Learning As I Go
I had my first official appointment for Autumn Care & Crossings today. I guess that makes it real, now - I'm a business, with clients, and income.
(Yes, I promptly spent that income to buy the last few items I need - a wheeled stretcher and a baby scale - but still. It's a step in the right direction.)
All in all, it went surprisingly well and smoothly. It helps that I've done house-call euthanasias before; just never as my own business. As I get more experienced at this, I'm sure I'll streamline the process of getting charts prepared and invoices printed and my bag stocked and my controlled substances logged and the crematory contacted. It's a wake-up call as to just how much of the business I was isolated from as an associate and a relief vet; I was used to always having someone else to handle most of the paperwork and the before and after details. Still, it feels good to have a plan, and to know that that plan works.
And it was nice that the client wasn't a friend - it means that, slowly but surely, word is getting out about Autumn Care & Crossings. I'm nowhere near self-supporting yet, and I don't expect to be for a long time, but it's still a good sign.
And most of all... it felt good to be helping. I did something today that made a difference. Because I started this business, I was able to make a difficult and painful situation better for people who were hurting and an animal who was suffering.
That's why I decided to do this. And I'm glad to finally be on that path.
(Yes, I promptly spent that income to buy the last few items I need - a wheeled stretcher and a baby scale - but still. It's a step in the right direction.)
All in all, it went surprisingly well and smoothly. It helps that I've done house-call euthanasias before; just never as my own business. As I get more experienced at this, I'm sure I'll streamline the process of getting charts prepared and invoices printed and my bag stocked and my controlled substances logged and the crematory contacted. It's a wake-up call as to just how much of the business I was isolated from as an associate and a relief vet; I was used to always having someone else to handle most of the paperwork and the before and after details. Still, it feels good to have a plan, and to know that that plan works.
And it was nice that the client wasn't a friend - it means that, slowly but surely, word is getting out about Autumn Care & Crossings. I'm nowhere near self-supporting yet, and I don't expect to be for a long time, but it's still a good sign.
And most of all... it felt good to be helping. I did something today that made a difference. Because I started this business, I was able to make a difficult and painful situation better for people who were hurting and an animal who was suffering.
That's why I decided to do this. And I'm glad to finally be on that path.