Rest assured, the next 10 years will be very different from the last decade for small businesses.

A veterinary practice is a quintessential small business and must make some adjustments if it is to remain successful.

It's true the economy has some people spooked, but for those of us who have been through some challenging times this is just another chapter in the book of "When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

It is possible to thrive during a down economy. The key is to pay attention and not take success as a given right; instead, we must do the right things.

All things run in cycles. Business cycles generally have a lifespan of three to five years, which means that about every three years we need to re-address our business plan, mission and direction.

If you are successful and thriving today, it is because of the last three years. But what you are currently doing — even if you are successful today — does not assure your success in the next three to five years.

If we address and tune up our business plan annually, we are unlikely to be surprised with our success as we pass through these cycles.

Start with a self-assessment.

That means, in a sense, "fire" yourself. Yes, take a deep breath, then promise to rehire yourself after you answer the question: When you come back, what will you do differently?

This is a nice mental exercise to stimulate thinking and analysis of the current business plan.

Hard as it might be to consider, about 95 percent of our activities each day are rote.

Change that by examining your daily routine, and try to see where you can improve your professional skills.

Next, take a fresh look at where you are, where you're headed and whether you are on the track you want to be.

Determine where you want to be five, 10 and 20 years down the road, and put that in writing.

For any business plan, there are essential elements.

In clinical veterinary medicine, there are 12 essential elements, and things work best when all of them are in synch.

Let's walk through the essential 12 areas of the practice business plan:

The practice format

The format covers four areas: services offered (outpatient, inpatient, ancillary); means of conveying services (traditional clinic, outpatient, house call, specialty, central hospital referral); styles of fees (discount, middle market or premium); and the type of clients you want to attract (diligent, accepting, annoyed).

Now ask: What could you be doing differently with your practice format?

Outpatient services

These services are offered in a house call; at a specific outpatient facility that might have a basic waiting room, examination room, plus or minus a treatment room; or at a full-service veterinary clinic. The typical practice generates 70 percent of its revenue from the outpatient zone.

Now ask: What outpatient services could you add, which need more compliance and which needs to improve in market share?