May 12, 2020

#28: The sum of all parts. With Dr. Adam Christman.

#28: The sum of all parts. With Dr. Adam Christman.
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Season 1

Our guest for this episode is a true veterinary virtuoso, so much so that’s it’s hard to pick just one single job title for him. Dr. Adam Christman is a practicing small animal veterinarian in the same practice where he started his veterinary career as a 14 year old kennel hand, as well as at a local animal shelter, but his veterinary journey has taken him on many interesting paths. These include completing an MBA, regular public speaking, a career in media, social media influencer, published author, Disney aficionado, and most recently to his new role as the veterinary director for DVM 360 and the Fetch conferences. We start our conversation with Adam with an important topic that is very close to my heart: Daschunds! 

However, the episode does not peak here as you might expect - we cover a wide range of other topics, like Adam’s secrets for when you’re feeling stuck in your career and how to make sure you have a smooth relationship with one of the most precious resources in practice: your nurses. We talk personality types, the brand that is YOU, maintaining energy levels and much much more. Did we mention the daschunds? 

For the show notes or to check out our guests’ favourite books, podcasts and everything else we talk about in the show, click on the webpage link on the episode page wherever you listen to us, or visit the podcast website at https://thevetvault.com/. If you have a question that you’d like us to answer with the help of our guests, leave us a voice message by going to our episode page on the anchor app (https://anchor.fm) and hitting the record button, via email at thevetvaultpodcast@gmail.com, or just catch up with us on instagram. (https://www.instagram.com/thevetvault/) We’d love to hear from you! If you like what you heard, then please help us to spread the word by subscribing to the podcast (it’s free!), and by telling your friends about us.

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.This is Gerardo Poli.And this sorry I'm Gerardo Pollard.I'm Hubert him struck and this is the vent valve.
Al guest.For today's episode is a Veterinary.Virtuoso so much so it's so hard to pick one single job title for him dr.Adam Christman.He is a practicing smaller veterinarian in the same practice where he started his vet in Korea as a fourteen-year-old.
Cannot hand as well as a veterinarian at a local animal shelter, but his Veterinary Journey has taken him on so many interests.In paths, including completing a MBA.So it's a Masters in Business Administration, public speaking.
A career media, social media influence, a published author, and Disney Aficionado, and most recently, to his new role, as the veterinary director of DVM 360.And the fetch conferences, we start our conversation with Adam with an important topic.
That's very close to my heart donations, but don't worry, the episode is not Peak there as you might expect.Big.We also cover a wide range of other topics like Adam secrets for when you're feeling stuck in your career.How to make sure you have a smooth relationship with one of the most precious resources in your practice, your nurses, we talk personality types.
The brand that is you maintaining energy levels and much, much more, and that I mentioned the Dutchman's, please enjoy one of the most fun episodes we've done so far, dr.Adam Crispin Dr. Adam Crispin welcome to the V12 podcast.
Thank you so much for having me on guys.It's the so great to connect with you and see all the stuff that you up to.Yeah.It's been quite Roi quite a rodeo.The past few months that's for sure with covid going on and new careers and all that stuff.Yeah, absolutely.Now I'm going to start with with something.
I can see it at home.I've got to say if I showed you my sausage.Would you show me yours?Oh my God.
You can't, I didn't even know.I had no idea that talks.And thank God I'm sitting down.I was almost over here.So we had one thing in common is a love of Love of deformed, long dogs.I'm a dr.Holick.I really am.
She's are in my second like up.Okay, Kari goes Chihuahuas cattle, dogs, Dash.He's for biting for me.Yeah, yeah, that's true.I think they're great danes.Are doberman pinschers big personalities to yeah.Thank you dogs, especially the dapples with long hair like so fluffy and soft.
Yes, I have to wire hair as I got to bring them up and show you, but they're so cute.I remember, when I was on my neurology rotation, in med school, and I just got so drawn to them on how, how strong, their will was said, I walk at what they were down and paralyzed and just how sweet they were.
So I remember saying like, one day, our paths are going to cross, our paths are going to cross, and lo and behold.Not one, not two, but four, get up.So you started with one one who it was handed over, who is the owner?Couldn't afford treatment or something.
Yes.So he was a down, dog.Cosmo long-haired dachshund, just like yours and he was too.And the owners couldn't afford a surgery because, you know, like, you know, I vdd is an expensive surgery to take care.I'm awry so they couldn't afford it.So I ended up going and getting the surgery done for him, but it was too little too late.
Because he had deep pain loss of D payment.The van so, but no, I ended up getting a wheelchair for him and, you know, he lived another 12 years, 12 years, I had him Express his bladder, I wrote a book called honey, have you squeeze the Dachshund that's on Amazon, I get this please, but I didn't quite.
I thought you may just like cuddle squeeze, but now, you know, now it's just sweet.So we've squeezed in the bladder, like the football player, hold versus weather holds.Wow, that's I saw the So yeah, it's a New York Times bestseller.
Did you get them?It is sort of judgment ever for having a, a purebred sort of a dog.And then, especially one that has a genetic predisposition to problems as of it.As a vet, you ever fight, I certainly when we got this one, I had to feel my colleagues and people go, we could get that turn to Spec's going to go.
Yes, you should know better as a vet.Did you get it in there, right?You know, I love that.You asked me that because yeah, I get asked that multiple times and one is like, yeah.Do you know what you're signed up for?Basically when you have the long back doors and I said yeah I'm my wallet and credit cards prepared to do so.
But and then when you asked asked about the pure breed dogs.Like you know why why why can't veterinarians get?Nice purebred dogs to we understand the breed standards?We, I researched them heavily like I really know dachshunds and so I go to the creme de La Creme mindful of want the one box and flew in from Belgium.
The other one flew in from Canada.So I got like, you know, I did my Research.The other two, I work at the animal shelter.So the smooth ones, the ones that had back issues, other one this shelter, but regardless it is what it is.You just never know.
It's a crapshoot of whether, you know, their backs are going to go and listen, my house is full of ramps everywhere and I do everything you can, but he's something else.This is rabb's everywhere, that's hilarious.I gotta show you, I'll show you when we're done.You're gonna crack up.It's the funniest thing when they go outside in the backyard, it's like to go down.
All right.Ha ha ha.Did you say?Is there is there a particular ramp that you endorse like yeah I endorse a homemade one.I yeah I just got I built it so and it's built right into my stairs.
So I was going to design a pulley because I have two story house.So like they could walk out of one hit there pawpaw and a lever goes up that did this product there if you can Engineer that and some kind of like, you know, Safeway you know.
Yeah, I know, I could be on to something, they just get their paw and then just walk out due to do.Like I can see the way I can see that might end up going down the rabbit hole.You just having a whole podcast about that?It's a bit like a V8 ever confesses to having a bulldog or French bulldog with something like yeah.
Great.Do you feel like do we have a Responsibility or a role to play there or as veterinarians.The is it our business should be?Should be interfering.Yeah I think it's good that I think it's nice that veterinarians no Bree predispositions.
You know, I always say this.My clients don't look me up on where I went to vet school.My bio, the first thing they look at is the picture of me with my dachshunds and they're like, boom.I'm going to this guy, you know?And it becomes this cult.I like yes, the basset hounds come to me.
The corgis come.To me because they, I understand and get like the low-riding dogs and back dogs and so forth.I work with a veterinarian that has an English bulldog and she is inundated with French bulldogs and English bulldogs.So I mean life is all about, like it's like that working, you know, like networking and relationship building.
And if you get the breed, I would want to go to a veterinarian that really understands the, the docks and breed, you know, or I do a lot of shelter medicine work.So I do a lot of rescues soon, so I get that clientele that comes to me.So I think it is our responsibility.Villager for now all the braids but like, you know, have a little bit of like a specialty in that area, you know?
Hmm.Yeah.Like a special interest, you understand?It's a common ground, right?Yes, absolutely.Like I'm not that familiar with Great Danes and Doberman Pinschers but one of my colleagues has a Doberman Pinscher and is very familiar with the wobblers condition that they can get in their cervical region.
So it's just nice that I can just bounce something off of a friend be like hey, I know you have them more.What do you think?Should we do?Should we go for surgery?We do eventual slot or should we go for the beads and go beat him plans.So there's like it's just nice to have these veterinarians around.It just kind of get the breed a little bit better, you know.
Yeah, yeah.Totally.I use that like and totally.I like, so one of the key things I use in consultations is my affiliation and love of working breeds.So, like especially the pointy ones like Kelpies and Border Collies, it's common ground.
It's like, I've had two of these guys all the way through 2013 and all of us like it.That's, that's The level of connection that I always try to find some kind of common ground with the client in the consult room and it helped it builds trust and cred.Yeah, and not in, not, in an inauthentic way.
I'm never going to say that, hey, look, I have a Great Dane and I know exactly we talking about that's lying, but if you have common ground in there then I think it's worthwhile leveraging.Yeah, I agree completely, and by the way, Australian cattle, dogs are so popular.
Here in the States.Are there really nippy boxes?Holy shit.They just love hurting their owners to bed every night.He died.That's a good question.Are they?Are they are they by T and snappy there as well?I don't what?
What they're known to be is the gifted and talented of the dog breeds, believe it or not, like they know, like their commands.So quickly me while dachshunds like why you wanted me to sit, nah, that ain't happening, but or Australia was like, okay, since they down.What's You want me to do?Where we going.
Who do you need?What do I need?What do I need a bait?You know?Yeah, catalogs.I don't know.Like they're one of their one of the ones where that they're so good.I like I learned so much from watching cattle dogs because they're like ninjas.They like ninja biters.They're just like they don't move in and Bam they'll get you and you're like holy shit.
Where'd that come from?Right, right.Yeah, right.And and and it's the eye I think it's about us, it's the sideways glance the sideways.I it's like whenever a catalog looking It sideways of like, okay, I know what's coming, you just wait this on.Yeah, but very adamant.
Like I've been following you an Instagram for a while and also like on YouTube as well, but like you're involved in so much.You got like a, you go like, what close to 40,000 followers on Instagram.And there's like, almost 9,000 followers on YouTube.And then you're involved in like fetch deep.
Um, like like what, what is, what is, what is your role in?You know, what do you see?Self as I as I like to always say like this, what's amazing about the veterinary career is how well we all evolve and just trying or new passions as we develop into this incredible career.
And I'm more of a turned into a social media personality, essentially, you know, and I love it and different platforms for both parents and four colleagues and the community that in our community.And it just, it literally evolves into that.
You know, I started taking videos of dogs that needed homes when I was in some shelter medicine and it turned into, can you give us some instructional videos on how to clean your dog's ears and how to trim their dog's nails?How to brush my dog's teeth and that turned into the radio station stuff?Which turned into like me doing some national speaking on the retina, so it just kind of like unraveled.
And then I love all these different platforms where I do like the educational video.I feel like you just get a better connection through a video then you can through a written instructions and I That when I was practicing to that you know people are not as good in terms of hearing things in the exam room or even seeing things.
So what I would do is just follow up with a quick little video that I would send to the owners to let me just show you.This is how you're going to pull your dog.You, we under we under assume what week with these parents can do, right?I'll put the put the ear drops in.What do you mean?
Like, what do you mean?And then I will do a video.Let me show you.This is the dog's ear canal.Now, you know, it's going to get all these videos just turned into this content that I just started to create and follow it.Now put these Veterinary students that use guys know I'm Instagram that our gender.
Our next Generations of veterinarians are uncredible that we're coming through, our profession is going to be even 10 times better than where it's at.But um so I connect with all different platforms.So it wasn't a must to play and you didn't have this vision for yourself that.
That's what I want to end up.It was a more of an organic Thing by the End of it.Yeah, it was very organic.It was people telling me that I'm not surrounded by.Yes, people.I'm surrounded by some people like, no, you don't have this or don't do this, you know, whatever.But it ended up being worse.People were saying, you really should have your own show that you have, you know, a good relatability.
And because of my platform, I personality tends to be a little bit bigger than that, in the exam room.So I think that having these kinds of platforms allows me to be happy and passionate at the same time.Mmm.So it's One of the main drivers in terms of like human drives and what makes us happy is actually the drive for creativity and the drive for self-expression.
If you have the ability to have a project which where you can just like have creative expression and creative control it almost just like that's that's what becomes your passion somewhat passion that comes and waxes and wanes, right?But if you're able to find that thing where you are able to have creative control, Right.
Like human thinks that he has creative control over the podcast but you know, but I totally understand what, you know, like where this all goes.So I'm kind of slowly just, you know, knocking him into the direction that I wanted to head in.I have to make him feel like he's I was creative control, right?
But I don't you know that Del playing Hubert but like is this creative control that that's kind of coming out that you like?Yeah I love this is awesome.Absolutely and having the ability A of assuming there's newer position working in Veterinary multimedia and they literally are just saying go for it.
We know what you're capable of doing.We're just going to support you along the way and I said, like I want to have, I think we should have a talk show.I really want to bridge the veterinary students onto the DVM 360 platform.I want to have more virtual webinars there like go for it.
We're going to support you because we know you have what your creativity is there.This is what we got hired for, to be a change agent and to embrace your Yorker.Activity.And that's what I love about it because sometimes I love private practice but sometimes I felt like I was almost in that box of a room, felt a little box in terms of my head space so and you guys can appreciate, you know what I mean.
Like, there's that moment every now and then you just feel like, you know, how many more times can I talk about like anal gland expressions and Cushing's Disease and diabetes.And there's there is so important, don't get me wrong.But for some of us that are creative and wanted to explore different Avenues, I felt like Like this was probably the next chapter that was needed in my career.
Yeah, that that really resonate.So what would you say it is?Well, Gerardo I think probably the majority of its again you because you have to do well academically to get into vet school at generally speaking academic people also have other interests in high school and I think most of us have a creative streak as well.
Majority of its would have done some sort of art or music or and then you hit vehicle bomb and it's just study sections.Study.And that's out the window.Then hit your first job and it's just work, work, work work, sleep, work, sleep, and other part of you almost dies for a couple of years.
Yeah, well, it's a creative expression.Also involves self-mastery, right?Those universities around Mastery.Right?And then you have core Focus for 23 years is Mastery of general practice.Mastery of this, two years.Three years, general practice.
You've mastered 90% of 95% of the things.And it unless you create some other kind of Avenue some kind of side hustle, some kind of like I don't know, Next Level, whatever it may be right you get disillusioned because like beer is there.
Yes he is.Yes that's exactly what it feels like.And it's not to say like there's a difference between that and versus feeling burned out and in I don't think it's like a burnout feeling.It's more like yeah.
Like I think you're going to vet school and your Getting your ass off.You're working so hard to learn the science and medicine, you go in and practice you know your limitations you know.Maybe I can't do a total hip replacement.I know somebody who can.Yeah, no right.So like you know those conversations, you mastered the art of the conversation, the exam room, you know, you set expectations for yourself but then there's a part of you that feels like am I becoming a Stepford veterinarian?
Like I feel like a robotic performance that I'm providing and so yeah, you want to be a little bit more creative like you guys do in a podcast.Like this is amazing where you can express your personality and yourselves a little bit beyond the exam room qubits.Yeah, I gotta edit also to shit into the mix.
If it's very different, it's something there that many really do talk about because everyone's focused on Veterinary school and practicing, whether it be large or small animal surgery.
But I hear this from veterinarians, my veterinarians, they hear this.I'm stuck.I feel like I have nowhere else to go.I'm I think I'm supposed to own a practice, I guess.Is this my next step?You know?No, it's not.That's your formula.It's all the formula to any formula you here?
Yes.Be a vet, be a good vet, bgp.Vet specializes event or my practice is event.It's like only two Pathways, right?Industry is like, unfortunately, like I don't know what it's like in the you and then the us.But if you go into industry, all the sudden you've failed as a vet, you know?
And that is so not true, completely, not true, right?And there's so much knowledge that we have.You just got to think outside the box.Yes, absolutely.There's so many opportunities out there.See what I did there.
That was really bad.It's my opportunity.So we were going down this pathway of your multiple roles and you're a Swiss army knife and but okay, fast give us a rundown.
In fact, you are the chief Veterinary officer.What is that mean?I don't know.It sounded important.So I was like, this sounds good.Yes, honking male changing things up so this is a multimedia company so I have you guys heard of DVM 360.
Have you heard of them?Yeah yeah so so I oversee all their content both in print as well as online and then we have webinars to.So I invite you guys you guys you guys got to do something, we have to do something.It's really good.
Yeah.Something I don't even care.I really don't care.Like we could get Magic Mike performance.I do.Care.But then have you heard of the fetch conferences?I don't know if they're not in, not as probably.But like so there's such conferences around the country in the United States.Yeah, so we are, we over those five, we're putting in a new one that's going to be well, you know, willing covid, but in Indianapolis so.
But yeah, Indianapolis Kansas City Baltimore, Atlantic City, New Jersey and then San Diego California.So and as part of your role organizing that, or do you over Yeah, but the content or what, what's your, but your job.
Let me tell you something.Let me tell you something you want to talk about organizing your brain differently like us.Veterinarians were used to just like going into an exam room.Assessing the problem with your the antibiotics and then the nurses can do the Reps.But me like this is like my life now.
So these are the conferences.So these are people that have like canceled because of covid and they can do certain times and so like I have to shimmy them around different schedules and everything.So, and then you need to have bike race approval.So all your continuing education, you have to have X amount of credits.
So like you need endocrinology and you need internal medicine and then you need to have the technicians and the practice managers to have their credit.So it's all but it's cool.It is like problem solving and plug-and-play to see where everybody needs to go.But uh, it's interesting to see you get to see the best and the worst of veterinarians because they're like, no, it's too early for me.
I still think Practicing clinical practice as well.Adam, I am, yes.I'm the weekends.I'll practice and fill in it.The practice that I was at.I was therefore, since I was 14, I thought practice.And then I also do shelter medicine, work, I know, right?Like so it'll hang on with back to you.
This is your 14.Doing what?Tim's cleaning out, the candles, when I was at.So, my practice was right across the street from my high school.And so after school, look how driven I was back then and, you know, driven now you just take it.Even done a personality test.
I take that.You'd be have.Yes, I know my letters.You know, your letters.Aw, no nice shit.Oh, you should do the Myers-Briggs personality test.Has he ever done that one?It's so complicated.I'm just, I'm just, I'm sure you guys are extroverted, right?
I think you're extroverted.Would you think you're extroverted and humid is just a total lovable want to please everyone kind of dude.Yeah, but I'm not an extra fit.Yeah, you're more introvert, they say, like E 9 percent of veterinarians or introverted like it's very I could I could I could I could put it on and I think visually signs has been really good for that clinical veterinary.
Science is practicing the art of being loved acting like an extrovert or speaking to people and making connections that I just.You just have to learn to do it because you have no choice.But no, I think I think lots of people will feel like me.It wasn't it was very hard work for me Consulting, it's still very hard work for me, I do it really well.
But at the end of the day, I am spent.Emotion.And that's the same for me.Like, I'm a like a driver and my like I do, if I could do some, begin seven words, I'll do it.In other words, rather than 70 words and when I like I realized, you know what, I realized that I couldn't be the person, I really naturally am because it would never work because I worked in libraries as a librarian.
Like I learned a skill there and that was just connecting with people and it took me out of my kind of like Tell me what you want right now.To like, tell me and I'm engaged in listening.It's helped me in consult ever since to let to actually bring something on that is not innate.
My natural personality.And and that's a skill, that's not easy to acquire to do like active listening and to engage, and listen to what their wants and needs are.So yeah, kudos to you guys because that's that's not easy, you actually won an award called what Excellence in bedside manner award.
So, this is this come naturally to you.I think, because I was a technician for many years, and before went to vet school, and while I was going in school, I think, you know, you guys know how it is.Like, I think great veterinarians are great technicians to and so, I think I've always had that compassion.
I always was, I'm very, very emotional with animals too and I connect with pet owners, you know, when they're going and grieving I feel it.I will tear up, I get there.I understand I have this incredible.I guess it's a blessing and a curse of empathy and sympathy because this is where you can wear out at the end of the day when you're doing a 13-hour day and you're having these highs and lows because I feel like I really feel what they're going through and so it's hard just to turn that off and see that new puppy exam.
But but yeah, just the power of empathy and understanding is was always something that I was always taught just to be kind to one another and be respectful and I think that's what makes A successful veterinarian.It's not like how much, you know, it's just the ability to connect and understand.And listen, dude, love it.
My papi.And I've shared this story numerous times, it's when I started an emergency.All I wanted to do was just be a good emergency clinician.So then when I when I then became a partner as like I just want to make the best emergency clinicians, ever want you to do, I need to teach them the shit that they need to know to be awesome emerge collisions.
So we focused purely on just like, Clinical near the skills clinical skills.And then you need to be honest, I saw that after that pass our accelerated emergency program and then come out the other end and just like still not just quite hit it.It's like what is the difference?You know, it's not experience we have vets who have been out one year that are much better able to connect much able to you know, advocate for the pet than a vet who graduated with me, right?
And you know what it is, it's not clinical knowledge.And some people strive for that thinking that clinical knowledge will make them stronger.Better more confident, there's a growth, there's a growth of clinical knowledge with like ability to connect and and performance skills.
That now, it's clear for me, I don't care if anyone thinks that I'm wrong.I'm 100% certain in what I think and that clinical knowledge will only get you so far.You have to invest in your own personal development.You have to invest in you.Yeah.Amen to that.
It's so true.You know, I say that all the time to retrain the brain but like you hire the personality because you can work on the skills that all that time, but it's just, if they have that personality or we have people that get interviewed, like, oh, I hate people.Like I don't want to, I love animals, I hate you.I was like, well, good for you.
That would be, that would be like, it's all Seville.I would love to run a fetch a fetch DVM webinar.It's like the 10 things not to say, no interview.I'll tell you right now.Let's do it.That's what we should do.I'm telling you because that's what people want to know more.I mean, listen, we can Google and look up how the glomerulus and the nephron friggin work, like that shit.
Okay, fine.But it's this stuff discovered, this is what people really want to learn and know and develop because it's everybody wants to feel like they're a very VIP, a very important important parent or patient.Mmm, totally totally.
And, and I am Almost to be honest, going to, the like, I'm always being sold on their, their performance skills are somewhat almost more important than clinical skills.
Okay?And that's in that, and that is a controversial, kind of thing.But I've seen it time and time again over dozens and dozens of vets, that ability to connect ability to relate ability to manage your own time, ability to self care.
That is going to take you so much further and longer and further than your clinical, know how you can read a textbook.You can call someone up for advice, but if you can connect with the client and then communicate in a way that they trust and engage with you that you're going to be so much better than someone who's like you know what?
I know what I know because I'm a doctor and so you spent years working as a tick so that's equivalent to our nurse position there could you You learn special skills.There are to relate to your, to, your text, or work with them, and get the most out of them.
I remember at one of our very first episodes, Our Guest actually said we are.So, what's the one thing that she would tell other vets heard?One thing was be nice to your nurses.Have you, have you got any tips or tricks or advice for young vets as to, how to how to relate to your pure takes our universe is better?
Yeah, the best thing is to listen to them and utilize them to their greatest potential.Because you both will succeed in and out of the exam room.And I've seen this over and over again where I've had new graduates that have not utilized or technicians.
And therefore, the technicians, that felt that they were not valued, not important, not part of the treatment plan or the process.And so they would screw you and blackballed, you know, because the like you're not going to let me set catheters or like go.It is started fractions screw you because I work with the other Doctor Who allow me to do that.
So I've learned more, I say this to all my new graduates, I have learned more.When I came out about school, I learned more from my vet text than I did from that school because right, they show you the practicality of like this is how you do like your blood gases.
That let me show because you're afraid to ask.Maybe in vet school.I'm like wait, is it the red top or purple?Top tube that I use.I still want that question.It's like it's like what?Is the difference between purple and green?And what am I like?How do I do anaerobic transfer?
Like what how do I take it out into a plain white top tube?Like, what's a citrate Blue tonight.I'm always embarrassed to admit this if I get a new vid and ask me about using any equipment in the hospital and I mean, pretty much pretty much anything other than the ultrasound machine, like, I don't know, it's just kind of this, it's my time, it's my business but I can't tell you anything ways.
Ask me, how do you, how do you troubleshoot this machine?Like, mmm, it's a good question.That's a good question.Now, what I'd, you know, what the value that I have the value is, I will connect you to the right person.That's right.
That's what I say.I'm your Oprah Winfrey for networking visit.This is a tricky Dynamic that I often see and I think it's more with female vets, young female vets, and they come into practice.And they have to work with nurses.
Have been there 10 years, who know their staff, they can offer be a little bit of head-butting.And a little bit of trying to establish them.As I think I can forget the impression that the Vets are trying to establish themselves as an authority which they are, they do need to become the team leader within the butt heads with the senior nurses.
Like no, you're gonna have to prove yourself to me the AV know.You never see that?No, I've seen that but I think that's totally okay.I'm Asking out of the question.And I will show, no, I think it's absolutely spot-on with what you're talking about because it's, it could be a Mean Girls Club.
It could be mean girls these practices to they these veterinarians.Like you said, they come out.They try to flaunt their feathers and show off like, okay on the doctor, I know what I'm doing, but if they can turn on a dental machine or from an extra machine and you have a girl that's been a licensed technician for 20 years, she's going to be putting that girl right in her place and be like, you know what?
You don't know what the hell you're doing and so I don't care how many initial you have after your last name or credentials.Like if you can turn on the friggin x-ray machine, I have no respect for you.So yeah, there's like a little bit of that powwow or power trip.I think that's, that's present.I do find, it does not to be sex.
As I do, find it harder for the women than the men to to prove their worth, for some reason, for whatever reason, it is, it's the act of difference.The act of deference, you know?Like like what do you have to prove?
You know, like how about you defer to what they have to say?Hey how do you think I should manage this?I think you should manage this way.That's really cool.Actually, I'll try that.Yeah, the year.Yeah.There's no, there's no.How would you say lack of value?
There's only value in asking someone what they think first because then you might learn something right to Give yourself it's like, oh, actually it's a really good idea.But I was, you know, actually, what am I try, is this and see how this goes.You can always change.
You can always change your way but like if you are a new grad going into a practice, then don't go in there with your like, hey, this is my textbook.This is my professor said and this is how the best thing is, you know, it's like hey I'm like, what do you think?
I'd like this is my situation.This is what I'm thinking because based on this but what are you thinking?You know, like difference.I think it's It's a proper rule of just building trust and Rapport, even if you even if you do know the answer still ask, yeah.
Because it shows them that you prospective their opinion and learns.There's a fear of change that happens in a veterinary hospital.But the support staff, when they have a new doctor that comes on, that would say, like well, this is how I like to do.Whatever my euthanasia is, let's just say I have a protocol that I like, and they will say, well, now that's not how we do it here, and that's not okay, that's not okay to say something like that.
At its collaboration to understand you might want to try it this way.You know, we find that it works this way versus your rent but yeah, be more than happy to try it that way.You just have to have that ability to adapt with change that happens and you know that I see that happen because I've gone into multiple practices like you guys and I see the, how the cultures are different, and some of the cultures that are toxic, are the ones that failed with them.
Owen done respect.The knowledge and the experience that the rest of the team has and what they can bring to the team.And like it was one of the biggest things was, my biggest burdens was being or having to know everything and and having to be the Pinnacle of the knowledge within the practice, being the director or being the person who created the clinical training programs, and then feeling threatened by someone coming and saying, actually, you know, they've changed that now, they don't do that anymore.
Or and it's like, wow.You're you're you're you know like you what are you who are you to say that to me, right?And then like I realized that there was such a burden and I was so closed off that it was like this doesn't help.Anyone doesn't help me doesn't help them.
Why wouldn't we all want to just improve and collaborate?And when I let that go, it was the biggest Freedom that I've ever experienced and allowing people to contribute to you was just Bush.I don't know.I love this.
The what we were talking about this earlier to about, you know, the new graduates mentality.You know, what are some of the things that I was on Instagram live with a vet student and she said to me, you know, what, some things that you would give me advice on when I come out of med school and I said, don't be afraid that you're not going to know everything you're not going to know everything so and that's cool.
That's awesome.You mean and no one knows everything.I still don't know everything, something called continuing education, but being able to utilize your team and learn from them is most important.So, Stay humble, stay true to yourself and you know, build your brand.You can build your brand within the practice, but but you're not going to know everything.
Oh, I love this.Okay.Hubert Hubert was going to talk about your childhood.You total memories might but also know.Yeah, that should and why you're drinking right now, like Gaviscon.Okay, so protein powder is that part of him, it must lie.
Secret, right?They gave one to two grams.As per kilo per day.But but do you talk about brand?Like and okay, this is something that really clicked with me with me.If you are, I believe that if you are in a primary practice, you have to consider yourself more than just a veterinarian.
You should consider yourself as a business, or you should consider yourself as I don't know, Professional Service, or as you said it as a brand, right?Once you view yourself, that way, it shifts, how can I make my brand better?
What do I need to do to level up to provide a better service?How can I then you know like make my customers and my clients feel like as if when they experience my brand the brand is better.And and and they have an exceptional 9 out of 10 experience like rather than being threatened by feedback by - complaints or whatever it may be.
It's almost like hey if I wanted to make my brand the best, I would Embrace feedback.Yeah, that is impressive.I tell everybody to, like, some practices that work for a corporation, becomes a lot and Consolidated firm.
They feel like they can't build their brand.I said, yes you can.You can build your own individual brand within a practice to people.Come people come to me because I'm the Dachshund guy, you know?And that's that's my thing.I do these social media videos of how to, like, trim your dog's nails and people love that stuff.
There's another veterinarian and she does stuff on ultrasounds and they To see what she's doing with that whole content.So yeah it's just about like you know, the brand just building your brand and understanding each other.I love you saying.Yeah.
Like it people come to people right?Right people come to people.They trust.They don't come to a brand.I don't know.Don't come to a Whatever kind of like blue pill brand, you know, you know, like that will come to the person, they trust to know, so that people need to appreciate that they're more than just like a person and they're more than just the bet they are like, they are professional, they are professional.
I don't know as the saying, it's your go to consider yourself a brand and what kind of brand you want to display?What do you stand for?And so for how do you want interact when your when your clients want to feel after long experience with you?Like know what these things are because then that will change the way that you will interact in the way that you communicate and what you have and how you react.
So, I reviewed.Are you still involved with the the shelter medicine that you do that today, as you do unknown on weekends?If you save you working.Yeah, it's a local dog shelter or what's the scenario as a setup where you were.
So it's locals called Animal Welfare Association, and it's a high-volume Spay/Neuter Clinic / vaccine clinic, and / wellness.And it's interesting because it annoys me and I love it, I love it.The sense that, you know, you're doing like good, Could, you know, shelter medicine work, but then you get these pet owners.
I don't know if you have these that by you but there's vaccine clinics.So like low-cost vaccine clinics.So they come in this is before covid.So like it would just be like a cattle of people.Like we would do like 150 200 animals, you know in a day of just like Backson, Aryan just poking, poking, poking you know, but people would complain about the wait time and I actually spoke up and said something right now mind you the like 20 bucks, No vaccine or something.
Yeah, but they're finding that they're waiting.I said the amount of time that you just waited for your designer breed dog that you just got.You could have had a nice 70, 50 dollar, whatever it is consultation with your veterinarian to be educated about vaccine preventive medicine, flea and tick, heart will grow at all that stuff, because you're trying to bypass the office.
Is it?Because you don't think there's value Associated to that, but yet, you're going to come and spend your hour on a weekend to get a $20.Or low-cost rabies vaccine and call it a day.Like, that's not okay.With me.Is what actually saying?What is the feedback?
What did you what did they say?Would you tell them that right?She's they feel that they know enough medicine because they look online, and they know what their dog needs.So then, they'll come in with that, you know, certificate or the sheet, three years overdue on a December vaccine, never finish up finished up a series on a leptospirosis vaccine and they think that that's okay.
And it's not and so like I said to myself, why am I not to waste my time?Because I got to keep it going but I said these are just multiple examples.So I really they really do understand.I'm by educating them, some of them left and just went to their own veterinarian, to make the appointment.I mean some of them come in with horrific skin infections ear infections.
And, you know, they're here just for the rabies vaccine or did you get the nails trimmed?But, you know, there's there's some underlying problems that are really serious, that needs to be addressed to their veterinarian.So, I just felt like, as a Veterinarian was my idol due diligence, to let them know.You need to be educated by properly.
And not from dr.Google from veterinarian about this information.So, if you said, shelter medicine to find shelter medicine.So these are not Street dogs and rescue dogs.They actually owned by people who qualifies to come and get this cheap vaccinations.
You can have people that drive up in a Porsche that come in and I'm not kidding.Like they literally will come up in a Rolls-Royce or a Porsche.And do that.There's no clear definition that defines like, who comes in for this low-cost vaccine clinic, so there's that component.
But in terms of the shelter, yeah, we got animals that are from all over the country.That gets shipped all over, they work with the ASPCA so you know, the dogs and cats and rabbits and all the different stuff.So we do, you know, medicine and treatment options and all that stuff, which is fine.
But then there was that part and then we also open up the Cost spay and neuter clinic to the public.It's a bit strange.Yeah.And so you know, if people can't afford, you know, they're the Spay/Neuter from another Veterinary Hospital.
They'll come over here for like, you know, low cost to do it and but you know, there's some trade-offs with it.You know.I there's no preoperative blood work, that's done.There is no, you know, we, I don't have another nurse that's on the dog 24/7.That's watching them for Recovery.
It's just assembly, line.Go, go, go.And we think so what do we do about it?Have the same price but then help them pay it off as opposed to having a cheap.Absolutely.But who runs it is that it is it thrown by private companies or was it like a government-run thing or it's government-run.
It's government-run, you know, but it's not very happy.It's not it pisses off some of the veterinarians around that Community, right?I mean, I'm totally pissed him off.It pisses me off that I even do it sometimes, but I do because I do, I do a walk-through with the animals of like, you know what, the animals that are in the shelter, those that need Care, vomiting diarrhea, you know, skin diseases and stuff.
So you deal with that and then you deal with that component with the public, so yeah, unfortunately it's part of their money maker to they make money that way to keep the proud the shelter sustained, but it's a different model, you know?And I talked about this in one of our conferences, like, you know, you charge, you know, maybe two to three hundred dollars or whatever it is cheaper than mice.
Pay, what's your model that's different and how do you, you know, educate the pet owners Yeah, at the same outcome is going to be a spay but ones much higher than the other, you know?Yeah, yeah.Yeah.Yeah.Okay.Yeah.Now now I'm confused.
Like, okay.Vegan.We can edit this out later.Hubert, I just don't get it.Okay, what does what was shelter medicine?My thought was that shelter medicine is like what we have in Australia, which is the rspca like Royal Society for the protection and care of animals, which is like, okay, you can't take care of your pet, you drop it off to us, but you don't get the pet back.
We will take care of a pet, right?Or we have some subsidized, not in not subsidized, okay?But they are some welfare organization.At clinics, which are subsidized by private funding and fundraisers and they offer reduced, maybe not even reduced cost but like actually they offer more lenient Payment Systems.
What what what it is, shelter medicine.Mean it is similar to that by the way, so there are shelters that are just shelter medicine only so you know, I'm giving up my dog, you guys take care of it or we found a stray dog.
You guys take care of it, kind of a thing.Locally.So we have that cats, they're written all over the country.We have all of those.So and there's veterinarians that do oversee that and we'll do this thing and neutering and the medicine component to.So, you know, they get hired to do it.
It doesn't have a very high turnover rate, unfortunately, for veterinarians because they get burned out from just constantly spaying and neutering, non-stop like it's yeah, it's a lot.So, yeah, there's that.But then there are other models business models in this country that have the shelters.
That are working with the communities, to help those pet owners that have Financial constraints to do some of the preventive medicine components.So such as vaccinations, heartworm testing and then spaying or the elective procedure so spaying and neutering.
So if they can, there is a they can't afford it from their veterinarian, the primary veterinarian, they can go to the shelter veterinarian to have it done.And so there's a waiting list for that too because, you know, here we have the shelter Things are taking care of all their internal animals but then there's also a few that need to get spayed and neutered, you know, for headphones animals.
Okay?So so you said this, it can ago that it's is a high turnover of stuff eventually stuff because of the pressure that's it can be a really emotional and a really tough job.What?Why do you do it?What I don't want to say what's in it for you?
What motivates you to do it?It's not the money of obvious.Asleep.You know, there's a sense that like you're making a little bit of a dent in society, I guess, to me, it's like self-worth.I feel like I did something good, you know.
Like I can put my head on the pillow knowing like yeah, I vaccinated 200 animals against like rabies today like that feels good and whether it be client owned or shelter animals or like I did a video of a dog that's hopefully that needs a home today.So I do that all those to make sure that It just it's a feel-good feel I guess from veterinarians.
We're veterans because it week, it's a calling from here not so much from here.Oh, so it's more from our heart and so when I do those things that kind of ramp assizes of why I love what I do for a living, you know, and maybe if there's a dachshund there maybe I'll take one knew you had ulterior motives you looking for this looking really sexy like window shopping before.
We talked about covid and in Australia.We've been pretty successful in, actually, like reducing the actual spread, we've had 17 thousand cases, and quite often our states have zero new cases per year, but like the question is always brought up.
Like, how can, how can our students access continued professional development?Like, where can they go?What do you guys?What we like?What is what can fetch offer the That can't go to universities.They can't really go to the practice that they really need to and, and things like that.
Is that things that you guys can offer absolutely.And we're very adaptable and again, we're learning as we're growing, these are growing pains and Times of covid because we just don't know when we're going to see, you know, this getting better.So in the short term, we've developed an incredible, you know, webinar series and an on-demand continuing education platform which is on DVM 3. 60 believe it or not, it got launched today you guys.
So great timing, you know timing great timing.So they can get their 10.There's ten secrets they can get on right then and there and they can go at their own convenience, which is nice.So, you know, if they're happy to be working and they're essential, thank you for everything that they're doing, of course, and they want to learn absolutely go online.
We are still plowing ahead with these fetch conferences, it's business as usual.If we're following the CDC guidelines.Of course, if there's anything changes, but our next fetch bolt, our fetch conference is going to be Baltimore, and then Kansas city is in August.So, you know, I like to go these conferences.
Not only just for the city, but just like we were talking about earlier.You guys just interaction in networking and talking to other people.I think we're gonna, we're gonna be missing that ability to talk and connect more so than ever.I know, we're doing a virtually but it'd be nice in person.So there's plenty of opportunities that we work on just so that everyone can get their CEO.
On and we're doing some Live Events virtually which is nice.So we get some audience participation.I just did one last Thursday night where we did talk about telemedicine in veterinary medicine and we had over 600 attendees that were engaging and chatting online.
And seeing what we had a panel of discussions veterinarians are on and it was great.So you know we really try to get everybody engaged and interactive plus you can get your continuing education on at the same time.How do you, how do you host that what On what platform do you host?
600, written areas.We can all chat you.So it's through.They have to send their chats to an email.So it's like I'm just like, kind of like a zoom is just like this.So you organize it and you look over to the right because I like oh I could see that Gerardo from Australia.
Has a question.Yeah.Well, oh well, it's interesting times for continuing education, isn't it?And again, like, Jurado mentioned earlier with He developing and and Innovation especially in the time of pressure I love the stuff that's coming out and more and more stuff available online and people finding interesting and engaging ways to present.
It looks like you guys at the at the for of that I do still have a good conference though.I will say I like I like doing my little stuff for myself, but for the reasons that you mentioned that that well I I met your daughter at a conference.I've said to you earlier, we are you learn a lot.
And it's there.It's the social event.We changed his life, right?Tell everyone how much it changed your life you would.Yeah, you're like the applicable that came out.It's life-changing cubed changed my life.Actually, you guys are guys, I gotta tell you like your podcasts are very engaging and interacting like I have it all the time.
Look at you guys on my podcast right now, but it looks like we're holding hands on that thing.Is this?I love it.It's so cute, yes it is.We probably have to start driving out, but I do want to ask you.How the hell do you have the energy to do everything?
You do.It sounds like when you're when you're practicing, you've got energy.I found a quote of yours.I love this one.Being a veterinarian is truly a performance.You have to deliver a great form and steal clients and fellow team members consistently.I love that but that takes energy.
We said earlier at the end of a Consulting session I'm Dan but you doing that and then you've got your channels and Obviously exercise, that's a new social media.How, how do you do it?I know it's all about, like, work-life balance.It's important to me and I, you know, be self care is not selfish.
And when it's my time, it's my time and everyone knows that.And what I like is people respect it.I've known that say, I'm obsessed with Disney because I did my Master's work on the Disney customer service model.Like I really am big on like, how they function the Y.
They Behind it.I did all the analytical stuff behind and like I know how they function.And so the reason why I say that is because it is a performance being a veterinarian similar to how Disney is, it's like you're on stage.You open up that exam, room door and boom, you are on.
And so, you know, you can have these highs and lows.No one cares about the euthanasia that you just did beforehand, but that's the cutest Maltese puppy that you ever saw right.And that does take exhausting energy, it does, it's mentally your back hurts.On your feet all day, all these different positions are in from holding animals.
And so you know making sure you find you stay true to who you are is so important.Stay true and working out Is My Jam.They, I have to I'm a morning person.So, you know, I do want to two hours worth of working out.I stay in the zone, I love TV shows, I love to stay connected, like, I may not be no veterinary medicine, but I could tell you who, which celebrity broke up with who because I'm okay.
Listen, I've been through a lot of shit in my life.I lost my mom and dad just several weeks apart from one another and they were my best friends, I lost them last year and my whole life changed from losing them and I don't have any kids.It's just a very it was very scary and I went to a very dark place and I wholeheartedly mean that because I recognize when there is moments in my life I don't like I'm not in a good headspace and I need to do something about it.
I don't have a pity party.I don't go to the drugs or any of that stuff.I know that I need to do it and so I rise above it and I think just having those abilities of coping, great friends and family around that can support you during times of low blow and they can Elevate you really get you through those days.
So and that's my advice to everybody because listen, everyone's got their shit.Everyone has shit.You know.It's just how you rise above that shit is what makes you a better person?Yeah.You just open a whole can of whether we're wrapping up and all of a sudden, Spread some bloody golden wisdom, whirs, most.
I have like three questions out of that and now I've lost all three questions.We could be, we gotta do a season.It's a season, we're getting it out of back for like that the the stuffing just dumped at the end of the podcast.I know I'm going to ask you one, practical question.
Yes, there is your honor always do this, but I need to know this for He'll reasons.So you, you need your exercise.Are you guys allowed to go to the gym?No.Noah.So, what are you doing?If you, if you want to do, what?Give me one or two of your favorite exercises at the moment?Well, look like right here.
I can just hold what I'm fights walking to class.I'm holding my knees up to my chest opens up.All right there, okay, do that?Or I have a kettlebell to so like overhead.
I sup extensions but I do have home workouts all the time because do bodyweight exercises are easy to do, you know?But there's something to be said, I'm such a social person and I when I go to the gym, it's like I work out with the group training, so not having that really hurts.But again, I make the best of it.
So at home exercises, you know, I use paper plates, you ever use paper plates, you know what you mean?Yeah.Okay why whoa, I do, did you use like 10,000 paper plates right?So put them on your feet and Mountain climbers.So like all.
Now, the climb is a terrible on sliders and then go into low Plank and put in.Have your feet on there and slide back up.Do rockers with?Yes, slider.Hang on, hang on.So we'll start away the paper plates.Come on your feet on your feet.Put your feet on the paper plates and then you use them to slide your feet out.
And yes, Next Level definitely put them on your hands too and you can be in high plank.You do wax ons and wax offs like this.Oh, and then you can slide them out for push-ups and back up all.That's some next-level shit right there.
But again, let's wrap this up because we had to wrap up.We gotta wrap up.Thank you, thank you so much for your time, this period setting.And we are gonna have to do it again.Absolutely.And there's a lot of wisdom they will catch up with you get to have a lovely lovely day.God thank you so much for having me on guys.
Shish kabobs by chance fell over.

Dr. Adam Christman