An organization at the forefront of microbiome research, The Morris Animal Foundation provides general information about the microbiome in this article. It is good background information for animal health pros. Source: Morris Animal Foundation, May 6, 2020. Link. Scientists are just learning how these organisms interact with each other, how they work together to promote the … [Read more...]
Burnout and what to do about it
Burnout is real. It is difficult to reckon with because it is hard to know where the dividing line is between normal stress and a larger problem. Kat Boogaard shares signs of burnout and ways to deal with it. Burnout tends to be when you just don’t have any good days, and it goes on for a long period of time” - Alice Domar, PhD, director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body … [Read more...]
Controlling others means you’ve lost control
Overfunctioning is a common reaction to distress, writes Kathleen Smith, PhD. Some people call it controlling; therapists call it overfunctioning. She relates how it: keeps people from growing hurts relationships leads to self-neglect An article from Smith was featured in a recent post < link >. Because of the number who read the post, we are sharing this … [Read more...]
50 questions you never ask yourself. Do it anyway.
The next normal we’re experiencing has some questioning if we’re making progress toward our personal and career goals. Whether you question your direction because of the pandemic or for other reasons, now is a good time to assess where you are. Working through these 50 questions will help you focus on what you can control – what’s inside. Source: Inc. December 13, 2017. … [Read more...]
Video conference success tips
You can shine during video conferences, despite common issues. Author and videographer Larry Becker shares proper camera positioning, lighting and angles to help you make solid eye contact with participants. We think we're making eye contact in a video meeting, because we're looking at the faces on our screens and responding accordingly. But the camera isn't on the screen, … [Read more...]
How to keep a remote audience engaged
What works for an in-person meeting won’t necessarily work on Zoom or other platforms, says Tim Calkins. He shares four tips for better remote presentations. They also equally apply to remote meetings. Set the stage Be brief Keep the meeting small Remember the best practices still work Source: HBR Ascend, May 8, 2020. Link. While remote presentations are … [Read more...]
Why video calls mess with your mind
Natasha Hinde shares how video meetings change the way we communicate. There’s a lot going on, psychologically, from the moment we click the button to enter an online hangout. She breaks down why it can be such a mental minefield and shares some tips to make it easier. Consider reviewing this information first for yourself and then from your customers’ perspective. Hinde’s … [Read more...]
McKinsey: Beyond contactless operations: Human-centered customer experience
COMMENTARY Before you roll your eyes at the MBA speak or consider this item to be only for big companies, remember that every business serves people. Whether in B2B, B2C or S2S (stakeholder to stakeholder), servicing people and their priorities are common denominators and always have been. While Covid-19 risks have exacerbated customer service optimization efforts, the … [Read more...]
We won the sprint. Now comes the marathon
Using foot races as hyperbole, Erin Greilick, PhD, describes the last pandemic-influenced weeks. Sharing results from a recent survey of industry supervisors, she exposes success and concerns. The longer we maintain a “sprint” like pace, the faster employees will burn out. . . social distancing only further fans the burnout flame. Our best leaders will remember the sprint we … [Read more...]
Lead with compassion
Life, work and school are all suddenly happening – imperfectly – within the same four walls. We are there for each other, but it is virtual. Zoom screens ensure we are not absent, yet cannot make us fully present. Time warps. One moment feels impossible slow and another is head-jangling in its rate of change. Source: LinkedIn Pulse, May 7, 2020. Link. So, what does good … [Read more...]
Malone: Customers buy BENEFITS
This article is pure Malone. For those who cringe at the topic of selling, please remember that if any of your work activities support the generation of an invoice . . . you do sell! I recall courses Patrick led and the challenge of learning to stay out of my own way. The importance of focusing on benefits to get and keep your customer’s attention is critical to today’s … [Read more...]
We are what we say YES to
Benjamin Hardy, PhD, has a new book, Personality Isn't Permanent. In it he seeks to debunk myths about personality that prevent us from learning and provide bold strategies for personal transformation. We follow Hardy’s blog. This excerpt from his book will intrigue you as we face the next normal. Source: Benjaminhardy.com. Link. Every second of every day, you are saying … [Read more...]
Wake up your car before heading out for the holiday weekend
Animal health pros’ vehicles may have been idle for weeks. After reviewing articles about getting an idle car ready again we found consensus in this one from Tony and Michele Hamer. You may try to escape sheltering in place over the holiday weekend. Take a few minutes to ensure your vehicle is ready, drive safely and enjoy the start of summer. Source: Liveaboutdotcom, August … [Read more...]
Memorial Day is May 25th
Memorial Day, which honors men and women who died while in military service, is Monday. No matter how you celebrate this weekend, we encourage you to take the time to recognize the importance of the day. Learn more about it and get some great recipes in this article. Source: The Old Farmer’s Almanac, May 19, 2020. Link. In 1971, Memorial Day became a national holiday by an … [Read more...]
What’s next from Veterinary Innovation Podcasts
AHD is collaborating with VIP to inform you of upcoming podcasts about animal health industry innovations and strategies. You can find recent podcasts on the VIP website < link >, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts. Here’s a schedule of what’s coming up soon. Source: Veterinary Innovation Podcasts. Link. May 21, 2020. Reducing canine anxiety … [Read more...]
Some of the best advice, boiled down into one-liners
Condensing truths into pithy aphorisms, Jessica Wildfire quips, “Why quote other people, when you can quote yourself?” Three we like are: Emotions are criminals you have to interrogate for the truth. You should have a sense of how you matter to someone besides yourself. Brooding over what you deserve but didn’t get is the most effective and most lethal form of … [Read more...]
FFA: $2 million in 2020 scholarships, 103 sponsors, 1,323 recipients
2020 marks the 36th year for the scholarship program, which began in 1984. Since then, more than $50 million has been awarded in scholarship funds through the National FFA Organization. Congratulations to all the recipients and thank you to supporting sponsors. Source: Rural Marketing News, March 11, 2020. Link. Approximately one in every four students who applied was … [Read more...]
Rescue dog and trainer amaze football crowd
You will enjoy this video from a 2014 halftime performance. Source: Samantha Valle and her amazing dogs, I love dogs. Link. INSIGHTS: How many of you could toss a Frisbee that consistently? … [Read more...]
Coach pet owners about natural diets
Linsey Getz says pet owners require more guidance with natural diets than regular diets. Terminology and ingredients are important factors that increase understanding. Source: Pet Product News, May 2020. Link INSIGHTS: We’ve included this information to add perspective to the ongoing dialogue about pet food diets. Pet food diet choices continue to reflect owners’ focus on … [Read more...]
Pandemic realities forcing some pets back to shelters
Pet shelters and rescue organizations experienced rapid increases in adoptions and fosters since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Now, some shelters are preparing for a large influx of pets as the realities of owners’ jobs and home losses hit hard. It hasn’t happened yet, but Brenda Barnette, general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services, expects more pets will … [Read more...]
If your life was a movie
Ever feel like you’re stuck when you need to make a decision and don’t know what to do? Unfortunately, our emotions often cloud our thinking when faced with the pressure of making a big decision. Source: Purpose Unlimited. Link. To make wise choices and avoid acting on impulse we need to engage in a logical thought process. If your life was a movie how would you write the … [Read more...]
How HR is writing the book on coronavirus
One of the most fascinating things about the pandemic and its global impact is that there is no book written about this situation” – Jason Averbook Averbook discusses three normal personnel processes and explores how they’re changing: Onboarding Performance Governance SOURCE: Human Resource Executive, May 8, 2020. Link. It’s scary when there’s no book. But, at … [Read more...]
Don’t should on yourself (includes podcast)
Uncertainty rules this pandemic period, but the feeling of uncertainty is not unprecedented. People live through all kinds of scary things all the time. Sarah McCammon shares seven tips for dealing with uncertainty she learned from people who've been there. Source: NPR, May 4, 2020. Link Don't fast-forward and run the tape of doom and get sucked into that hole. Don't try to … [Read more...]
Guidance for expanding veterinary care during the pandemic
Ontario inadvertently became a laboratory for implementing telemedicine and adjusted VCPR practices during the pandemic < link >. Scott Weese, DVM, shares the Guide to reopening veterinary medicine in Ontario, as a resource for veterinary teams as they prepare to provide more veterinary services while still minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. We’re going to … [Read more...]
Top posts from Patrick T Malone
Like clockwork, Patrick T Malone provides highly read content on a weekly basis. This week we are sharing his top 5 most read posts since the beginning of 2020. Thank you for contributing Pat! Source: Animal Health Digest, January through April 2020. Become an unforgettable boss, January 21, 2020. Link. A manager’s checklist, February 11, 2020. Link. … [Read more...]
HAPPENING TODAY: Veterinary Innovation Podcast guests to discuss virtual veterinary shows
TODAY, Julie Legred, CVT, and Beckie Mossor, RVT, will join the VIP hosts to discuss upcoming virtual veterinary shows. The podcast is tentatively scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ADT, 3:00 p.m. EDT, 2:00 p.m. CDT, 1:00 p.m. MDT and noon PDT. Check the VIP website to confirm the time at least two hours before current scheduled time. Source: Veterinary Innovation Podcasts, May 13, … [Read more...]
Good heavens, May 14, 2020!
COMMENTARY Prepping this AHD Bulletin, I looked for inspiration to underscore the objectives of curating for the animal health industry. Urgency and the need to adapt are strong points of inspiration now, along with biosecurity. One third of 2020 is gone. Two hundred thirty-two days remain until 2021 begins. For society, much remains in limbo. As an industry, animal … [Read more...]
Tips to avoid malicious apps
With digital use at an all-time high, there are risks to consider with the convenience and fun some apps offer. Anthony Green reminds us that apps can be easy entry points for digital criminals who want to pirate your data and seize control of your accounts and devices. He offers some basic tips to avoid pirating. Never download from a third-party app outside of the App Store … [Read more...]
Goats get foot rot, too
All hoofed animals risk foot rot and related foot scald. The reason for hoof rot in goats is commonly wet, moist ground and damp weather, according to Janet Garman. Two organisms cause foot rot: Fusobacterium necrophorum and Bacteroides nodusus. Fusobacterium necrophorum lives in the soil and is anaerobic. That’s the situation in deep, muddy pastures or stalls. If F. … [Read more...]
Pest buster listing for 2020
With resistance building among parasites that attack livestock and horses <link>, it is important to have a resource to identify options for pest and parasite management. BEEF magazine shared an updated listing for 2020 compiled from company supplied information and websites. Source: BEEF, April 2020. Link. INSIGHTS: This is a good tool for retailers, … [Read more...]