From the intensity of training for the Olympics to the dynamic world of real estate, Brett Hayman, Gail Miller, Carl Wilson, and Andrew Trim have mastered the art of high performance.
As Olympians, the have channelled their drive, discipline, and resilience into thriving real estate careers, showing that the dedication needed to win medals translates into achieving real estate success.
As the Paris 2024 Olympics gets underway, we asked these the four champions how their athletic backgrounds continue to inspire their real estate ambitions.
Brett Hayman
Principal, Hayman Partners
Olympic history: Brett is a rowing coxswain who won a silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympics in the men’s eight.
How and when did you get into real estate?
As part of the scholarship program at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), athletes had to work or study (some did both).
As university was not for me, I fell into real estate in 1997 after purchasing a home at auction without a deposit.
The agent offered me a job so I could pay the deposit back.
I started part-time in between training and moved into a full-time position after the Sydney Olympics.
Why did you want to join the real estate industry?
As I mentioned, I fell into it, however the variety of duties both inside and outside of the office was appealing (not stuck behind a desk all day).
How has the discipline and rigorous training regimen from your Olympic career translated into your daily work as a real estate agent?
It was near a perfect transition; I used the principles of our detailed training program to set an ideal week.
I always knew that if I put the time, dedication and commitment from sport into a career, I could be equally as successful.
Can you describe a setback in your real estate career and how your experience as an athlete helped you overcome it?
It happens weekly. Real estate is like a sport as you are always being measured (number of sales, listings, GCI) and your results are out there for everyone to see.
You need resilience, determination and the ability to trust the plan, just like you do the training plan.
How do you stay grounded and focused after significant successes in real estate, and does this approach come from your athletic background?
By focusing on what is ahead and taking the ego out of it
What sport or athlete are you most looking forward to watching at Paris 2024?
I love watching every sport Australia is participating in, but rowing is the one I’ml more passion about.
What goals do you have for the next 12 months in real estate?
The goal is to increase my GCI by 22 per cent, with more time off, by having more efficient processes.
Gail Miller
Director, Gail Miller
Olympic history: Gail played waterpolo for Australia and won a gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
How and when did you get into real estate?
I began in real estate in 2009 straight after the GFC.
Why did you want to join the real estate industry?
I had been working as a property analyst after completing a property economics degree prior to this.
However, I had always wanted to be in real estate so I made the switch in what was probably one of the most challenging times in real estate.
It turned out to be a blessing in disguise having to learn to sell in those conditions.
How has the discipline and rigorous training regimen from your Olympic career translated into your daily work as a real estate agent?
Real estate is an industry where any level of success generally comes from consistent dedication over a long period of time – so not unlike the sporting arena.
What lessons in teamwork from your time as an athlete do you find most useful when working with clients and colleagues in real estate?
Every team member is vitally important and each member has something of value to add.
I have an amazing team that I work with now.
They have a totally different set of skills to me and without them I would not be able to do my part of the sales process.
How do you adapt to industry changes and trends, and what lessons from your athletic career aid in this adaptability?
Being able to adapt is critical and that has not been more evident in the real estate industry than of late.
Not being afraid of change or new challenges is important and always being willing to continue to learn.
What sport or athlete are you most looking forward to watching at Paris 2024?
The Stingers of course!!
What goals do you have for the next 12 months in real estate?
To continue to work on quality projects that I believe in and, most importantly, to continue to enjoy what I’m doing as that is when success will follow.
Carl Wilson
Sales agent (also has a rental portfolio), Home Estate Agents
Olympic history: Carl swam in the medley relay final at the Seoul 1988 Olympics.
How and when did you get into real estate?
I finished swimming in Seoul in September 1988 and chased a variety of jobs fairly hard.
I missed out on a job selling a container of imported VHS videos, which I am so thankful for now.
But a lead from Arthur Tunstall (who was Head of the Commonwealth Games Association) paid dividends and I got a job in real estate with Pat Firmstone from Rosebery/Mascot, right by Sydney airport.
He gave me some wonderful advice over the next six years.
It’s certainly been a perfect industry to revel in. I guess it was ment to be.
Why did you want to join the real estate industry?
Having come from a family that rented, I immediately understood the need to get a roof over your head.
So the opportunity to see the industry and, more importantly, the knowledge to make great decisions, cames from first-hand information.
This came in bucketloads, and now 36 years later, I have owned plenty of different styles of property and in a multitude of locations, mostly in Sydney’s east.
How has the discipline and rigorous training regimen from your Olympic career translated into your daily work as a real estate agent?
Over the past 36 years I have worked six days a week, and to do this you need undisputed discipline and to understand that not all you do bears fruit.
As an agent you solve problems and understand that people are good with good news and bad news, as long as they know!
I would estimate that I have listed and sold about 1800 properties, but it could be higher as I had a stint in project sales, with apartments in big buildings, and there were some really high volumes in 1994 and 1996.
How has your ability to network and build relationships in the sports world translated to building a client base in real estate?
It’s been amazing how many people I have sold for that I know from school swimming and then work life.
I have sold for Olympic gold medallists’, state and federal politicians, Wallaby captains, AFL players and amazing business minds.
Most of my work comes from repeat business and referrals, so yes, the skills attained from knowing all those around me and getting on with them, has ultimately been the best tool to have developed.
I have learnt that if you ask for the business you just might get it.
What sport or athlete are you most looking forward to watching at Paris 2024?
I think that would be obvious – swimming!
Although, I am also very partial to athletics.
I have the apps on my phone so I am sure I will see a lot of it.
It’s a very special time to see the characteristics of a champion.
I know what they have sacrificed and you cannot win out there without paying the price.
Kaylee McKeown is my favourite and I can see her doing amazing things.
What goals do you have for the next 12 months in real estate?
I want to continue to stay focused and consistent, concentrate on my wife and kids, make decisions to have more holidays, even if they are only three days, but don’t miss the opportunity!
Andrew Trim
Managing Director, The Smartre Group
Olympic History: Andrew won a bronze medal in the K-2 500m at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and silver, in the same event, at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
How and when did you get into real estate?
I started just after the Barcelona Games in 1993, and was in and out over the next eight years as I was competing pretty heavily.
During that time I also did some work with some training companies and agencies on goals and planning.
Why did you want to join the real estate industry?
Originally it was a friend who suggested real estate as a career.
He thought it would work well around my sport.
I jumped in as a way to finance my sporting career and, as an amateur athlete, stay afloat.
After finishing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and with a young family, I decided to pursue real estate as a business that could provide for us long term.
How has the discipline and rigorous training regimen from your Olympic career translated into your daily work as a real estate agent?
I believe discipline can vary from endeavour to endeavour.
However, the crucial thing that did transfer between sport and real estate was work ethic.
It’s a necessity for real estate success.
Elite sport teaches you how far the mind and body can be driven before it starts to break down.
It’s a lot further than most people think.
What keeps you motivated in real estate, and how is that different from or similar to what motivated you as an Olympian?
For me, it’s simply the desire to be the best I can at whatever I am doing.
To squeeze every last drop out of whatever potential is in there.
Real estate is a career that requires you to keep learning and improving yourself to build, and then maintain, any level of success.
That’s one of the things I love about it, and we get to keep score everyday.
How do you manage high-pressure situations in real estate, and what techniques from your athletic career do you find most useful?
Real estate sales is the closest thing I have seen to competitive sport, there is a relentlessness about it that brings constant pressure.
Focusing on the day-to-day behaviours that are required for success, rather than the result, I am seeking always seems to allow me to sleep well.
What sport or athlete are you most looking forward to watching at Paris 2024?
I am heading to Paris shortly and looking forward to watching all our paddlers, especially Jess Fox defending her Olympic title.
What goals do you have for the next 12 months in real estate?
We are going through a strong growth phase at the moment, so ensuring we keep up with the required organic growth, along with some further strategic acquisitions that are on the agenda for the next 12 months.
