RESULTS DON'T LIE

Ain't that the truth!!

Whether you are talking about tests, dates, or businesses, it isn't what you feel; it isn't what you think; it isn't what seems obvious; it is the results...
A "C" on a test
No kiss goodnight
Declining profits
There are results.  They are measurable.  They are real.  They are tangible.

If the numbers that are being published are real results.  They don't lie.

The veterinary profession is financially in a no growth phase and that is what the results are saying.

That doesn't mean your practice isn't growing.  It just means that if yours is someone else isn't.

We can sugar coat what we want.
We can feces coat what we want.

The reality is, WHAT ARE YOUR RESULTS?
Are you seeing more clients than you would like to?  Yes or No... No, well, we aren't but....  Either you are or you aren't or you have no clue.
Are you taking home as much money as you would like to?  Yes or No... No,but....  Either you are or you aren't or you have no clue.
Are you doing as many lab profiles as you would like to?  Yes or No... Kinda....  Either you are or you aren't or you have no clue.

Oh, you don't know your results?
Oh, you don't have any goals?
Oh, your version of a thermometer is a damp finger in the air that says, "it feels cooler today".

Come on, get with the program.
Stop with the gut feeling and get some real results to look at.
Stop sniffing the air and measure real results
Stop pretending you have goals and create real goals.

How was last month?  It felt busy...well was it?  how do you know?
Last year really sucked....Really?  How sucky was it?  What were your numbers?

If RESULTS DON'T LIE and your results are great...KEEP UP THE OUTSTANDING WORK and continue to work harder.

IF RESULTS DON'T LIE and your results are bad...how bad are they?  What are you doing to improve them?  Are you marketing or laying off staff?  Are you upselling or closing early?  Are you working smarter or suicidal.

IF RESULTS DON'T LIE and you don't have any measurable results...then you are lying!!

Take a look at 2009--real numbers
Take a look at 2010-- how do they compare

Identify the differences in the results.  Identify solutions and implement.  Don't just stand there...DO SOMETHING!!

If RESULTS DON'T LIE and you are have no results, you have no clue where you are; you have no clue where you are going; and you will have no clue when you get there.

Take a serious look at your practice.  You are either in good shape and moving forward or you are not.

RESULTS DON'T LIE!!

But people do....

Veterinary School

I thought long and hard before I decided what to write on.  It is almost 25 years since I graduated from veterinary school.  During that time the amount of clinical information and technical skills needed to be a world class practitioner has accelerated to 'warp' speed.

I don't know how the veterinary schools can complete in four years the same amount of  "stuff' we learned a quarter century ago in four years.  Maybe the fact that they can't is reflected in the over 40% of veterinary students that go on to Internships and Residencies.  Maybe the fact that they can't is reflected in the fact that most new graduates have never performed a dog neuter on a living dog. Maybe that fact that they can't is reflected in the need for sometimes excessive diagnostic testing done by new graduates versus a great hands on physical exam.  

Whatever it is, I have a nagging question that needs an answer.
Do veterinary schools choose their incoming class to be good veterinary students or good veterinarians?
That being asked, here is my opinion:

With veterinary medicine becoming more and more of an industry based upon communication and relationships as well as great clinical skills, the current admissions process does NOT take into consideration the well rounded individual who can both spay a cat and listen to a client's discussion of their pet's needs.  Veterinary students are great.  They have all of the best intentions.  They have all of the best professors.  They can identify a case of Dengue Fever and Leishmaniasis from a mile away.  But can they manage a staff.  Create a budget.  Understand what marketing is.  I do NOT blame the veterinary students for coming out of school with an "A" in trivial pursuit and a "C" in common sense.  They aren't taught common sense or how to prevent 'foot in mouth' disease.

If the veterinary schools could start to select their students from a more rounded profile--work experience, letters of recommendation, outside interests, prospects to be a great veterinarian, not what is necessary to pass the curriculum.

Once in veterinary school, eliminate grades.  Work on team testing.  Teach how to work collaboratively. Group projects.  Phone a friend stuff.

Help the students leave school eager to work with others rather than going from one competitive frying pan into another.

Create a future veterinary profession that works together solving our professions issues.

What do you think?  Do the veterinary schools help the future of veterinary medicine or hinder it?  What suggestions to you have to strengthen our profession going forward?  If it works, then let's not worry about it...on the other hand....

Looking forward to your thoughts!!

Playing the social media card

It appears that finally the concept of social media has broken through the barriers of our profession and is now becoming commonplace. From blogging, to twitting, to being on Facebook, practices are realizing there is a whole different dimension outside their brick and mortar establishment. The tools social media provide us are tremendous, but they take time and efforts to master and use to the max.

So, have you jumped on this new bandwagon yet?

What got you involved in social media and how are you using it?

Is it paying off for the time investment?

We invite you to share with the rest of our colleagues on an interesting open discussion, well, on a social medium tool.

The New Normal

The New Normal

Up until the economy turned upside down, over three years ago, the veterinary profession had been riding a wave.  Even the most long established practices were seeing double-digit growth on an annual basis.  The number of clients and transactions were constantly growing and the only issues with compliance came from the doctor or staffs as clients were relatively ready to accept the needs as presented by the doctor.

And then…the world, as we knew it, changed.  Over the last three years or so, on average, the number of transactions that we are seeing is declining.  The annual growth has flattened and in some cases there has been a retraction.  Staff, including doctors, has been laid off or contracts not renewed.  And the way we go about business has forced a whole new thought process

Everybody’s asking, “What can we change?”  What should we do?

The answer…GET USED TO IT!!

Projections are for anywhere from seven to ten more years of similar uncertainty. 

There are practices that have thrived (comparatively).  What have they done?

• They have kept very close eye on the budgeted numbers for staff and inventory.
• They have cut back on the non-productive, non-engaged staff, and focused on fewer people who do a better job and are more committed.
• They have minimized their inventory to what is needed on hand and what is turning over.  No more major buy-ins of product.
• They have focused their marketing budget on their existing clientele and reached out and touched them more often and with different modalities
• They have taken on the social media as a way of bonding their clients and relationship building
• They have accepted the new normal and are netting more while grossing less.

Here is the challenge---can you do the above AND continue to do the above after things start to straighten out?  If so, then you have established a new set point, a new homeostasis, a new normal and you will be ready for the future. 

Are you ready for the new normal?  What are you doing to reset your set point?  How are you getting by? What’s your new normal?

Welcome

Welcome to the Veterinary Success Services Community Blog.

This will be a venue to share; to learn; to network; and to create success for yourself and others.

Dr. Steve Kornfeld and Dr. Peter Weinstein will be the facilitators/leaders on your journey to your definition of success.

Join us on this journey