FroM Burned Out, Unfulfilled Working Mama
to Designing My Dream Life
Hey There! I’m Dr. Jeni Waeltz and I want to share my story with you.
Why?
Because as a lifelong memory keeper, I believe our stories matter. And in sharing mine, I want to empower you to tell yours.
The short version:
I’m a veterinarian and life, career, and leadership coach who works with accomplished women, leaders, and all medical professionals struggling with burnout, compassion fatigue, and using their voice finally adopt the mindset to love their demanding job or find the courage to leave their job to go after their biggest dreams and become the leader that helps change the world.
After years of struggling with my own self-worth, lack of confidence, and anxiety I decided enough was enough and I set out to master my mind. I became a better version of myself and in doing so I decided to finally pursue my passions of wellness, personal and professional development, and leadership --- ALL ON MY OWN TERMS.
I decided to dream again, go after those dreams, and do the impossible. And in doing so, I want you to as well.
My purpose now extends beyond providing the best care for my animal patients and into being an example for women and professionals of what is possible when you live into your true self and raise the consciousness of your mind.
“People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”
That was the short version. For the long version keep reading…
I’m a veterinarian, previous veterinary recruiter, certified compassion fatigue professional, on my way to becoming a certified professional coach, and most excitingly an entrepreneur.
I’m also a mama of two beautiful little girls, two cats, two dogs, wife to one handsome fella, daughter, sister, and best friend.
Oh and I’ve also spent years struggling with anxiety, lack of confidence, lack of purpose, and letting my perfectionist tendencies define my self-worth in all those labels above.
In fact, I’m a wild soul that hates playing by the rules, needs full autonomy, high right brain thinker, and lover of all things creative. I am a soul that is on a journey to find her best self, to explore and feel and be present for all that the world has to offer (even those painful moments), and to be an example of what is possible when you tap into your true conscious self and go after your big scary dreams.
As a practicing veterinarian I’ve been burned out, struggling to gain confidence in my skillset, and thinking to myself: I’m not Mother Theresa. I cannot love all these difficult, angry clients.
I also worked for two major veterinary corporations as a veterinary recruiter, hired 100s of doctors, hospital managers and regional team members. I’ve heard countless stories of what people really want out of their dream job and the struggles they face in obtaining true-work life satisfaction. In those positions I also felt the shame of not being a “real” veterinarian when I wasn’t a practicing veterinarian.
I’ve also felt tremendous highs and excitement as a veterinarian. As a practicing doctor the impact of the lives of the patients and their pet-parents is incredible. I’ve felt proud, honored, and humbled by the experience of being a practicing veterinarian. I’ve had days running around the hospital so much in my flow of seeing patients. In my recruiting roles I was able to tap into the other non-traditional routes veterinarians can take. I loved being able to develop additional skills, travel the country, speak to veterinary students at campus visits, and visit so many varieties of hospitals.
My life like most, completely changed after kids. I wanted more than anything to stay home but knew that I was too passionate about too many things to stay home. I struggled to find the right balance at first and then had the AHA moment: It’s not balance I’m after, it’s true work-satisfaction. I started asking the question of what does that look like for me.
I also started journaling and scrapbooking my kids life and my own life again. (I’ve been scrapbooking since I was 17!) Having your own life reflected back to you through your own lens is one of the most powerful ways to experience gratitude.
My gratitude practice was growing and I was starting to feel so amazed by life in general and how incredible this season was with young children.
But it still felt like something was missing in my life.
Then in January of 2019 while working the booth at VMX, one of the biggest annual veterinary conferences, I asked a colleague what was this dream I heard him and others talking about? As he told me about his dream, goosebumps rose all over me and I realized how inspiring his dream and story were.
Then came the next question -- “So, what’s your dream?” Any you know what -- I had no clue.
I became a veterinarian. 🗹
I married my college sweetheart. 🗹
I had two beautiful girls. 🗹
I bought a dream house. 🗹
I had amazing jobs and traveled as often as I could. 🗹
All my dreams had come true. I checked off all the boxes.
All those years as a little girl and a teenager dreaming about my adult life. I was living it. This moment right now. I realized then and there that if I don’t slow down and take in the amazing life I have in front of me and really enjoy my time, the process, and the season I was in that I would wake up 20, 30, 40 years from now and wonder where it all went.
Oh for those that don’t know, that veterinary conference just happens to be held in Orlando every year. AND I also had my whole family with me and after the conference we spent a few days at Disney World -- You know -- where they say all your dreams can come true!
So What’s next? What WAS MY dream?
These questions rocked my mind.
I came home from that trip and started asking myself some hard questions. Are you spending your time correctly? Are you doing work that truly sets your soul on fire? Are you practicing being present in the moment? WHAT IS YOUR FREAKING DREAM?
And then I read the book Traction by Gino Wickman. Traction is about the Entrepreneurial Operating System and the inspiration and development behind the success of the company I was working at. The founders followed the principles in the book to build the amazing company into what it is today. As I read that book a wave of excitement came over me and the idea of becoming that entrepreneur I once dreamed about started taking hold again.
I reached out to the Universe and asked for the guidance to help me find my direction and my path of doing work I truly love.
So began a year of self discovery and courage to go after what I am passionate about and what sets my soul on fire. I hired two life coaches, started going back to therapy, read personal development books, and started listening to personal development podcasts. And slowly I started finding myself and my voice. As a chronic people pleaser I decided enough was enough. I was going to learn the tools needed to be my true authentic self. You see I’m not meant to fit in a one size fits all box that comes from society, familial, and my own negative self-critical talk.
I’ve also been obsessed with leadership, communication, and wellbeing since my early vet school days when I was a national VBMA officer and completed the AAHA Veterinary Management Institute certificate program.
In 2015 I sat with a colleague in her car before a University of Minnesota resident dinner and talked with her about my struggles in practice and that one day I wanted to pay it back to the profession and help those struggling as well. I told her I always thought about getting a masters in psychology to do just that. During my work with my life coaches and therapist, I started looking into programs and going back to school. I realized by working with my life coaches that although I loved the study of abnormal psychology and healing people what I loved the most was the forward action that came with coaching.
That evening in the car I had set an intention and now 4 years later that intention is now manifesting. How freaking amazing is that!!!
I became a Certified Compassion Fatigue Professional in June 2019 and in March 2020 I will become a Certified Professional Coach through the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching. And throughout my training I have fallen in love with humans again and see my unique place in offering help in bettering the lives of others. I also learned how to coach myself and others to discover our true inner beings and reach our full potential. And oh how much fun and free it feels.
I stepped down from my leadership position and thanked Pathway for literally showing me my next path forward. And I’m now on the journey to discovering my life’s work.
I’m now back into general practice as a part time relief veterinarian while I become the CEO and Founder of Dr. Jeni Waeltz and Vibrant Vets. My mission is to bring inspiration, coaching, and education to all ambitious women, leaders, and medical professionals so they can find their joy, live their most vibrant life, and create sustainable careers.
A wise mentor once told me, “Your next position and career move is the one that doesn’t exist yet.”
I tell all of you interested in working with me this: