Coming from humble farm beginnings where I was taught the value of earning my way through hard work, I was highly competitive in elementary school during sports. I was discouraged against being too competitive, and although I believe I was born with some characteristics of leadership, I listened and backed down. As a result, I was not very competitive throughout high school, although I did participate in sports, learning a lot about teamwork and other good virtues that sports teaches us. Working on a farm by age 12, I knew the value of a hard day’s work. This instilled values in me to last a lifetime.

My first job was in a paint factory after graduating from high school. My servant leadership qualities were noticed soon by those in authority there, which led to my boss taking me golfing every week. Again, at my next job, I was given more leadership opportunities, and my boss taught me how his business worked. I then headed off to college to follow my dreams and become a Veterinarian. I attended the Iowa State University and in 1979 graduated with a degree as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

As it turned out, when I graduated from Iowa State University, I sought and found a practice which was doing 90% of its work on large farm animals, which is what I thought was a good fit for me. However, after some time, I found that it was more physically demanding than what I wanted to do. I also met my wife there through my place of employment, and worked for the man who would become my father-in-law. After working there for about a year, I bought in and worked on the conversion of the practice from being primarily a large-animal practice to one that handled small animals. This is what was needed.

By the year 1990, the practice was 100% converted over to a small animal practice. In 1997, I was able to sell the practice and move on the creation of a highly successful herbal supplement marketing company. Moving to Florida in 1999 was a big move in which I decided to buy 2 practices. Those practices, under my leadership, skyrocketed from $1 million to $4 million annually. In 2009, I decided to step back from full-time practice and focus on the growth and vision of Pet Doctors of America.

Following my even bigger dreams, my new vision is to help other Veterinarians to reach their goals by helping them grow and develop their businesses successfully using business principles. Using the web, television appearances, my blog, and other forms of media, I’m working on helping other Veterinarians make their dreams of owning a growing and successful practice a reality. I learned a lot in those early days working summers after high school, and I use those simple business practices and always have. Having been named to the Inc. 500|5000 two years in a row is one of my proud accomplishments. It isn’t everything, but certainly it is one thing that proves that anyone can make something of himself or herself if they really work hard.