John Sheridan BVetMed CVPM DMS MRCVS Your practice, your career and your life – is there a problem?

Are these some of the things you are looking for in your life in veterinary practice? a fulfilling career as a clinician a work lifestyle balance which meets your personal and professional objectives a business which delivers a healthy return on investment and generates personal wealth

What happens in your consulting room? the client presents a patient and describes a problem you take a history, make an examination and consider signs and symptoms you suggest a range of diagnostic tests and procedures you reach a diagnosis you recommend an action plan then review the results and make further recommendations if necessary

Maybe the same process could apply when you review your own career, your business and your lifestyle So let’s try and reach a diagnosis The first two questions are subjective and only you can answer the following questions honestly and in total confidence

Question 1 - To what extent do you agree with the following statement – ‘I still thoroughly enjoy my career as a clinician and look forward to going to work every day’ 1.totally disagree 2.tend to disagree somewhat 3.neither agree nor disagree 4.generally agree with some reservations 5.totally agree Now make a note of your personal score !

again it’s subjective and only you can answer the following question honestly and in total confidence Now consider your personal lifestyle and your ‘work – life balance’ - is there a problem?

Question 2: To what extent do you agree with the following statement – ‘I recognise the importance of family, home and leisure and believe that I have got my work – life balance about right most of the time’ 1.totally disagree 2.tend to disagree somewhat 3.neither agree nor disagree 4.generally agree with some reservations 5.totally agree Now make a note of your personal score !

Now we need to address three questions concerning your practice – your veterinary business does it delivers a healthy profit for re-investment in your people, your facilities and your services? does it deliver a healthy return on your investment? and is the value of your investment growing in line with your expectations?

Not so easy to answer because: we need to define what we mean by profit the ‘profit’ identified in your practice accounts (sole trader and partnership) is not appropriate – why? - should really be defined as ‘profit before owners remuneration’

Maybe we need a tool to help answer the question Here’s an example – The International Online Benchmark Service Here’s how it works

Benchmark – how does your practice compare? Most data direct from your annual financial accounts

Practice Report

So now you can ‘score’ the financial performance of your practice. Is it? 1.poor 2.below average 3.average 4.good 5.excellent Now make a note of your personal score !

So now you can give yourself a personal score for: your career as a clinician your personal lifestyle and ‘work-’life’ balance your practice performance

The question is – do you have a problem? No – congratulations – many thanks for your interest and keep up the good work Yes – or maybe ! – then  Seek some help – talk to your advisers in Alpha-Vet  Identify and contact practice management consultants in Hungary  Is there a practice management / veterinary business organisation in Hungary?  Send me an e.mail –

John Sheridan BVetMed CVPM DMS MRCVS Thank you