140: Why I Sold My Veterinary Practice - The Veterinary Leadership Success Show | Lyssna här

For the first time in more than 20 years, I'm no longer a veterinary practice owner.

That feels strange to say.

Owning practices has shaped so much of my career and, if I'm honest, a big part of who I am. So when the time came to sell my final practice, it was never simply a business transaction. It was the closing of a chapter that began back in 2005.

In this episode, I reflect on that journey. The fixer-uppers, the mistakes, the lessons, leading a practice from the other side of the world, rebuilding after COVID, and the incredible people who made it all worthwhile.

But this isn't really a story about selling a practice.

It's about stewardship.

Over the years, I've become convinced that our job as leaders is to leave things better than we found them. To create opportunities for others, help people grow, and build practices where both people and pets can thrive. Too often, success is measured by the biggest exit or the highest multiple. I think there are other measures of success that matter far more.

That's why I didn't sell Roundwood Vets to the highest bidder.

I sold it to the people who had already earned the right to lead it. Our Medical Director, Dr Jo, and our Practice Manager, Nikki, had been showing up day after day for the team, the pets and the community. Making them the next owners simply felt like the right thing to do.

If you're thinking about the future of your own practice, your leadership, or the legacy you'll leave behind, I hope this episode encourages you to think differently about what success can really look like. Because sometimes the old has to move on so something even better can flourish.

Episode Outline:

[00:00] A new chapter begins

[01:30] My 20-year ownership journey

[06:50] Why I built Roundwood Vets

[11:30] Turning around a struggling practice

[14:20] COVID, leadership and rebuilding

[16:00] Creating a people-first culture

[19:50] The changing veterinary profession

[27:00] Why stewardship matters more than profit

[29:00] Selling to the team, not the highest bidder

[31:10] Why representation in ownership matters

[32:45] Success beyond the biggest exit

[33:50] Gratitude and looking ahead

What legacy are you building as a leader?

Whether you're planning your next phase, thinking about succession, or simply trying to build a practice that's stronger, calmer and less dependent on you, I'd be happy to help.

Book a 20-minute Leadership Call with me and we'll talk through where your practice is today, what's holding it back, and the leadership shifts that can help you build the future you want.