"Being an Agent Is Embarrassing" — Or Is Being Broke Worse?
Many fresh graduates hesitate before becoming a property agent for one reason: Embarrassment.
They imagine themselves:
- Distributing flyers under the hot sun.
- Making cold calls to annoyed strangers.
- Being rejected publicly.
- Being judged by their peers.
They worry about what friends think. They worry about what relatives say at Chinese New Year. They worry about "losing face."
But there is a question they rarely ask themselves: If you can't afford to pay for your parents' dinner—isn't that the real embarrassment?
The Wrong Definition of Embarrassment
Embarrassment is often confused with visibility.
Cold calling is visible.
Flyers are visible.
Rejection is visible.
Poverty is quiet. Struggling to pay rent is quiet. Borrowing money is quiet. Pretending "everything is fine" while panicking inside is quiet.
But quiet suffering is still suffering. Choosing "dignity" over survival is not maturity. It is denial.
Why This Industry Tests You First
Real estate is not kind to the ego. It forces you to talk to strangers, get ignored, and start with zero status.
This is not a flaw in the industry. It is a filter. The market is asking one question early: Can you trade your ego for opportunity?
Those who cannot, leave early. Those who can, pass the first test.
Results Are the Fastest "Face-Rebuilder"
Here is the uncomfortable truth that many won't say out loud: Success restores dignity very quickly.
Close a few deals, drive a better car, and treat your family well—suddenly:
- Nobody asks why you are distributing flyers.
- Nobody questions your career choice.
- Nobody laughs.
The same people who judged you will say:
"Wah, property agent quite good ah. I knew you could do it."
Face does not come from job titles. Face comes from results.
Why Graduates Actually Have an Advantage
Fresh graduates often think they are "losing face" by starting small. In reality, you have the ultimate asset: Low Stakes.
You have fewer obligations.
You have lower expectations.
You have more energy.
This is the cheapest time in your life to look stupid temporarily. Trying and failing at 23 is called learning. Trying and failing at 40 is called a crisis.
This Is the First Psychological Barrier
Every new agent faces this moment. It is the first real exam. It isn't the REN course. It isn't the script.
The exam is internal: "Can I tolerate looking foolish now, so I don't stay powerless later?"
Can you let go of ego? Can you accept discomfort? Can you choose long-term dignity over short-term pride?
Those who pass move forward. Those who don't will find "logical" reasons to quit.
Final Thought
Being an agent is not embarrassing. Being unwilling to work because of pride is.
This industry does not promise comfort. It offers mobility. If you are willing to endure awkward beginnings, it can give you something far more powerful later: Options.
This is the first test. Pass it—and the rest becomes easier.
