1. Academy of Rural Veterinarians Western University August 31, 2007 Dr. John Waddell Sutton Veterinary Clinic Sutton, Nebraska

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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)

7. 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!

8. 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!”

9. Sutton, Nebraska Population: 1477

27. 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.

28.  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.

29.  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.

30.  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.

31.  Don't name a pig you plan to eat.  Country fences need to be horse high, pig tight, and bull strong.  Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.  Keep skunks and lawyers at a distance.  Life is simpler when you plow around the stumps.  A bumble bee is faster than a John Deere tractor.

32.  The trouble with a milk cow is she won't stay milked.  Don't skinny dip with snapping turtles.  Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled.  To know how country folks are doing, look at their barns, not their houses.  Never lay an angry hand on a kid or an animal, it just ain't helpful.  Don't corner something meaner than you.

33.  It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.  You can't unsay a cruel thing.  Every path has some puddles.  Don't wrestle with pigs: You'll get all muddy and the pigs will love it.  The best sermons are lived, not preached.  Most of the stuff people worry about never happens.

34. Work hard….

35. Play hard…