Question: Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Answer: North Florida Medical Center covers all 4 corners of the Jacksonville area. Located on the Northside (edgewood), Arlington (Merrill Rd), Southside (Baymeadows), and Orange Park (Park Ave.). We really believe bringing the care back to healthcare is our goal and work diligently on a daily basis to stay true to that.
Question: Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
Answer: I received back Bachelors Degree in 2010. It took me 9 years to complete a 4 year program as I worked 2-3 jobs while attending classes. I needed to take off semesters sporadically in an effort to stay up to date with rent, bills and life. Earning that degree allowed me to understand the job I had at that time and allowed me to excel into a Vice President position of that company I used to work for. That was a positive and pivotal time in my life where I knew I wanted more. I think that’s where my ambition really came into play.
Question: What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
Answer: My inspiration to start a new business venture, honestly, was just my life. I knew I wanted to do more, for myself, my future family, and our future freedom. I learned a lot about business and sales from my previous job – which gave me the confidence to want to start something on my own. My business partner was in a similar mindset so the puzzle pieces sort of just came together.
Question: What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Answer:
• Bet on yourself – cliche – but you have to.
• 97% of the people that quit are employed by the 3% that didn’t. Decide where you want to be.
• Success doesn’t come from the things we do occasionally. Its not a hobby. Its not a sometimes thing. Success comes from the thing we do consistently.
Question: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Answer:
• Relate. Relate to your peers and employees. Being in a position where I didn’t have much and relied on a lot of understanding from my previous employers allows me to treat my employees with more understanding. Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.
• Embrace Failure as a Stepping Stone: Success in entrepreneurship is often built on a foundation of failures. Each setback is an opportunity to learn, adapt, and come back stronger.
• Stay hungry, stay humble, stay focused after you taste success: The things that worked yesterday may not always work today and tomorrow. Keep yourself focused and continue working to create more.
Question: How many hours do you work a day on average?
Answer: As the business owner, work never stops. I take calls consistently on nights and weekends. But that comes with the territory. But this is my business, its everything to me and I absolutely love. So I don’t even consider it work.
Question: To what do you most attribute your success?
Answer: I would attribute a lot of my success to my wife and daughter. Having people you love giving you the motivation to want to do more and more them has driven me a lot. You can only get so far working for yourself. But when you have loved ones counting on you, it gives you extra fuel.
Question: Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it?
Answer: I had a great corporate job in which I was promoted multiple times. For years I sacrificed many of lifes basic pleasures and didn’t have much of a personal life. I lived very within my means and saved any money I could for the long run. When it came time to start my own business, I took a leap of faith on myself and cashed out every dollar I have. In addition to that, my brother in law joined the start up with me and brough on financial value to the new business.
Question: How did you obtain investors for your venture?
Answer: We did not at all til much later.
Question: What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Answer: There’s no right answer here. Every individual has their own path. I would say I definitely made some really smart moves, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say we got a little lucky with a couple strategic moves along the way.
Question: Where do you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Answer: Hopefully we are bought out by a much larger organization. I’d stay on for a short period of time to transition. But after that, I’d simply like to focus on investing and creating more time with my family.
Question: Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Answer: Coastal Health. I know the owners of this practice. They have built an incredible business across the state.
Question: How important have good employees been to your success?
Answer: On a scale of 1-10, The only answer is 10. We can only be successful due to the work our incredible team consistently puts in. We want to make sure we continue giving them opportunities to grow with us.
Question: How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
Answer: I don’t give up.
Question: What motivates you?
Answer: My own personal upbringing and culture. My family. My fear of losing it all.
Question: What are your ideals?
Answer: Integrity, Compassion, Resilience
Question: How do you generate new ideas?
Answer: I think I’m a product of my ADHD. Constantly living on a chess board. Being open to any new meetings people present in an effort to stay ahead.
Question: How do you define success?
Answer: Most may think this is an ugly answer. But for me its about financial freedom. I have been evicted multiple times, had to count dollars just to buy a simple meal. So for me, its about just being able to simple things in life without having to think about the consequences of it.
Question: How do you build a successful customer base?
Answer: By taking care of my team. At my practice I have almost no focus on patients. If I do a good job of taking care of my team, I know they will do a good job taking care of my patients.
Question: What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
Answer: Watching all your thoughts unfold.
Question: What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Answer: Signing a new deal. Its sweet every time.
Question: What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
Answer: Opportunity
Question: In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Answer: Sacrifice