In the fast-paced realm of real estate, where tradition often meets resistance to change, Millie stands out as a leader of innovation, embodying a forward-thinking mindset and an insatiable curiosity for emerging technologies. Hailing from a modest background with no prior exposure to the real estate industry, Millie’s journey is a remarkable narrative of mentorship, focus, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge.
Forward-Thinking Leadership: A Visionary Perspective
Millie’s philosophy on forward-thinking leadership becomes evident as she reflects on her journey: “As leaders, we must think ahead, identify the trends, and prepare for upcoming changes to stay ahead of the curve.” Unlike many in her field who are content with conventional methods, Millie has consistently sought out ways to innovate and stay ahead of the curve.
One of Millie’s key strengths is her strategic approach to incorporating technology into her work. While some may resist change, Millie embraces it, understanding that technology is a powerful tool to enhance efficiency and provide a superior service to her clients. Her forward-thinking mindset allows her to identify emerging technologies and integrate them seamlessly into her real estate practices, starting out from digital marketing in the early 2010s, to virtual property tours to advanced data analytics for market predictions.
Undying Curiosity: Embracing Technological Evolution
Millie’s undying curiosity is the driving force behind her tech-savvy skills. Having entered the industry 13 years ago, she vividly recalls a time when property transactions were manual, and listings were confined to small newspaper classifieds. Today, Millie reflects, “property listings are full of information along with photos, videos, and even virtual tours on portals such as 99.co.”
“Digital marketing is ever-evolving and changing,” she notes. “These days we even have CMS systems that help to automate content creation and allows you to schedule your follow-ups frequently. Even if a client does not engage you this time, being consistent in your engagement and follow-ups can open doors in the future.”
Millie’s expertise in Pay-Per-Click (PPC), Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and Facebook marketing showcases her commitment to staying ahead in an industry where adaptability is paramount.
Pride in Technology: Leveraging Innovation for Success
“I have always prided myself on being very technology-savvy,” Millie asserts, acknowledging the role of technology in transforming her career. Leveraging her IT background before joining real estate, Millie saw firsthand how technology, when harnessed correctly, can significantly enhance business value. This insight became particularly evident during the challenging Circuit Breaker measures implemented due to COVID-19.
“We closed a few deals during the first month of Circuit Breaker period without physical interactions,” Millie proudly recounts. Her success during a time of industry upheaval highlights the transformative power of technology when embraced with an open mind. Millie’s endeavors extend beyond personal success; she actively advocates for her sellers and co-broke agents to embrace technology for mutual benefit.
Virtual reality walkthroughs, online document signing, and data-driven market analyses are just a few examples of how Millie leverages technology to exceed client expectations. By staying ahead of the technological curve, Millie not only meets industry standards but sets new benchmarks for excellence.
Humble Beginnings: The Power of Mentorship and Focus
Millie’s journey into real estate is a testament to the transformative power of mentorship and focus. She was fortunate to encounter mentors who allowed her to shadow them when she did not have a license yet and introduced her to marketing technologies.
These mentors who were top producers in her time also instilled in her the importance of focus, guiding her towards developing a clear strategy on how she should start the ball rolling. One example was when she hit a wall with little progress after a year in the business; and with the consistent “focus” advice, she set out to start on familiar territory which was Hougang resale HDB, the area where she grew up. That helped her to gain confidence in closing transactions.
“You will not be able to imagine me speaking like that in the past! I was fumbling and stuttering so much last time because I lacked confidence and was a slow learner,” Millie lamented. “I developed so much self-doubt because I looked around at my peers who were also property agents who are doing much better than I am. I wondered if I was even cut-out for this industry.”
Despite moments like that, and even if she had to take more time to learn and develop as a professional, she did not give up and continued to learn the ropes, venturing into new launches, private properties and taking up online marketing courses to better herself.
Advice for Aspiring Agents: Embrace Change and Lifelong Learning
For aspiring agents, Millie offers advice rooted in her own experiences: “The market is ever-changing. Our clients are also getting more savvy with information being widely and freely available online.” She advocates for keeping an open mind to innovations and lifelong learning, underlining the importance of adapting marketing strategies to individual strengths.
In Millie’s words, “Remember, the only constant is change. As individuals, we each have our own strengths but we can choose to constantly grow. While technology complements your work, never forget that this is a human relationship business and knowing how to communicate is definitely key.”
“Even when times are tough and challenging, always be humble and go back to the fundamentals. Never stop trying. Go back to door-knocking if you must, pick up rental transactions – whatever it is, you must never stop connecting with people because you never know when the next referral might come!”
From her humble beginnings to her current position as a tech-savvy real estate maven, Millie’s journey reflects the power of mentorship, resilience, and embracing changes. Her story is not just one of personal success but a testament to the possibilities that unfold when forward-thinking leadership meets unyielding curiosity and a focus on lifelong learning.
To learn more about Millie, you may contact her at +65 9070 2263.
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