Sometimes, to become successful and get closer to the person you can be, you don’t need to add more things — you need to give up some of them. There are certain things that are universal, which will make you successful if you give up on them. Source: Thrive Global, August, 2018. Link. If you never try and take great opportunities or allow your dreams to become realities, … [Read more...]
Harvard, 6 things that make people live longer, happier lives
The Study of Adult Development is a rarity in medicine. Quite deliberately it set out to study the lives of the well, not the sick. In so doing it has integrated three cohorts of elderly men and women - all of whom have been studied continuously for six to eight decades. Whether we live to a vigorous old age lies not so much in our stars or our genes as in ourselves. Source: … [Read more...]
Grit: the power of passion and perseverance (includes video)
We know very little about developing grit, says Angela Lee Duckworth. “What if your ability to do well in school and life depends on much more than your ability to learn easily and quickly?” she asked. “IQ was not the only difference between my best and worst students.” In all those different contexts, one characteristic emerged as significant predictor of success: It was … [Read more...]
September at The Bridge Club
Brenda and Catherine recently sought topic feedback from all-access members and past participants. The result is a robust set of topics for upcoming months. Here’s a look at what’s coming. August 30th, Noon MST, VMAE Member Exclusive Event: Momentum Book Club – Part 1. This is a closed event for VMAE Members. For more information, contact Catherine Haskins @ … [Read more...]
Phone addiction; stop the cycle
Phone time affects everything from our memories and attention spans to our creativity, productivity, relationships, stress levels, physical health and sleep, says Catherine Price. We have become like Pavlov’s famous dogs, trained to salivate when they heard the sound of a bell. And when we can’t check our phones, our bodies release stress hormones such as adrenaline and … [Read more...]
4 conversations every overwhelmed working parent should have
Working parents sometimes struggle with the feeling that they are either letting down their family or not meeting their career goals. It can be hard to strike the right balance, write Joseph Grenny and Brittney Maxfield. If you are a parent looking to establish and sustain a healthier balance — for yourself, your children, and even your organization — there are four specific … [Read more...]
Tips for reading the room before a meeting or presentation
Meeting rooms often have feelings or conversations going on that are not fully in the open. Yet, paying attention to the cues can reveal where there is tension, fear or even recalcitrant participation. Rebecca Knight offers these principles to remember that any meeting attendee, presenter or salesperson can use to keep a group headed toward the positives: DO: Consider the … [Read more...]
Rural veterinary shortage continues; food safety a concern
There has been a shortage of large-animal vets in rural areas since 2003. Experts say this is because of a combination of low wages, long hours and fewer new graduates wanting to live outside a major city. Without vets, farmers and the nation's food supply are more vulnerable to disease outbreaks. Source: NPR, June 16, 2018. Link. The death of a cow can set a rancher back … [Read more...]
Is what you do important?
Whether you’re an employer or employee, it is critical that you believe the work you do is important to attain the highest job satisfaction and maintain employee morale and retention. Properly looking at the way we mentor employees and the way we approach our jobs are key to success throughout any organization. Source: Purpose Unlimited, August 13, 2018. Link. The workplace … [Read more...]
Productive things to do when killing time between meetings
Those little spaces of time between “this” and “that” often seem insignificant. Still, with better focus we can use the spaces more productively and save time at the end of our days. Alyse Kalish offers 12 things you can you do in that itty-bitty timeframe that are productive enough to feel like you checked something off your to-do list. Source: the muse, August 3, 2018. … [Read more...]
A text can save your life
We’ve shared posts at AHD about career, financial and personal challenges and the mental anguish they can cause. We’ve also shared information about veterinarian and farmer and rancher suicides. Crisis Text Line is a confidential place anyone can turn to for help simply by texting HOME to 741741. Any stressful situation is accepted. Source: CRISIS TEXT LINE, Link. Text HOME … [Read more...]
The delicate art of being perfectly assertive
Whether you are the boss or the leader of conversations, striking the right balance between being too assertive and not assertive enough is immensely important. One area where self-awareness is particularly hard to gain has to do with one’s level of assertiveness. Source: HBR Ascend. Link. Being flexible and socially sensitive allows for motivating and engaging without being … [Read more...]
How mosquitoes use six needles to suck blood (includes video)
View the video for yourself and then decide how you might use this to help strengthen the heartworm and West Nile virus prevention positioning including the need to stop the mosquito before it seeks a blood meal. Seen up close, the anatomy of a mosquito bite is terrifying. The most dangerous animal in the world uses six needle-like mouthparts to saw into our skin, tap a blood … [Read more...]
Interest grows for The Bridge Club (includes video)
The Bridge Club live and virtual venue platform now has over 800 paid subscribers. Kristen Peck, Zoetis was featured during the first live ICON event during the AVMA 2018 convention. <link to video>.A two-part discussion is scheduled with Kimberly Pope-Robinson beginning on July 31st to discuss the importance of being connected and present in this ever changing … [Read more...]
And you thought role-play was challenging
Live role-play has always been a challenging training exercise in training, at least for those participants who get anxious being watched. Soft skills, regardless of one’s level in society, are key to effectiveness in life. From self confidence to communication skills and emotional intelligence, they all play a significant role in determining a person’s success and happiness. … [Read more...]
Take control of learning at work
There is great demand for employees who demonstrate high levels of “learnability,” the desire and ability to quickly grow and adapt one’s skill set to remain employable throughout their working life, writes Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic. The recent technological revolution turbocharged this demand. As children, we are naturally curious and free to explore the world around us. As … [Read more...]
There are 3 occasions when it is okay to cuss
Cursing. It’s a temptation that’s gotten the better of most us more than once. It is likely none of those utterances fit the straightforward guidelines in this piece. Jenni Latzke takes on salty language and the very few times it is worth considering. Source: High Plains Journal, July 16, 2018. Link. Look, there’s a reason curse words are called “salty language.” It’s … [Read more...]
Antibiotic use is all about animal welfare
Carissa Odland, DVM, is a swine practitioner whose antibiotic comments apply to all species. Her discussion forms a solid position for any animal health pro who engages in an antibiotic-free discussion. There are three reasons why we use antibiotics in veterinary medicine: Treat disease Control disease Prevent disease Source: PORK, July 23, 2018. Link. By … [Read more...]
FDA suggests non-dairy milk isn’t milk
The FDA describes milk as "the lacteal secretion, practically free from colostrum, obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows." That definition doesn't leave room for vegan alternatives to call themselves "milk," though a number of products on the market do. Source: CNN, July 19, 2018. Link. The agency is not commenting on its plans or Gottlieb's observation … [Read more...]
10 things that steal our motivation and how to get it back
At its core, demotivation is about you not being fully committed to act. There are many reasons why you might be in this position. Cath Duncan explains ways to categorize your demotivation that can help you identify the real reasons for your unwillingness to commit to action. With a better understanding ,you can pick the right tools and strategies to get motivated … [Read more...]
6 signs you’re being taken advantage of at work
If going the extra mile is a part of your work ethic, sometimes you can find yourself in a difficult position, says Alyse Kalish. If you’re unsure whether you’re being taken advantage of in your current job, keep an eye out for these six signs: People have stopped asking whether its ok to hand you more work No one ever says thank you You’re spending a majority of … [Read more...]
What veterinary medicine can learn from pet retail (podcast)
Brock Weatherup, CEO ofPetCoach, joins SPARK to discuss the background behind decisions veterinary practices must make about whether or not to carry certain retail products. He also shares his expertise on the kinds of products practices should carry and the ones they should avoid. Source: NAVC Spark. Link. Enabling technologies are disrupting many industries including the … [Read more...]
If you answer YES to these 11 questions, it is time to find a new job
It was refreshing to hear several stories from animal health professionals about their career pathways, decisions and challenges during interactions during AVMA 2018. The career stories highlight was shared by Kristen Peck of Zoetis during The Bridge Club’s first industry ICON live event <link>. To summarize the input from participants, routinely reinventing ourselves is … [Read more...]
Increase your resilience when you’re going through hell
Going through hell is different for each person, but each of us must move through these temporary disruptions. Marissa Levin shares five ways to move through your challenge and rise again stronger. Unless we live in a bubble, no one moves through life without pain. When the world begins to close in around us, what can we do to push through the darkness? Practice … [Read more...]
When your boss isn’t your advocate
Having a great boss (Link) is a potentially life-changing gift. On the other hand, many of us know firsthand that having a bad boss (Link) can cause a lot of drama, headaches, and stress. While it’s easy to love the great bosses and flee the bad ones, there’s one kind of boss that’s much less straightforward to navigate: the boss who doesn’t advocate for you. Source: Harvard … [Read more...]
NAVTA’s Animal Health Bi-Weekly, July 5
Genetic disorder database, heartworm grant, email goofs and canine cancer survivors. These and more are in the July 5 edition. Source: NAVTA Animal Health Bi-Weekly: July 5, 2018. Link. Check out the upcoming NAVTA education sessions and events. <link> … [Read more...]
You’re never done transitioning, so get good at it
We all have transitions, or changes, in life whether we make them ourselves or they’re made for us. Aviah Wittenberg-Cox, author of Seven Steps to Leading a Gender-Balanced Business, says mapping out transitions on a timeline from zero to 100 years will give you an idea of how many transitions you’ll experience. Source: Harvard Business Review, July 5, 2018. Link. Longevity … [Read more...]
How women can succeed by rethinking old habits
Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith discuss self-limiting behaviors that are simply part of being human. Their combined experiences with women in virtually every sector taught them that even women at the highest levels can undermine themselves with specific self-sabotaging or self-limiting behaviors that are different from those that most frequently undermine men. Not all … [Read more...]
Mosquito repellents from DEET to gin and tonic
Protecting animals and humans from mosquito bites is important as the insects can be vectors for multiple diseases. Mosquito repellants can help. Research completed in 2015 and updated in 2017 <link> shows that products containing DEET proved effective and lasted for a relatively long time but there are alternatives too. DEET isn't the only weapon. Products containing … [Read more...]
Listening session about the Veterinary Nurse Initiative, July 10
Join the HSVMA at 5:00 p.m. Pacific time, July 10 as they host Heather Prendergast and Ken Yagi from the National Credential Task Force for an online discussion about NAVTA's Veterinary Nurse Initiative. Attendees will be able to ask questions after the overview. This session is FREE for members and non-members! Also note the request letter we received on July 3, 2018 from … [Read more...]