It's not your practice ...

Or is it? You don't need to own something to love it like your own. I love Degas, and yet I don't own a single painting. My husband and I have "our song," but we don't own the rights to it. It's simply something that we connect with and made our own. I don't own this magazine, but I'm passionate about every word, every piece of art, and every picture on the page.

You probably don't own your practice, either, but I'm here to tell you it's yours. Not in a legal sense, but in the most important way—you love it, you love what you do, and you put your best efforts into helping clients and pets every day.

Portia Stewart

I've noticed something. When you really love what you do, you're never satisfied with second best. No one wants their name on work they're not proud of.

That's why we read every issue of Firstline again after it's printed. We look for all of the things we would have—or could have—done differently. Often it's little things: a place where we wished we had space for one more picture or a great idea for a tip or form that would have really completed the package. Or sometimes it's a change inspired by readers—you tell us what you want, and we try to make it happen. We take all of those ideas with us as we plan the next issue

and try to do our best job even better.

I think this is a strategy that could work for you, too. Maybe you look around the practice and notice a place where systems are breaking down—callbacks aren't happening, clients are waiting at the checkout desk, schedules are running behind. Then brainstorm a solution.

You might not hit upon the right solution every time, but once you've identified the areas you want to improve, you're ready to make change happen. And when you're the driving force behind good changes at your hospital, it really is your practice.

Portia Stewart, Editor

firstline@advanstar.com