Transcript Document
Academy of Rural Veterinarians
Western University
August 31, 2007
Dr. John Waddell
Sutton Veterinary Clinic
Sutton, Nebraska
Keys to a Successful Life
(adapted from H.J.Brown,Jr.)
Marry the right person. (this will determine
90% of all future happiness or misery)
Work at something you enjoy and that is
worthy of your time and talents.
Give people more than they expect and do it
cheerfully. (under promise and over deliver)
Become the most positive and enthusiastic
person that you know.
Keys to Success
Be forgiving of yourself and others.
Be generous.
Have a grateful heart.
Persistence, persistence, persistence.
Discipline yourself to save money on even
the most modest salary.
Treat everyone you meet like you want to
be treated.
Keys to Success
Commit yourself to constant improvement.
Commit yourself to quality.
Understand that happiness is not based on
possession, power or prestige, but on
relationships with people you love and
respect. (it’s a state of mind, not a situation)
Take good care of those you love.
Keys to Success
Be loyal.
Be honest.
Be a self-starter.
Be decisive even if it means you’ll be
wrong occasionally.
Be bold and courageous. (you’ll regret those
things you didn’t do more than things you
tried and failed)
Keys to Success
Don’t blame others. (take responsibility for
every area of your life)
Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your
Mom proud!
What’s missing?
Where you live and work.
How much money you make.
What kind of car you drive.
“Happiness is at a state of mind…not a situation!”
Sutton, Nebraska
Population: 1477
Rural vet wisdoms
Disease does not always read the book.
The farther away you park your practice
vehicle and the more fences between you
and your patient is inversely related to how
many things you forget to take with you.
The client who calls after 10 pm will always
tell you that they saw the cow starting to
calve right after lunch.
If she is “down and won’t get up”, make
sure they have a rope, a four wheeler or a
horse available.
The chances of recovery from serious
disease or injury is inversely related to the
clients love of and/or value of the animal.
The value of a horse increases exponentially
when it dies, especially if the animal was
under the care of a vet at the time of death.
Horse owners almost always are related to
or have a close relationship to an attorney.
A sick sheep gets up in the morning looking
for a place to die, cuz it doesn’t need a
reason.
The animal that has absolutely no chance to
survive…will. The converse is also true.
Treatment failures will most likely be
communicated by the loudest client over the
din of the crowd gathered in a public place
such as a café.
In a small town, never say anything
negative about someone, the person you are
talking to is likely related to the person you
are talking about.
If you really love what you do, your
vocation becomes a vacation every day.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
When you hear hoof beats, don’t be lookin’
for zebras.
80% of sick animals will improve no matter
how or whether you treat them.
10% will die no matter what you do.
God decides which ones are in each group.
Happiness is a state of mind…not a
situation.
Never get in a pissin’ match with a skunk, a
lawyer or a banker.
Work hard….
Play hard…