In one of the many books I’ve read on entrepreneurship, there was a quote from the late tycoon John Gokongwei that stuck with me:
“Choose your life partner wisely. That decision will shape your destiny more than any business deal.”
I didn’t realize how true that was until I met my wife.
She’s not someone you’ll see on my social media. She’s an introvert, quiet, composed, and far from the public eye. But those who know me well—like Doc Floyd—know her. And they know she’s been the quiet force behind everything I’ve built.
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She’s a lawyer by profession, deeply rooted in banking and finance. Our story isn’t a fairy tale—it’s a masterclass in discipline, grit, and love wrapped in spreadsheets and bank-grade standards.
I remember a vacation we took to Iloilo with her family. She handed me a book: Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. That single moment changed the trajectory of my life. It opened my eyes to the world of financial freedom, ownership, and business mindset. That book also inspired me to later write Rich Vet, Poor Vet—a piece that, I admit, didn’t sit well with everyone. And for that, I’m truly sorry.
But the truth is, that book—and the journey it started—lit a fire in me.
In 2007, I was just trying to survive. I had big visions for my clinic, my career, and my life. But I didn’t know how to execute. I had only one veterinary business mentor at the time: the late, great Doc Blesilda Carlos of Carchimillican Marketing. Her guidance was gold. But much of what I learned after that came from reading—over a hundred business books from all over the world—and from being mentored daily by my wife.
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You see, being married to a banker-lawyer is like living with a human financial institution. Every day felt like I was managing a bank vault. She was strict, systems-driven, and had a zero-tolerance policy for financial negligence. She made me run my veterinary business as if I was the entire operations team of a multinational bank. And eventually, I got good at it.
She taught me how the wealthy think. How business owners—real ones—make decisions.
She taught me that profit without principle is dangerous.
That cash flow matters more than income.
That a business is only as strong as its systems.
And yes, she’s the one who told me, “Kreloses is bank-grade.” And if you’ve seen how I run things, you’ll know exactly what she means.
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So to the unmarried vets out there: choose your life partner wisely. Not just for love, but for growth. For alignment. For wisdom.
And to those who are already married: stay with your spouse.
Because real growth takes time. Real love is not always loud—but it’s loyal.
Stay.
Grow.
Work through the seasons.
You may not realize it now, but the quiet support behind your everyday struggles might just be the very reason you’ll succeed tomorrow.
In my case, I didn’t just marry a person—I married a mission partner. And that has made all the difference.
Inspired by love.
Built with discipline.
Fueled by vision.
To the quiet mentors and life partners behind every vet’s success—thank you.
Sharing this helps others understand what it really means to be a vet. Like and follow if you’re with us.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
