Eiko Okura
Denver, CO USA
"I don't think that success is something you reach at one point when you're 88 or 92; it's an everyday, every moment practice."
Career Roadmap
Eiko's work combines: Design, Environment & Nature, and Accomplishing Goals
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Philosophy
Tezukayama Gakuin University, Japan
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Majored in aesthetics/art philosophy in Japan, but quickly realized her major was not particularly marketable in the job industry.
2.
While she was in this in-between state, she found herself constantly rearranging her furniture to calm her.
3.
Realized that this practice of designing her home was what she wanted to do with her life, went into interior design.
4.
Moved to the U.S. to pursue more design opportunities; got a stroke of luck, found a job right before her visa expired.
5.
Says that deciding to go into interior design was not a "long, philosophical conversation" with herself-her passion was obvious.
6.
Believes most of our interests should be obvious, but we complicate them; once you're grounded, you can "see what emerges."
7.
Says her "North Star" in her designs is her virtue; in her career and her personal life, she tries to do what feels right and honest.
8.
Doesn't believe that you should tune out others' advice, but says you should always put your own voice above the others.
Defining Moments
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I was born and raised in the small mountain village of Aso in central Japan, several hours south of Kyoto. I moved to Colorado in 1984.