When Grant Turner was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2019, it threatened to derail both his career and family life.
But through perseverance and a positive mindset, he’s emerged stronger than ever in his role as a commercial property specialist.
“Adversity doesn’t discriminate,” Mr Turner says.
“We all have a plan until we get punched in the face, as Mike Tyson says.”
This philosophy has guided Mr Turner through nearly two decades in real estate, including a significant health battle that tested his resilience but ultimately strengthened his resolve.
Mr Turner’s real estate career began almost 20 years ago when he stepped straight into working with one of the leading Ray White agents in the country.
“I was really fortunate to step straight into working with one of the lead Ray White agents in the country,” he said.
“We worked together selling prestige homes. That was an incredible journey.”
After eight years in residential real estate, Mr Turner’s career took a turn when he joined realestate.com.au, drawn by the digital transformation happening in the industry.
“I was very curious and I wanted to understand at a deep level what was happening there,” he said.
“I always talked about getting behind the big red doors of REA, and I thought I’d be back into the industry 12 months later.”
Instead, his industry knowledge opened door after door, leading to opportunities in Canberra and later in the PropTech space. But his heart remained in sales, where he could control his own destiny.
When considering his return to real estate, Mr Turner initially focused on residential sales until someone suggested commercial real estate.
“I was very focused on getting back into resi, but then someone said to me, ‘What about commercial?’ And I went, ‘No, no, resi.’ And they said, ‘Monday to Friday,’ and I said, ‘Keep talking,'” he laughed.
With two children now approaching 12 years old, family time is Mr Turner’s top priority.
Commercial real estate offered the perfect solution, allowing him to coach his son’s basketball team, attend soccer games, and watch his daughter perform.
“Being a father and family is the number one of my priorities,” Mr Turner said.
“This was a real win-win opportunity.”
Today, Mr Turner specialises in the retail sector, working with national retail brands from Bunnings and Wesfarmers to McDonald’s and KFC.
“Building relationships with them – they need multiple sites, willing to buy or lease – that’s my forte today,” he said.
Facing a life-changing diagnosis
In March 2019, Mr Turner’s life took an unexpected turn when he experienced his first epileptic seizure while preparing for a charity bike ride in Thailand with “Hands Across the Water.”
“I ended up actually having three seizures over that hour, ended up in the hospital, and that pretty much squashed the chances of me going over to Thailand for that particular trip,” he recalled.
The diagnosis, idiopathic generalised epilepsy, meant Mr Turner couldn’t drive for six months, putting pressure on his family and work arrangements.
Just as he was about to regain his license, another seizure reset the clock for 12 months.
A third seizure extended it to three years.
“It was a tough time on me. It was a tough time on the family,” Mr Turner said.
The breakthrough came when his wife found a neurologist specialising in epilepsy at Brisbane Mater Hospital.
“He was just world-class. It was one of the best appointments I’ve ever had,” Mr Turner said.
“He said, ‘Pretty straightforward. If you just took this tablet from day one, you would’ve never been back here again.'”
Coming full circle
Six years after his first seizure, Mr Turner completed the charity bike ride that had been postponed due to his diagnosis – a powerful symbolic moment.
“On the very last day of the event, we were near a beach. I had one of these medical bracelets and I’d worn that for five or six years,” he said.
“When I got to the end of this ride, I took it off and threw it into the ocean.”
For Mr Turner, this represented closing a difficult chapter while acknowledging the ongoing management of his condition.
“I can’t say that I’ll never have another seizure because I’ve got epilepsy and I’ve got to manage that for the rest of my life. But I can say that can be a closed chapter of that particular story,” he said.
Turning challenges into strengths
Mr Turner has transformed his health challenges into positive lifestyle changes, carefully managing his known triggers: lack of sleep, alcohol, and stress.
“I’m just a really big believer in adversity doesn’t discriminate,” he said.
“What has got me through this more than anything is the belief that ‘it’s the best time in history’ to deal with epilepsy. You’ve got so many different types of medication, transport options like Uber, some of the best specialists, and social media where people can share their journey.”
His glass-half-full perspective has been essential to his recovery and continued success in real estate.
“I am definitely the type of person where the glass is half full, but I also don’t see any benefit in staring at a half-empty glass either,” Mr Turner said.
