Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Arpita Gupta DePalma, MD, Founder and CEO of Thought Work, MD, located in Henrico, VA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I started Thought Work, MD, in February 2021 after I was fortunate enough to benefit from the power of mindset coaching. There was no way I was going to keep this amazing secret from others. And with the state of healthcare and the struggles my physician colleagues were facing, I knew I wanted to do my part in sharing these gifts with them. Specifically, I wanted to improve the way I was showing up for others in my life- back then, that looked like being angry and reactionary most days. I felt embarrassed after these outbursts but still was not able to hold back when something set me off or activated me, and I wanted to make a change. So, I began to focus on how to control my anger reactions, focused on building my awareness of when and why I would be set off, and then worked towards putting steps in place to help me take back my control. And it wasn't easy. And I still have setbacks that I use as opportunities for growth for myself and to teach my clients. What I recognized was that anger had become comfortable and automatic. Even though I did not like the way I was showing up, I knew how it would play out. And it felt better than feeling the urgency, shame, or disappointment… my most common underlying feelings that I was trying to avoid when I became angry.

No one wants to admit that they show up angry at times. I had one client tell me her voice sounded almost demonic when she yelled at her husband, and it scared her. There is a lot of shame around anger. But, if we don't acknowledge it and allow ourselves to be vulnerable to admit that we want to work on it, there is no room to change. Doing this is uncomfortable, but staying in the comfort of doing what has become automatic (our anger reactions) doesn't allow us to change. I founded Thought Work, MD, to help physicians and professional women learn how to identify, manage, and then let go of what is not serving them through mindset coaching.

I help powerful women learn how to stay ahead of their anger so that they show up calm, collected, and in control, ready to lead and execute with poise. In my group programs, our coaches provide our clients with the unique tools they need to optimize how they show up each day in order to accomplish more while being happier doing so. As the founder and coach, I specialize in helping clients with anger management, time management, perfectionism and self-worth issues, parenting and cultural disparities, business development, and any other area they want to up-level in their lives. As women, we work hard. We juggle multiple hats. We are tired, yet we delay our own self-care and celebrations in the interest of others, ultimately at our own expense. It's time for a change. Let me help you empower yourself… to become exceptional.

Tell us about yourself

When I started our private medical practice in 2011, in addition to working part-time as a pediatrician, I had this belief that everything that I created had to be perfect because it was reflective of me and would impact my/our reputation. That led to me working crazy hours every week, never trust other people's work product, and always believing I was the only one who could get things done the first time properly. I realized gradually, with mindset coaching, that I was creating these false beliefs for myself, and it ultimately led to me becoming more and more inefficient. No matter how hard I worked or how much I tried, I was never satisfied with the results, and nothing was ever good enough. So, I just kept working on trying to make things better because the bar I had set for myself was simply unrealistic. I wasn't allowing myself to see that.

With mindset coaching, I recognized that my worth was not tied to the products and results I was creating and that I was already 100% worthy and valuable just as I was, for being who I was, for mistakes and all. It didn't matter what I was doing for my career; it didn't matter what other people thought about me; it didn't matter how much I had to show for my "success." What mattered was my belief in myself that I was invaluable as I showed up perfectly imperfect, even on the bad days. Crossing off the TO DO list items each day to finally allow for rest, which came only after it was past my bedtime, really was an urgency that I was creating in my own mind. I slowly recognized that I had to let things go. What mattered was me loving myself first, taking care of myself first, and allowing the crappy days to just be crappy without having to fix everything because I am human.

What motivates me to keep doing this effortless work? The ability to help even one person recognize that they are ultimately in control of what they think, how they feel, and what they want to create for themself in their life. Having the gift of practicing the art of healing others in a different way.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

After overseeing and managing a million-dollar company and medical practice, I finally went out on my own and created my own entity that is thriving. I am proud to say I have created my own business all on my own (of course, with the help of my amazing supporters, colleagues, advisors, and friends!)

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Accepting that when things DO NOT go your way, and they often don't, it is not an attack on you personally.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Live intentionally for both the good and bad days. Enjoy the journey along the way. Life will always be 50/50 the entire way, even after you reach your goal. So learn to savor the ride.
  2. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who can be straight up with you, be willing to give you honest and authentic feedback, and always have your back. (Thank you to my Unipegs and Docs Mastermind peeps!)
  3. Be honest and authentic, and know that it is OK to simply say "No" if it's not in alignment with your 'WHY,' without the need for further explanation. You do you.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://thoughtworkmd.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtworkmd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtworkmd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arpitadepalma/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.