Matthew Lam: Why Success Got Harder After His First Million

Beyond the Commission is a podcast by Lyte that uncovers the money, mindset, and magic behind some of Singapore’s top millionaire real estate agents.

Beyond their achievements, we explore the setbacks, decisions, and lessons that shaped their journeys.

In the debut episode, we sit down with Matthew Lam, an eight-time millionaire agent, where he opens up about the moments, mistakes, and decisions that shaped his career – from almost quitting real estate to leading more than 2,000 agents today.

To most real estate agents, the toughest journey is the road to making their first million. 

For Matthew (Matt), it was what came after. 

Matt is an eight-time millionaire agent leading a team of more than 2,000 agents at PropNex. From the outside, it looks like a story of uninterrupted success. 

It wasn’t. 

From University Student to Millionaire Agent 

While juggling university and training as a national fencer, Matt took up a telemarketing role in real estate for the flexibility it offered. 

But, three years into real estate, he was ready to quit.

“I was about to give up real estate, and Matt Lam Advisory wouldn’t be here.” 

Coming from a family where stability and traditional career paths were highly valued, sales felt uncertain. 

Then something unexpected happened. 

“As long as I keep showing up, opportunities will come.” 

A chance viewing, a high fever, and a decision to show up shaped a mindset that would eventually carry him through another four years in the industry before he finally achieved his goal of becoming a millionaire agent in 2017. 

The Weight of Expectations 

Like many people, Matt imagined that success would feel different once he achieved his first million. 

However, it felt surprisingly ordinary to him. 

For many people, success creates freedom. For Matt, it created expectations.

“I was fighting not to lose, instead of fighting to win.”

The challenge was no longer about reaching a million dollars – it was proving he could do it again. Comparison, self-doubt, and the pressure to repeat his success slowly took over. 

The following year, his fears became reality – the millionaire award was not his to bring home. 

The biggest shift had to come from Matt himself. 

“It’s hard to change your perspective if you don’t change from within.” 

In the full podcast episode, Matt shares how this period affected not only his business, but also his relationships. 

Using Future Income to Grow Faster 

There’s another aspect of Matt’s success that isn’t often discussed: how he thinks about cash flow. As his business expanded, having access to capital became just as important as earning it. 

Property agents face a unique challenge – the commission has already been earned, but payment often arrives months later. 

One of the biggest misconceptions Matt sees among agents is that accessing future commissions is a sign of poor financial management. However, he believes it comes down to one thing: purpose.

“Be purposeful – if you take the money and spend it on things you don’t need, that’s irresponsible. But if you’re using it to grow your business, that’s different.“

In the podcast, Matt shares how he used LytePay to reinvest in marketing, recruitment, and business expansion. Advancing his commissions allowed him to scale more quickly instead of waiting months for commission payouts. 

He also shared about investing his advanced commissions in PropNex shares – and why the returns made it worth it. 

Matt believes one of the highest returns on investment is this mindset:

“Who was the one that made that $500,000 or $1 million? Yourself. So, who else is better to invest in than yourself?”

Beyond the Commission 

For someone who once chased his first million, Matt’s goals today are different. 

What keeps him motivated now has little to do with commissions, awards, or financial milestones. 

Watch the full episode to find out what it is. 

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Hear more about why Matt almost quit, the year he failed to repeat his million-dollar success, and the lessons that continue to shape him today.

Watch the podcast below, or listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.