"'Cause that's how we've always done it." Embracing Change with Dr. Lauren Jones

“'Cause that’s how we’ve always done it!"

This is not the best way to run a hospital or even your career. Whether there is a need for change or not, it’s about being curious and leaning into possibilities. This is a huge part of Dr. Lauren Jones’ career story. Because of her belief that there is an opportunity for good change, Dr. Jones knew early on that she was interested in owning a veterinary practice, and she ended up owning two and being a mom to two small children.

In this episode, we talk about some key characteristics of how to set yourself up for success in veterinary medicine including preparing yourself for possible change – change of all shapes and sizes. Change is how we grow as individuals and as a profession, so knowing how to do change well is crucial. Especially when we face a change that is tied to our very identity.

About the guest:
Dr. Laruen Jones graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2010. After graduation, she worked in private practice with a special interest in canine reproduction and obstetrics. She has owned two hospitals at once and currently owns a hospital in Pennsylvania while living in Scottsdale, Arizona with her husband, children, and cats.

Resources:
Dr. Lauren Jones on PetMD
Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn

Transcript

Megan Sprinkle: [00:00:00] Why do we do things this way? Because that's how we've always done it. While that answer might be true, that's not the best way to run a hospital or even your career. Whether there is need for change or not, it's about being curious and leaning into possibilities. This is a huge part of Dr. Lauren Jones's career story.

Megan Sprinkle: Because of her belief that there is opportunity for good change, Dr. Jones knew early on that she was interested in owning her own veterinary practice. So she looked for a perfect job opportunity to set her up for success. And we talk about some key characteristics on how to set yourself up for success.

Megan Sprinkle: For success in veterinary medicine, including how to prepare yourself for possible change, change of all shapes and sizes and change is how we grow as individuals and as a profession. So knowing how to do change well is crucial, especially when we face a change that is tied to our very identity.

Megan Sprinkle: So let's get to the conversation with Dr. Lauren Jones.

Megan Sprinkle: When did you know you wanted to get into veterinary [00:01:00] medicine?

Lauren Jones: So I think I have a pretty traditional, , story, , I've wanted to be a vet since I was little, , I had horses, , growing up, , two of them, my first horse was, his name was the Robbie.

Lauren Jones: He was an Arabian and he was my heart. , we had gotten him, , he had, , An injury to his eye, so he didn't have an enucleation, but he couldn't see out of it. , we got him a little bit cheaper because of that. I probably wouldn't have gotten him otherwise.

Lauren Jones: but I was in love with my horses and I had barn cats and dogs and. That is really where it started and having my equine vet come out and show me all of the things that she would, you know, kind of starting to explain it and really planted that seed for me. And from there it just grew.

Lauren Jones: So I was probably around, you know, 10, 10 or 12 when I first got my horses. but that love of my animals and, you know, wild animals, and I would be, I lived in Michigan at the time, so I'm carrying buckets in the middle of winter, trucking through snow to get water to the barn because it didn't have running water out there, but really just that passion started then and ignited it, and [00:02:00] I wanted to do more for my pets, Wanted to give them a voice that, you know, that it's really a beautiful thing for us as vets to be able to, to talk to them without words and figure out, you know, the puzzle of, of what's going on with them.

Lauren Jones: So that's, that's really where it started was, you know, dry in the cold winters of Michigan, bringing water to my, to my horses. 

Megan Sprinkle: Nice. Now, since you had such an equine start, when you went into vet school at the University of Pennsylvania, did you think you might do equine medicine? And how was vet school?

Megan Sprinkle: Did that change? 

Lauren Jones: Yeah, so it's a great question and kind of a silly answer. I had You know, when I was in vet school, I did not have horses at the time, lots of dogs, cats, you know, there's always multiple little furry things running around, but I had somebody, , in vet school say, you know, my biggest recommendation they could give was if you want to, if you love horses and you want to have horses in your life, don't be a horse vet , and that kind of, [00:03:00] that stuck with me that, you know, and I knew I wanted to, , my daughter and I both ride, , out here and, There's a lot more that we can do, with small animals and, you know, it's, it's a comfortable thing as well.

Lauren Jones: You know, I didn't want to be out in the elements and I wanted to enjoy my horses. And I think I was very scared, to go into large animal, and then not have that joy and that passion at home too. So that definitely changed. And I went to school at Penn and New Bolton, is a tough go.

Lauren Jones: I had some of my best moments in vet school at New Bolton Center. and some of the hardest too. And some of them really, that also shaped my career. And I, I, could think to myself and I'll even to this day go, man, you know, like that was kind of a rough experience and I wish that could have gone differently for me.

Lauren Jones: but so yeah, so it was small animal from the beginning, , knowing that I wanted to have hobbies in horses and equine. and I knew from the start even as a young kid, I wanted to own my own hospital. I knew I wanted to be my own boss. So I tried to take as many business courses that I could, which in, you know, 2006, 2010, there was, there weren't a [00:04:00] ton.

Lauren Jones: There was really one kind of program that we could do. Well, I think that's gotten better. cause it definitely something that I think schools can expand on. Yeah. So it's, I knew from the start I wanted to own and be my own boss and try to create a good space for, my coworkers, other vets and staff members.

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. I wanted to go back to something you said, because one of the reasons why I love asking people about their vet school experience is that I do believe that there are some moments in vet school that really help us understand who we are in some of the things that we want in our career. And so you said that there were some of the best moments, there's some of the most challenging, and there were some that really defined what you want to do for your career.

Megan Sprinkle: So do you mind elaborating on that? Especially the one that defined what you would want in your career. 

Lauren Jones: Yeah, so it was 2010 I was a fourth year student in large animal surgery Sitting in rounds and so I'm out at New Bolton Center, you know, in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania And I will not name the [00:05:00] surgeon but he was a fairly prominent equine surgeon we were sitting around and of course, there's you know, the questions drilling us on the, the surgeries and all of that, but then we went and we kind of went down a rabbit hole and he was asking us about, you know, name the Providence in the Providences in Canada, and then continued to kind of berate us for those of us who didn't know, or if we couldn't come up with all of them.

Lauren Jones: And I remember thinking at that time, I understand that we need to be well rounded as vets and humans. I get that. But this interaction was so belittling and this surgeon had a reputation. So I kind of knew it going in, had a reputation of teaching out of fear, and really humiliating the students. And that's not uncommon.

Lauren Jones: but I, I remember sitting. In those rounds and knowing that I said to sit there and take it and be embarrassed that I didn't know, much about Canada and thinking, [00:06:00] this isn't the way to do it. This isn't how I want to lead. And I knew I wanted to be an owner at that point and just thought there's so much more that we can do here.

Lauren Jones: And I want to break that cycle of horrible mentors and horrible bosses. And there's somewhere along the way, I feel like we've been kind of conditions. To it's going to suck with this, you know, like they're, I'm going to be unhappy and that's okay. That's what this part of the job is. And I don't think that's the case.

Lauren Jones: I don't think we need to have these hazing rituals of making, you know, new and upcoming vets feel. Unworthy, we have enough imposter syndrome. I had it in high school and undergrad in college, especially as a baby vet. And even now, even today, walking in here, I have imposter syndrome, you know, there's small pieces of that.

Lauren Jones: And I think it gets better with experience, but. It really stuck with me sitting there in those rounds and just thinking, this isn't the way I want to do it. This isn't the way I want to see vet med go. We can support each other and we can normalize not knowing things without feeling bad about it [00:07:00] and lean on each other.

Lauren Jones: that was a really pivotal moment for me. What not to do. 

Megan Sprinkle: We can learn a lot from the what not to do as well. I'm glad that that was the lesson you took away instead of taking it personally. Cause why is he asking you about Canada?

Megan Sprinkle: So of all the questions to get wrong, good for you. Cause I bet that one did not come up on your board exam. It did not. It wasn't on the NAVLE. So, oh, wow. , what a moment. and so great that you were pretty confident that you wanted to have a big leadership part going into being a veterinarian and owning your own practice.

Megan Sprinkle: there's a lot of conversation about that. It's like, do people really want to own practices? And I think we're kind of in an interesting transition right now. But, with that mindset going into your first practice, was there something you looked for in that first practice that would kind of help you?[00:08:00] 

Lauren Jones: So I was very, very lucky with my first practice. Um, so I graduated 2010 and then my very first job was I, I knew I wanted to go into canine reproduction. That's kind of where my heart was. so I did a lot of work in that in vet school learning with the genetics department.

Lauren Jones: and there was a hospital very close to where my family is; where I wanted to settle down. so I had reached out to them. They were happy to be hiring at that point. And so from day one, I went in and said, Hey, you know, this is where my heart is. And it's pretty unusual. Not a lot of people like canine reproduction doing it the right way but that hospital was well known, you know, up and down, you know, the east coast.

Lauren Jones: We were one of the premier canine repro places. , so I was really lucky that I, I stepped into that and they, the owners at the time knew that they were looking to get out within 5 to 10 years. And so they were able to mentor me from day one, and then as it got close at first, obviously, I'm a baby vet, so I was just focusing on medicine at first.

Lauren Jones: but starting like 2014 or so, then we started saying, Hey. We're ready to do this. [00:09:00] So are you ready still? , and then men starting that process of owning, it was a lot of luck in that, that I got to do something that I loved, that it was good at, , and that there was a need for, you know, in that location.

Lauren Jones: and then I owned that first hospital in 2015. Two years later, 2017, I got a notification that there was another practice in my area. And so I, you know, signed the NDA and it came back as the hospital that I did all of my pre-vet work. so I've known these people.

Lauren Jones: Since I don't know, the nineties basically, you know, I did, I was a kennel assistant. , they were my vet, my, my family's vets. And so I, we just said, wow, what is, so it was kind of a crazy full circle where my second hospital is this place that I started and then, you know, walking in and as the new owner and then saying, man, I remember Lauren, you know, back in the kennel days and, , I remember calling the vet because this dog had a swollen eye and that was the first time I learned about abscesses can, , affect the eyes.

Lauren Jones: it was a really cool. And that's the hospital that I still own today. is that second [00:10:00] one I've since sold the first one. 

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. Now I'm curious as someone who is coming in day one out of vet school, first, first time job, and someone is. With that mind going to help mentor you in being a practice owner.

Megan Sprinkle: there's a lot that goes into that. I'm sure everything from interpersonal relationships to the financial aspect of it, to supply all that kind of stuff. And one of the things that I hate that this is one of the first things I think about is how does a person who's been a vet for four to five years.

Megan Sprinkle: Financially be able to come into practice because I think that's some things that people are concerned about is Especially with loans and all sorts of things that even if people wanted to own a practice It can be financially very challenging. So do you mind sharing a little bit of some of the the [00:11:00] best ways that They prepared you for that and especially on the financial piece, how were you comfortable?

Megan Sprinkle: Like how did that all go? 

Lauren Jones: Oh, I was terrified Absolutely terrified and I was lucky my husband comes from a background corporate finance background So I was able to lean on him, but what I when I tell people who are looking at taking over a practice or a startup is just to find those experts that you trust, for everything financial, but also HR and legal and all of that, because I know what I know, but that's science that's that med and I need, I need to lean on it and learn from them, but also, you need those, those people in your life, but I was fortunate that the previous owners sold it to me and they were the bank.

Lauren Jones: So I didn't have to go out and get a loan. And that made it a lot easier for us to do that. and then, you know, just paying them back setting up a schedule and, kind of approaching it that way. but it was terrifying. I remember the very first, and it was something I didn't think about until after we had already closed the first payroll, yeah, I don't [00:12:00] have anything sitting in my bank account, my business bank account, and my savings, my personal, and after we closed that first weekend was payroll and we went.

Lauren Jones: Oh, boy, I hope can we make it like we, you know, that that was this terrifying moment of looking at the bank account starting at zero. And we knew we had backups. We knew we could pull from reserves, but just that moment of it didn't occur to me that, like, I wasn't going to have that kind of cushion. Right away, and that, you know, they're now lives counting on me to make sure that the, they get their paychecks on time.

Lauren Jones: Accurate. so it is, it is terrifying. And part of when I mentor people now, or talk to them about businesses, and, it's saying it's okay to be terrified that those, these are okay, normal emotions and trying to normalize that. and now what do we do?

Lauren Jones: Yes, it's terrifying. It's scary, but leaning on, the silly saying it takes a village, but it does, it really does finding the people who you can trust and having that faith that it's going to be okay. And not that it's going to be rosy [00:13:00] all the time. Not going to be happy all the time and we're going to fail, but learning from those mistakes and, trying to be as, as prepared as you can, I guess.

Megan Sprinkle: sure. Experience starts to play into it. And, again, the other thing about What inspired you to do ownership and leadership was maybe the whatnot to do that you saw. So it sounds like culture was a big part of some of your goals as well. So both from the, taking in the mentorship of it, as a baby vet, but then as you started to step in as the leader, what were some of the things that you learned and saw that worked really well in creating the culture that you wanted?

Lauren Jones: That's a great question. And culture is so big, for me. And we really sat down and thought about what are the important values to us? What are our values as a company as owners? And from day one, we wanted to create, we were family first. You know, I think it is so [00:14:00] I'll back up, you know, I, I know how much there's so much burnout and unhappiness, depression in our, our business.

Lauren Jones: And I really wanted to fight that from day one and be a place where people felt safe. they feel heard, acknowledged, and also that they, you know, work-life balance again, another buzzword, but you know, what does that mean to you? And what does that mean to me and really breaking that down? And so we said, we, you know, one of our, our primary values, we're family first.

Lauren Jones: And that means if you, need to go watch, you want to see your kid in a Halloween parade that we're going to allow that time when, whether that's holding back on some appointments or, you know, letting you go early or go on your lunch break. we're family for your kids, sick, go, you want to be on vacation, you know, take vacation with your kids.

Lauren Jones: Everything that we do, we would approach it with, we would ask ourselves a question and we would say, what is the upside to us as business owners? And what's best for our employees and our staff. And nine times out of 10, we're going to lean on [00:15:00] making the decision to be most helpful to our staff.

Lauren Jones: That might sometimes means that I'm not going to make as much money. Obviously, we have to be profitable. And so it's balancing that I have to keep the lights on. I still have to make a profit, but I'm not going to be pushing for 20, 25 percent profit. If that means that I can make my staff's life a little bit better and trying to help them understand some of the homework that I would give them, or even today when I talk to people, Sit down and write a list of what makes you happy and look at it and say, you know, okay, well, and for me, that's, I love horseback riding.

Lauren Jones: I love kayaking, love going off-road. I love spending time with my family, movie nights, and then saying, am I doing all of those things? Am I doing the things that I love enough? And of course in that list is my love for veterinary medicine and loving being a vet and loving animals. But sometimes that gets skewed, right?

Lauren Jones: And so I really kind of would push my staff and you know, everyone involved in my, businesses that it's not, it's not about work first. You know, my goal is [00:16:00] getting you home and getting you to the things that you love. Of course, we're going to stay late. Renea called in, we're going to, all of those things are going to happen.

Lauren Jones: But when it doesn't, I really focus on, Getting them back to their "whys", then why they're happy and a happy person at home is going to be a better employee, a happier employee and creating an environment that's not toxic. That was really our goal. And kind of our north star is taking care of our staff.

Megan Sprinkle: And I love how often you keep saying our, so who was with you in that leadership role that you leaned on because leadership can also be a lonely place too. So who, who is your support? 

Lauren Jones: my husband primarily owns the business with us. He has another job, but, , he handles a lot of the, like I mentioned earlier, the finances, but just also he can, you know, we kind of use each other as a compass.

Lauren Jones: it's great sometimes that because he's not in, but he's not a vet, so I can say, hey, bounce ideas off him from a non-vet perspective. But there are times where I'm like, [00:17:00] he might, he doesn't always get it. And he, he shouldn't, if you're not in, you're not a vet or a vet tech or, you know, CSR, you don't understand all of the nuances in a veterinary hospital.

Lauren Jones: so he was the primary one, but then I also have, , you know, medical directors at each hospital, That, you know, I would lean on to, but primarily when I was using the word "our" it was, it's leaning on my husband. It's it, you're absolutely right. it can be lonely at the top and learning to take that on and having thicker skin, even though I know I'm trying to do best and do right by my staff.

Lauren Jones: I'm going to make people mad. They're going to be upset because that's just, that is, you know, kind of the culture. And so it's balancing that and not letting them see the tears. And while you're getting that thickened skin, you know, really leaning on, you know, I leaned on my husband, all of the frustrations and the fears and are we going to make payrolls and all of that?

Lauren Jones: It's, it's so crucial to have that person. 

Megan Sprinkle: It is because, you talked about this too. You really wanted to make your employees happy, but there are some business decisions where [00:18:00] there's no way you can make everybody in life happy. There's just, it's just not going to happen. so balancing all of that is a lot and

Megan Sprinkle: Like I said, a lot of times at the leadership, you don't have a whole lot of people that you can talk to about it or, you know, whether it's just venting or actually asking for advice. And I think it's great that you, you get both maybe an outside perspective and somebody who knows it a little bit better, but all of those can be very helpful.

Megan Sprinkle: And no matter where you are, I think finding that support system is very crucial to overall wellbeing. And so I'm glad that your husband, and I have a similar relationship, not that my husband and I work together anymore, but we do a lot of entrepreneurial things together and we can bounce things off of each other from very different perspectives.

Megan Sprinkle: he's an IT engineer. So thinks very differently. So it can be nice to have someone [00:19:00] to bounce off and, and cares about you too, right? Even if they don't get it. You know that they care about you and they're trying. Exactly. 

Lauren Jones: And sometimes that's all you need is, you know, and one of the biggest things I've learned to say, whether it's, you know, my husband's venting to me, I'm venting to my husband.

Lauren Jones: We've learned to say, okay, are you, are you looking for solutions right now? Or are you looking to vent? You know, I need to know, how am I showing up for you right now? , what do you need? And I think that is huge one to be, to be able to reflect personally and go, what do I need right now? Yeah, just, just let me complain for a minute or no, I'm really struggling with this problem and I want help and to find a solution.

Lauren Jones: So, you know, I think that was one of the biggest, uh, phrases that I, that I love and it's not, you know, it's obviously not original that that's out there, but it really rings true for me, you know, what am I looking for right now? 

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah,

Megan Sprinkle: and, uh, you, you started to mention, or you mentioned this, that, you know, you ended up selling one practice and you currently own one but there is a big kind of opportunity pivot in your life because as you said, your husband had a different job and I [00:20:00] think it was, he got a new job opportunity and you had a very big move.

Megan Sprinkle: So you mind sharing that move and kind of all the things that you had to go through? 

Lauren Jones: Yeah. I think this has also been a very, very pivotal moment for us and it was right after COVID. , so we sold my first hospital in March of 2020, a week later, that's when the world shut down. So it was, kind of crazy timing.

Lauren Jones: but my first hospital was the one that I did. I practiced more of the reproduction. I was a primary vet there and not so much at the second one. So my husband got a job in Phoenix. So I'll back up.  My hospital as outside of Philadelphia. My husband got a job in the Phoenix, Arizona area. So we sat down and, okay, well, what do we want to do with this?

Lauren Jones: lots and lots of discussions. talking about burnout and being unhappy. I was there. it's something that we feel shame and guilt when we talk about it, but I, it's so important for me to normalize that and to let people know that these are [00:21:00] normal feelings.

Lauren Jones: So I was, I was burnout. I had been working so much being on call so much at that 1st hospital and. I really, I didn't want to, I didn't want to be in GP anymore. And that felt, felt shameful. And it felt, going back to my story about growing up and having all of this love and wanting to be the voice and being so sad and kind of mad at myself that I didn't want that anymore.

Lauren Jones: But you know, I also am one too. I love change. I love embracing change and a good challenge. I don't want to be stagnant. I don't want to be doing the same thing. So we looked at it as an opportunity for personal growth, , as well as finding my happiness again, because I was, miserable, to be honest, and sad and all of the things that we talk about in vet med with, passion fatigue.

Lauren Jones: Cyberbullying, all of that, that goes into the, to burnout. So this was huge. And we were so excited to chase life. [00:22:00] And, so we, we decided to kind of, okay, yeah, we're doing it. So we picked up. We have two kids and, you know, they're, they moved to Arizona with us and. Sat my staff down and said, Hey, I'm not selling because they're all terrified.

Lauren Jones: You know, it was during the time where corporate is buying practices left and right. And of course, that's a reasonable fear that when the owner picks up and moves, across the country they're not going to keep it. So, I've tried to be very transparent with my staff and said, I'm not going to own it forever.

Lauren Jones: No one will, Yeah, that's life, but it's not in my five or 10 year plan right now. And you guys will be the first ones when that happens. I want to be transparent with them and say, okay, I'm starting to think about selling it, but I think there's a universe where this works because I wasn't a primary veterinarian in that practice, they are still practicing the medicine.

Lauren Jones: I'm managing remotely. I go in, it used to be about every month as my kids are getting older, that's getting more difficult. at least once a quarter I go back so I can really have face time with my staff. sometimes I will jump in [00:23:00] and see some appointments if they, if we get backed up or, you know, somebody's off that type of thing, but this has been so pivotal in my, career because I have been able to find, my joys again.

Lauren Jones: And that looks like, you know, so my hospital is in Philadelphia. I'm 3 hours behind them. they close for the day at 5 30 my time and I have this extra time. So meanwhile, the software that we use is Shepherd. I've been a user of Shepherd for 6 years. So I really know the team.

Lauren Jones: Well, I know the culture. Well, it really aligns with my values and my goals. And so they approached me and said, Hey, we really could use some help vet-to-vet consultations, and so I jumped into that role about 2 years ago. So I have my practice outside of Philadelphia and now I do some consulting work and now really trying to get into more speaking engagements.

Lauren Jones: I've done some continuing education, articles, webinars trying to get my feet wet there. And I'm loving finding this, ability to use my degree and to use my knowledge in a [00:24:00] very different way. 1 of my goals, you know, is fighting burnout. I don't feel that way anymore, but we can't all leave.

Lauren Jones: the industry, right? Like we still need somebody in my kittens that you see running around. I still need to take them somewhere out here and we can't all leave. So, I've really kind of taken it on through Shepherd and the speaking engagements that I'm doing to try to, talk to people and normalize these feelings and normalize it, and also helping them figure out how to get back to their "whys" and their, their passions without leaving vet med.

Lauren Jones: And I think it's possible and doable, but it's, it's starting, it's by talking about it and acknowledging the struggles that we face and, and open conversations about them. 

Megan Sprinkle: And I also feel that if something is not going the way we like it. Usually means we have to change something, and it's something that you mentioned that you love change, and I love that.

Megan Sprinkle: You said if you could ban a statement, it was because that's how we've always done it. [00:25:00] Yes, I would love for you to talk more about that, because I think it is something that we need to embrace and understand that even though change. Can be scary. I mean, you moved to the other side of the country, like you said, a three-hour time difference.

Megan Sprinkle: And, when we talked earlier, your mindset was, well, let's try it. The worst thing is, if it doesn't work, we do something new. Different. Yeah, exactly. 

Lauren Jones: And that is, it's one of my favorite, phrases to challenge people. And I've tried to have a very open communication talking to my staff and also, you know, that, that's, that wisdom applies everywhere, right.

Lauren Jones: To my husband, to my kids, to my friends, everywhere, trying to kind of go back to the basic question and why are we doing it this way? I'm not saying it's right or wrong, you know, that's not a judgment call, but just why? And I, I, banned the saying, like, don't ever tell me, it's because the way we've always done it.

Lauren Jones: that just, it irks me. you know, I want to challenge every, you know, the, the challenge of, well, [00:26:00] why though? Is it, is it because this is the best way to do this particular task? And if so, that's great, but why don't we challenge that and think, well, what if we did it this way? And I think we learn so much more from the failures than the successes.

Lauren Jones: obviously we want to be more successful than not, but, I think that that's flipping that culture change and just, Nope, this is the way it's always been done and saying, okay, well maybe we continue doing it that way. I don't know, but let's have, let's have an open conversation and try this out. And I will say, I think I am in the minority of people in, at least vet med that love change.

Lauren Jones: I really thrive on it. And. I tried, you know, I really, you know, try to have my staff embrace that too, that it's okay, , and switch it up. And that I, it was one of my greatest joys as an owner, when people would come back to me and go, you know, I really, I thought you were crazy and I didn't want to do this, but man, you were right.

Lauren Jones: This is, this is fantastic. Thank you for pushing me and you know, and it's not about getting accolades, but it's, I love. Seeing that change in my staff as well and having their, the wheels start turning and having them think about [00:27:00] things differently, , to make things better for themselves, but also the clients.

Lauren Jones: And ultimately, what we're here for is patient care. And if we can do those things and have slight tweaks and challenge the way that we've always done them, then. The goal is that we end up, you know, with better pet care and that our patients are really the winners. , that's been my experience throughout, you know, all of these little things that we've tried to change 

Megan Sprinkle: and it doesn't have to be drastic changes, right?

Megan Sprinkle: It doesn't have to be across the country. Move Some of these changes or and I love the idea of just having a discussion about it. It's just like checking in and seeing how are things going. Are there other ways of doing it? Even if the answer is no, we've talked about this, but I still think what we're doing seems to be working best right now.

Megan Sprinkle: That's fine. But just entertaining the ideas and getting people thinking that way is I think really important because there will be a time when it's like, Oh, That is a good idea. Maybe that would be better. Let's try that. And [00:28:00] we're also living in a time where change is constant, whether it's technology or medical innovations from treatments, diagnostics.

Megan Sprinkle: And so as scientists and, and, you know, doctors. We should be used to that or we should be excited to know if something is new, that better helps our patient, better helps our clients. And so it is something that I think though, that it takes constant conversation about it and making it normal to think about what are the options, even if you do go back to, what you do in the beginning, just sometimes they, In my opinion, that creative mindset where you're, you're just thinking about that options.

Megan Sprinkle: If you think about it, your differential list, just go, you know, what are some options and you know, what makes sense for us, our clients and our patients. 

Lauren Jones: Absolutely. And you said it, so well, it doesn't have to be big. these changes, it really, it doesn't have to be 

Megan Sprinkle: [00:29:00] Groundbreaking. 

Lauren Jones: It can be very small.

Lauren Jones: It can be, you know, I tell my staff, just do one thing a little bit differently during your day to set a timer on one of the Alexa's or your phone to go take a pee break. How many of us have been, you know, working all day and we just don't do that. And so it's like those little things.

Lauren Jones: That can make your life so much better. Oh, I actually got to use the restroom today. I got a five minute walk in, it's even again, like you said, that's those small things can really make a big difference. And eventually you work up to bigger changes like moving across the country.

Lauren Jones: but it doesn't have to be that. 

Megan Sprinkle: Yep. I recently was talking with someone, just about those little changes that you can make in the hospital that just make it a little bit more comfortable for everybody. And one example that we didn't get a chance to say on the recorded podcast, but was.

Megan Sprinkle: the front desk, people had to come back and, constantly interrupt all the doctors. And so what they decided to do was there was a set of red headphones that when you put on those headphones for 10 minutes, [00:30:00] it meant.

Megan Sprinkle: Unless somebody, something was dying that needed to leave you alone. So you could, do you have that concentrated time to get whatever tasks you need to done instead of being constantly interrupted. And so implementing something little like that 10 minutes of a signal that I need to focus, think about how impactful that could be just across the board.

Megan Sprinkle: And those little things start to compound and By the end, it may be big, but like you said, there's sometimes there's opportunities to do a big change. Even like the dreaded, changing medical, software or something like that. Yes, definitely. Since everybody nerve-racking and, when I was an intern, so baby doctor internship, and they went from paper to electronic medical records it was a lot of work, but by the end you're like, okay, I'm starting to see that.

Megan Sprinkle: This can be helpful. So sometimes it is, again, having the conversation starting at maybe even [00:31:00] starting the little things like that make the big changes a little bit easier. Cause they're like, okay, we've, we've done something kind of like this. We'll be okay. 

Lauren Jones: And it's, it's, having faith in your team, but also having curiosity in the team.

Lauren Jones: Right. and letting them be part of that conversation. It's not, I don't want to be a dictator as an owner. You know, I, I want to open that conversation and hear, what are your pain points throughout the day? That might be different than mine. I might assume that they're the same pain points as mine, but that might not be especially different roles, you know?

Lauren Jones: So opening that up and saying, and hearing them out and then hearing, um, You know what they want to do what changes they propose and letting them have some ownership of that and not shooting it all down and And understanding, especially like you said, in the bigger changes, like going from paper records to electronic medical records, to be upfront and go, there are going to be some days that are not going to be fun team, you know, especially in the beginning.

Lauren Jones: but we need to, you know, trust the process to put a little Phil Philly, 76ers reference in there to trust the process, and lean [00:32:00] on each other and, don't be angry and upset, you know, let's talk about it. And if this new system isn't working in the way that you want, well, let's, let's talk about it and figure out a different workflow.

Lauren Jones: and just always having that curiosity in the team, , asking them where, they're at in their careers, where they want to go, how can we help you do that? And, , helping them along that process and having that trust in them. 

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. And I loved the comment about, Giving them ownership of it, letting them give the ideas because usually they are much more ready to adopt it and do it.

Megan Sprinkle: So allowing them that opportunity again to participate in the conversation around the ideas around change. Makes it a lot easier to get people behind it, because it's their idea. So, yes, 

Lauren Jones: yes, one of the most powerful things that when I was, you know, before I own the practices, and it's something that I've tried to continue the most powerful, very simple phrase, though, is what do you think?

Lauren Jones: you know, so anytime somebody has a problem, they come to me, of course, I might have ideas. But I'm [00:33:00] from Philly, right? I can talk fast, you know, we, we want to just kind of jump in and get our thoughts out there, but I try to take a step back and go, okay, I hear you.

Lauren Jones: I hear your problem.  I've got some ideas, but what do you think? First? I want to hear what your thoughts are. And I think it is so powerful. And I loved hearing it as an associate vet. , and I hope that the team members or my kids or my husband, you know, again, going back to them, they have some ownership in that idea and more buy-in and that we can all really just kind of be, uh, be on the same team and, you know, rowing in the same direction.

Megan Sprinkle: Yes, exactly. Well, you talked about right now you're, trying to get more into writing so you, started writing back in 2021 for PetMD, which is really neat. And then trying to do more speaking and CE events. It may be some of the things we've already talked about, but are there certain topics that you really enjoy talking about or writing about?

Lauren Jones: So this is one that really just hits home for me. is talking about burnout and normalizing the depression and unhappiness in our careers, because, like I mentioned earlier, it's at some point, we just kind of all [00:34:00] agreed that this is okay to feel this way in vet med. And. You know, so I, I like to challenge that to push back.

Lauren Jones: Um, so that's one of the biggest things and not that I do everything right, but again, just to normalize it and to have that empathy of, it doesn't have to be again, it's, you know, going back to the mentors and the horrible bosses and hazing people, because this is the way I was taught. And so you need to go through it too.

Lauren Jones: And you gotta learn the ropes and all of those horrible things that we've, that we do to, you know, the younger generation and fighting that and saying, no, that's, it doesn't have to be this way. We can teach them and encourage them and support them and guide them in vet med. And honestly, I think that makes us better humans and makes us better vets too.

Lauren Jones: that's one of the my, just a passion that I have. And, I'll continue doing a lot of that stuff. I'd love to work with organizations like NOMV, N that's my sweet spot, but also I think I have a lot of, from practice ownership, I've purchased two hospitals, sold one, and I've done this all while having children and young kids too.

Lauren Jones: [00:35:00] So I'm sure you're familiar with the DVM mom group on Facebook, which is, you know, like, 20, 000 strong. Yes. Yes. I love that group. And I think some of the other topics that I'm excited to get into as I transition my role, , is how to do this with a family and still, and it ties back in.

Lauren Jones: And so, you know, finding your whys and your joys cause I really think that you can have a family and be active in your family and be a fantastic vet those things are not mutually exclusive. And so often it feels that way. So. Kind of using my experience and obviously, not everyone can pick up and move like I did.

Lauren Jones: but, when I mentioned in 2017, getting that email about the practice that ended up being the 1 that I used to work for, I had, my son was, you know, a month old at that point. And I was, you know, like feeding him when I got this email and I remember just thinking, are we crazy for doing this?

Lauren Jones: I've got a newborn at home and I have one practice and I'm going to take on another. but sometimes again, that's kind of where I told myself, all right, let's go. let's see where this [00:36:00] goes. One of the other, North Star phrases that we, that my husband and I use is to see it to its natural conclusion.

Lauren Jones: And so we said, okay, let's start the process. So we signed the NDA, looked at the financials, talked to the current owner who used to be my old, employer. And we just, at every point, you know, maybe there was a roadblock and we'd go, okay, well, is this the natural conclusion? No, okay, we'll keep going.

Lauren Jones: And then that ended with me owning the practice and, taking over and, going from there. So, but it's a juggle, you know, that juggling, work-life balance, as well as family, pets, and my own personal hobbies. Too often we go to the shadows, especially with, kids.

Lauren Jones: But. I think those are the, you know, prioritizing things. A lot of the things with the Vet Moms are other topics that I am looking forward to writing about. PetMD is great. I love, I love writing for them and creating really good content for clients. , easy to read. , the goal is to talk to clients about conditions, but that's, I don't get to, I don't have ownership of.

Lauren Jones: Topics, you know, they say, Hey, we need these articles written. I love doing it, but I'm really looking [00:37:00] forward to the stuff that I can control more talking about leaning on my, personal life and what I've learned and hopefully, that resonates with other people, 

Megan Sprinkle: And that's a big topic right now that, you know, we're focusing on at Vet Life Reimagined, round being a parent and doing, you know, All of these things, because I think that a lot of the people who are attracted to this industry are extremely passionate about the industry. At the same time, we're still human beings.

Megan Sprinkle: 1st, we still have interests that may not be directly related or family that we want to be a part of. I like that. You talked about having your staff write down the things that make them happy and revisiting that and making sure that they're still doing those things. And so if you, if you want to add a little bit more on maybe advice for other parents or maybe soon-to-be parents that feel this way, it's like, I, I love doing.

Megan Sprinkle: My work, but I, I do [00:38:00] know that I have this family that I also adore. I want to make sure that I can be part of this. I think we're, we're trying to get away from that work life balance, right? That it's not the quite right. Description of what we're trying to do, but yeah, what are some of your top tips that you think has allowed you to make sure that you are being fulfilled in all the areas?

Lauren Jones: It starts with that list and, and like you said, revisiting it, but it's also. Looking at it and then comparing it to your current work situation, , what is the culture? And is it in alignment with where I'm at? , and does that mean do I want to look for another job?

Lauren Jones: Do I want to talk to my employer? and say, I need more time on Wednesdays. I need to get done earlier. and, you know, Challenging well, this is just the way it's always been you work on Wednesdays. No, I, you know, I really want to get off because that's what my daughter goes horseback riding and I want to be there for her or whatever the case is.

Lauren Jones: So I think the, it's really aligning your culture and values and that changes to, you know, I am a different person when I graduated and what I needed and what I was [00:39:00] looking for versus who I am now and what I need out of my career and the businesses that I work for.

Lauren Jones: So, I, I think that's a constant, Reflection of where you're at and continuing to talk to people and if the answer is no all the time from your employers, and maybe that's not the best fit for you. And sometimes we need to see that and as much as that stinks, that might be the next step.

Lauren Jones: Hey, this isn't a good fit anymore. And that's okay. Right? Like, it's okay to just to acknowledge that. yeah, so that that's the biggest one for me is just to continually . Re-evaluate what makes you happy, but also, so you're "whys", but also your why nots. What doesn't fill your bucket anymore and what doesn't bring you that happiness.

Lauren Jones: Because sometimes if we can identify that, now we can't get rid of all of it, right? Like, I'd love to say, I want to get, you know, oh, it's my why nots are the, , aggressive dogs. Well, we all know we're not going to be able to get rid of the aggressive dogs, but maybe it's, I'm really unhappy with the amount of aggressive dogs we're seeing and I want to do something about it.

Lauren Jones: Maybe that's finding, you know, getting fear-free [00:40:00] certification and turning that into a positive, you know, so you're feeling good about your work. , so I really think it's, you know, it's not negative to say the things that you don't like. it's real. And then that can help you turn why nots into whys 

Megan Sprinkle: for me, it felt like we're coming back to the theme of change again on, especially with like new parents or, or even parents just as your kids change life stages and they're getting older and doing more activities, like your why and the things that make you happy. Can change. And I think this is, it sounds kind of crazy that I say this out loud, but it's true that sometimes that makes us uncomfortable to understanding that our "whys" and what makes us happy are changing can actually be uncomfortable to face.

Megan Sprinkle: And because it requires us often to make sure that we meet those things, to do something different. And again, it doesn't even have to be around children. It could just be, you, you went to a session and realized you loved, dog [00:41:00] repro.

Megan Sprinkle: What are you going to do now? You know, like those kinds of things, for those that get uncomfortable with that. And again, even for us that like change. Sometimes when something kind of challenges what we originally put our identity on or, our why on, it feels so wrong to have to change that.

Megan Sprinkle: but it's not wrong. It's very normal and it's natural. And so I think these are great things to recognize, find your support system of people who can support you with those changes. And yeah, I think that's, that's a ticket. 

Lauren Jones: And sitting in that uncomfortable feeling, right? That that it doesn't feel good, but so much good can come out of sitting there and feeling those, and saying, okay, well, you know, coming out of it with maybe a strategy or a plan and you hit the nail on the head to it's that support system, especially as a parent and being aligned with that support system on what you're, you know, It's [00:42:00] really, really important to understand what your goals are and, you know, not being afraid to say, I really do want to try it this way now. And my focus is changing and not feeling guilty about that and surrounding, your life with the people who are only going to encourage that and go, Okay, all right. Didn't see that change coming. Okay. Cool. Let's pivot and let's try that now, Yeah. I think that's, it's a great thing. 

Megan Sprinkle: Yeah. Well, I absolutely loved our conversation. I usually wrap up with the final few questions so as to get to know you a little bit better as well. So the first question is, do you have anything on your bucket list that you would like to do? 

Lauren Jones: Oh my goodness, so many things, so many bucket lists.

Lauren Jones: I'm a huge dinosaur, fanatic. if I could have had like a second, career, I would have definitely gone into paleontology, but I'm not sold on the dig sites for permanent job.

Lauren Jones: Bucket list out here, the going to some sites and seeing there's a place out here with these dinosaur footprints and, different canyons. And so that's a bucket list for me living in Arizona. I have, I've only been here 3 [00:43:00] years. so there's so much that I want to do, but really we're, there's so many great, you know, dinosaur related, activities that I really, that's a bucket list for me, which is random and silly, but that's one of my, one of my joys.

Megan Sprinkle: That is so cool. No, I love that. And Second question is, do you have a, well, and dinosaurs could be part of it, but skill or an interest that maybe not a lot of people know about? 

Lauren Jones: Yeah, I think it kind of goes back to, um, even when I practice medicine, , I was a small animal practitioner, but I would see a lot of exotic animals because I think there's a need for it in vet med.

Lauren Jones: there's specialists, but not everyone can afford that, or they might be long-distance. They can't go where the specialists are. So I would always say, yeah, I'll, I'll give it a shot.  I'll try it with a lot more success than, not. , so it was, it was a great thing.

Lauren Jones: And I loved the exotics, but that's really, especially moving to Arizona. The reptiles, or had really become, I always loved, you know, the snakes and the lizards, and especially if some people did see exotics, they're going to see the [00:44:00] bunnies and the Guinea pigs. It's even harder to find people who will see reptiles, especially snakes.

Lauren Jones: so I've leaned in on that and I am like an avid snake hunter around my house and all the kids, know that I'm looking for snakes, the good snakes, the bad snakes. I've relocated some rattlesnakes here. , so that is, I think most people are, don't know about me is that I have really become just like, uh, love my snakes, but also active in groups trying to kind of Change the, the bad rap that they get, you know, like, and that these are wonderful creatures that deserve to live and, fighting the culture of only good snakes, a dead snake, and, trying to show my friends pictures of my snakes, not, you know, the outside snakes, I don't have any, pets, 

Megan Sprinkle: Well, that could be very important information for those of us who are not quite that confident with snakes so that we know who to call to walk us through. Absolutely. Absolutely. So my fun story, side story, my husband, like his phobia is snakes and he actually told me that if he sees a snake in this house that I better run because he's going to burn [00:45:00] the house down.

Megan Sprinkle: So I was like, okay, so I guess I hope if there is a snake, I find it because I'm on my own. 

Lauren Jones: That's right. That's right. And you like your house. I'm sure. So yes, 

Megan Sprinkle: that would be a lot to overcome. so great skill to have. Cause it's needed for sure. 

Lauren Jones: Thank you. It's fun. It's fun for me, for sure.

Megan Sprinkle: And finally, what is something that you are very grateful for? 

Lauren Jones: Oh, I'm so grateful for the opportunities that I've had in, veterinary medicine and, um, So grateful that I was able to find my passion again, , and not become another statistic that I have the support system and the people in my life who are, who kind of let me do those things and try it out and to be open to change as well.

Lauren Jones: I am so grateful for where I'm at in, in my career that I am not only using my degree, but not, you know, Maybe not in the way that is traditional or that many people think that vets, you know, I'm not a traditional vet, but I'm happy. And [00:46:00] I'm so, so grateful for that and the opportunities there.

Megan Sprinkle: Thank you for listening to the episode. Please check out our detailed show notes for resources from this episode. Don't forget to sign up for the free May giveaway, which is ending soon. It will also have a couple of questions for us to learn more about how we can improve the podcast link in the description.

Megan Sprinkle: I want to thank our generous sponsors for this month, EU veterinary CE, Vet Badger, and William Tancredi's amazing substack. Again, check out the show notes to learn more and support those who support the podcast. We will have an exciting blast from the past next week to wrap up our month's focus on children and family.

Megan Sprinkle: So come back next week.