“Getting a degree is really only necessary now if your job requires a degree, like if you want to be a doctor or a dentist or a lawyer. But otherwise, it’s kind of useless, isn’t it?”
After studying for a Master’s in Optometry and working in the optical world, Kyrillos felt unfulfilled. Despite coming from a family that valued traditional education, he had always harboured entrepreneurial ambitions, running a perfume business during university and later owning a restaurant.
The transition to property wasn’t immediate. Kyrillos spent his first year running First Brick while working full-time as an account manager, slowly building credibility about the benefits of using a buyer’s agent.
“We just kept trying and I just kept being consistent. I was like, well, I’m not going to quit. And then literally all of a sudden, it just worked. It was like a period of a month where we signed up like 18-20 clients.”
Rather than taking on all clients at once, Kyrillos staggered them, ensuring service quality remained high while providing consistent cash flow. The business has since been recognised as a finalist in the Australian Small Business Awards and featured in Yahoo Finance.
“BAI gave me the framework and confidence to build this business. Without it, I wouldn’t have had the clarity to grow this fast.”
Now entering its fourth year, First Brick is expanding with part-time staff and plans to hire two full-time employees next year, all while maintaining his patient approach to business development.
“If you don’t have a fear of failing, well you can’t fail. Just don’t be scared to try. Because if you try, then you’ll find out. And if you try and you don’t like it, well at least you know.”
