We recently connected with Abigail Parker and have shared our conversation below.
Abigail, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
As a freshman in high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. At that age you start to think about college and a career and what you’ll make of yourself one day. Growing up in a small town with about 1,200 people, I thought it would be cool to be a businesswoman. I could picture myself wearing a fancy suit with a skirt and heels and carrying a black briefcase into work every day.
Then I had to get an ultrasound done. I was fascinated with the experience. This machine could see inside my body, and the doctor was able to tell me everything was fine. I knew in that moment I wanted to be in healthcare; I wanted to help people just like that.
I chose a career in MRI and loved every minute of it…until I didn’t. I started to become more interested with overall wellness and taking better care of myself. I learned more about nutrition. I had no idea that the food you eat impacts you so much! I dove into my own nutrition. I thought I would have sugar cravings forever, but I changed my eating habits and quit struggling with them. I used to feel tired all the time and started to have more energy.
All this time I thought healthcare was the place to help people, but I realized I could do more…I decided to go all in on my own nutrition business to help people improve how they’re feeling now, so they can live healthier lives in the long run.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I run an online nutrition coaching business called Nourished Revival. It stands for getting back to simpler times, enjoying the food you choose to eat, and thriving!
I grew up eating anything and everything and only thought of food as calories. When I was 21, my grandpa passed away due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease, and it was something I struggled for years to understand.
A turning point in my life was when I learned that food is more than calories. I found out that the nutrients in the foods we eat actually work to meet the needs of our bodies. I learned more about what ingredients are and found that they are what can keep us going or greatly impact our ability to function, including the potential for our risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. It sparked a passion in me to change my life through nutrition and want to help others do the same.
As a certified nutritionist, I work with clients on an individual basis and help them learn to eat for their needs. I work with people who are looking to age optimally, using a food as medicine approach. My goal is to simplify health and wellness for my clients. It’s not about guessing what foods are good or bad for you but learning to eat in a way that supports how you feel. I like to say thrive, not just survive!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Starting your own business, I’ve learned, is not for the faint of heart. I’ve always been stubborn, and I’ve come to accept that as a positive. Being stubborn to me means not giving up. You hold true to what is most important to you. Above all, you keep moving forward even when things are hard and you could give up.
I’ve also always thought of myself as a shy person, which sounds like the opposite of what you should be to run your own business. However, my job is not to do all the talking. In fact, when I do calls with potential clients, I want to do as little talking as possible. This isn’t about me. Like being stubborn, I’ve come to use my shyness as a helpful tool to allow my clients to take center stage. They get to feel heard and understood because I don’t try to talk over them. Everyone likes to talk about themselves. When you’re having a business conversation, focus on asking questions about the other person. Make them feel that you want to get to know them.
One more quality that you have to have if you want to run a business is caring. You have to care about your clients/customers. We all know that cringy salesman who is just trying to sell something to you because they want your money, so don’t be that person. Always remember the passion behind what you are doing, and showing you care should come naturally.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I love to do partnerships and collaborations! When it comes to the wellness space, there is so much love to go around and be able to provide support for people.
I am able to team up on blog posts, social media posts, podcasts, and more.
I particularly enjoy talking about cravings and low energy, because those are struggles that were personal to me. I also am partial to simplifying creating healthy habits for people!
I have a dream of someday doing a collaboration for a wellness retreat.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nourishedrevival.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nourished.revival1/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nourished-revival/
