We had the good fortune of connecting with Malaysia Turner and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Malaysia, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When I think of the word “risk”, I think of opportunity. Do risks scare me? Yes, sometimes. Do I still take them? Yes. My faith in God and the faith I have in my own skills help me settle in those risks a lot easier with a peace of mind. Throughout my working career, I’ve always tried new things. I went from wanting to be a model/actress to a Marketing career to wanting to be a doctor to wanting to be a CPA, etc. I was all over the place! I can honestly say that I’ve tried and invested in all of those things. Those were all risks, but I chose to see those investments as opportunities. I have gained skills in so many areas that it’s extremely hard for me to believe that I cannot be successful. Now that I am a full time real estate agent, I can say truthfully that leaving my 9-5 in commercial real estate was a risk that I was confident in taking. God approved and my skills and experience checked all the boxes. Ever since then, I’ve given myself a raise— financially and mentally. Not only do I take risks in my career, I’m a risk taker in my personal life as well. I think of people as risks. We don’t always know who to trust, but if you have a close relationship with God, He will lead you in the right path if you listen. Taking risks is the only way I learn things. It’s constant, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What should our readers know about your business?
I have been a licensed Realtor® since 2017. I started out at a large brokerage with endless resources and trainings to build a strong foundation of knowledge in real estate. I soaked up as much information as I could while still trying to build up my clientele. I was also working a 9-5 at a car insurance company that soon would lay off 90% of their employees, including me. When they laid me off, it was a surreal feeling. That was the first time I’d ever been let go from a job. From there, I tried real estate full time, but clients were not coming in as I had hoped. So I got another job at a commercial real estate investing company where I assisted with Asset Management, Fund Accounting, and Retail Funding. Now, I am a full-time Real Estate Agent and business is flowing gracefully. The past few years have not been easy. I had to do a lot of self discovery and reflection to figure out where I wanted to be and where I needed to be. It’s been years of networking and planting seeds, and now I am finally reaping the benefits. It’s only the beginning. I am so proud of myself for taking the leap of faith to start my business The Key Turner Real Estate, LLC full time. I truly love my clients. I’m very direct and honest, yet calm and comforting. My down-to-earth, funny, and confident personality mixed with a little “try me if you want to” sets me apart from the rest. I’m a go-getter, and my attention to detail is superb. Call me a perfectionist. I’ll take it! Most importantly, I ensure that my clients are satisfied. I don’t work for a paycheck, I work for my clients. The money will come. If they don’t get what they need, I don’t get paid. It’s a mindset that a lot of agents don’t have. Over the past few years, I’ve learned so many lessons about myself and others. Not only am I selling a product (house), but I am also selling a service (representation, advisement, etc.). Everyone knows the service industry is bananas. You’re going to deal with so many different personalities, goals, and expectations when you’re in the service industry. With that being said, I’ve learned to be extremely flexible within reason. I’ve learned to value my time and the time of others. I’ve learned that every deal isn’t worth the time. Every client is not good business. I’ve learned to have boundaries because the real estate industry can drain you if you let it. I’ve learned to enjoy every moment and to have fun wherever I am in life.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Honestly, I don’t go out as much as I should. If I’m not traveling, I’m usually at home unless invited out somewhere. Lol. A few of my go-to spots in the city include South City Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Atlanta Grill, Sage Woodfire Tavern, Escobar, Ponce City Market, and Westside Provisions to hang out and have food and drinks. Outside of food, I love concerts as well. Depending on who is playing, City Winery is a great place to go for a nice night out. For grab-and-go, you can’t go wrong with Don Sige Taqueria for some authentic tacos. When my friends and I go out, we typically like a nice vibe, good music, and great drinks with even better food.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout my mother, Monica Booker, for her continued support, guidance, and for telling me, “Don’t call anyone your boss. You don’t have one of those.”
I would also like to shoutout my father, Lawrence Turner, for being the bold dreamer he is. He is the reason I try everything that comes to my mind with confidence.
Lastly, I would like to shoutout my mentor and business partner, Janeen Sizemore. She saw the “star” in me, and it’s been up ever since!
Website: https://linktr.ee/TheKeyTurner
Instagram: @thekeyturner
Facebook: Malaysia Turner
Image Credits
Michole Kemp took photos in pink suit.