This is only going out to you, the team of Kindred Spirits.

22 years ago I graduated from veterinary school.

5 1/2 years ago I started Kindred Spirits.

I took what I learned, the good and the bad, and opened this practice.  I learned that to truly do good work, you need synergy. Synergy is, simply put, putting 1 and 1 together and getting 3...or 4...

The realities of practice have been more difficult than I thought. I had envisioned that at 5 years I could relax a bit and the clinic would have momentum.  In some ways it does, it other ways not so much.

This year I faced challenges that I didn't expect.  Despite the fact that we are busier than ever, Mary and I had to put alot of our personal money and loaned money into the practice.  I had to go without a paycheck.  Small business owners throughout the country have the same situation. Everywhere we turn there are stories of the economy and how bad it is.

But Kindred Spirits has always grown despite the dire predictions.  I believe that if you do a good job, people will come.  I still think that is true...but I also know there are many details to attend to in order to keep doing a good job.

You all have also put alot of energy into the practice.  Right now, you are putting in hard days, but you are doing a great job. I couldn't have made it through these challenges without each one of you.

Besides you all, I return to my original dream, the basics of Kindred Spirits for direction.  The things I learned from working in 7 other practices are:

You can't have a good team if you have a bad apple

You can't have a good team if one person is a slacker.

You can't have a good team without a good leader with a consistent vision

You can't have a good team if you don't walk your talk.

I've boiled it down to 3 things that you can count on being part of my practice..of OUR practice....

Compassion--Each of you have been chosen because of your compassion to the animals. Remember that compassion to the owners and each other are just as important. 

Compassion is more than just a rock in our garden

--it means if we have a euthanasia, we honor the pet with silence and gentleness. It makes no difference whether the owner is present or not, the pet we treat deserves the compassion

--it means that each of you strive to put yourself in the clients shoes.  Remember in many cases they are simply worried about a pet that they care alot about.

--it means that animals in pain will always have that addressed...always. If I forget, you remind me and I will return the favor.

Pride--I have worked in clinics  I was embarrassed to walk into. The procedures, people and place did not inspire pride.  I will ALWAYS have pride in our practice. But that commitment needs constant work.

--it means that the clinic will always look like it is cared for and immaculate

--it means that if you say " I work at Kindred Spirits" you can say it with pride

--it means we will continue to do work in the community, with our heads held high.

--it means that we all keep up on the newest science of veterinary medicine, that we all act as a resource for the owner, and that we all keep ourselves on the cutting edge. There is no substitute for being up to date to be proud of your work.

--it means that we are neat, professional, and focused at all times.

Respect--I have also worked in places where the degree of respect for the clients or the pets or the team members was embarrassing.  That has never happened here and never will

--it means that I respect you, you respect me, and we respect our clients and patients.

...it means that you respect each other.

At the end of the day, these are the things that are important to me...that is what it takes for me to go home and feel like I've done a good job.

I suspect that the clinic will look different as time goes on. I suspect that the people will be different, both the team and the clientele.

But the Core Principles of Kindred Spirits will never change.  Not as long as I'm here anyway.

Change begins with us. We can't change others, only ourselves.  This is true at work, and this is true in relationships.  Give some thought to what you can change in yourself to optimize your life and your work.

...and let me know how I can facilitate that as your boss. What you need to get to the next level in your life.

We are all human, and we are all going to mess up.  But as long as we keep our eyes on our principles and have each other's backs, we will do work that is good.

Good for us

Good for our clients

Good for our patients

and good for the community.