Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Turner.
Hi Mary, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve spent 30 years in the corporate healthcare world, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that a business can get sick just like a patient can.
Most people try to fix a struggling practice or a burnt-out team by treating the symptoms—they throw a new policy at it or tweak a spreadsheet and hope for the best. But I’ve sat in those boardrooms and walked those hospital floors long enough to know that bandages don’t fix deep-rooted problems. You have to get to the “root” of the dis-ease.
Business is personal. There’s no separating who you are from what you build.
I’m not a “perfect” coach with a magic wand. I’m a nurse who became an entrepreneur because I saw too many good people—physicians, nurses, and owners—losing their spark. In 2012, I was named Nurse Entrepreneur of the Year, which was a huge honor, but the real “win” for me is the realization that I can’t help anyone else heal until I’ve done the work on myself. I truly believe we only assist others to the measure that we ourselves are whole.
I call myself a “listening specialist” because I’ve learned to hear the things my clients aren’t saying. I’m that accountability partner who’s going to hold your feet to the fire, not to be tough, but because I see the potential in you that you might have forgotten.
Why I’d rather drive than fly
If you want to understand how I work, look at how I travel. Most people want the shortcut—the two-hour flight to get it over with. Not me. I’ll drive across the country every time. I want to see the scenery change. I want to feel the distance, taste the local food, and stumble into those spontaneous moments you can’t plan for.
That’s how I see growth, too. There are no shortcuts to being a better leader or a more fulfilled human. It’s about the subtle shifts along the way.
I’m a lifelong learner. I’m fascinated by metaphysics and the idea that we are all mirrors for one another. If we’ve crossed paths, I don’t think it’s an accident. I think we attract exactly who we need to help us become who we were created to be.
I love to laugh, I love happy people, and despite the 30 years of “heavy” healthcare experience, I still believe life is meant to be good. I’m still growing, still exploring, and I’d love to grow along with you.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
If you look at my credentials—the 30 years in healthcare, the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award, the 11 branches—it’s easy to think I’ve spent my life on a pedestal. But the truth is, I know what the “root” of a problem feels like because I’ve lived through the total collapse of my own world.
I once sat at the helm of the third-largest medical staffing agency in Houston. From the outside, I was the definition of success. From the inside, it was a house of cards that eventually came down. I didn’t just “lose a business.” I lost everything. I found myself homeless, standing on the pavement with my two children, wondering how a “seasoned professional” could end up with nowhere to go.
The Heart of the Matter
When I talk about “business dis-ease,” I’m not being metaphorical. I’ve felt the physical toll of carrying the world on my shoulders. Today, I carry a cardiac monitor implanted in my chest wall because my heart has literally stopped. I’ve had to face the terrifying reality of my own mortality while trying to be the “strong one” for everyone else.
And then there is the challenge that no business degree can prepare you for: watching my son struggle with drug addiction. It is a different kind of heartbreak—one that forces you to look into a mirror every single day and grapple with powerlessness, hope, and the brutal reality of “interconnection.”
Why Challenges are a Gift
You might wonder how I can say “life is meant to be good” while wearing a heart monitor and worrying about my son. It’s because I’ve learned that we don’t truly know what a blessing is until we’ve seen it stripped away.
Homelessness taught me resilience that no boardroom ever could.
A failing heart taught me the value of a single breath and the necessity of “quality time with self.”
My son’s struggle taught me a level of compassion that goes deeper than clinical empathy.
I Am Your Mirror
When I coach a CEO, a nurse, or a business owner now, I don’t see a “client.” I see a human being who is likely fighting a battle they aren’t talking about. I’m not interested in your “symptoms” because I’ve lived through the catastrophic failure of ignoring the “root.”
I’m a “listening specialist” because I’ve had to listen to the silence of a life that was falling apart. I’m an accountability partner because I know that shortcuts are a lie. And I drive those long distances across the country because it’s the only way to truly see the landscape—the beautiful parts and the broken parts alike.
I’m not a “perfect Mary.” I am a woman who has been broken open so that I could finally be filled with enough grace to help you heal. Finding me isn’t an accident—it’s a reminder that no matter how dark the road gets, the light is still there, and the journey is still worth the drive.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I help people avoid the costly mistakes I made. Success leaves clues. My business supports individuals in creating systems that help you win in business and life. I’m not looking at your balance sheet first—I’m looking at your life. After 30 years in this game, I know you can’t separate the two. If you’re struggling, your business is struggling. It’s all connected.
Here is how I support business owners and anyone ready to get real:
Moving from a “Job” to a Business
Most people I meet don’t actually own a business; they own a job they can’t quit. If you have to be there for the doors to open, for the patients to be seen, or for the checks to be signed, you are a prisoner to your own creation. I use the EMyth approach to help you build systems so the business can finally work without you. My goal is to give you your freedom back, not just more work.
Living from the Inside Out
This is where the real transformation happens. I help you see that you aren’t actually experiencing the world—you are experiencing your thoughts about the world. Most of us think our stress comes from our employees, our bank accounts, or our “to-do” lists. But once you understand how your mind actually works, you realize that stress is an inside job. When that clicks, the heavy lifting of life becomes a whole lot lighter.
Removing the Mask
We all wear them—especially in healthcare. We wear the “I’ve got this” mask, the “Expert” mask, and the “Strong One” mask. I know those masks well; I wore them until I lost everything and ended up homeless. I support you by creating a space where you can finally take yours off. Your power doesn’t come from being perfect; it comes from being you.
Finding the Hidden Blessings
Sometimes a business failure or a health scare—like the cardiac monitor in my own chest—is actually a redirection. I help you see the obstacles in front of you not as walls, but as mirrors. They are showing you exactly what needs to be healed or changed. I don’t just help you fix problems; I help you see the blessings that you’ve been too busy or too stressed to notice.
The “No Shortcuts”
I’m a “listening specialist” because I know the long road is the only one worth taking. Just like my long-distance drives across the country, I walk with you through the subtle changes. I don’t give you a “hack” or a “quick fix.” I give you a new way of seeing so that you can navigate your own life with clarity, humor, and a lot of common sense. I was tired of taking 1 step forward and 2 steps backwards. I EMythed my business and now I helps others do the same.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
What You Get When You Sit With Me
If you’re looking for a coach who has it all figured out, keep looking. I’m not her. I’m the woman who built the third-largest staffing agency in Houston and then watched it vanish. I’m the mother who has stood on the street with two kids and no keys to a house. I’m the person whose heart has literally stopped, and the mother who knows the specific, gut-wrenching pain of a son on drugs.
Because of all that, I don’t have time for “salesy” talk or “polished” advice. Here is what I actually bring to the table:
Real Talk & Honesty
I’ve lost enough to know that pretending is a waste of energy. I’m going to tell you the truth, even if it’s uncomfortable. I’m not here to be your cheerleader; I’m here to be your partner. If your business is actually just a high-priced prison you’ve built for yourself, I’m going to say so. We can’t fix what we won’t name.
A Safe, Non-Judgmental Space
There is nothing you can tell me that will shock me or make me judge you. I’ve been to the bottom of the pit—it’s solid ground, but it’s dark. Whether your business is failing or your personal life is a mess, you can bring it here. I know what it’s like to carry a heavy secret while trying to look “successful.” When you’re with me, you can finally put the mask down.
Relatability
I’m a nurse, an entrepreneur, and a survivor. I know the clinical side and the soul side. I’m down-to-earth because I’ve been buried in it. I don’t give you shortcuts because I’ve learned that the “long drive”—the one where you actually see the scenery change—is the only way to actually grow. I’m not talking down to you from a pedestal; I’m walking the path right next to you.
A Catalyst for Change
I don’t just want to help you “do” better; I want you to “see” better. Using the Three Principles, I help you realize that you aren’t a victim of your stress or your circumstances. You are experiencing your own thoughts. When that realization hits, it’s like the lights finally coming on. I don’t change you—I just help you see that the “obstacles” you’ve been fighting are often just shadows.
The Bottom Line
I assist everyone—CEOs, nurses, or students—because we’re all the same. We’re all expressions of something higher, just trying to find our way. I’m here to help you stop being a hostage to your own mind and start seeing the blessings that have been sitting right in front of you the whole time.
I’m not an accident in your life. I’m a redirection. Let’s get to work.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://coachrn.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_coachrn/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.turner.coach
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryturner-nurse-coach/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachrn_mary
