Academy of Rural Veterinarians Western University August 31, 2007

1. Academy of Rural VeterinariansWestern UniversityAugust 31, 2007 Dr. John Waddell Sutton Veterinary Clinic Sutton, Nebraska

3. Keys to a Successful Life(adapted from H.J.Brown,Jr.) • Marry the right person. (this will determine 90% of all future happiness or misery) • Work at something you enjoy and that is worthy of your time and talents. • Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully. (under promise and over deliver) • Become the most positive and enthusiastic person that you know.

4. Keys to Success • Be forgiving of yourself and others. • Be generous. • Have a grateful heart. • Persistence, persistence, persistence. • Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary. • Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.

5. Keys to Success • Commit yourself to constant improvement. • Commit yourself to quality. • Understand that happiness is not based on possession, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect. (it’s a state of mind, not a situation) • Take good care of those you love.

6. Keys to Success • Be loyal. • Be honest. • Be a self-starter. • Be decisive even if it means you’ll be wrong occasionally. • Be bold and courageous. (you’ll regret those things you didn’t do more than things you tried and failed)

7. Keys to Success • Don’t blame others. (take responsibility for every area of your life) • Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your Mom proud!

8. What’s missing? • Where you live and work. • How much money you make. • What kind of car you drive. “Happiness is at a state of mind…not a situation!”

9. Sutton, Nebraska Population: 1477

27. Rural vet wisdoms • Disease does not always read the book. • The farther away you park your practice vehicle and the more fences between you and your patient is inversely related to how many things you forget to take with you. • The client who calls after 10 pm will always tell you that they saw the cow starting to calve right after lunch. • If she is “down and won’t get up”, make sure they have a rope, a four wheeler or a horse available.

28. The chances of recovery from serious disease or injury is inversely related to the clients love of and/or value of the animal. • The value of a horse increases exponentially when it dies, especially if the animal was under the care of a vet at the time of death. • Horse owners almost always are related to or have a close relationship to an attorney. • A sick sheep gets up in the morning looking for a place to die, cuz it doesn’t need a reason.

29. The animal that has absolutely no chance to survive…will. The converse is also true. • Treatment failures will most likely be communicated by the loudest client over the din of the crowd gathered in a public place such as a café. • In a small town, never say anything negative about someone, the person you are talking to is likely related to the person you are talking about. • If you really love what you do, your vocation becomes a vacation every day.

30. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. • When you hear hoof beats, don’t be lookin’ for zebras. • 80% of sick animals will improve no matter how or whether you treat them. • 10% will die no matter what you do. • God decides which ones are in each group. • Happiness is a state of mind…not a situation. • Never get in a pissin’ match with a skunk, a lawyer or a banker.

31. Work hard….

32. Play hard…