In this Member Focus, we are putting the spotlight on our EO Melbourne Member, David McMillan. David has worked as a property investment adviser, property consultant, buyer agent & valuer to private clients, financial planners, accountants, finance brokers and various government entities since 1999. He is currently the director of Performance Property Advisory.
Since 2009, David has been specifically focused on helping medical professionals, expats, business owners and busy executives build effective property portfolios. In this feature, David shares with us a few things about himself.
Q: Can you give a brief background about you, your family and your business?
I have a beautiful wife who keeps me honest, two little monsters who test my full range of emotions, and a property business – all of which bring me so much joy.
Q: What inspired you to be an entrepreneur?
I wanted to build a large property portfolio in my 20s. When I looked around, I realised that no one was specialising in this segment. I say that because there were businesses doing this poorly or unethically, so I saw a huge opportunity. I transitioned away from property valuations into a buyer agency in 2008. When I felt I had enough skills on the buying side, I started performance property, together with a business partner in 2012.
Q: What do you enjoy most about being an entrepreneur?
Creativity - to do something different or a new version of something old.
Freedom - Freedom to think. Freedom to say exactly how it is. Freedom to call out bullshit. Freedom of time.
Progression - Clients and the team.
Personal growth – aiding and watching progression brings me extreme satisfaction.
Q: What are the biggest challenges you have faced as an entrepreneur?
There hasn’t been one that stands out. We have had classic problems of growing too fast, such as in the aspects of financials, people, structure, and processes. Now, we try to grow slower and prepare for the downturns.
Q: Why did you decide to join EO?
I have found previous networking groups to be powerful. EO kept coming up from a few people I know. I’m looking forward to investing in this one.
Q: Can you share a golden nugget that you learned from your experience or from another entrepreneur or mentor in the past?
Go back to being a beginner in a different field, so you remember how hard it is.