Editor's Letter

• EVT_MayJune_2011_Editor's Letter.pdf (564.3 KB)

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a question we’ve all been asked since childhood and one most of us continue to ponder. Even as adults, many of us have days where we wonder if we’re in the “right job” or the “right profession.”

One of my favorite teachers and mentors, Josh Freedman, shared an expression that has great value as I’ve struggled to align what I do every day with what I believe gives my life purpose. The term he coined is noble goal.1 Your noble goal is your life calling; it’s the thing that drives, motivates, and fulfills you professionally.

Most often, when we feel bored or frustrated in our jobs, it’s because we’re not working in sync with our noble goal. Mine, for example, is simply to “help people grow.” As long as whatever I do provides me with the opportunity to support people’s self-development, I know I’m heading in the right direction. The few times I’ve ventured off this path and attempted to act as an administrator, a marketer, or program manager, I found myself feeling flat and uninspired. I didn’t like going to work each day. Those feelings were my first clue that I’d lost my way.

No one can tell you what your noble goal is—you must find it yourself first, and then locate the tools that will help you bring it to life. This issue provides concrete strategies and information to help you in your pursuit of aligning what you do with what you love to do.

Rebecca Rose’s article, The Sky’s the Limit, provides excellent inspiration for veterinary technicians who want to shape their careers in directions that better fit their life goals. Dr. Beth Spencer illustrates how clarity of expectations and consistent feedback help everyone on a team stay the course in a positive way. Marty Brounstein talks about how to work effectively with your boss, and Dr. Indu Mani shares a case study of a veterinary team who took charge of its own destiny through a shift in focus.

Even when we love our jobs, it’s helpful to learn new techniques to enhance common tasks. This issue’s Communication Toolbox feature by Dr. Jane Shaw and Lisa Hunter helps you rethink how to reinvigorate your client visits from the moment you enter the exam room.

The veterinary field allows us to touch lives, save lives, and make substantial contributions to the well-being of animals and their owners. It stands to reason that we want our jobs to make significant contributions to who we are as people, also. Ensuring this takes conscious effort and focused intent. I hope that the articles that we’ve provided in this issue inspire you to find your own true north!

With Warm Regards,

Kathy Ruby, PhD
Editor in Chief