Is it really possible to make a bad veterinary practice work?

Trying to make a badly set-up veterinary practice profitable is a business death-wish.

This will upset many readers and it may even upset you.

What I mean is that if you are focusing on the wrong things, then you’ll just spin your wheels.

In order for a veterinary business to work and to work well you need to get 5 things ‘right’

And you need to get them right in this order;

1. Leadership,
2. Team,
3. Clients,
4. Program, and then
5. Finances.

Team Issues?

If you’ve got ‘team’ issues such poor performers, always having to double check things, people having excess days off, un-motivated staff, etc. then that typically comes down to poor leadership and poor team selection.

Financial Issues?

If you have financial issues such as poor income and/or not putting enough away from retirement, then that typically comes down to poor leadership, poor team selection, not having niched yourself with great clients and then not supplying everything those clients need to look after their pets.

There IS some good news

Look - the good news is that a bad veterinary business structure like those examples above CAN be turned around, but counteracting the effects of remarkable business ineptitude requires immense shifts in thinking, actions, and transactions.

It is a potent problem for the majority of veterinary businesses out there. And, if you fall into that category it puts you at a major disadvantage against masterful strategic market competitors i.e. against someone who has thought this through and simply gotten things right!

This doesn’t mean it’s impossible to transform your strategy and approach, but it DOES lower your success probability....usually by a massive percentage.

You probably think I’m going to hit you with a commercial offer or something at this point, but I’m not!

I always have methods and products available to help practice owners and managers who want to do better, get a better outcome, to achieve the ‘freedom’ that they desire, but that’s not the point of this ‘musing’.

I’m merely underscoring the fact that most veterinary practice owners fall far below basic business competency. 

They are grossly inadequate in gauging what it takes to grow and prosper, without a strong, preeminent position as well as major, or niche, marketplace prominence.

As if that isn't bad enough, most spend the little marketing expenditure they do make unwisely - actually VERY unwisely.

Money isn’t everything, but without both a market and strategic competitive focus or advantage your ‘stuck veterinary business’ really can’t be easily turned around.

What does winning in veterinary business really mean?

In order to ‘win’ in this business you must have a marketing and strategic advantage, period. Winning simply means...

• Freedom;
• Good income; 
• Well paid and self-motivated staff;
• Putting away enough for retirement, etc.

Lack of such is an anchor that keeps pulling you down, and in the end, you lose badly.

Whatever impressions you gain, be excited about transforming your strategic ability and do something with it – become successful – it’s the LEAST that you can do, if you want.

Or... be depressed and continue to wallow in the status quo. You know what they say:

Control your destiny or be controlled!

If you want to take control back, then revisit, and meaningfully study, ALL my previous emails over the last 10 years. The KEYS to your greater success are all there - - or don’t.

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It’s YOUR life. It's YOUR business.  

This is a tough love wake-up call.  Hopefully, you’ll arise from your mental miasma reinvigorated and continue to seriously study, then massively implement, all the wonderful knowledge I’ve freely gifted you.

p.s. I’m reminded of what Marianne Williamson once said on this topic:

 “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. 

We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?'

Actually, who are you not to be?” 

Now is your chance to ask Diederik any questions you may have - just add them to the comments section below.

About Diederik

Dr. Gelderman is a certified NLP Master Practitioner and Trainer. He began coaching veterinary professionals with his Turbo Charge Your Veterinary Practice seminar, in 2004, to a small group of associates. In 2009, the seminars expanding internationally to Hong Kong, NZ, Europe and the US.

Dr. Gelderman has coached and consulted with more than 350 Small to Medium Enterprises in a diverse range of industries. For more information visit 'Turbo Charge Your Practice'.

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