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Welcome to the second episode of the Breakthrough Series!
In this episode, we are happy to have Priscilla Low sharing with us her breakthrough story as she made the mid-career switch to real estate.
Pris has been working in the non-profit sector since she graduated. She made the decision to do this mid-career switch to the real estate industry after she sold and bought her property.
It was not all smooth sailing for Pris when she embarked on this real estate career path. In the video, she shared how demoralised she was as she went 5 months before closing her first deal.
With the never-give-up attitude, she achieved her breakthrough as she closed her first deal in the 6th month of her career! This was followed by other deals and she went on to become Top 100 achievers in Huttons consecutively for 2 months! Big congrats!
Lastly, we discussed about our goals and what we hope to achieve through a real estate career.
Q: You were with the non-profit sector for 15 years. Then you decide to make the switch to real estate. What made you decide to switch career?
Pris: Whether it is non-profit or property, they are both topics that are very close to my heart.
I remembered when I was moving house in 2019, I was a little lost as I didn't have an agent who could advise me on the options that I can have. I had to do a lot of research on my own.
Subsequently when I share my findings with my friends, they found it very useful. That actually sparked me to consider making a switch to real estate, as this career allows me to be a master of my own time.
Q: One of the reasons why many choose to do a mid-career switch to property is for the flexibility of time. However, they are often concerned as this career do not offer a fixed pay. How do you overcome this?
Pris: Thankfully because this is a mid-career switch, that's why I am able to make the switch! I have worked for some time and have some savings. We are able to plan better and we did the financial calculations before I made the switch.
After I came into the industry, I realised I needed some marketing budget so that I can run campaigns and do leads generation. Being humans, I think we should adapt so I took on temporary jobs to generate some income.
Q: The first deal that you closed in your real estate career is a pro-bono case. Can you share with us more about this deal?
Pris: I was working on some commercial shophouse listings when I first joined. This pair of artiste contacted me. They were looking for a suitable venue to run a mental wellness exhibition called "Beyond The Label". However they had limited budget.
I remembered this happened just after the River Valley School incident. Mental Wellness was on everybody's mind. I took this opportunity to speak to the landlord and ask them to consider helping in this exhibition. Thankfully they are agreeable.
This is a very meaningful moment for myself. Though I have left the non-profit sector, I am still able to do my part for the society.
Q: Apart from this pro-bono deal which you closed, you actually went for a period of 5 months without closing any deals. You were very demoralised then.
Pris: It was a very heavy feeling. I was putting in efforts but not seeing results. I saw many of my peers who joined during the same period and they are closing deals. Sometimes I wonder if I have made the right choice to come into the real estate industry.
But you told me something that changed what I thought. It doesn't matter if we are not closing deals yet, what matter is we are putting in effort. Each of us will bloom when the time comes.
That was a very eureka moment for me. Being in the Social Service Sector for so many years, this is what we've always told people - that everyone is differently-abled and each will bloom at their own pace. But somehow when it happened to me, I just didn't apply it on myself.
Viv: I remembered I was organising a Christmas gathering for the team. You told me you didn't want to attend cos you have not closed a deal.
Pris: Yes, so after that eureka moment, I decided to join the gathering. Cos by attending the gathering, I will be able to stay connected with the team and also follow their momentum. If I were to stay in my own dark corner, most likely i will give up.
Viv: Whether you are an experienced agent or a new agent, you will definitely face moments like these, where you feel useless as you are not closing deals. But it is especially during these moments that you must come out, have activities and meet people. The worst thing to do is to stay at home cos you will find it difficult to get out of that moment.
Q: It is common in our real estate industry to see agents celebrating their achievements and closings. But it is rare to have agents sharing the difficult moments in their career.
Pris: It was not an easy journey, coming from the non-profit sector. In all my life, especially in the course of my work, I was treated with a lot of kindness and respect.
I remembered there was a very nasty rejection and I just burst out crying. I was with my aged parents and you could see from their eyes that their hearts were completely broken. They don't know whether to ask me to persevere or give up.
Thankfully I was able to grow out of it. It was a learning journey for me. Now I am proud of everything that I do, cos I believe in myself. I no longer take such unkindness personally and I know it comes with the job. I have learnt to detach what people think of me.
At the end of day, we are all putting in effort to put food on the table for our family.
Viv: Yes, always remember this: Some Will, Some Won't, So What, Next! SWSWSWN!
Q: You finally closed your first official deal in the 6th month of your real estate career, and it was a landed deal! Congratulations!
Pris: I was particularly happy cos of the trust and rapport I have with this client. I remembered for this property, there were other agents marketing the unit. My client told me she hoped I was the one who get the unit sold. And even if I don't, she will recommend her friends and relatives to me. This to me is an affirmation of the value add I gave to her.
Q: Apart from this landed deal, you went on to close HDB and new launches. And you were the Top 100 Achievers in Huttons for the month of February and March!
Pris: It has been a very meaningful journey. And what was very enjoyable to me is the ability to find the information and give the data to my clients. Just like in social service sector, we have this phrase "Evidence-Based Research". Ultimately, it is about providing them the information and giving them a safe place to make their own decision.
Q: Now that you are more stable in this career, can you share with us your long term plan or goal you hoped to achieve?
Pris: I would like to marry non-profit with real estate. For every transaction that I have done, I will donate a portion to the Rare Disease Fund to help patients with their high treatment cost.
The motivation comes from my daughter as she has a health condition called Hirschsprung. When she was born, the doctors told us that this condition affects about 1 in 5000 babies. Her condition is actually the more severe one as her entire large intestine is not working.
So through this donation, I hope to let the patients and their caregivers know that they are not alone. There is a pool of community who is willing to walk with them on this journey.
Q: It is really inspiring to hear what you intend to do!
Viv: In the last episode, Gigi shared with us her dream of setting up a non-profit shelter for animals. And now you shared with us your plan to help in the rare disease area. And of cos for myself, it is my vision to empower women through a rewarding real estate career.
I see a common thing among us. We want to use the commission we earned through real estate to pursue whatever dreams and passion that we have. And that is very meaningful and inspiring.
Pris: At the end of the day, the important thing is don't give up. It might look very scary, but as long as we keep walking, we will be able to walk out of the forest. In the meantime, we have teammates, mentor and company who will walk and support us along the journey.
Viv: Yes don't give up so soon. As long as you are doing the right things, just give yourself a little more time before you confirm this career is not for you. Whenever you want to give up, just think how difficult it is for you to pass your RES exam. It is a bit wasted if you just give up like that.
Thank you Pris for sharing with us your breakthrough story! I am sure your story can inspire the people who are watching and they can also create the breakthroughs in their lives!
Watch the video here!
Conclusion
If you have inspiring stories which you would like to share with our readers, or you would like to explore a career in real estate, click on the below to make an appointment with me.
See you soon!
About The Author
Vivian joined the real estate industry in 2002. Having been in the real estate business for almost 2 decades, she knows the rewards and challenges that a real estate agent face.
While the real estate career offers lucrative income and flexible work hours, it also presents many challenges - financial insecurity as we do not have basic pay, time management as we juggle work, children and family all at one time.
Only those who have walked the same journey will understand.
Vivian would now like to pay it forward by mentoring fellow agents, especially women who want to build a real estate career.
It is her vision to see women achieving their dreams, and live their lives with purpose and passion through a successful real estate career.
Connect with Vivian at 98577714 to embark on this journey.