Questions: Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business.
Answer: Skylar Hollabaugh Counseling is a mental health private practice which operates virtually. Skylar Hollabaugh, is licensed to see patients in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Washington states. She currently resides in St Augustine, FL.
Questions: Kindly give us a brief description about yourself
Answer: II graduated from the University of South Florida (Go Bulls!) with a Psychology degree and followed up with a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from the University of North Florida (SWOOP!). I give credit to my husband for starting the business, none of this would be possible without the effort he has put in to making my dream come true.
Questions: 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: I believe that it’s always possible to do something a little bit better than I did the day before. Unfortunately, I encountered a different attitude when I was employed by another practice. I felt that my patients deserved a better atmosphere, more continuity in their care, and seen as more than a payday. By starting my own practice, I have been able to meet these expectations without the hassle of jumping through hoops.
Questions: What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Answer: 1) Find something that you love and start there. Just because something is trending and popular for the rest of the planet, doesn’t mean it is something that will maintain your interest long term. You have to be able to put your heart into what you do.
2) Get a mentor. Friends are great, but in a lot of instances we choose to be around likeminded people. Find someone in the field that you wish to pursue and ask them to be your mentor. This individual will challenge your ideals, help you to think outside of the box, provide encouragement, and offer you an “I told you so” from time to time.
3) Be a mentor. Helping others dissect their goals and aspirations can help to put your own into perspective. The best way to learn is to teach.
Questions: What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Answer: 1)Passion 2) Drive 3) Willingness to make mistakes.
My husband lacks focus, but he makes up for that with all three of these categories. I’ve seen the work that he has put into our practice and how he has taught himself so much through trial and error, an unwavering commitment to succeed, and the passion of seeing my dream come true.
Questions: How many hours do you work a day on average?
Answer: On average, 7 hours a day, five days a week. Even when I don’t have a full schedule of patients there are administrative tasks and other things to complete.
Questions: To what do you most attribute your success?
Answer: My personal experience with mental health related issues. Being able to act as a confidant to my patients is something that I wish some of my loved ones had chosen to do. I’m glad I can provide this service for other’s loved ones.
Questions: How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Answer: Word of mouth and insurance referrals. We’ve done some things on social media, but ultimately our partnership with Florida Blue and my husband’s reach in his role at Publix have been the biggest sources of business to date.
Questions: What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Answer: Learn. Never stop learning. Strive to improve yourself or your product every single day.
Questions: Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
Answer: I see myself still doing what I love at Skylar Hollabaugh Counseling, which is providing therapy. While my husband may have bigger ideas for the practice, I’m content with the current state of things.
Questions: Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
Answer: Anyone who works in my field. Therapy isn’t always the easiest job. You definitely need to be able to blow off some steam and find ways to relax. For anyone who has decided to follow the path of private practice, my hat is off to you.
