We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lisa Coder a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lisa, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
Risk is hard. It’s scary. It’s easy to want to stay in your comfort zone, but that’s not how you grow; staying safe is staying stagnant. You won’t know what you are capable of until you try. I saw a silly sign once that said, “be brave enough to suck at something new”, and that really changed my perspective on things.
No one is good at something the first time they try. Take small risks. I posted a story I wrote, anonymously, online. I did not consider myself a writer. I got a good reception, so I kept doing it. I made new friends – ‘writer’ friends. It expanded my skills, boosted my confidence. I discovered a love for words, I discovered a new social outlet, and I discovered that I love to write.
Put yourself out there. You might fail, your story might suck. But mostly, practice taking risks. The more you try, the more you discover about yourself. Build confidence in small ways. When you fail, you learn – about yourself, about your abilities, and about dealing with failure. Try again, but do it better; if not better, at least do it differently.
I bought a veterinary clinic almost two years ago. I’d never run a business. I’d been a supervisor but never the only one in charge. But I had a vision, and I knew I could deal with failures. We’ve had some epic failures. We got through them. But mostly, we’ve had outstanding success – and although it doesn’t look exactly like I’d imagined, it’s actually been an amazing journey.
Things might not work out the way you want. But just think – maybe they will work out better than you ever expected.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m Dr. Lisa Coder, and I graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. Since then, I have worked in many different types of veterinary clinics, from equine, to mixed animal, to ER. I even served a few years with the USDA as a public health veterinarian. I love all animals and strive to provide a safe, comfortable, and compassionate place for the people and pets who make up our community family.
In 2021,I began Home Vet, an alternative and holistic veterinary practice that provided acupuncture, therapeutic laser, and herbal medicine to pets in Sioux Falls. In March of 2023, Home Vet expanded to become Vital Animal Veterinary Clinic – a surprise purchase to continue a 30+ year legacy of a colleague. I believe in compassion, understanding, and above all, love. I believe it is within every animal to find balance and health. At Vital Animal Veterinary Clinic, we care, we heal, and your family thrives.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Resilience. Learn to take risks. Learn to fail gracefully. Learn to try again. Have confidence in your ability to get back up and try again.
Honesty. Be honest with yourself, especially about what you want and what you are willing to do to get it. Be honest with the people you work with; set realistic expectations and demand honesty from them. Build a culture of trust.
Love. Love the people around you. Show them and tell them. Love them because of their faults, not in spite of their faults. Everyone makes mistakes, love them anyway. Not everyone is where you are in your journey, but everyone is deserving of love. Make the world a better place.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
We struggle with efficiency. I have an amazing team, but we often get bogged down in details and discussions instead of actions. I have been working hard to encourage my team to take risks, to try new things. I think the worst rut you can get stuck in is the ‘we’ve always done xyz’. Think outside the box. Make a change, maybe it will work better. Make a decision – it’ll work or it won’t, and we can always try again. As the only veterinarian, a lot of decisions are only mine to make, but I try to empower my team to make any they can. It takes things off my plate and gives them ownership in our venture. We still struggle with the confidence to try new things, and we still do many many things that are inefficient or get stuck with doubts about whether something will work the way we want.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.homevetpc.coim
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Vital-Animal-Veterinary-Clinic-100076364851885/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-coder-9ba68235
- Other: https://www.patreon.com/VAVC/posts
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
