All tagged care

485: Creating Client-Centered Services with Hannah Alsup

485: Creating Client-Centered Services with Hannah Alsup

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What does it mean to create a client-centered pet care service? Hannah Alsup, from Three Dog Pet, explores how to incorporate a wide range of services to meet the unique needs of each client. From pet sitting and personal assistance to dog training, Hannah explains how personalized communication and flexible services can empower clients to make informed decisions about their pets. She also touches on the importance of setting boundaries for both clients and staff, while offering tips on integrating mental stimulation and training into pet care routines.

483: Being More Than a Pet Sitter with Sarah Schloerb

483: Being More Than a Pet Sitter with Sarah Schloerb

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How can you make your business more than pet care? Sarah Schloerb, owner of Sit Stay NJ, discusses the importance of professionalism and how she leverages her experience in the veterinary field to offer specialized services. She emphasizes the significance of building a robust network with local pet care professionals to enhance service offerings and prepare for possible industry legislative changes. Sarah's also shares her efforts in community education through pet first aid and CPR classes, and her role in founding a league of pet care professionals aimed at advocacy and education. Sarah's passion for providing tailored and compassionate care to pets shines in all she does, making it clear that her work is both a personal calling and a professional endeavor.

482: Dirty Clients, Clean Answers

482: Dirty Clients, Clean Answers

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How do you manage when a client's home is more than just messy? We dive into the challenging world of hoarding and its impact on our business as pet sitters and dog walkers. We explore what hoarding really entails and how it creates unsafe and unhealthy working conditions. From navigating privacy issues to ensuring the safety of the pets and maintaining professional boundaries, we cover the essential strategies for approaching these sensitive situations with gentleness and genuine concern. Join us as we provide practical advice to help you handle even the most difficult environments effectively.

480: Repetition to Mastery

480: Repetition to Mastery

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How do you become a master in something? Inspired by Bruce Lee's philosophy that emphasizes focused practice over quantity, we share how repetitive actions, from the simple task of unlocking a door to the complexities of route planning, not only build familiarity but also pave the way to competency and mastery. We also talk about how deliberate practice, coupled with feedback, fosters a deeper understanding and efficient execution of tasks. We highlight the journey from initial exposure to achieving mastery, emphasizing the importance of patience and continuous improvement. Join us as we discuss transforming routine repetition into profound proficiency and the impact this has on both our personal and professional growth.

479: Empowering Pets and People with Mary Reid

479: Empowering Pets and People with Mary Reid

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What does it take to navigate the path from personal adversity to entrepreneurial success? Mary Reid, owner of North Dallas Pet Care, dives into her journey from being a homeschooling mother to spearheading a thriving pet care business. Following a significant health scare that altered her mobility, Mary reveals how she leveraged her passion for pets into a successful enterprise. She reflects on the critical role of work-life balance, the strategic shift from working solo to managing a team, and the integration of technology to enhance her business.

471: Supporting Our Clients Through Anticipatory Grief with Erica Messer

471: Supporting Our Clients Through Anticipatory Grief with Erica Messer

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What is anticipatory grief and how can we help our client through it? In the complex landscape of pet care, we face the delicate issue of anticipatory grief among pet owners—a pre-loss mourning filled with anxiety and sorrow. Erica Messer, founder of Wolfie’s Wish, discusses the critical need for pet care providers to offer support and practical resources to our clients. She advocates for early conversations about end-of-life decisions, emphasizing the importance of self-care for both owners and ourselves. She reminds us that in addressing anticipatory grief, our actions resonate more profoundly than words, fostering a supportive community for both pets and their owners.

468: The Best Way to Meet Lots of Pet Sitter Friends

468: The Best Way to Meet Lots of Pet Sitter Friends

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Have you been to a conference? In a first for us, we were LIVE all weekend at the 2024 Texas Pet Sitters Association Conference! It was a jammed packed weekend filled with amazing people and great information. Listen in to get a little taste of what it's like to attend a conference, and check out our resource pages to see which one you can attend!

459: Try, Fail, and Adjust with Marie and Justin Plummer

459: Try, Fail, and Adjust with Marie and Justin Plummer

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Marie and Justin Plummer, the entrepreneurial duo behind Winston Salem Dog Care, share their journey from a small start-up to a thriving business with 17 employees. Their discussion delves into the nuances of hiring staff with a focus on professionalism in the pet care industry, while also maintaining a deeply personal touch. They highlight the importance of iteration in refining their hiring and onboarding processes and the role of technology in facilitating growth. The Plummers' story is a testament to the power of creativity, flexibility, and continuous learning in building a business that not only succeeds but also brings joy and satisfaction to its owners and clients alike.

456: Running an Efficient Team Meeting

456: Running an Efficient Team Meeting

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Do you run team meetings? Meetings are usually one of the last things we want to do, and may even feel overwhelmed by putting one together. We walk through points to consider when planning the frequency and length of meetings. Plus, we share our 15-minute meeting format and how to prepare well!

452: Keeping the Momentum After a Difficult Year

452: Keeping the Momentum After a Difficult Year

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What was your 2023 like? If you’re like many, it was a very successful, but very difficult year. Running a business means tackling the ups, and working through the downs. The difficulties we face will be as unique as the businesses we run. We break down four challenges we worked through in our business this year, how they’re not all solved yet, and how we’re growing from each of them.

446: Aggregation Theory and Pet Care

446: Aggregation Theory and Pet Care

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What is Aggregation Theory and why is it important in pet care? With the recent purchase of Rover by Blackstone, many pet business owners are wondering what it means for them. Today, we break down how Aggregation Theory applies to dog walking and pet sitting, how other industries have navigated dominant players, and what independent businesses can do about it!

439: Gaining Confidence by Doing Hard Work with Abby Strong

439: Gaining Confidence by Doing Hard Work with Abby Strong

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Can you transform a simple passion into a thriving business? Abby Strong, founder of Auntie Abby's Pet Sitting Service, shares her journey from a part-time pet sitter and full-time nanny to a thriving business owner. Abby shares the challenges and triumphs of transitioning from working solo to leading 21 pet sitters and dog walkers, emphasizing the importance of tackling hard tasks and taking pride in one's work. She discusses balancing the multifaceted role of a caretaker, the customization of pet care services, and the significance of building strong client relationships. It’s not just about growth, it’s about personal development and finding fulfillment and taking pride in our hard work.

437: The New Era of Tech-Savvy Pet Care with Beth Pasek

437: The New Era of Tech-Savvy Pet Care with Beth Pasek

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Are you embracing technology or are you frustrated by the rapid changes in the industry and pet care? Whether we like it or not, more and more clients are brining high tech devices into their homes to care for their pets. From smart feeders, to more advanced litter robots, our roll as pet care providers is becoming a lot of tech support. Beth Pasek, owner of Finicky Cat Sitting and Behavior, joins the show to share how to make technology part of your business, and how we still provide immense value to clients, regardless of the devices they bring in. She shares how to use technology to deepen the relationships we have with our clients and to provide even higher quality care to their pets.

416: How to Become Irreplaceable

416: How to Become Irreplaceable

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Are you irreplaceable to your clients? Today, we dive into the concept of becoming "irreplaceable" and how to stand out so your clients stick with you. We stumbled upon a great quote by the legendary Coco Chanel, which we use to dissect what makes a brand or service not only unique but also indispensable. We break down our three elements of differentiation – Expectations, Experience, and Expertise – and provide some actionable steps on how to make your business truly unforgettable.

415: Fostering Relationships Through Your Software with Mike Grenier

415: Fostering Relationships Through Your Software with Mike Grenier

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What drives close relationships in your business? We should view everything we do as an opportunity to foster relationships with our clients, including our software. Mike Grenier, co-founder of Time to Pet, joins the show to share how they prioritize problem-solving. Mike emphasizes the importance of adhering to guiding principles while not being afraid to pivot in response to market changes. He describes the process of building a niche business and how his early days running a pet sitting business with his wife influenced their approach to software.

412: 4 Lessons From 4 Years of Podcasting

412: 4 Lessons From 4 Years of Podcasting

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We just celebrated four years of podcasting! We can’t believe where the time has gone. What started off as a to share from our experiences quickly turned into a while of showcasing the amazing people working in the pet industry. We’ve been honored to share their stories and learn from the best of the best. We break down four lessons we’ve learned and how they’re impacting our own business, and the importance of tackling big problems.

410: Finding Creative Flow

410: Finding Creative Flow

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How do you stay creative? As a busy business owner, our ability to be and stay creative is critical to the longevity of our business. Unfortunately, we often find ourselves unable to reach creative flow and end up sticking to the same old same old. We break out ways in which creativity is essential to your business (it’s WAY more than social media posts). We also share the common reasons we find it difficult to be creative and 3 strategies you can use to start overcoming them today.

409: Growing the Pet Care Industry with Jamie Migdal

409: Growing the Pet Care Industry with Jamie Migdal

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Do you see yourself as playing a vital role in the health of the pet care industry? To ensure a robust future, we can all be ambassadors for professional dog walking and pet sitting. Jamie Migdal, founder of Fetchfind!, joins the show to share her vision for the future of pet care. From collaborative approaches to pushing the limits of our own education, Jamie believes we can all make our mark on the legacy of pet sitting. She also discusses how in order to decrease competition, there needs to be an increase in the consumer base. By being advocates for pet owners, we help bring more people, pets, and profits to our businesses.

402: Planning the Perfect Visit

402: Planning the Perfect Visit

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How do you plan your visits? While not every visit is the most complicated, every detail still matters. To ensure you don’t miss a thing, and that the client’s expectations are met, preparation is key! We break down the 5 big buckets of information you need from each client. We then walk through the process of turning that information into a well organized (and time budgeted) visit!

400: The Life of a Pet Sitter

400: The Life of a Pet Sitter

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What does the life of a pet sitter mean to you? We’re celebrating 400 episodes by reflecting on 5 major lessons we’ve learned about the life of a pet sitter. Pulling from over 200 interviews, we share what it means to be a pet sitter, and the best advice we’ve learned. We’re so thankful for you listening and are so excited for another 400!

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