Abigail Wilson

I attribute a lot of my success to the partnership I share with my husband, Joe Cox, a Knoxville plumber and co-owner of Friendly Neighborhood Plumber. We hold each other accountable, support one another, and truly work as a team in both business and life.

But a big part of who I am comes from my mom. She showed me what hard work really looks like. She was a single mom, going to school during the day and working at night just to make ends meet. She started out as a nanny for doctors, and over time, through a lot of sacrifice and determination, she worked her way up to becoming a nurse practitioner. Watching her do that made a huge impact on me. She taught me that if you want something bad enough, you can go after it and make it happen.

Those lessons stuck with me, and they continue to shape how I show up both personally and professionally every day.

The best career advice I’ve ever received is to stay consistent and keep showing up, even on the days when it feels hard or unmotivated. I’ve learned that small, steady actions add up over time. You don’t always see the results right away, but dedication and persistence compound, and that’s what truly moves the needle.

Be confident in who you are and what you know. Trust your skills, own your experience, and don’t be afraid to speak up or step into leadership when the opportunity comes. You do not have to have everything figured out to belong in the room. Growth happens by showing up, staying curious, and being willing to learn along the way. Give yourself grace as you build confidence over time, and remember that your perspective matters. When you believe in yourself, it creates space for others to believe in you too.

One of the biggest challenges in our field right now is standing out in a crowded market while still doing really solid work. Customers have more options than ever and expect a lot, which can be tough. But that also creates an opportunity for businesses that are honest, transparent, and willing to educate. Showing up online, sharing real jobs, and letting people see how we work before they ever call has become one of the best ways to grow.

For us, though, growth isn’t about scaling as fast as possible. Our focus has been on building something sustainable. Our word this year is rooted. We are rooted in putting the right systems and organization in place, learning how to lead well, and growing at a pace that actually supports the business long-term. That’s been especially important for me personally, stepping into leadership in a male-dominated industry and learning how to be confident in that role while building something that lasts.

The values that matter most to me, both in work and in my personal life, are service, integrity, and community. I care deeply about helping people and doing things the right way, whether that’s in business, at home, or in everyday interactions.

In our business, those values show up in very real ways. Alongside my husband, Joe Cox, a Knoxville plumber and co-owner of Friendly Neighborhood Plumber, we created our Neighbors Helping Neighbors initiative to provide discounted or free plumbing services to neighbors who truly cannot afford needed repairs. We’ve been in enough homes to know that sometimes plumbing issues come at the worst possible time, and being able to step in and help in those moments means everything to us. Beyond that, one of my goals this year is to have our team volunteer their time on a quarterly basis, not just as a company, but as people who genuinely care about the communities we live and work in.

On a personal level, those same values guide how I show up for my family, friends, and community. I believe consistency, kindness, and showing up when people need you are what build trust and lasting relationships. Whether it’s answering the phone on a tough day, helping someone understand their options, or simply being there when it matters, those small moments add up.

For me, success isn’t just about growth or numbers. It’s about building something that lasts, something people can rely on, and something that makes a positive impact along the way. At the end of the day, if people feel taken care of, heard, and respected, then we’ve done what we set out to do.