We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Laura Suttin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Laura thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

One of the biggest risks I have taken was starting my own business as a life coach for physicians. I decided to become a coach in 2019; a physician colleague of mine had recently earned her coaching certification. At the time, I was leading several physician engagement and mentoring initiatives in my healthcare organization, and had also participated in personal development work for 5-6 years. I enjoyed the one on one interactions with my colleagues and supporting them through challenging times, as well as cheering on their successes. I also had an MBA which helped with the business aspect of being an entrepreneur. It has been, and still is, a huge learning curve for me, but I love what I do, and I’ve also found camaraderie with other physician entrepreneurs.

Laura, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a family physician and was drawn to coaching approximately 5 years ago. I’ve been lucky enough to work with an executive coach for over 10 years and have truly seen the power of coaching. As a physician, it is so easy for me to become stuck in one mindset – the mindset that I have to be perfect, that I have to sacrifice for everyone else, and that I have to do everything myself and can’t ask for help. I now see, with the help of my coach, that that mindset – which propelled me through my training – will hold me back in other areas of my life (including building a business!).

My passion is supporting other physicians to create the lives they love without guilt. I’ve wrestled myself with so many of the challenges that today’s physicians face, and I’m honored to provide coaching services to physicians so they don’t have to feel alone, and can reclaim the joy that they so desperately deserve in their lives.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

A few of the most impactful books of my life have been more related to personal development and growth. Dr. Brene Brown’s The Gifts of Imperfection was one of the first books I read on my leadership journey. It was profound for me to realize that I don’t have to do everything perfectly, and that I am worthy of goodness, just as I am.

Similarly, Dr. Kristin Neff’s Self Compassion was equally profound. Self compassion is essentially treating ourselves the way we would treat a friend or loved one. I found myself speaking to myself in a very critical and harsh tone – and speaking to my friends and family so kindly and lovingly. I noticed that my judgmental voice was actually hindering my progress; when I started speaking to myself kindly, I was more productive and happier.

Another incredibly impactful book for me is James Clear’s Atomic Habits. He says that our habits and our systems are the foundation of our results, and he lays out very actionable and realistic steps to build positive habits (and reduce negative ones) in our lives.

Each of these books has been a game-changer for me and I’ve probably read each of them 3 times! I often recommend them to the physicians that I coach, and they have been very helpful for them as well.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

I would not be able to be a successful coach if I had not committed to the internal work needed to coach others. I also work with coaches of my own, knowing that (to quote my mentor John Strasser, founder of the Insight Coaching Community) “I can’t take a client deeper than I’ve gone myself.” In order to be fully present and fully show up for my clients, I must be continuously working on my own mindset and my own development. This includes all aspects of my life – physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.

I am a runner and triathlete and find that many of the lessons I’ve learned as an athlete overlap into lessons that help me coach and build a business. Persistence and commitment are necessary for all!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thepurposefulmd.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposefulMD
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/laura-suttin-md
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@thepurposefulmd
• Other: TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@thepurposefulmd