Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and wellness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sapna Doshi, Director of Mind Body Health, LLC., located in Washington, DC, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I own a private group practice of psychologists and dietitians. We specialize in helping people who are struggling with eating disorders, weight and body image-related concerns, chronic pain/illness, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. We are passionate about providing evidence-based, compassionate care. We stay on top of research and integrate a tailored approach for our clients.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a pretty introverted person who never saw myself as a leader. But I saw how other practices were running and just felt like business owners in health care lacked some heart sometimes. I wanted to create something where empathy, compassion, and caring about people weren't just limited to our clients but to the people we work with who are doing the hard work in caring for clients. It was really a great combination of some core values as it relates to being a psychologist combined with my love for creating systems for staying organized and analyzing the numbers of my business analytics. I get to indulge in the messiness emotions and can seek comfort in the certainty of math and numbers. It's a nice balance.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Truthfully it's been having very little provider turnover within my practice. That tells me my practice is a good place to work, and there's nothing that's more important to me. If people enjoy working at my practice, they're probably providing better care to patients, which is ultimately what matters the most. And I've created a team of people I truly enjoy working with, seeing regularly, and care about. It's a win-win all around.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Work-life balance is always an ongoing challenge. I love my business and could easily invest tons of time into it. That's a good place to be in life. There aren't enough people who can say they truly love their jobs and going to work. However, at times I have to ask myself if I'm spending so much time at work because I'm avoiding other parts of my personal life that need tending to that somehow feels harder to address. It's something I'm always asking myself and challenging myself to be better about.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Create an environment and culture that people will want to be a part of. Turnover is costly. Investing in your people is worth it.
- Create systems to keep your business organized for yourself and for others who work for you. Whether or not people will admit it or like it, everyone does better psychologically in an organization where the procedures and systems are really clear. There is less ambiguity, and there is nothing our minds like better than clarity and knowing what comes next.
- Make sure you take care of yourself in the process. It's easy to lose sight of your own well-being when you're working so hard to make your business successful.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
You don't need to think of yourself as a leader to be a good one. It's not a requirement to actually be a business owner/leader and a good one at that.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.mindbodyva.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mindbodyhealthllc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindbodyhealthllc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mindbodyva
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sapnadoshi/
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.
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