133: Weak Graduates or Tired Owners? The Real Problem We’re Not Talking About
Wed Feb 04 2026
In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m responding to the reaction.
Specifically, the wave of comments that followed a recent episode and social posts about a new graduate’s early experience in practice.
If you saw the Instagram reel or Facebook video, you’ll know the conversation struck a nerve.
Some comments were thoughtful and supportive. Others were angry, frustrated, and aimed squarely at “weak graduates”, falling standards, and a profession that feels like it’s under siege.
Today, I want to slow that conversation down.
Rather than adding to the noise, this episode looks beneath it, at the fatigue, the stretched systems, and the pressure that’s been building across the profession for a long time.
We talk about grit, resilience, mentorship, and why toughness isn’t something people arrive with on day one. It’s something that gets built, or broken, by the environments we place them into.
If you’re worried about standards, frustrated by how hard ownership has become, or quietly wondering whether the profession you love is changing in ways you don’t recognize, this is a conversation worth sitting with.
Referenced Posts:
Instagram reel:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DTvXiAlCSZX/
Facebook video:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1397139445528655
Episode Outline:
[00:00] – Why this conversation exploded
[02:45] – Are graduates really the problem?
[05:30] – The myth of “grit” at graduation
[08:40] – Why our early careers weren’t the same
[11:30] – When hard work turns into attrition
[14:15] – Mentorship as leadership, not therapy
[16:45] – The damage caused by sink or swim
[18:30] – What high standards actually look like
[20:00] – The responsibility owners still hold
[21:45] – Building resilience the right way
Follow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership Insights:
Instagram: @drdavenicol
Learn more about leadership training: Veterinary Leadership Academy
Enjoyed this episode?
If this episode made you pause or reflect, I’d really appreciate you leaving a review on iTunes and sharing it with someone else in the profession. These conversations matter – and how we handle them shapes what comes next.
Be safe. Be well. And take care of each other.
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In this episode of the Veterinary Leadership Success Show, I’m responding to the reaction. Specifically, the wave of comments that followed a recent episode and social posts about a new graduate’s early experience in practice. If you saw the Instagram reel or Facebook video, you’ll know the conversation struck a nerve. Some comments were thoughtful and supportive. Others were angry, frustrated, and aimed squarely at “weak graduates”, falling standards, and a profession that feels like it’s under siege. Today, I want to slow that conversation down. Rather than adding to the noise, this episode looks beneath it, at the fatigue, the stretched systems, and the pressure that’s been building across the profession for a long time. We talk about grit, resilience, mentorship, and why toughness isn’t something people arrive with on day one. It’s something that gets built, or broken, by the environments we place them into. If you’re worried about standards, frustrated by how hard ownership has become, or quietly wondering whether the profession you love is changing in ways you don’t recognize, this is a conversation worth sitting with. Referenced Posts: Instagram reel: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTvXiAlCSZX/ Facebook video: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1397139445528655 Episode Outline: [00:00] – Why this conversation exploded [02:45] – Are graduates really the problem? [05:30] – The myth of “grit” at graduation [08:40] – Why our early careers weren’t the same [11:30] – When hard work turns into attrition [14:15] – Mentorship as leadership, not therapy [16:45] – The damage caused by sink or swim [18:30] – What high standards actually look like [20:00] – The responsibility owners still hold [21:45] – Building resilience the right way Follow Dr. Dave Nicol for More Leadership Insights: Instagram: @drdavenicol Learn more about leadership training: Veterinary Leadership Academy Enjoyed this episode? If this episode made you pause or reflect, I’d really appreciate you leaving a review on iTunes and sharing it with someone else in the profession. These conversations matter – and how we handle them shapes what comes next. Be safe. Be well. And take care of each other.