Goal Setting: Stop Slaying Dragons That Do Not Exist

I hear it all the time.If I can just hire another Doctor, everything will be fine.If I can just see a few more patients, I will make enough for payroll.If I can just add one more exam room, we will finally be more productive.

Sound familiar?

This is what I call slaying dragons that do not exist. You keep fighting battles that feel urgent but do not actually solve the real problem. You are trying to defeat something that was never the enemy in the first place.

There is no final boss.

The Myth of “If I Just”

Many veterinary professionals fall into the “if I just” trap. The idea that if I can just do this one thing, if I can just hire one more Tech or Vet, just one more push, everything will finally be better. It gives the illusion of progress but keeps you stuck in the same loop.

You do not need another hire. You need systems that make your current team more efficient.You do not need to see more patients. You need to understand your financials and how to optimize them.You do not need another exam room. You need to fix the inefficiencies or bottlenecks that are preventing your progress.

The dragon is not outside your practice. It is inside your mindset.

The Endless Battle

The “if I just” approach gives you something to chase, and chasing feels like progress. But it keeps you reacting instead of leading. You spend all your time trying to fix symptoms instead of addressing causes.

It is like trying to stop a leaky pipe by putting a bucket underneath it. The bucket fills up, you feel productive emptying it, but the leak never stops.

Real growth begins when you stop chasing temporary fixes and start building lasting systems.

The Real Problem

While many practices share similar problems like people, space, and money, those are symptoms of a greater problem. Problems like culture, accountability, poor financial management or understanding, and a lack of vision or direction.

From “Gonna” to “Doing It”

Many practice owners live in a cycle of “gonna.”I am gonna fix scheduling.I am gonna hire better.I am gonna start tracking numbers.

But action never happens because they are too busy fighting the next dragon or putting out the next dumpster fire.

Doing it means being honest about what is broken and committing to fixing it with intention, without being sidetracked by the fires. They are symptoms, not causes.

Focus on the Foundation

Before you look for another quick fix, ask yourself a few questions.Do I know exactly where the bottleneck in my practice is?Do I have clear systems in place to manage people, money, and operations?Do I truly understand my numbers, or am I guessing?

If you cannot answer those clearly, that is your only real dragon.

You do not build a stronger practice by adding more moving parts. You build it by reinforcing the foundation.

Systems Beat Chaos

Systems are what separate a struggling clinic from a flourishing one. Systems turn chaos into continuity. They make hiring easier, finances predictable, and operations smoother.

Without systems, every new hire becomes another variable to manage. Every extra decision increases your stress. Every change feels like you are fighting against the world.

With systems, while it may look and feel like a battle, and you may feel overwhelmed, make no mistake, over time it will move your focus to where it is needed. Your systems will be the byproducts of effective delegation. The practice will run without constant firefighting because you have structure and accountability.

Shift the Mindset

The shift from chasing dragons to building systems is not easy, but it is necessary. It means admitting that the problem is not a lack of effort, it is a lack of focus. Prioritizing what is urgent and what is not, but most of all, wanting to change for something better. You need the desire to change.

The Real Win

The goal may not be to have a bigger practice. Maybe you thought being bigger is better, more profitable. But what if bigger is not better?

What if bigger meant a $10,000,000 practice, more HR headaches, and an 8% profit margin?What if a $5,000,000 practice ran at a 16% profit margin with fewer headaches?

Which is better? Same profit, less stress, more efficiency, more support for your team, and more time for you.

The truth is, you already have everything you need to succeed. You just need to use it better.

So take a step back. Look at the possibilities, not your “if I just” dragons. Then put down the sword and pick up a plan.

That is where real progress begins.