On this ride-along episode of Bits By Leather, Leather Brice, CVBL, shares a barn-side epiphany: even the most reliable horse needs boundaries—and so do your most reliable team members. Using her 20-year-old, rock-steady gelding as a metaphor, Leather explores how leaders often let top performers slide on standards out of fear of “breaking what works.” She unpacks why that mindset backfires and offers a simple reset: clear expectations, consistent follow-through, and courageous conversations. If you’ve got long-time staff who always come through but sometimes skip the process, this is your cue to hold them, lovingly, accountable. Walk away with practical steps for check-ins, coaching, and reinforcing culture without losing the heart of your team.

🐴 Key Takeaways

1. Reliability doesn’t replace accountability: Even “rock-steady” top performers need clear standards and consequences.
2. Tenure bias is real: Longtime team members often get unintentional passes that erode culture and fairness.
3. Fear fuels avoidance: Leaders sometimes skip hard feedback to avoid “breaking what works,” which enables bad habits.
4. Consistency is kindness: Apply the same rules to everyone—best performers included—so expectations stay clear.
5. Address behavior, not person: Praise reliability and contributions while correcting specific process breaks.
6. Coach for growth: Pair accountability with support—training, resources, and recognition when behavior improves.

In this heartfelt episode of Keys to Harmony, Harmony Butler invites you to pause and answer a powerful question: How are you really doing?

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Harmony explores love — not in the romantic sense, but the kind of love we have (or want to have) for our work, our teams, and the impact we make every day in veterinary medicine.

Too often, we tie our happiness to someone else’s actions. If they would just change… then I’d love my job. But what if we’ve been setting the wrong goals all along?

Through a simple but transformative mindset shift, Harmony challenges you to identify your true goal — the feeling you’re actually chasing — and shows how you can start experiencing it today, without waiting on anyone else.

If your goal is to love your work, feel free, or create a better culture, this episode will help you take ownership of that experience now.

Because the key to harmony? It starts with you.

1. The real goal isn’t the outcome — it’s the feeling you believe the outcome will give you.
2. Waiting on others to change delays your own fulfillment.
3. You can experience love for your work now — without external validation.
4. Small, intentional actions can shift workplace culture.
5. Personal responsibility is the first step toward creating harmony.

In this quick-hit episode of Bits By Leather, Leather Brice bundles up against the Texas cold and drops a simple but powerful truth: culture change starts with the words you repeat every day. From her lifelong love of the word “rad” to the team-favorite “jazzed,” Leather shows how specific language catches on—and how the same approach cements your practice’s core values. Learn how to turn values like “we are timely” and “we are empathetic” into daily habits, why the “driving test” is the ultimate measurable for behavior, and how consistent, lived language engages your whole team. Shout-out to the hardworking crew at Alameda Pet Hospital—2026 is going to be your best year yet.

Key takeaways:

1. Say it to see it: the words you repeat become the behaviors you measure
2. Use core-value phrasing daily (“We are timely,” “We are direct and kind communicators”)
3. Model first, then multiply: act out the culture you want others to mirror
4. Aim for 2026: set a clear culture goal and speak it into existence

Ever find yourself opening Instagram without meaning to—and then wondering how you got there? In this episode of Tuesdays With Teichberg, Rachel Teichberg shares why she decided to take a break from social media and the surprising calm and clarity that followed.

Rachel breaks down what’s really happening in our brains when we scroll (hello, dopamine overload and comparison fatigue) and why “mindless” scrolling isn’t actually relaxing. She offers clear signs you might need a reset and a doable, low-pressure plan:

• Delete the app (not your account) to remove temptation
• Start with just one day—then decide if you want more
• Tell your people so you don’t miss important updates
• Replace the habit with healthier options: a book on Kindle, a walk, play with the dog, journaling, music, a few deep breaths

Most importantly, this is about taking back control of your attention and time—without disappearing. Try a 24-hour break and see what you discover about yourself.

Snippet is just 8 minutes 44 seconds.

Tuesdays with Teichberg will return in February of 2026, with a new format, day and time! Be on the look-out for new announcements about Rachel's new podcast!

Want to get more support on topics for your team or address issues in your practice?

You can learn more about Rachel Teichberg and the Veterinary Practice Coaches at vgpvet.com. Or schedule with a practice coach today through the Practice Coach Hotline.

In this snippet:

In this inspiring episode of "Bits By Leather," Leather Brice shares her exhilarating experience of winning a rodeo with her personal best time, highlighting the power of personal accountability and initiative. Drawing parallels between her success in the rodeo circuit and the veterinary practice, Leather emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one's own growth and performance. She challenges listeners to stop waiting for others and instead ask themselves, "What can I do?" to enhance their skills and contribute positively to their teams. Discover how embracing personal accountability can lead to remarkable success both in and out of the arena.

Snippet is just 3 minutes 57 seconds.

New episodes of Bits by Leather Brice on the Weekly Huddle drop on Thursdays at 6 AM Central.

Want to get more support on topics for your team or address issues in your practice?

You can learn more about Leather Brice and the Veterinary Practice Coaches at vgpvet.com. Or schedule with a practice coach today through the Practice Coach Hotline.

In this snippet:

In this episode of "Bits by Leather" as she wraps up the Pathway Planning series by focusing on setting one-year goals and milestones. Leather delves into the importance of identifying top weaknesses and transforming them into actionable goals. Learn how to break down broad objectives into manageable milestones, ensuring your team is aligned and moving in the right direction. Whether it's improving communication or enhancing emotional intelligence, Leather provides practical insights to help your team achieve its targets. Plus, discover details about the upcoming "Fast Track" workshop on December 3rd, designed to help leaders like you fast-track your pathway planning for 2026.

Snippet is just 8 minutes 30 seconds.

New episodes of Bits by Leather Brice on the Weekly Huddle drop every Thursday at 6 AM Central.

Want to get more support on topics for your team or address issues in your practice?

You can learn more about Leather Brice and the Veterinary Practice Coaches at vgpvet.com. Or schedule with a practice coach today through the Practice Coach Hotline.

In this snippet:

In this episode of "Bits by Leather," Leather Brice shares the transformative power of setting a five-year target as part of your Pathway Plan. Discover how to create a compelling vision for your practice that includes measurable goals and inspires your team to work together towards a shared future. Leather shares personal and professional stories that illustrate the impact of writing down and sharing your vision with your team. Learn how transparency and collaboration can accelerate your progress and lead to remarkable achievements. Tune in for practical advice and inspiration to set your practice on a path to success.

Snippet is just 8 minutes 0 seconds.

New episodes of Bits by Leather Brice on the Weekly Huddle drop every Thursday at 6 AM Central.

Want to get more support on topics for your team or address issues in your practice?

You can learn more about Leather Brice and the Veterinary Practice Coaches at vgpvet.com. Or schedule with a practice coach today through the Practice Coach Hotline.

In this snippet:

In this episode of "Bits by Leather," Leather Brice guides you through the essential process of creating a transformation statement as part of your Pathway Plan. Discover how to identify your practice's top five weaknesses and transform them into actionable goals that align your team and drive progress. Leather shares insights on gathering team feedback, setting realistic transformation timelines, and crafting a statement that serves as a focal point for your practice's efforts over the next few years. Whether it's improving communication or managing inventory, learn how to turn challenges into opportunities for growth. Tune in for practical advice and inspiration to kickstart your practice's transformation journey.

Snippet is just 7 minutes 34 seconds.

New episodes of Bits by Leather Brice on the Weekly Huddle drop every Thursday at 6 AM Central.

Want to get more support on topics for your team or address issues in your practice?

You can learn more about Leather Brice and the Veterinary Practice Coaches at vgpvet.com. Or schedule with a practice coach today through the Practice Coach Hotline.