Shawn Blankenship is a Family Nurse Practitioner and the Medical Director of Holistic, Inc., a medical and counseling practice based in Charleston, West Virginia. A U.S. Navy veteran, Shawn’s journey to medicine wasn’t linear—it was shaped by resilience, hard work, and the drive to serve others. With degrees from St. Mary’s Nursing School, Marshall University, and Chamberlain School of Nursing, he’s now a community-focused clinician, business owner, husband, father, and real estate investor. His philosophy of care is rooted in compassion and real-world insight.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Most days, I start early. I’m up before sunrise. Mornings are for clarity—coffee, quick reading, or a run. I arrive at the clinic around 8:00 a.m. My schedule is a mix of patient visits, team check-ins, and paperwork. I try to see each patient as a human first, diagnosis second. What makes my day productive is being fully present—when I’m with a patient, I’m not thinking about the next one. I also build in white space in my calendar to handle unexpected issues or just reset mentally.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Ideas become real when you give them structure. I write things down constantly—legal pads, phone notes, sticky notes. Then I talk them through with my wife, Julie, or with my staff. If it still makes sense after that, I start slow. Test it. Build. I don’t rush. Good ideas take time, and bad ones fall apart on their own if you give them enough sunlight.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’m excited by the shift toward integrated care. Patients aren’t just physical beings. Mental health, trauma, stress—it’s all connected. More providers are starting to get that. We need models that treat the full person, not just the symptom. That’s why I started Holistic, Inc. The name wasn’t for branding. It’s the truth of what people need.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Staying physically active. Running clears my head. Golf gives me time to think while staying off my phone. Movement helps me reset. When I stop moving, my thoughts get stuck too.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t wait to feel ready. You’re never fully prepared for what matters most. Take the step anyway. You’ll grow into it. Also—don’t compare your path to anyone else’s. You’re not late. You’re right on time for your own life.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I think the healthcare system can be deeply changed by small, quiet leadership. Not every revolution needs a megaphone. Consistency and humility are underrated tools.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Check in with yourself daily. Ask: Am I aligned? Am I being useful? Am I listening enough? Self-reflection keeps you from drifting.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I step outside. Breathe. Look at something that’s not a screen. Sometimes I just walk down a hallway. If I’m still stuck, I call my wife or play with my daughter for five minutes. It’s usually enough to remind me what matters and what doesn’t.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Letting people lead. I don’t try to control everything. I trust my staff. When they feel ownership, the business runs better. That mindset came from the Navy—you succeed as a team, or not at all.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I once hired someone too quickly because I was desperate to fill a gap. It didn’t work out. It hurt the culture. I learned that a rushed hire can cost more than an empty chair. Now I hire slower, and I trust my instincts more.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Create a network of mobile care providers focused on high-stress jobs—first responders, teachers, caregivers. Go to them. Offer check-ins, therapy, nutrition, and fitness in one visit. Prevent burnout before it begins. It’s scalable, and it’s needed.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Notion. I use it for planning clinic workflows, jotting down patient care ideas, managing project notes, and tracking personal goals. It keeps my brain from exploding into twenty directions. It’s like a calm, digital whiteboard.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
“The Obstacle is the Way” by Ryan Holiday. That book reframed how I deal with pressure. Challenges aren’t problems—they’re paths. That Stoic mindset changed how I lead and how I parent.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I rewatched “The Pursuit of Happyness.” It hit differently this time. The grind, the love for your kid, the refusal to give up—I’ve lived parts of that story. It reminded me how far I’ve come and why I keep going.
Key learnings
- Small, consistent action creates a bigger impact than grand gestures.
- Your career doesn’t have to follow a straight line to lead somewhere meaningful.
- Leadership is often about listening and letting others shine.