Ray White Head of Performance and Recognition, Bianca Denham, recently sat down with Alistair Macmillan at Ray White Wilston.
Alistair’s journey into real estate wasn’t a straight path. From boarding school in Toowoomba to art college in Singapore, and a series of sales jobs, he found himself navigating life with determination and grit.
Despite a rocky start and no formal qualifications, Alistair’s ambition drove him into the real estate world, where he would face challenges, setbacks, and triumphs over a 25-year career.
Along the way, he built a reputation for resilience and a knack for building strong relationships – ultimately shaping the business he runs today.
Alistair has spent 25 years in the real estate industry, but his journey began far from a typical path. His father, a pilot, was stationed overseas, and while his parents lived in Singapore, Alistair attended boarding school at Toowoomba Grammar.
By Grade 10, he was asked to leave and returned to Singapore, where he briefly attended art college, admitting, “I was terrible at it, but I had a ball.”
Eventually, he made his way back to Brisbane without a senior certificate, working various sales jobs, including selling artwork and phones.
A family friend then suggested he try real estate, and with limited education and job prospects, Alistair was eager for a chance to succeed.
In 1999, at the age of 24, Alistair entered real estate with Ray White Lutwyche. He describes his early days as being “thrown in at the deep end”, with nothing but the phone book and door knocking, no RP Data or real guidance.
After meeting Dwight Ferguson, Alistair was recruited to Ray White New Farm but left shortly after, transitioning into cinema advertising sales. He even attempted to buy a Subway franchise but eventually returned to real estate.
In 2004, he moved to Stafford, taking over a real estate business – along with its debt.
“I had no idea what I was doing,” Alistair admits, but he embraced the challenge, hiring a receptionist and adopting a “catch and kill” mentality.
Despite his struggles with recruitment, he loved the energy of the business and aimed to be in the top 10. However, as his agents, many of whom had become friends, left to pursue opportunities in more affluent areas, Alistair faced difficulties selling high-end properties and recruiting new talent.
He later met the owner of Ray White Wilson, which marked a turning point. Alistair eventually sold the business, celebrating with many former staff members who returned to join him.
Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledges the importance of geographic data and building relationships with staff, lessons that have shaped his career and contributed to his success.
