People in many walks of life have psyche up songs or routines to help them before big moments. Swimmers walk out to the starting blocks...

While in a vet hospital, never, ever say, “Gosh, it’s quiet today.”  This may just be a casual observation uttered as bored small talk, but it’s also a grave sin. You are not just quietly mocking the veterinary gods—you are having a full-on rave in their bedroom on a Tuesday morning. Nothing is more certain to happen next than three heinous emergencies arriving simultaneously, five minutes after the early shift has left the building. Let the shitshow commence. You have no one

Employee engagement isn’t just a corporate buzzword—it’s the foundation of a thriving veterinary practice. Engaged employees don’t just show up; they care. They bring energy, enthusiasm, and a sense of ownership to their work. They solve problems instead of complaining about them, support their colleagues rather than undermine them, and, critically, stay in their jobs rather than burn out and move on. Yet, for all its importance, engagement remains one of the most misundersto

I was doing some mindfulness work this morning, and my thoughts settled on a teammate struggling with the overwhelming chaos that life in...

I’m walking through Charlotte airport to throw a banana skin in the trash when a voice yanks me from my daydream. “Dave Nicol?!”...

Hiring the wrong person can cost you a lot of money. How much you may ask? Well according to the Recruitment and Employment Federation, a poor hire at a middle-management level could end up costing a business over $182,000 ¹ . This is pretty bad, but the true cost might actually be a great deal higher. A poor fit in your team could hamper productivity and morale, especially if they’re in a management position. This can destroy culture, reduce workplace engagement, and negativ

A line from an article I was reading today struck me. The article had nothing to do with veterinary medicine (it was about prehistoric...

We often talk about the enormous costs of veterinary hiring mistakes in the Leaders community. A story from a practice owner recently highlighted just how much of an impact the wrong people can have. The trouble is you often don’t know about it until the problem has been removed. To learn more about veterinary hiring mistakes, read on. Veterinary Hiring Mistakes: A Practice Owners Story The practice owner hired a junior nurse about 12 months ago. The hire seemed nice and was

Set yourself up for success today. That means getting yourself into the best mindset possible to use your brain. You’re going to have a...