authentic Leadership Through Human Design
After 15 years in residential real estate, Melissa Machat had achieved what many would consider the pinnacle of success. She had built a massive real estate business that could run without her and established herself as an industry leader. Yet beneath the surface, something wasn’t clicking.
“I hate to admit this, but probably like 10 of those years was me realizing I wasn’t happy, and not knowing what to do about it, or how to fix it or change it,” Melissa reveals. “I definitely came from the hustle culture world of force and accountability and get on the phones. And this is the schedule, and trying to fit myself into a box. I never understood that’s what was making me malfunction and be miserable, not necessarily the business itself.”
The Journey to Transformation
Despite her success, Melissa found herself caught in the comparison trap. “I was still doing extremely well in the business, but compared to everybody else, it was just not enough and should be doing more,” she shares. This feeling of perpetual inadequacy led her down a path of personal development, eventually discovering NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and launching her coaching business.
However, transitioning to the online space in 2020 brought its own challenges. “I did not realize how putting yourself out there and making it my brand… it’s now about me and it’s the online space,” Melissa explains. She saw coaches online living her dreams of making millions on their own terms, and she wanted to do that, too.
A Pivotal Moment
In mid-2022, Melissa received a diagnosis that would become a catalyst for change: multiple sclerosis. This health challenge forced her to dissolve her real estate team and completely reassess her approach to business. “I have very limited time and energy. I’m trying to build this business in two hours maybe a couple days a week, and then I’m frustrated that it’s not working.”
It was at this point that Melissa started working with Nicole, and through Human Design coaching, began to discover a new way forward.
The Human Design Difference
Working with Nicole helped Melissa understand her unique design and purpose at a deeper level. “When you start talking about the nodes, and who I’m here to help, and what I’m really here to do, and tying it all together… the a-has just started flowing,” Melissa shares.
One of the most significant revelations came through understanding her chart’s emphasis on self-empowerment. “I’ve been taking on so many other people’s things… and I’ve been giving and giving and giving, and nothing’s happening. And it’s because I need to be embodied in it, I need to be empowered, I need to be loving and living my life, and then people will show up. That’s how I’m magnetic.”
The Birth of The Balanced Agent
Through her work with Nicole, Melissa discovered that her incarnation cross and design perfectly aligned with her natural approach to business. “My whole chart is like, doing it my way and breaking those rules,” she explains. This understanding led to the creation of The Balanced Agent, a program that stands in stark contrast to traditional real estate coaching.
“I would get really triggered looking at other real estate coach stuff… ‘I made a million dollars last year. Follow my method and you can sell 10 houses doing nothing.’ It was just like, this feels gross and I didn’t do that. I don’t want to do that,” Melissa shares. “With the Balanced Agent, it almost balances me. It grounds me into no, this is something really needed and really different.”
Transformation and Results
Working with Nicole has helped Melissa:
- Reconnect with her authentic voice and story
- Create a business model that honors her energy and health needs
- Develop a unique coaching approach that aligns with her values
- Find permission to do business her way
- Build a sustainable framework that doesn’t depend on constant personal presence
Looking Forward
Today, Melissa approaches her business with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity, taking an intentional step back to fully embody the aligned approach she teaches. “This is so fun. And it’s easy, which is what I’ve always wanted it to be,” she shares. Rather than pushing against her natural rhythms, she’s choosing to honor her design by focusing on becoming truly unshakeable in her alignment first.
This conscious decision to prioritize embodiment over rapid expansion demonstrates the very principles she teaches through The Balanced Agent. By living these principles herself—honoring her energy, embracing her authentic path, and choosing alignment over hustle—she’s creating a sustainable foundation for long-term impact in the real estate industry.
Through The Balanced Agent, Melissa now helps real estate professionals find their own path to success without sacrificing their wellbeing or authenticity. As she puts it, “What I’m doing is different. And this is absolutely necessary.” Her journey serves as a powerful example that true success comes not from following the conventional playbook, but from having the courage to honor your own design and create success on your own terms.