It can be difficult to execute sustainable growth in veterinary medicine when we recognize the stresses and challenges that are present in the profession. While navigating through the world of veterinary medicine, each veterinary professional, leader, and business will have their unique growth to resiliency and fulfillment. With that said, what is growth and why is it so important within veterinary medicine?
Change is constant throughout our lives. Over the past century, vast amounts of technological advancements, change, and growth have shown that sentiment holds true. From being able to traverse the globe on a whim, too booking that travel with our smartphone, we certainly have come a long way from a multi month journey to cross the Atlantic! Veterinary medicine is no stranger to growth over the past 100 years either. From improvements in anesthesia, to digital X-rays, change and growth are ever present in the industry. By nature, we are wired to continually develop, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Therefore, growth within ourselves and our careers has become not only a given but an expectation.
Recognizing there is a required commitment to growth can be extremely difficult. There are times it may feel forced and cause us to adjust in ways we’re not accustomed too. Maybe it causes us to feel like a failure or experience moments where the unknown makes us shrink back for fear of imperfection. Gaining an understanding of the emotional journey around change and growth can help us to truly show up for ourselves, the teams we work with, and the pets and clients that rely on our expertise.
.jpg "Kimberly Pope-Robinson, DVM, CCFP photo")