Having learnt through adversity, Aaron Teo’s commitment is to ensure his clients needs are met.
What’s your story?
General Manager at the Singapore Sports School in my early 30s. Stable career, but I couldn’t take vacation leave to travel with my kids whenever I wanted because it had to align with the school holidays. That moment made me realise that this career wouldn’t allow me to be the father I wanted to be. I resigned before the COVID-19 outbreak, failed my real estate exams 5 times, lost all our savings in the stock market, did Grab Delivery and survived a motorcycle crash that exposed my bones. 3,5 years later, I finally passed to become a Real Estate Consultant.
What excites you most about your industry?
Real estate is one of the few industries where a single decision can change a family’s trajectory for years.
It’s not just about guiding someone through a buying and selling process, it’s about timing, positioning and understanding different life stages. I enjoy helping families see things they didn’t even realise they needed to consider.
That moment when they say, “I never thought of it that way before”, that’s what excites me most. It’s always giving them all their options to make a well-informed & intelligent decision.
What drives you in your career to push beyond what other people consider normal?
I didn’t choose to settle. I wanted to make sure when I’m 80, I look back and know I did my best. Failing an exam 5 times and having $70 left in your bank account humbles you. The motorbike accident showed me that things can change quickly anytime.
What drives me is the responsibility I carry as a husband, father to my 4 kids and the families with whom I work closely on possibly the biggest and most expensive decisions in their lives.
The way I see it, going the extra mile is no longer extra; it’s expected from me.
What have been the most useful skills you have learnt and applied in your journey?
Two things:
1. Listening deeply, not just hearing what clients say, but really understanding what their purpose and needs are in the current season of their life.
2. Simplifying complexity, because the property market can be confusing. My role as your consultant is to break down everything, allowing families to make clear and confident decisions.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received? ‘Always remember the reason you started’
When things get tough and don’t go as smoothly as I expect them to, I always remember that simple yet grounded advice I got.
Who inspires you?
My wife, Cheryl. She had every reason to walk away. Zero income, depleted savings, a husband who kept failing exams and brought the family to an uncertain season in life. She never once blamed me. It was always love and support. At my lowest point, she singlehandedly supported the family and me. Eventually becoming a realtor herself, all while she was pregnant with our fourth child. She’s the clearest example I have of what unwavering commitment, support and love looks like.
What have you learnt recently that blew you away?
That people make wrong property decisions not because they took action, but actually due to inaction and not leveraging to build their net worth for themselves and their loved ones.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
Absolutely nothing. I truly believe I had to go through what I went through, because those hard lessons moulded and prepared me to be a better version of myself to show up for Cheryl, my kids and the families we serve.
How do you unwind?
Sending and picking up my kids from school every single day. The reason I made the switch was to have control of my time to spend with my loved ones. It’s not glamorous, but sitting in the car with them after school and talking about how it went, that’s it for me. Everything I went through was for those extra fifteen minutes with them.
What is a major mindset change, belief shift or ‘ah ha’ moment that you’ve experienced in relation to your career?
I used to think being The Man of the house meant having everything figured out. The real shift was accepting that it actually means having the strength to keep going when you don’t. The moment I stopped performing certainty and started being honest about the struggle, I became more effective as a husband, a father, and eventually as a consultant.
Everyone in business should read this book:
Atomic Habits – because success is not one big move, it’s small, consistent actions done daily.
Shameless plug for your business or career:
SuperGaoLat Aaron & Cheryl are Real Estate Consultants who believe property decisions should be built on clarity, not pressure. Known for their resilience and education-first approach, they help families navigate the property market with confidence and strategy. Backed by real-life experience and strong family-driven purpose, SuperGaoLat Aaron & Cheryl only focus on 2 things: understanding your family’s purpose and needs.
How can people connect with you?
If you’re looking for Real Estate Consultants who listen and guide you based on your purpose and needs, you can find us at supergaolat.com.
Social Media Links?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supergaolataaron,
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@supergaolataaron,
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@supergaolataaron.
This interview is part of the CallumConnects series.