Growing up on a farm/ranch in southern Idaho, I wanted to be a dairy practitioner from the age of six. I got into veterinary school at age 21, and within the first 30 minutes of my education—during Dean Leo Bustad’s welcoming speech—I decided to become a companion animal practitioner.
Due to his tutelage, I became a prominent promoter and supporter of the human-animal bond. That led to writing Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul (the first of 23 books that sold over eight million copies, including three New York Times bestsellers), getting a spot on national television (I was the resident veterinarian for Good Morning America for 17 years and had appearances on dozens of other TV shows), and a nationally syndicated column for over 25 years.
I have also owned or co-owned seven veterinary practices and continue to practice at VCA North Idaho Animal Hospital as an associate veterinarian. About 14 years ago, I founded Fear Free.
Because I have owned practices, still practice, have lectured to veterinarians in dozens of countries on six continents, and have had a myriad of ways to
connect with pets, I thought I would give you a look at tips I have found, been taught by my mentors, and even a few I have come up with myself to help me in my journey to become “financially successful and emotionally wealthy.”
1) Smile. My mom always taught us, “Nice is underrated.” I have found being nice and sending out positive energy creates a kind of magic. My mentor, veterinary legend Ross Clark, DVM, advised me early on in my career to “smile over the phone.”
2) Do one daily act of kindness. While better in person—holding the door, buying coffee for the person behind you, smiling—you can also do on the phone and even on emails and texts.
3) Set limits on distractions. I put my phone on airplane mode for at least one-hour intervals so I can stretch my legs, get something to drink, use the restroom, or get on TikTok for a strict five-minute break.
4) Prioritize. As veterinary healthcare professionals, we know urgencies/emergencies by education, training, and experience. With electronic tethers and various tones, everything is “Do it now,” get right back to emails and texts, our patience is gone. To combat this, experts say to ask yourself, “Is this critical?” If not, take a breath, pause, and decide when you will respond.
5) Start with the toughest task. I still use a time management system and make sure I tackle the thing that’s most important or most dreaded first.
6) Get sun. Not getting enough sun can leave you feeling jet-lagged. Have your coffee outside in the morning to feed your body’s craving for light. If you feel yourself slowing down, stand by a window or go for a brisk five-minute walk.
7) Connect with people. I’m constantly traveling, and I have found that a great way to connect with people is to just ask them, “How’s your day been going?” I also try and find something to sincerely compliment them about.
8) Get enough sleep. Studies show you need seven to eight hours of slumber daily. Tips for better sleep include: Going to bed and waking up at the same time, doing something right before bed to relax you (we go into our spa), keeping your bedroom cool and dark (we use blackout blinds), and investing in a great mattress.
9) Create a self-care menu. Rather than New Year’s Resolutions, at the start of the year, create a menu of self-care activities. For each activity, list two options so you have choices based on time and mood.
10) Focus on what’s most important. For Fear Free, I try and focus my every action on what is most important to the company, and that is helping animals to be optimally healthy and happy.
11) Do something mindless. Give your brain a break. I will throw a tennis ball for the dogs, tackle a small project, or take a hit of my personal drug, TikTok.
12) Mark your calendar. It can be a date night, a three-day weekend, a concert or sporting event, going to one of your children’s events, or an upcoming veterinary conference. Always have something to look forward to.
13) Eat carbs. Complex carbohydrates release serotonin, the “feel good” hormone.
14) Respond to hunger and fullness cues. Experts say to create a hunger/fullness scale, with one being starving, and 10 being uncomfortable-unbutton-your-pants-stuffed. Then, take note of your rating before and after eating. Focus first on the hunger side and don’t let yourself get below three on the scale. After responding to hunger cues consistently, try to not go beyond a seven. Except on Thanksgiving.
15) Plan your meals. My beloved wife of 45 years, Teresa, is a fitness/health nut, and she spends about 15 to 30 minutes planning meals for the week. She knows by doing so, we will have better diet quality and a lower risk of obesity. Teresa keeps weekly lists and recycles them from time to time, adding in new things to try, as well.
16) Get panting tired. I hate to exercise but force myself to get panting tired daily. While Ozempic ads have caught my eye, I know I’m better off exercising (while watching TikTok videos!).
17) Fail. If you are not failing, you are not taking enough risks.
18) Practice gratitude. You do not need to be a person of faith to count your blessings. If you travel to developing countries, it is hard to feel sorry for yourself.
19) Ask the genesis of a patient’s name. It’s a great way to start conversations with clients.
20) Journal. A journal is a great way to note and analyze feelings, organize your thoughts, make plans, and memorialize both the little and big things you would like to revisit sometime.
21) Take a deep breath. As you read this line, drop your shoulders. Notice how high and tight they were? If you are feeling stressed, close your eyes, envision a happy memory (for me it s our annual family trip to Disneyland or Disney World), take a slow, deep breath in through your nose, slowly breathe out through your mouth or nose, and repeat this process until calm overtakes you.
22) Declutter. Start by setting aside just 15 minutes to declutter a certain area such as your work desk or vehicle.
23) Be with people who reciprocate. A group of friends is great for shared experiences (weddings, birthday parties, friendsgiving), but on a daily basis, when you really need a lifeline, that one special relationship trumps the others. Note: Be intentional and only invest time and energy in people who reciprocate.
24) Ditch grudges. I had a mentor who taught me dropping a grudge was more about self-care than compassion for others. Letting go of grudges does not have to mean reconciliation; it can simply mean ending a relationship that no longer works for you. While preferable, do not feel you have to let your feelings out face-to-face.
25) Forgive yourself. While you might forgive coworkers, loved ones, friends, neighbors or even strangers, what about yourself? Nothing good comes from recycling regrets in your mind.
26) Get rid of toxic people in your life. Can you think of instances where someone was in a relationship (personal or business) and friends/coworkers would say, “You’re a great fit together,” only to change to “I never knew why you were with them” once you break up? Ask those you trust to give you unvarnished truth.
27) Choose a word of the year. I can still remember my mentor, Dr. Clark, having “authenticity” as his word of the year. My 2023 word is “abundance.”
28) Dare to hatch new ideas. From a young age, too many of us are trained to fit in rather than stand out. Successful people know they must think differently to do things differently. The most successful people both “fit in” and “stand out.”
29) Never discourage someone from becoming a veterinarian.
30) Treat pets like its parent is right there looking over your shoulder.
31) Outwork everyone else. My father, Bob, used to say, “The Beckers work half days: 12 hours.” He was a farmer/rancher, but taught us so much about success. We have all heard the phrase, “Success is one percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration.” For most of my veterinary career, I took a combined three months a year off but worked so hard the other nine months. I did what other people did in 18 months.
32) Limit social media. I admit it. I became hooked on Tik Tok. I could not stop looking at it because a) it grew to know me, and b) it is so darn entertaining! After I became aware it was dulling the relationship I had with my beloved spouse of 45 years, I deleted the app. It took me about a week to get over it. Now I’m clean.
33) Don’t procrastinate. I schedule everything. Work, play, alone time. Successful people know you can’t delay what needs to be done now.
34) Give your practice instruments nicknames. Let veterinarians name exam rooms after their pets; name hospital cages and runs after team members’ pets.
35) Find mentors and mentor others.
Marty Becker, DVM, writes regularly for Veterinary Practice News. Dr. Becker is a Sandpoint, Idaho, practitioner, and founder of the Fear Free initiative. For more information about Fear Free or to register for certification, go to fearfreepets.com. Columnists’ opinions do not necessarily reflect those of Veterinary Practice News.