Improving your emotional intelligenceSeptember 12, 2019Emotional intelligence (EI) is about recognizing your own emotions and those of people around you, it is in your hands to develop over your lifetime.
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The superachievers' 10 habits for successSeptember 9, 2019It's not easy to find advice on how to be successful that hasn't been rehashed 6,739 times. Craig Ballantyne, author of the book, The Perfect Day Formula, shares 10 unusual pieces of advice on his website, earlytorise.com. He takes his cue from American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker Jim Rohn, who once said, "Successful people do what unsuccessful people don't want to do." I tend to agree with this statement. Introspection Thoughtful introspection is a way to look at your life and find obstacles that could be holding you back. You can do that with the help of a family member, a friend, a mentor, or a coach. Let them walk you through how they see your life, your vision, and your definition of success. They may be able to pinpoint what is slowing you down or throwing you off course. They also can narrow down your strengths and weaknesses. This could help you recognize areas of your life you need to spend extra time focusing on, or maybe destructive habits that could be interfering with your success. In addition, spend time studying yourself to see if there is anything you'd like to change or improve, such as bad …
Incorporating services that impact your bottom lineAugust 30, 2019The face of veterinary medicine is changing, and it is doing so at the speed of light. We all know how the industry has evolved over the past 20 years.
Should you be a lemming or a contrarian?August 30, 2019Contrarians buy when everybody is selling, and sell when everybody is buying. It takes a serious dose of courage, but it’s most often rewarding.
Avoid a meltdown when Dr. Popular isn't availableAugust 29, 2019A longtime client calls and requests an appointment with Dr. Popular.
Choosing CE wisely to grow your careerAugust 29, 2019It's coming down to the wire. You need a couple more continuing education (CE) credits to meet your credentialing requirements.
Tips to help prep clients and pets for road tripsAugust 28, 2019Family road trips are fun, but making sure a pet is comfortable and safe is a big part of that. With summer winding down, families will be hitting the road to make the most of what's left of the season. To help keep stress levels down for pets and owners alike, advise clients to do a little prep work ahead of time. "Preparing for the journey is just as important as knowing what pet-friendly amenities and accommodations are available at your destination," says Jennifer Freeman, DVM, PetSmart's resident veterinarian and pet care expert. "Be sure to pack plenty of food, water, and a few familiar objects like their bed, blanket, or toys. I also recommend pet parents take their pet to the veterinarian prior to the trip to ensure their pet is up for travel." Here are some travel tips you can offer pet owners: Get a dog safety harness for the car to help keep the pet in place in case of an abrupt stop. Most harnesses clip into the car's seat belt system so they're easy to use Protect car seats with a bench seat cover, allowing the pet to stretch and relax for a comfortable ride while …
Fear Free launches shelter programAugust 27, 2019Rescued animals can now enjoy a less anxious shelter experience thanks to a new Fear Free initiative. The Fear Free Shelter Program is a free computer training course designed to help staff members and volunteers of animal shelters, rescue groups, and other animal welfare organizations to create a Fear Free experience for pets from intake to adoption and beyond. In addition, it provides resources adopters and foster homes can use to promote the emotional well-being of the pets in their care and ease the transition to a new environment. "We created the Fear Free Shelter Program to improve the experiences of animals by educating shelter personnel about the emotional needs of dogs and cats," says VPN columnist Marty Becker, DVM, founder and CEO of Fear Free. "This program will empower them to apply key concepts, strategies, and techniques designed to reduce the negative emotional states that are commonly experienced by shelter animals, including fear, anxiety, stress, and frustration." Brenda Griffin, DVM, MS, DACVIM, is lead author of the Fear Free Shelter Program. She is also co-instructor of courses in shelter medicine and animal behavior at both the University of Florida and the University of Georgia. Three board-certified veterinary behaviorists with …
Need help selling services? It's all about client communicationJuly 24, 2019As independent, small-business practice owners, we are all very aware of the changes in our profession over the last 20 years and the need to search out new services or products allowing us to stay relevant and keep ahead of the competition. It is not just our neighboring clinics that can take a bite out of our profitability. Indeed, we must also keep in mind that in this information-saturated digital world, our clients are exposed to an astounding number of influences regarding pet care, all of which have a profound impact on their buying tendencies, as well as their trust in your offerings.
The tuition-debt crisis: Who is willing to change?July 22, 2019At the end of my career, it is perplexing to look back 60 years—with what passes for the wisdom of old age—to make comparisons with the contemporary scene. To be sure, during my lifetime the veterinary profession achieved major scientific and technological progress, and survived several episodes of political and economic uncertainty. Yet, who can say there may not be worse to come? In my view, the most serious threat to the long-term prosperity of the veterinary profession is the damage now being caused by out-of-control educational costs and student debt. We seem to have lost our moral compass. By the numbers Incurring a moderate amount of educational debt to achieve a professional degree is a worthy investment; however, veterinary education has become prohibitively expensive. According to the 2018-2019 Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges' (AAVMC's) annual report,1 the national median tuition for in-state veterinary students is $31,900 and for out-of-state students it is $52,600. The mean veterinary educational debt is $174,000. With starting salaries averaging in the low $70s, the debt-to-income ratio is approximately 2.4:1 (double the 1.2:1 figure of just a decade ago). One hesitates to invoke the hyperbole of "crisis;" however, student debt is an enormous drag, …
