Benjamin Hardy shares that when you’re unstoppable, you will make sure to get what you want. Everything you need to know is already within you. All you need to do is trust yourself and act. Source: Thrive Global, August 30, 2017. Those who are unstoppable are in their own world. They don’t compete with anyone but themselves. You never know what they will do — only that you … [Read more...]
Bayer, 4-H promoting STEM education
Science, technology, engineering and math are the focus of a collaboration with Bayer and 4-H. They hope to address the concern that 26 million STEM related jobs go unfulfilled each year. The partnership seeks to engage youth and maintain their interest in STEM skills. Source: Ag Web, September 5, 2017. There are six million students in 4-H. Science Matters will extend the … [Read more...]
Raising adult children
Over the years, I have heard animal health pros talk about raising the young persons in their organizations. They add vigor and vitality to our organizations, but can also be a worry. Although written from a parental perspective, the references in this article can apply to the younger personnel in our organizations. Source: Bottom Line, Inc., September 1, 2017. The secret … [Read more...]
Temple Grandin celebrates her 70th birthday (with her own beer)
World-renowned animal behaviorist, autism activist and author Temple Grandin, PhD, celebrated her 70th birthday last month at Colorado State University where she is a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences. Hundreds of current and former students, industry leaders, university personnel, plus the director of the award-winning 2010 movie, “Temple Grandin,” attended. A … [Read more...]
Everyone should see themselves as a leader (includes podcast)
Pat Malone often writes for AHD about leadership and communication. His assertions that you need not possess a title to lead are part of what is discussed in this podcast and article where Sue Ashford, a professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, breaks down her decades of research on leadership; who achieves it and how a group grants it. Source: … [Read more...]
B2B buying isn’t getting easier
Marketers, this one’s for you! The latest branding research from CEB, now Gartner, and conducted in partnership with Google and Motista, involved a cross-industry study of more than 3,000 B2B customers. It revealed the following findings, which have huge implications for B2B brands. Source: CMO, August 28, 2017. The data shows that personal value has twice as much impact as … [Read more...]
Flying cowboys help save cattle from Harvey
Helicopters and their pilots, long used to round up cattle on sprawling ranches, have been hard at work since Hurricane Harvey hit Southeast Texas August 25. This article features Ryan Ashcraft, a helicopter pilot who has been helping rescue cattle in since the storm let up. Ten percent of the Texas cowherd is in the 54 counties declared disaster areas. Source: New York … [Read more...]
Opinion: Help for aging animal health pros
I offer this article on turning back time and dealing with our perceptions of aging in this industry. I found persons in their 30s eager to engage and discuss our industry at the recent CVC Kansas City. Instead of thinking “been there, done that” I found myself asking questions of these young pros to see how their todays resembled some of my yesterdays. The results were about … [Read more...]
Have smartphones destroyed a generation?
In her new book, “iGen: Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy—and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood—and What That Means for the Rest of Us,” Jean M. Twenge discusses the challenges of the iGen and shares start realizations about how smartphones are affecting a generation of young persons. Source: The Atlantic, September … [Read more...]
Leaders ask the right questions
One skill that every effective leader has mastered is asking the right questions. Obviously, this is very helpful when you need information to make a well-informed decision. It is also helpful to check your assumptions when you think you have all the information before deciding. A simple acronym can insure you ask the right questions. Source: Evan Carmichael, September … [Read more...]
National Beef Quality Audit shows its value (includes video)
NBQA auditing processes have improved over the past 25 years, leading to an increasingly meaningful set of results. The 2016 National Beef Quality Audit observed a decrease in cattle with hide brands, horns and an increase in the frequency of Prime and Choice carcasses. Still, continuous improvement is indicated including how to tell consumers the story of beef’s … [Read more...]
What you wear at the clinic matters
Veterinary teams will appreciate the discussion presented in this article. Consider using this for a team meeting to discuss dress codes and what professional attire means. Source: Vetanswers, August 10, 2017 via NAVTA. At the end of the day, you are a veterinary professional, working with your clients in a well-equipped veterinary practice where you deliver a professional … [Read more...]
Stress leads to bad decisions
Our brains are wired to be more reactionary under stress, according to decision-making research This can mean that stressed persons resort to binary choice-making, limiting the options available to them. Often, says Ron Carucci, we revert to the “it’s just easier to do this myself” by impulse. Source: Harvard Business Review, August 29, 2017. There are no complex challenges … [Read more...]
Why technicians leave—and what you can do about it
Julie Carlson’s overview of veterinary technician work dynamics is important, especially in with the new veterinary nurse direction and how salespersons interface with technicians and office staff. Practice owners and managers need to look at this from a retention management perspective. Sales and marketing persons will find opportunities in the comments on respect, inclusion … [Read more...]
6 steps to effective communication
We’ve included many posts dealing with interpersonal connections recently. So, how can we communicate more effectively in the myriad ways we exchange information? Denise Yosefat offers an acronym CHOICE to represent the six steps to being effective communicators. Source: leadercommunicator™ blog, February 1, 2017. Here are the six steps Yosefat offers: C is for … [Read more...]
Working with bad listeners
It’s a challenge to work with people — peers, junior colleagues, customers, or even bosses — who just don’t listen. Rebecca Knight offers some dos and don’ts in this discussion of distracted and distracting communications. Source: Harvard Business Review, August 24, 2017. Here are some strategies for working with colleagues who never seem to be listening: Consider work … [Read more...]
Pig transformation changing with the times
In a fun and informative retrospective, Pork’s JoAnn Alumbaugh reviews the history of pig confirmation and the societal influences that shape a hog as we know them today. Source: Pork, August 10, 2017. Genetics, diet, marketing trends and once more, consumer tastes, continue to evolve so the composition of modern pigs evolves as well. Pig farmers now consider all of the … [Read more...]
U.S. Court of Appeals puts gray wolf back on endangered list
The debate about whether or not to list or delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species list will likely bring new legislation and further definition to managing endangered species. Still, the recovery of a nearly extinct predator has been a remarkable wildlife management process. Source: Drovers Cattle Network, August 2, 2017. Currently there are Republicans and … [Read more...]
6 reasons salespersons win or lose a sale
Research by Steve Martin dug into sales effectiveness. The project goals were to understand how customers perceive the salespeople they meet with, explore the circumstances that determine which vendor is selected and learn how different company departments and vertical industries make buying decisions. Source: Harvard Business Review, June 23, 2017. Martin shares six key … [Read more...]
Enjoy work more by caring less
For work-obsessed Americans, the thought of caring less about our work is practically heretical. Yet, many of us are working more than ever, enjoying it less and finding less fulfillment from the work we do. So, it might be time for a radical change in our attitude. Source: Quartz, August 9, 2017. There are many ways to train yourself to care less about work. Sure, you … [Read more...]
Richest salespeople share 5 key habits
Whether you sell in a traditional, carry-the-bag mode, a retail setting or a professional services business, there are key habits that most top-earning reps use regardless of industry: They prioritize quality over quantity They only sell to the top If it doesn't make them money, they don't do it They understand the difference between outcomes and to-dos They … [Read more...]
Sales is all about doing
You can apply Jeffrey Gitomer’s perspectives on acting on what you know. In sales, “thought conversion” is critical. Convert the lessons you hear, the things you observe, and the things you know and believe to be true, into positive action. He shares seen keys to convert listening and knowing into doing. Source: Ingram’s Magazine, November 2016. In your personal … [Read more...]
National Relaxation Day; did you know?
Who knew? Sean Moeller founded National Relaxation Day in 1985 as a fourth-grader. In an interview with Valerie Monson in The Des Moines Register, he suggested people shouldn’t do anything of real value. Cleaning and real work are not part of relaxation. This series of articles will give you ideas for relaxing. Source: Bottom Line Insider, August 14, 2017. Here are some … [Read more...]
Effective opening statements help make meetings matter
The number of producer meetings I have attended over the last two decades are innumerable. Unfortunately, most have been a waste of your time and a waste of your company’s money unless your sole objective was to create goodwill. If you have watched the mergers and acquisitions in our industry, you know that goodwill is the value of a business not related to assets or … [Read more...]
How to leave work on time
Jennie Maier shares her scheduling technique that helps manage time proactively. For those not into strict time planning, she also shares some easy-to-do starting steps. Source: The Muse, August 2017. The trick to making this work is sticking to the schedule after you’ve created it. To be honest: There have been plenty of days when I’ve had to change it up. But overall, … [Read more...]
Gain more experience in less time
We all recognize the importance of job and life experience. Yet, for many new leaders, experience can be hard to come by. Naphtali Hoff shares ways to shorten the normal timeline of gaining experience in today’s fast moving employment and leadership environments: Go for training Volunteer Find a mentor/peer group Read/watch leadership experts Reflect and take … [Read more...]
NAVTA bi-weekly topics
As lobbying continues for veterinary technicians to be called veterinary nurses, NAVTA returns to topics for its members in this edition. We found the reference to Should electronic pet records be accessible online? an interesting read and another issue-rich platform to discuss. Source: NAVTA Animal Health Bi-Weekly, August 15, 2017. … [Read more...]
Research examines prejudging clients’ ability to pay
Veterinarians and their team members are renown for “judging the size of a client’s pocketbook.” This skill is often associated as a reason for a lack of compliance to product recommendations as well as routine visits. But, a study recently published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology posits that the face alone might provide clues to someone’s social class, … [Read more...]
Emoji is the new universal language
We definitely live in the digital age. Our lives are interconnected in a virtual world, with people we have often never met. The overwhelming majority of the world’s computer-literate users now use Emoji as a daily necessity. It adds levity, emotional expression and personality. Source: Linked In, August 5, 2017. Emoji is more than just happy or sad faces. It has real … [Read more...]
Blanket training aids in dog comfort
Have blanket, will travel. A blanket can help dogs handle adventures away from home shares, Karen London, PhD. It is a technique used commonly with service dogs that helps them relax. With training, the blanket indicates to the dog where to sit or lie down. Source: The Bark, July 24, 2017. Once a dog has been to multiple places and happily goes to lie down and stay on his … [Read more...]