• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Time for belt-tightening

January 1, 2009
Kerry Hillard Johnson

Cut calories and save money.

Exercising, eating right, and saving money aren't my idea of fun, so I was looking for any reason to postpone starting my 2009 resolutions. When I saw that New Year's Day fell on a Thursday, I had my procrastination justification: Weekends aren't the time to begin work on anything. But no matter how I wished it away, Monday still came.

Fresh out of excuses, I woke up at 6 a.m. on Jan. 5 and dragged myself to the treadmill. After a 30-minute walk, I packed a healthy—and cheap—lunch. I've made a solemn vow to use coupons and buy more vegetables when I head to the grocery store. And I swear that before January ends, I will make a deposit in my Roth IRA.

Advertisement

I'm excited about the results these changes will produce. However, I'm being totally honest when I say that I'm not loving the thought of making the necessary, ongoing personal sacrifices. Life is just more enjoyable when I indulge in ice cream and snatch up that new pair of shoes. Of course, my resolutions are simply smart ways to live. I shouldn't really need to force myself to be healthy—physically or financially. I should count my blessings instead of moaning.

After all, the work I'll need to put in to achieve my goals pales in comparison to the uphill climb some veterinary practices face this year. Many clinics are hurting from the recession. Our cover story, Pull through the tough economy, provides six specific actions you can take to help your practice survive this tough economy. (If your practice is thriving despite these rocky times, you'll still benefit from following the suggestions.)

Implementing the advice will take work. You'll probably smile more when you hang out with the puppy in the back than when you comb through the practice's numbers. But you'll love the outcomes from your efforts. By taking an active role in shoring up the profits, you'll be more satisfied with your job, more secure in your employment, and your practice will be more successful.

Focusing on the challenges at work can be rough, especially at first. I know I'll endure sore muscles as I transition from walking to running. But I also know that after a few months, I'll look forward to my morning run. So while it might be difficult to eye the finances, perspire over every word you say to clients, and painstakingly send reminders, you'll be better off for it in the end. Just remember that belt-tightening doesn't seem like fun until you realize your pants fit better.

Kerry Hillard Johnson, Editor

firstline@advanstar.com

Related Content:

BusinessPractice Finances
Paw Prosper acquires brands and becomes one-stop destination for pet aging
Paw Prosper acquires brands and becomes one-stop destination for pet aging
3 tips for selling your practice
3 tips for selling your practice
AmeriVet Veterinary Partners makes 2023 Inc Southwest Regionals List
AmeriVet Veterinary Partners makes 2023 Inc Southwest Regionals List

Advertisement

Latest News

3 Must-sees for Women's History Month

News wrap-up: This week’s headlines, plus Embrace announces its top Irish pet names

Oldest tortoise at Houston Zoo becomes father to 3 hatchlings

Veterinary tech students awarded national scholarship

View More Latest News
Advertisement