<p>Veterinary careers rarely unfold according to plan. </p><p>They evolve through opportunity, relationships, timing — and often through saying yes before we feel fully ready. </p><p>In this episode of <em>Choose People Love Pets</em>, <strong>Dr. Gary Marshall </strong>— practice owner, feline-focused entrepreneur, and longtime contributor to organized veterinary medicine — reflects on the winding path of a decades-long career. From building “Cat Class” for students across six continents to navigating leadership roles and professional transitions, Gary shares what saying yes created… and what it cost. </p><p>This conversation explores: </p><ul><li><p>The hidden trade-offs of opportunity </p></li><li><p>The cost of always saying yes — and the cost of always saying no </p></li><li><p>Loneliness in leadership, even in rooms full of thousands </p></li><li><p>Why customer service will matter more in a shifting economic landscape </p></li><li><p>What younger generations are teaching the profession about agency </p></li><li><p>How culture moves from philosophy to business infrastructure </p></li></ul><p>As veterinary medicine moves out of survival mode and into a more uncertain market environment, the question isn’t just how to grow — but how to evolve. </p><p>This episode is about discernment, relevance, and building a career that reflects who you are — not just the titles you collect. </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Key Takeaways </strong></p><p>• Saying yes can shape your career in ways you can’t predict — but every yes carries a cost. <br>• Guarding boundaries is important, but rigidity can limit growth. <br>• Leadership can be deeply lonely — belonging requires intention. <br>• Culture isn’t soft — it’s structural to retention, client trust, and financial resilience. <br>• Economic shifts will reward practices that never stopped prioritizing experience. <br>• Younger veterinarians are modeling agency — and the profession is evolving because of it. </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>About Dr. Gary Marshall </strong></p><p>Dr. Gary Marshall is a veterinary practice owner and longtime leader in organized veterinary medicine. Over the course of his career, he has contributed to professional organizations, mentored students across the globe through “Cat Class,” and built a feline-focused practice aligned with his values and vision for modern veterinary care. </p><p><strong>Email</strong>: <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p><p><strong>Linkedin</strong>: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/garymarshalldvm/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.linkedin.com/in/garymarshalldvm/</a> </p><p><strong>Instagram</strong>: @it.might.get.weird  </p><p><strong>Podcast</strong>: It Might Get Weird: Journeys In Veterinary Medicine </p><ul><li><p>Spotify <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3nzCLsF3xiIGeytyp8qDJW?si=08e194c78287445f" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://open.spotify.com/show/3nzCLsF3xiIGeytyp8qDJW?si=08e194c78287445f</a> </p></li><li><p>Itmightgetweird.buzzsprout.com  </p></li></ul><p><strong>Follow CPLP Podcast for more:  </strong></p><p><strong>FB</strong>: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556480229406&mibextid=LQQJ4d" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556480229406&amp;mibextid=LQQJ4d⁠</a>  </p><p><strong>IG</strong>: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/choosepeoplelovepets?igsh=MTVzZjc4ZHE4MWd2NQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠https://www.instagram.com/choosepeoplelovepets?igsh=MTVzZjc4ZHE4MWd2NQ%3D%3D&amp;utm_source=qr⁠</a>  </p><p><strong>LI</strong>: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/choose-people-love-pets/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/choose-people-love-pets/⁠</a>  </p>