Abigail Turner

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING YOUR AGE?
I am finally starting to feel comfortable in my own skin, realizing the things I like and don’t like. I do not have to like what everybody else does.

WHAT HARDSHIPS HAVE YOU ENDURED THAT YOU FEEL HAVE MADE YOU STRONGER?
Last year, with much growth, also came some painful realities of relationships we thought were stronger than they were. It has been hard not to take things more personal than I should. I can step back and look at it without emotion and be thankful I can pull away. Sometimes people or situations aren’t what we want. It’s focused me and help define more definitively who I am and who I want to be. And in turn, who I want to be around and have in my life.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
As a Christian believer, I have been shown a favor that is outside of our ability. Doors have opened and opportunities have come, and we must give God credit for that.

Also getting married to Jake, I knew I needed a strong personality to go along with me and God delivered. We’ve been married 9,5 years and are getting our stride as a couple, that partnership, the fact that we work together and what we’re building. I’m his biggest fan and he is my biggest fan. We are now in a place where we have been able to give more and to do more. It doesn’t matter how much you work if you’re not having fun with it, and part of that for us is giving to others.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE?
I’m not one for stuff but I love treating myself to a spa day or a vacation, I love experiences.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
I have a couple of things, one is my wedding ring, I absolutely love my wedding ring.  I have a recipe book my mom has been putting together with the recipes I grew up with. And then I have a Bible from my grandpa, which my grandma gave me when he passed away.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING YOU HAVE CHECKED OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST?
Riding in a helicopter in Puerto Rico, visiting Iceland and Israel.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS?
Perfect happiness today is knowing I’m where I’m supposed to be, contentment and peace, and doing things with the people I love.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
Don’t sweat the small stuff and keep your eyes on the big things. Because 99% of the things are great. It’s not the 1% that you need to focus on. Keep your perspective positive and don’t let the other stuff get you down.

DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR YOUNGER WOMEN?
Put in the hard work. I see younger people wanting to be five steps ahead of where they are or they feel like they’re behind. They see the people in front of them do things that they haven’t done yet. You must work for it, nothing is owed, put in the work but don’t quit. Keep growing and moving forward, the reward is there.

WHAT IS A TRAIT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF?
Being an encourager. I’m not overly empathetic. Put on your big girl pants and get up and do it, do it right. I like to encourage people to get where I know they can get.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO OR FAVORITE QUOTE?
I wouldn’t say my favorite, but something I am absolutely committed to is under-promise and over-deliver.

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS?
Honesty and loyalty.

HOW DID YOU CHANGE OVER THE YEARS?
Becoming more confident, and not being shy about who I am. Also, recognize what I like, and not just do something because I feel like I must. I grew up in Nebraska and you did what you had to do. You had to work hard, it didn’t matter if you liked it or not, you just did it. 

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I take things too personal if there is a conflict, whether it’s within our office or outside of work.
It’s challenging for me not to take those things too personal instead of just stepping back and looking at it from a more logical point of view. I get more emotional about it, and I don’t like that about myself, I’m working on that.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS?
I hope that future generations don’t feel like they are owed things, that we get something for nothing, and that we don’t have to work hard. Nothing is free, there’s a price tag.

WHAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST JOY AT THIS AGE?
Being with my family, traveling, and seeing new places. Having the freedom, flexibility of schedule, and financially being able to have new experiences.
At work, being a mentor, I like seeing agents who get it, thrive, and change their lives and the lives of their families.

WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER?
Patience. Maybe not in every situation but in mentoring agents, getting better at meeting them where they are at, and getting them to where they can be.

DO YOU LIKE BEING 40+?
I do, 40 was not weird but 41 was. Because that felt like, I am in my 40’s now and I embraced that more than 30. 30 felt good because I was finally a little bit older and people took me seriously, and there was so much discovery. That is when I got married, we started a business, and we moved three times to three different cities, so there was a lot happening in those years. But at 40, I feel like we’re catching our stride and it’s fun. Being 40 feels good!

WHEN IN YOUR LIFE, SO FAR, HAVE YOU FELT MOST CONFIDENT, AND WHY?
Last year I did a couple of public presentations that were related to my job and educational seminars. Three years ago, I would have laughed at the idea of getting up in front of people and doing any kind of public speaking or presentation. There’s no way I would have done it and I love it now. I am confident when it’s a topic I know. Don’t give me an impromptu subject to talk about, but if it’s something I feel very well versed in and can speak on with authority, I really love that. I love educating people and helping people be equipped to make better decisions.