224: Emotional Intelligence with Wayne Hartley
What’s the difference between a manager and a leader? How do you juggle wearing all of the hats? Wayne Hartley, owner of Happy Hearts Pet Care, joins the show to break down his mindset around working with his team and the role emotional intelligence plays in his business. From using fear as a motivating force, to how he views success, Wayne shares how he makes his business run. Wayne also talks about what it’s like running a mobile grooming service, and all of the bumps that come with that. He gives some great advice for how he recharges and taps into inspiration when running his business.
223: Starting a Pet Care Business
What are the business fundamentals for a pet sitting or dog walking business? Do you know someone who wants to run their own pet care biz but doesn’t know where to start? On this episode, we discuss how to get started. From a plan and getting a business license, to checking out insurance, we walk through what you need to have in place, and share from our own experience. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I forgive myself after I make a mistake?”
222: Fostering Mindful Pet Parents with Alexa Rabini
What does it mean to help our clients be more mindful? We start by helping them pay attention to changes in their pet and by empowering them to be advocates for the pets health. Alexa Rabini, the Pug Mom, shares how she helps her clients be more mindful in their care. She also breaks down some common misconceptions around CBD usage in pets. Alexa gives some great tips on managing online communities for pet parents and pet professionals, to help everyone be engaged and growing together.
221: Leveraging Your Business Community
Are you connected with the broader business community in your area? We had a great opportunity recently to introduce our business to other business owners. On this episode, we share why these networking events are important and the role they play in raising the awareness of the pet care industry. They also help us to feel more legitimate as business owners. We discuss the benefits that come from being connected to other businesses, and how to prepare for the networking opportunities. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I view myself as more legitimate?”
220: Making Big Changes with Maria Teran
Maria Teran, owner of Chicawoof Dog Walking, has gone through many life altering events. From fleeing her home country, to uprooting to a brand new city to start a business, Maria faces change with optimism and opportunities. She joins the show to reflect on those events, how she found and stays true to her brand, and growing and selling businesses.
219: Sending Great Updates
Clients expect to be updated on the status of their fur-baby, but there isn’t a one size fits all for this in the pet care industry. How should you update your client while they’re away? What are the common types of updates? We discuss the situations which work best for each kind, and what type of client fits them. Updates can eat up a lot of time, so it’s important to use them effectively and appropriately. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I foster good relationships with clients?”
218: Know Your Customer with Brian Taylor
How are you building multiple ways to service your clients? Sticky services keep clients coming back because you keep solving their problems in new ways. From package pricing to customer service and retention, Brian Taylor, owner of Harlem Doggie Day Spa, joins the show to share how he's become known as the 'Dog Father of Harlem'. His passion for being neighborhood centric and servicing community drive him to connect his business to his community. Brian pursues servicing his top client's needs and making every interaction special. He shares why he continues to give back and where he hopes the grooming industry goes in the future.
217: The Power of Words
Sometimes, words are hard. They hold immense power and can make or break relationships. We discuss how to harness those positive words and phrases to propel your pet business into clearly communicating what you want. We also talk about the role of words in how we perceive ourselves and overcome hard times. Then, pet business coach Natasha O’Banion talks about the fear of staff stealing clients.
216: Successful House Sitting with Kylie Fuad from Aussie House Sitters
The house sitting industry continues to change and adapt to the world of Covid. With new lockdowns and vaccine rollouts across the globe, home owners and house sitters alike are trying to see where the industry will go. Kylie Fuad, co-owner of Aussie House Sitters and House Sitters America, joins the show to discuss the current state of house sitting. She gives us some great advice on preparing for life as a house sitter and how home owners expectations have changed. Kylie also shares her optimism on the future of travel and how we can be prepared to take advantage of new opportunities as staycations become more popular.
215: Can You Have Profit First?
Can you have profit first in your business? Wouldn’t you need to be making 6-figures? What systems would you need to have in place to make that happen? We recently read the book, “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz and wanted to share our initial thoughts about it. We break down who we think this system would be good for, and some of the things that don’t quite fit with a service industry like pet care. Overall, we think it’s a great system if you need something to control your money and understand the health of your business. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I be a great first time manager?”
214: Success One Step at a Time with Becky O'Neil
Becky O’Neil, owner of Becky’s Pet Care, left the medical field to pursue a career in pet care so she could spend more time with her child. After 20+ years in the industry, she has over 150 employees and has had to adapt, and adopt, new technology and business planning to continue to thrive and meet the needs of her clients. Becky shares what her definition of success is, and why it's so important to be running the business you want. We also discuss the upcoming NAPPS 2021 conference and what to expect from the speakers.
213: Health Insurance Basics with Scott Dowling
Do you have health insurance? Some believe it’s not necessary or may be too expensive, but as entrepreneurs, there are many reasons why it's critical to have some level of coverage for you, and even your staff. Scott Dowling, insurance broker and host of Doxcost, breaks down the misconceptions around health insurance and how to find an affordable policy. Scott shares how health insurance has changed over the years and what our options are for health insurance as a sole-proprietor. We also discuss exactly what an HSA is and why it's one of the best ways to get coverage for less.
212: How to Fail Well
Have you ever failed at something? More importantly, did you grow and learn from your last failure? Instead of viewing ourselves as a failure when a plan doesn’t go the way we thought, we need to look for the growth opportunities. On this episode, we break down the common problems entrepreneurs face when failure occurs, and how to face those failures to catapult ourselves into success. From defining what a failure is, to setting appropriate goals, there are processes to make “failing” as beneficial as possible. Then, pet business coach Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I have more fun in my business?”
211: The Power of Blogging with Ali Smith
How do you connect with your ideal clients? One of the best ways is blogging. Ali Smith, owner of Rebarkable, shares her story of blogging as a way to turn her business into a high value machine. She gives tips on what makes a good blog, getting over the fear of imperfection, and how to repurpose your blog. Ali discusses how to reach quality clients and having peace of mind in business.
210: Coming Together
More and more people are entering the pet care space. At a time when many uncertainties plague the industry, we’re facing questions and challenges. To overcome these, and help the industry stay around for a long time, we need to be reaching out and building everyone up. There is no reason to tear others down simply because they do things differently. We should be inviting, mentoring, and educating. We share our thoughts on the importance of organizing and self-regulating, and why building community is crucial. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do you deal with all the phone calls?”
209: Implementing Minimalism with Sandra and Paul from “Minimalist Journeys”
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by not only physical clutter, but also perceived obligations and expectations? Minimalism is more than just getting rid of “stuff” and decluttering. It’s a way of getting more connected with your “why” and acting in your values. Paul and Sandra, from Minimalist Journeys, share their journey into minimalism and travel house sitting. They help break down what minimalism is, and isn’t. They also tell stories from nomadic house sitting and how to get better at receiving feedback!
208: What is Shaping Client Expectations
We all recognize that client expectations are changing. It’s not just a generational thing, though that does play into it. New clients are finding they need a pet sitter more and more, and they’re bringing a new set of expectations and learned experiences. Where do these expectations come from? We play a new commercial that hints at where new clients are headed, and the broader impact it will have on the pet sitting community. We share our thoughts on how to overcome unhealthy expectations and have a better balance with your boundaries.
207: Learning from Mistakes with Christina & Jen
Twin sisters in pet care share how they learn and grow together to solve problems and meet their client's need. Jen Adamo, owner of Jen’s Happy Pets, and Christina Ranaldi, owner of Scruffy Puppy Pet Care, discuss their experiences hiring and managing staff, and what it's like learning from mistakes. They talk about giving grace, supporting your team, and understanding that issues will happen. We discuss the importance of learning from others and sibling rivalry.
206: Bootstrapping Your Business
Have you ever wondered how to grow a business organically and not take on extra debt? We break down what bootstrapping your business looks like from the ground up. We discuss the critical expenses in a new business and, once you’re making money, where you should consider reinvesting into your business. From websites and Google My Business, to licenses and continuing education, there are ways to save money. Bootstrapping is the process you apply to your goals and objectives for your business. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I become more mindful?”
205: Switching from ICs to Employees with Amber Van Denzen Suarez
What do you do if you currently have independent contractors (ICs) and want to make the switch to employees? There are national initiatives underway to make it harder to properly classify staff as ICs, so switching is something to consider. Amber Van Denzen Suarez, owner of Atta Boy! Animal Care shares what the process was like for her. She explains why she decided it was time to make the change and how the switch has helped her business. She walks us through the numbers required to make it all work and shares how she structured her employee’s pay.