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By Phil Zeltzman, DVM, DACVS, CVJ

I noticed that super-achievers tend to take on too many projects. In addition, projects often remain uncompleted because of analysis paralysis or excessive preparation.

I chose to share the story of the day a volcano ate my new drone as a mic drop to show how preparation is important, but completing tasks is even better.

Don’t hesitate to launch your projects by following the mantra “ready, fire, aim.” 

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.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Phil Zeltzman is a traveling board-certified surgeon in Pennsylvania & New Jersey.

He is a serial entrepreneur with a slight case of Shiny Object Syndrome: in addition to his mobile surgery practice, he co-owns a general practice and several side businesses.

He is an international speaker, consultant, book author, columnist, blogger and a bunch of other fun stuff. He also organizes CE trips in exotic locations for vets and nurses. His next “VIP” trip in 2020 is dedicated to burnout and compassion fatigue.

Dr. Andy Roark and Stephanie Goss discuss the case of a technician leaving after years of working in a practice. The duo talks about feelings of resentment, fairness, and what practice expectations should be.

Like what you hear? Maybe you should be in the Uncharted Veterinary Community! Learn more at www.unchartedvet.com

This week, Andy talks about his heroic experience overcoming a rollerskating accident, and Stephanie thoroughly enjoys mocking him. Then the duo discusses why we struggle so much to ask for help, even when people around us are willing and able to pitch in.

Are you enjoying the Uncharted Podcast? If so, maybe you should be in the Uncharted community. Head over to www.unchartedvet.com and get all the details on how you can be involved in this positive, progressive, and powerful community!

By Tyler Grogan, CVT

I wanted to take an opportunity to say thank you.

Thank you for teaching me what is really important about working with animals. You taught me so much more than you or I may have realized once upon a time in my first days as a kennel assistant.

Thank you for teaching me how to show my compassion. Anyone can walk into a kennel and be nice to the dogs there. Anyone can reach their fingers through the doors unassumingly or take dogs outside on a walk.

A professional knows that kindness to animals isn’t always about doting and baby talk.

A professional knows that some animals would prefer a quiet hello and distance to decide if you’re really a nice person.

Thank you for telling me I was wrong when I was bitten for the first time by that Dachshund.

Thank you for telling me I missed something. Thank you for asking me what he was doing when he bit me. Thank you for teaching me not to reach into kennels and over a dog’s head the way that I had done. Thank you for teaching me that body language is important.

A professional knows that there’s more to body language than wagging tails, and some dogs guard their kennels as their safe place.

Thank you for making the pet’s happiness our number one priority. Thank you for enforcing a routine to ensure every pet had a clean house, fresh water and a comfortable place to sleep.

Thank you for telling me to stop everything and change that dirty bowl of water for a fresh one as I walked through the kennels. Thank you for teaching me that a clean environment is the basis for a healthy one. Thank you for coaxing me to keep throwing the ball for that overactive Golden Retriever, so he would rest easier away from home that night. Thank you for reminding me that the cats weren’t mean and scary, they just would rather be at home than at our hospital.

A professional pays attention to the details and pauses to understand our patients instead of losing our patience.

Thank you for leading by example. Thank you for showing up on Christmas morning with us and caring for all 80+ of our tenants, and thank you for bringing coffee. Thank you for standing up for your team and thank you for being honest when we messed up. Thank you for being a listening ear when we learned the hard lessons of veterinary medicine. Thank you for sitting in the Florida sun with us on the long summer days, and for harassing us to drink water. Thank you for acknowledging a job well done. Thank you for reminding us every day to have fun in our work. Thank you for making safety a priority for all of us.

A professional knows that above all else, safety is what gets the job done.

Thank you for caring about me as a person, not just an employee. Thank you for encouraging me when I wanted to take on my first foster dog. Thank you for being her cheerleader when she went potty outside. Thank you for being my cheerleader when I struggled to lose her to the perfect home. Thank you for teaching me about caring for animals. Thank you for showing kindness in everything you do. Thank you for having a dream and believing in it so strongly that we all felt like we could dream big too.

A professional knows that dreams drive us to be better tomorrow and can be achieved with support from those around us.

Thank you for teaching me. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me. No number of thank yous could suffice for what you’ve done for me. You have made me the veterinary professional I am today.

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.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tyler Grogan is a Certified Veterinary Technician currently working in Los Angeles. She is passionate about our profession and helping support the superheroes in it! Outside of the clinic, Tyler shares her home with two feisty calico cats and her husband. She loves spending time exploring as much of the world as she can, including her new home of California!

By Jade Velasquez, LVT

In my Mic Drop I want to talk a bit about the journey to authenticity. We hear a lot about how authenticity is an asset in the workplace and our lives. I believe that authenticity is something that we may never perfect. It is something that may bring us heartache, questions and make us look at ourselves and the people around us. Being authentic may mean that we make enemies, have to take the hard road, or speak out when all we want to do is run away screaming. Being authentic will find you your tribe. It will help you discover who you are as an individual and what that means to others. Authenticity means being vulnerable. Taking a look in the mirror and being conscious of your actions, behaviors and decisions. Authenticity will make people uncomfortable, including yourself. But on this journey, we have the opportunity to learn about ourselves and others. 

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jade is a licensed technician of 9 years who lives in Port Orchard, Wash. She enjoys emergency and critical cases, dentistry and creating a bond with her clients and team. During her off time she is busy keeping up with her two crazy Basenjis!