This document provides tips on how to be an indispensable employee. It discusses the importance of being a low-maintenance employee who is flexible and willing to adapt to change. It also emphasizes the value of being a problem solver who tries different solutions until the problem is resolved rather than just telling the boss. Additionally, it recommends acting like you own the practice by being passionate about your work and thinking about how your actions impact clients and other staff. The overall message is that staff should be proactive, ask questions the boss doesn't ask, and take initiative in order to make themselves invaluable to the practice.

1. How to be THE employee
(associate DVM, staff member)
your practice can not live without!
2
Raymond J. Ramirez DVM
Locum tenens from 1989 – 2007 in over 100 practices
Owner Lakeview Veterinary Clinic
since Dec 2007

2. As we begin
• Who is here?
• A) Practice owner or partner
• B) Associate DVM
• C) Certified Technician
• D) Assistant
• E) Receptionist
• F) Office or Practice manager
3

3. Problem:
Your boss WILL at some point have to
reduce payroll by
Reducing hours of full or part time employees
‘Downsize’, ‘Lay off’, ‘terminate’ = Eliminating staff.
How do I make sure I am the last person he
or she will eliminate?
This presentation is to be interactive – please
ask questions and will address as goes
along.
4

4. 15
14
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2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
Welcome to
Who Wants to
be an
Employee
Millionaire
50:50
6

5. Another
Presentation
© 2002 - All rights Reserved
nygiantsbigblue@yahoo.com
7

6. 15
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$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
8
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

7. A: more than 50%
C: 25%
B: <= 10%
D: 35%
50:50
15
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1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
The average profit
of a well run
practice is:
Profit = (Gross – Expenses) /
Gross (+/-2%)
9

8. Sample practice
• Gross income: $479,000
• Cost of Goods sold $107,000
• Employee costs $220,000
– staff meetings
– CE for staff
• Medical Operational $27,000
– lab espense
– outside lab
– radaition
– equip mantenenc econtract
– animal disposal
11

9. Sample practice
• Gross income: $479,000
• Cost of Goods sold $107,000
• Employee costs $220,000
• Medical Operational $27,000
• Building Expenses$43,000
–Rent
–Power
–Water, sewer,
–Garbage
–Outdoor plowing
–Repair & maintenance 12

10. Sample practice
• Gross income: $479,000
• Cost of Goods sold $107,000
• Employee costs $220,000
• Medical Operational $27,000
• Building Expenses $43,000
• Office Expenses $31,000
– Office Suplies
– Computer & Internet
– Credit card fees
– Postage
– Telephone
– Dues & Espense
– meals (staff meeting) 13

11. Sample practice
• Gross income: $479,000
• Cost of Goods sold $107,000
• Employee costs $220,000
• Medical Operational $27,000
• Building Expenses $43,000
• Office Expenses $31,000
• General Operation$28,500
– Accounting & legal
– liability insurance
– bank charges
– Busisness license & permits
– ad & Promotion
– Donations
– sales/ use tax 14

12. Sample practice
• Gross income: $479,000
• Cost of Goods sold $107,000
• Employee costs $220,000
• Medical Operational $27,000
• Building Expenses $43,000
• Office Expenses $31,000
• General Operation $28,500
• Interest & Depreciation $12,000
• Total Expenses:
$468,500
• Net Profit: $10,500
• Net % profit: 2.1% 15

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1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
16
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

14. A: ask off more
than 3x/ 4 month
C: Argue with manager
when you are wrong
B: Ask for more time
off than contracted
D: Follow rules of
work
50:50
15
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11
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8
7
6
5
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3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
Being a Low
Maintenance
Employee would
include:
17

15. Be Low Maintenance
• Be flexible enough to adapt to change
– Even when something is frightening. Show
that you will try.
– Computer industry –
• search engines
• 2001:AOL; 2004: AltaVista… where are they
now?
18

16. 15
14
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12
11
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9
8
7
6
5
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3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
20
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

17. A: Adjust & Promote (sell)
appropriate procedures
C: Scare & do nothing
B: Try to talk
client into old way
D: Quit & flip burgers
50:50
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11
10
9
8
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5
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1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
Being a low Maintenance
employee means: if the
practice is changing
because of a shift in
focus, I will:
21

18. Be Low Maintenance
• Be flexible enough to adapt to change
– Veterinary industry : low cost OHE/ neuter
– Pharmacy
22

19. Be Low Maintenence
The Key to Success is:
Do what you don’t
feel like doing!
23

20. Examples of ‘high
maintenance’
• asking for schedule
change after schedule out
• asking vacation when not
accumulated
• asking for more hours, but
not these days
• complaining that have to
work weekends
24
• asking for time off with less
advance notice than in
employee manual
• not doing your tasks because
‘seeing if someone else will
do them.’

21. 15
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9
8
7
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5
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3
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1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
Be a problem Solver 25
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

22. A: Try different things
until it works
C: Try two things
and tell boss
B: Tell the boss
D: Buy new machine and
take trip to Bahama’s
50:50
15
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11
10
9
8
7
6
5
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3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
I want to be a
problem solver, so
when the IV pump
begins beeping with
a problem, I:
26

23. Be willing to try things
• When you ask questions, your boss
gets frustrated. If you ask questions
that has already set up as policy, it is
annoying to ask your boss.
• If something happens, which type of
person are you?
27

24. Being a problem solver
• Why did Ms Cole get opportunity to go
to Australia?
• Manager said:
–relied upon
–good at teaching
–get along with peers.
–can do everything in business
28

25. Being a problem solver
• If your boss won an all expenses
trip for 2 employees to Australia…..
Would your boss send you?
Wrong question:
‘Why don’t you send me?’…
“What can I do to be that person
you would send?”
29

26. 15
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$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
30
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

27. A: Increased signficantly
C: Pulled all
B: Kept same
D: Decreased significantly
50:50
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$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
I want to get the practice a
Facebook presence, so you
know that in May 2012, GM
did the following with it’s
$10,Milllion Ad budget in
Facebook
31

28. Be a problem solver
• Lights in rooms
• Anesthetic monitor device
• Health care
32

29. the $1,000
Milestone!
34

30. 15
14
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$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
35
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

31. A: Passionate about work
C: Dress the part
B: Take trip to Bahamas
for no reason
D: Think big picture
50:50
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1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
While acting like
you own the place,
you would not do
this:
36

32. Are you acting like you own
the place?
• Being passionate and
excited about – any work is
a choice – not a result.
37

33. Act like you own the place
• YOU are an extension of your company
to the general public
• This is hard in the grocery store, or
shopping or out to eat
– If you think you at war with your boss…
then your clients will see it
• The customer is ALWAYS watching
38

34. Act like you own the place
& like it• List three things you like about your job
– 1
– 2
– 3
• What do you like…. Think about it on the way home.
“I long to accomplish a great and noble talks, but it is my
chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they
were great and noble”
Helen Keller
39

35. 15
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$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
When answering the questions the boss does not ask,
40
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

36. A: 1
C: 3
B: 2
D: 4 or more
50:50
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$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
As I look at our
practice, we carry
this many different
Heartworm
prevention options
41

37. In previous example of HW
• How does that look to client?
• How do staff respond?
42

38. Being proactive
• What are things we can create a
‘premortem’ that would help the
practice?
• That would help the pet?
• Help the practice serve the client?
• Help the boss? – isn’t that illegal?
43

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$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
44
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

40. A: work on case in
fair rotation
C: Take trip to Bahamas
B: Always leave because
“it’s not my practice”
D: sneak out the back
50:50
15
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1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
When a last minute
medical case comes
in, I
45

41. Ask the questions the Boss not ask
• “Seven Habits of Highly successful people”
Steven Covey
– First habit: Be Proactive
– You can cultivate this trait – you do it now.
– Dog body language
46

42. Ask the Questions Boss not ask
• Inventory management
– A DVM/CVT removes the last bottle of your anesthetic
induction agent from the closet.. But does not put it on a
want list, because that is not her job.
– Do you help, or hinder the practice’s inventory
management?
47

43. 15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
48
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

44. A: Greet patient
C: wear white lab coat
B: wear scrubs
D: chewing gum
50:50
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
In a recent study published
in BMJ open, the
researchers found patients
preferred the doctor have
this one standard for seeing
patients.
49

45. Why is this controversial?
50

46. Why is this controversial?
51

47. Why is this controversial?
52

48. Why is this controversial.
• Do you know of TLC
53

49. 15
14
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5
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$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
54
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

50. A: <5
C: 14
B: 12
D: 30
50:50
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
Of the top 150 of clients in a
practice, this is the number
of clients who do not have
an e-mail address to send
the clinic e-mail newsletter.
55

51. Do clothes
matter to the
wearer?
56

52. But do cloths matter to the wearer?
Journal of Experimental Psychology Feb
2012
57

53. But do cloths matter to the wearer?
Journal of Experimental Psychology Feb
2012
58

54. But do cloths matter to the wearer? Or even associated
for
Journal of Experimental Psychology Feb
2012
59

55. But do cloths matter to the wearer?
Journal of Experimental Psychology Feb
2012
Wearing professional clothes makes you
smarter? Or does it help you focus?
60

56. 61

57. the $32,000
Milestone!
62

58. 15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
When your boss or coworker corrects you
63
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

59. A: Boss Hates me
C: Trying to
get rid of me
B: Want me to be
better
D: want to do own
thing
50:50
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
This is THE reason
your boss or co-
worker is criticizing
you
64

60. What does criticism mean?
What about if you notice you
are messing up and no one
corrects you- isn’t that good?
65

61. What if they do want to help?
What happens when you get
defensive?
66

62. 15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
67
How to be
well liked
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

63. A: never say anything
C: To smile
B: always criticize
the boss
D: always be reading
journals (or vin)
50:50
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
The surest and
simplest way to
have your boss and
co-workers like you
is:
68

64. Be Liked
Is that true? Can smiling really help?
University of Pittsburgh study found
positive correlation between the bigger
the smile, the more trustworthy they
appeared to be!
69

65. Be Liked
Author Shawn Achor in “The Happiness
Advantage” says by making smiling part
of our every day pattern, we build a habit
of happiness.
“Happiness is a work ethic. It’s something
that requires our brains to train just like an
athlete has to train.”
70

66. Be Liked
But is it of value? Veterinarians especially
are into the productivity side of things.
71

67. Be Liked
• How do we do that and not look silly?
72

68. 15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
73
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

69. A: The Office
C: It’s a Wonderful Life
B: The Simpsons
D: The Waltons
50:50
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
Why do I think boss’ and
profit is a bad word?
The last show that
showed a gracious and
wise boss is:
74

70. To love your job
• Who wants to make an impact?
75

71. To love your job
“yea, but they don’t pay me enough for this
job”
I’m just sitting here until I get my dream job
Work ethic (do your job, do good work, help
co-workers , ask for help being) is never
income based, but matter of YOUR ethic
76

72. To love your job
They don’t pay enough for this job
Not give 100% at minimum wage,
Will not give 100% at $200,000 / year
77

73. To love your job
don’t pay enough for this job
Why?
Jobs not last forever ……..
Habits, character, and reputations
Veterinary medicine is VERY small
community, and we talk to each other
78

74. To love your job
don’t pay enough for this job
If at job that is beneath you, or not like, …
Best way to get out is give 100%
Why?
79

75. 15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
80
Low maintenance
Problem Solver
Own the place
Questions not asked
Listen to criticism
Smile
Purpose of work

76. A: Help practice make
more money
C: Always save
client money
B: not know or do job
duties
50:50
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
The surest way to to
make more money
at work is:
D: Take time helping
rescue group
81

77. To help practice make money
• One thing to improve on is why do
‘boring stuff’
82

78. To help practice make money
• We Christians have and advantage!
Paul told his followers in Phillipi :
I have learned in whatsoever state I am in therewith to
be content.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.
Ph 4:11, 14
83

79. 15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
84

80. A: Create jobs
C: Support community
B: To make money
D: Help rescue non
profit groups
50:50
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
$1 Million
$500,000
$250,000
$125,000
$64,000
$32,000
$16,000
$8,000
$4,000
$2,000
$1,000
$500
$300
$200
$100
The purpose of work
is:
85

81. Veterinary dollars
86

82. How do we become THE
employee?
Free motivational quote e-mail at
RamirezDVM.com
“Personal Improvement” category
88
Questions?