Your family roots may not predetermine your destiny, but they do influence your adolescent views of the world. Dr. Tarun Agarwal—who owns a Raleigh, North Carolina-based dental practice focused on cosmetic, implant and general dentistry—credits his upbringing in Rockingham, North Carolina, to his present-day success. It was the roots that his family planted there that helped him grow into the intuitive and approachable dentist, husband, father and friend he is today.
Dr. Agarwal’s family migrated from India to the United States when he was just 2 years old. His father was a practicing dentist in their native country, but soon realized he would need to return to dental school in order to practice in their new homeland. As this wasn’t a viable option, his dad invested in a motel, where the family lived the entirety of Dr. Agarwal’s childhood.
The motel provided much more to the Agarwal family than a steady income; it was here that Dr. Agarwal learned the value of hard work, persistence, teamwork, an all-in mentality, and a close-knit family. In fact, as this episode of Pursuing Purpose will reveal, Dr. Agarwal admits that this setting “was paramount” to the success he and his family have realized today.
A present reality many dentists face is the ability to stay relevant. This proves challenging in a profession that is constant evolving thanks to new material advancements, technological solutions and patient demands. But, as Dr. Agarwal shares, his roots provided a life lesson on the importance of embracing change. He explains that Rockingham was once the home of NASCAR, but when the city failed to keep up with demands for improvement, it collapsed. “Seeing this firsthand gives you perspective on how to live your own life; it was a very poignant lesson,” he says.
These life lessons are at the root of Dr. Agarwal’s personal and professional success. Today, he’s at the forefront of innovations in technology, dental procedures and techniques in order to continue his upward growth as a provider of high-quality dentistry. Dr. Agarwal also shares the two questions he believes to be at the heart of a successful, modern-day dental practice. Watch to see all this and more!
