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by Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS, CVJ, Fear Free Certified and Meredith Jones, DVM Co-Founders of Veterinary Financial Summit

A good friend (and Uncharted member) wanted to write thank you cards to people who came to her wedding. A pandemic later, her to-do list still said: “Send thank you cards.”

For weeks.

How embarrassing.

One day, she had an aha moment. She couldn’t send thank you cards, because she didn’t have thank you cards to write on. “Writing thank you cards” was not a to-do. It was a mini-project, and it encompassed several to-dos:

• Buy (or order) the cards
• Write a draft
• Write on the cards
• Write addresses on the envelopes
• Mail the cards.

She’s not the only one who wrote the wrong goal on a to-do list.

Another friend needed to send a refund to someone. His to-do list said “Refund Mark.”

For weeks.

How embarrassing.

One day, he had an aha moment. He couldn’t send a refund check, because he didn’t have his friend’s mailing address. “Refund Mark” was not a to-do. It was a mini-project that encompassed a couple of to-dos:

• Get Mark’s address
• Send the check (snail mail or electronic).

Productivity goddess April Perry had a similar experience. Her friend needed to order bookshelves to organize some books that had been sitting in boxes.

For weeks.

How embarrassing.

She kept copying, from to-do list to to-do list, “empty boxes.” One day, she had an aha moment. She couldn’t empty the boxes because she didn’t have enough bookshelves, or order bookshelves because she didn’t know how wide they should be. She couldn’t tell how wide they should be because… she didn’t have a tape measure! Yet again, “empty boxes” was not a to-do, it was a project. The 7 steps of the project were:

• Buy measuring tape
• Measure walls
• Decide on dimensions of cabinet
• Order cabinet
• Take cabinet out of box
• Put cabinet together
• Put books on shelves.

Do you think you might have fallen into that trap?

How to Fix To-Do Lists

It’s a common pitfall. We think we have a goal, but it’s the wrong goal. So we copy a task from list to list. For days, weeks, and months. A small to-do suddenly becomes a huge burden. In reality, the to-do is not a to-do. It’s a project or at least a mini-project. The secret is the “Next Action” concept.

David Allen, the best-selling author of Getting Things Done, explains that a Next Action is “The next physical, visible activity that progresses something toward completion.” If you need to send thank you cards, your next action is to buy the cards. If you need to send a refund, your next action is to know where to send it. If you need to put books on shelves you don’t have, your next action is to buy the shelves. If you need to repaint the family room, your next action is to choose the right color (and not to buy the paint!). If you need to “do your taxes,” you need to gather your W2, K1s, 1099s, and countless other fun statements, etc.

Look at your own to-do list and see if defining Next Actions might help you get closer to achieving your goals.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Unchartedvet.com editorial team.

More from Uncharted Community Members Dr. Meredith Jones and Dr. Phil Zeltzman:

Mic Drop: Goal Setting For High Achievers by Dr. Phil Zeltzman

Cone of Shame Podcast: Biggest Questions Veterinarians Have On Student Debt with Dr. Meredith Jones

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Join the Uncharted Veterinary Community

This post from Dr. Andy Roark, founder of the Uncharted Veterinary Community, contained words of encouragement that we all needed to hear.

“Some things cannot be fixed, they can only be carried.”

– Megan Devine

I’ve been thinking a lot about this quote recently. There are so many challenges beyond our control. I think it’s good to remember we shouldn’t expect to conquer all our burdens. Some of our struggles can only be addressed by breathing, accepting, being kind to ourselves, and putting one foot in front of the other.

If you are struggling right now, please take heart that you are not alone.

I hear stress from across the industry as our workforce is spread thin and demand for our services just seems to keep going up. You aren’t doing anything wrong. You’re just in a hard position (and you are not alone).

Remember you can’t please everyone, and you can do more harm than good if you try too hard.

You need to take care of yourself first because no one is more responsible for you than you. Put your own oxygen mask on before assisting others. After that, take care of your team. After that, take care of your clients.

Know that this too shall pass.

You will not be emerging from a pandemic forever. The summer rush will end as it always does. You will sort out the headaches you are facing, and then you’ll get a new set of headaches. The frenzy of corporate consolidation will come to an end, and most groups buying up practices will be gone. Prices and wages will sort themselves out and our businesses will persist. The only thing that won’t change is that people will love their pets and want to take care of them.

I don’t say these things to encourage anyone to “suck it up.” I say them because I don’t think, for most of us, there’s an immediate answer to our struggles. Some problems won’t be solved; they’ll just be endured. All we can do is take care of ourselves and discipline our minds for the required endurance. We can rest, hold on to the good parts of our job, and be proud of all that we accomplish. We can see our jobs as worthy challenges instead of unfair burdens. We can find meaning in laying our hands-on patients, supporting our community, learning and growing daily, giving people a healthy workplace, serving those we lead and setting an example for what it means to be a kind and loving person. We can encourage each other and celebrate our victories. We can try to make the world better than it would be without us.

If there is anything the Uncharted team can do to help support you or make your practice stronger, better or happier, please let us know. Otherwise, we will keep cheering you on, making the workshops we think will help, and celebrating your victories both personal and professional.

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Join the Uncharted Veterinary Community

An Uncharted Membership is $699 or $65/month and lasts for 365 days. After you become a member you have access to all of our webinars, intensive courses and access to purchase your spot at our ground-breaking conferences.