495: From Fired to Flourishing with Joette White
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How are you navigating the challenges of business ownership? Joette White, owner of Park Cities Pet Sitter, shares her journey from being fired to successfully owning and growing a pet sitting business. She emphasizes the importance of staff management and trusting employees to foster growth. Joette highlights how personal growth and learning from failures have shaped her leadership style. She discusses adapting to challenges, especially during the pandemic, to strengthen the business foundation. Joette stresses the need for clear leadership and allowing space for staff to develop their strengths and confidence
Main topics:
Business Ownership
Staff Management
Personal Growth
Pandemic Adaptation
Leadership Challenges
Main takeaway: If you don't give people the opportunity to fail, then they can't grow.
About our guest:
Joette has served on the Board of The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, helping to educate others in the industry about best practices. Her company has won a multitude of local awards including Angie’s List Super Service Award for 5 consecutive years, “Best of Dallas” by D Magazine, and “Best of’s” from WFAA Channel 8, Dallas Voice, and The Dallas Observer. Park Cities Pet Sitter was also awarded the prestigious NAPPS 2017 Business of the Year–this is a national award given to a pet sitting company that demonstrates outstanding business practices and vision in maintaining and growing their business.
Joette is married and is a mother to two boys. Animals have always been a huge part of her life. In addition to “herding” the four Park Cities Pet Sitter office cats (Carl, Kruzer, Henry and George), Joette also has a sweet rescue dog named Phyllis and a short-haired rabbit named Toofus at her home. She strongly believes in giving back to her church and community, and does so by working with local shelters, as well as through education, training, and fund raising activities.
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joette-white-43814b24/
Email Joette: joette@pcpsi.com
Website: https://www.pcpsi.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parkcitiespetsitter Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/park-cities-pet-sitter-inc- Twitter: https://twitter.com/PCPSI Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Park-Cities-Pet-Sitter-Inc-300134640612 Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCQVE7LfCLlayBOB9I8XWSA
EOS - entrepreneur operating system: https://www.eosworldwide.com
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A VERY ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE
Provided by otter.ai
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
work, business, clients, staff, happened, pet, person, pet sitter, talk, opportunity, company, micromanage, pet sitters, grow, hard, day, years, months, trust, hire
SPEAKERS
Collin, Joette W.
Collin 00:01
Welcome to petsitter confessional. Today, we're brought to you by time to bed and our Patreon supporters. What is motivating you to excel? And how are you navigating the challenges of your business. For some, it has that internal motivation of having enough money to do things or making sure that you are doing a service that you would want done for you. For others, it takes being fired. Today Joette White owner of park City's Pet Sitter joins the show today to talk about her journey from being fired to running the business. Joe it stresses the importance of relying on others and trusting others, even when we may struggle with that ourselves. Let's get started.
Joette W. 00:51
Joette White Park City's pet sitters the company that I own and run Dallas, Texas. Gosh, I got into this business. Many, many moons ago. I don't have a business background per se, but I love customer service love animals. And it just was a natural fit when I started working for the company. Yeah, I have employees about 35 currently. And we do of course In Home Pet setting data, dog walks, pet taxis, whatever, whatever our clients need. And we really focus on that social, emotional, and physical well being of the animal would work when we're there. So what else can I tell you?
Collin 01:35
You got into pet sitting in the in the 90s? Is that right? What What led you into that?
Joette W. 01:39
Well, I was trying to pursue an acting career at the time. And I wanted something that gave me flexible, flexible schedule. And a friend of mine was telling me about how much she loved the Pepsi job that she had. I'm like, Oh, well, I love animals. You know, how hard can that be? And so I said, you know, hook me up. So So I went and met with the owner and got hired immediately and and actually got fired a couple of weeks later. Yeah, like my first month and I get fired because I wasn't I think I'd slipped through a new client meeting and I wasn't communicating as well as she'd liked. And she said, this is really not working for me. And I said, Oh God, I, you know, I realized I liked it. And I'm like, I really want to do this. I said, Give me another opportunity. And so from that moment on, you know, I took it very seriously. And here I am today. Wow,
Collin 02:29
that's That's quite the stir. I haven't gotten fired from the
Joette W. 02:35
the owner of my own corporation. Yeah, it's funny, because I worked for her for four years. And I was a full time pet sitter for three of those years. And then that fourth year, I started working for her in the office, she never took time off. She was one of those people again, she started the business out of a passion for animals. And you know, it just so just took off and just consumed her life. And so I we were very like minded in how we treated clients and the staff. And at that time, she had independent contractors, but I did I did I, I loved it and the opportunity that she decided she wanted to move to San Francisco and do something new and took about six months to figure out funding and how we were going to do it. And we agreed on a price and I have no regrets. And so it's worked out really well. And I've Gosh, it's been 24 years that I've owned it 2829 Since I've worked for it, so and yeah,
Collin 03:24
well. So talk about that journey of having been fired to purchasing the business. I mean, really, what what got you that serious in that into the work that was being done?
Joette W. 03:33
Well, I think for me, I you know, at that time I was my boyfriend was my husband now. So that was a new relationship. And I think I was just kind of trying to figure out what what am I doing in my life. And at that point, I think I was probably about 32 ish an age. And I just, you know, once I realized that, you know, she was not going to put up with anything, so I wasn't serious, and I wasn't gonna do what she needed me to do. And I was you know, back then there wasn't really that I had a cell phone I think back then but it wasn't a wasn't a big big thing to have it was you know, wasn't a main a main part of your communication. So it's just regular phone calls. And you know, if you're not, you can't rely on somebody we know in this day and age with all the technology we have even you know if there's any kind of anything, it's like okay, we have to know that we're gonna be showing up and doing what you're supposed to do and so forth. And so when I had shocked that she was firing me I'm thinking I you know, I think it was probably a little further as probably about a month in and I just I just it just something just clicked with me I really liked it I knew that I could do much better and I knew what I had and I needed to make and I needed to be get serious or you know or walk or walk so I just decided to get serious and I and I never knew that I didn't a buying the company and that wasn't in my in my mind at that time. I just knew I liked the flow. stability of it I liked I enjoyed the outside and being with the animals. And it was easy for me because I I love making people happy. And so yeah, so she said, Okay, I'll give you another another chance. And she did. And, you know, so and we're still friends to this day. So I saw her just a few months ago for the first time in a really long time. So, so it's neat for her to see kind of how it's how it's come. You know, it was interesting trying to evaluate the business that because we both were, you know, I like I'll pay whatever for it. Because I know what it can do. I saw how it had how I had grown the four years that I was there, and it was just like, insane. And, but getting funding was not easy, you know. So at the time, it was really lucky that when I was a woman, which was helpful, and I got an SBA loan at the time, so but I, you know, found the right person to help me work through it had to put together a business plan. It's my one and only business plan I think I've ever made. Yeah, so and she ended up funding half or taking half the loan personally, as well. But I got that all paid off. I paid that off pretty quickly. So the business was generating, you know, a good amount of revenue was definitely a lifestyle change for me when I took that over. So yeah,
Collin 06:13
we all do kind of encounter those moments in our life where we have that decision of do I get serious about this? Or is it time for me to walk away and I love how you just kind of laid that out of I was I was kind of, personally it's kind of got smacked in the face. And also, you know, whoa, wait, what? It's kind of that Wake Up Call of going okay, like, what, what do I do now? Is it is it, you know, really nose to the grindstone and I've got to work, I've got to take this as seriously as I as I'd like to, because I think it's fun, and I'm really getting a lot out of it. Or do I need to try and find that other path and go somewhere else? Right. And that is something that we all kind of encounter with from time to time, too.
Joette W. 06:46
Yeah, yeah. And who would have known that that decision would lead to where I am today? Because had I just said, Well, yeah, screw it. I don't need this job. Or I'll, you know, fine. You know, I could have had a bad attitude about it. But I didn't I approached it with a humble attitude. And because I know, so no, I don't like people to think that I'm not a hardworking person, and so forth. You know, and I knew I was being a bit flaky. And I didn't care for that in myself, either. So, yeah. So I chose
Collin 07:14
to when you when you were presented with that option, or the opportunity to buy the business, you know, as far as your your leading decision, was it because you want to see the business continue? Because you saw yourself in that leadership role, or kind of what was it about that opportunity that you knew you had to you had to take on,
Joette W. 07:31
I have always felt that I would do something in my life, I didn't go to college, I don't have a four year degree, I have an associate's degree in Applied Arts for acting. So I didn't really have the drive to you know, and I'm still struggling trying to figure out what I wanted to do. And I just felt such a connection with that it was such an easy role for me, as an actress, and I just loved it. And I thought, Man, I can just really take this to a whole nother level. You know, I already had ideas on what I was interested in doing. And also, I knew that it would change my life, you know, financially as well. And, you know, so it was a struggle, because it took about six months before we could, you know, really get it worked out. And so there were periods of time that I was like, Oh, this isn't gonna work out. And I was I just could feel that heartbreak is about to happen, you know, and I was, but I was determined, and I'm pretty much that way in anything that I do. You told me no, and I'm gonna find a way to work around it. So, you know, and it may take me a while, but I'm gonna get I'm gonna get what I want in the end. So, you know, so? Yeah, it's, it's, it's been a huge blessing, though. Yeah, I answered your question.
Collin 08:37
Yeah. Well, as far as far as just you, you saw like, oh, no, that's, that's what I just saw yourself in that role. Basically, have you knew, Okay, that's, this is a huge opportunity. It's not just an option. It's a, that's almost where I have to go at this point.
Joette W. 08:52
Yeah. Um, and for her, I know, she wanted it to go to someone that cared as much as she did about it. And so what also made that transition such an easy transition was because the clients knew me, the staff knew me. And so there and so the SBA was like, well, you're, it's a lot less of a risk for you to lose the staff and lose the clients. Were there if someone new came in and bought it, and I bought it for $310,000. So I have no problem sharing that information. And that was a lot back in Yeah, and 90 but 96 but in the grand scheme of things are somebody who didn't have you know, much to you know, was living paycheck to paycheck. It was, you know, in looking back, sure I overpaid for it, it was making 300,000 That year, I paid literally 100% of what the gross revenue was and that's not something I would ever do again and I haven't bought two other companies since then. And I have not I have not done that that way. So but yeah, it's it's fairly interesting, you know, but I don't regret a great moment of it. i It is, it is quadruple itself since then, and it's you know, it's, I've done made so many changes I tried to really get involved in naps was the first association I got involved in. Because I wanted to be able to make change in the industry. And, you know, it's still it's come a long way over the years. But yeah, I just knew, and for her, it was, you know, she thought, well, I could look outside and see if somebody else is interested in buying it and so forth. But it was a win win for both of us, you know, so and just, you know, how do we make it work? Well,
Collin 10:29
especially when you have you got all those ideas, and you know, you coming from your acting background, like there's a very creative, like, you can see things that don't exist, right, and you can kind of make them happen. I think that's so cool about your story, like you're already going, wow, like, here's an option that here's an opportunity, here's what I can do, here's how I can make this and, and we do find that in times of our business going, I need to make something that's never been there before, right? Or, and that is such a critical aspect of what it means to run a healthy business for the long term as well.
Joette W. 11:00
Well, it's I doubted myself, in the beginning, I thought, well, if this doesn't work out, you could always because every so just start your own, don't spend that kind of money to start your own. I was scared to death to start from the start over, or you know, to start it because I'm like, I didn't start this one. I know how to run it. I know everything about it. But I was so scared in the early days to think that I didn't have enough confidence in myself to start it from the ground up. Looking back, I could have easily done that, you know, but I also wasn't the type of person that was going to try to steal her clients or do anything like that. So that was an ethical thing that the line that I didn't want to cross either. And so yes, that was it. You know, it's one of those things that again, you know, at that time, no one would know where I'd be today. And so yeah. Well,
Collin 11:43
you mentioned you've purchased two other businesses since then, how what kind of lessons did you pull forward other than the not paying 100%? Of the you know, now, now, when you look at those opportunities, what how does that math changed? Or how does your your vision change? Now, whenever you've, we've acquired two other different ones. Yeah,
Joette W. 12:02
one of them was just basically a client list, that was a really kind of a no brainer, but the other one, I actually got their staff and they were ready to exit, they had been in business for about 10 years, and they approached me. And the timing was just right. And they also I have talked to multiple people about them wanting to sell their businesses, most people are too emotionally attached to it. And they, again, they want, they want to they it's making this money. So I should get this and I totally understand that. But at the end of the day, you're selling a client list. And if your clients don't know, you know, the person that you've only known you were and if your pricing isn't aligned to what my pricing is, I've learned a lot of those things to really look at those things. Because when you make that change, what's the reason that people are going to leave, you know, it's going to be because, oh, you know, you're charging way more than then these people are or they're not going to have their same person or your, your rules and regulations are different. And so you know, really looking for people that are aligned well with with what we're doing already. So that makes that transition a little easier. And then planning some sort of an exit for the original owner and then bringing you in, so that they they see that handoff and that and that you work together for that. But yeah, it's it's I've learned something each and every time I've done it, so. And when I bought the company that I was talking about, it was 2017 16. I can't remember, it's been about it's been a minute. We were I had used I had already used the software software platform. So I was familiar with that, are I pricing was fairly in line. And then the staff was independent contractors, I knew I was gonna have to convert them to employees. So again, we planned on how we're going to do that, how are we going to speak to the the existing staff and talk to them about being employed, he actually did make more money as an independent contractor, I don't think people really recognize that if if they don't really know, they think, Oh, you're gonna withhold taxes, I'm going to make less money. Not true, we're going to be paying part of your tax for you that you have to pay as an independent contractor. So, you know, there's definitely some benefits to to going through this process more than once. And I'm always extra cautious each time I even think about going into that type of thing. Because even after I bought the company, the second one, I learned very quickly. It I mean, we did our due diligence, we got our tax returns, we went you know, it took us a couple of months to get everything lined out. And I still found out and he I was smart because well, I had smart coaching. The girl that I was working with she said don't just buy the assets don't buy the liability. And so make sure that everything's worded that way, because what happened I found out later he owed a lot of money to a lot of people and they came knocking on the door but because of my agreement was airtight. I said you know I didn't buy that part. I only bought this part so You know, I saved myself, and he was also underpaying his staff and overpaying under charging his clients. So there was definitely an upside down that I had kind of had to right size. But at the end of the day, it was it was well worth it again, worked out really well. I can't complain. We got we did about kept about half of that revenue that he was making. And we had planned kind of for that. So it worked out really well.
Collin 15:24
Isn't it interesting? How after your first acquisition, right, your first purchase where it was kind of just this like, I don't know what's going on. But I know I've got to have this was because the headlong and now each subsequent one it's like, as you've learned more, right, the cautious caution guard kind of sets up and we get a little bit more and and how that's that can be. That's because we're now we've got something to protect right now. We now have the knowledge of the danger that's really out there and how we then have to balance that with also not allowing that to inhibit us from still taking risks and still taking chances in our business too.
Joette W. 15:56
Yeah, yeah, I've done plenty of things that I regret that money or getting make choices, you know, but again, I always try to I try not to repeat that pattern again and again, and again, if it's, you know, the wrong path. And I tend to try to do what's familiar and do what's comfortable, and so forth. But I also know that I've got to push outside that comfort zone, and I've got to take some risks for things to change and to continue to grow. And to be, you know, at the top of our game, I mean, that's just like any business. So yeah,
Collin 16:26
yeah. But it you know, again, going your why is it it's easy to do those things that are comfortable. And because we know them really well. Like we know those inside and out, we know those good questions to ask, we know who to reach out for for help when we've seen this and done this before, but not being afraid to conclude, well, this is just a little bit outside. So that's probably still within the scope of what I can comprehend and understand and still take on and not, you know, not not end up owing lots of money to somebody. Right? Well, so you talked about your transition in the early days of being in the field, doing pet sitting, transitioning into the office and doing more administrative work, or when you made that transition, how did that impact your view of what it meant to run a business. Um,
Joette W. 17:13
in the very beginning, I was so focused on trying to make everybody happy what you can't. And so I was trying to do as much pet setting as I possibly could, supporting the staff that were there. And also to try to grow the business. And at some point, you have to something's gonna give, you can't do it all. And so I realized early on, I needed to start figuring out how I was going to get out of petsitting. Altogether, I could not really focus on the business, and I loved it, but I was never like my top pet sitters. Now, I was never as good as they were, I mean, I was good, I just took really good care of the clients and I did all the things I'm supposed to do. But I also knew that that wasn't what I wanted to do. And I don't want to demean that in any way without our staff, there is no business they are my number one asset. But I also knew that if I was really going to focus on this and I because I had no background in business and I had no background with any of this new marketing or any of that stuff, I'm like, oh, you know, I need to really kind of focus on that it was hard initially because you have everyone has those clients that they think no one else but you can take care of them. So you have to have that conversation. And it was about building the relationships with the clients for them to understand and trust that I was going to they were going to be taken care of as if I was taking care of them and then on the same on the staff side as well you know trying to transition them to a different type of leadership and also setting office hours and different things that I did because she had no boundaries that lady I bought it from Yeah. And you know and people get used to that and they think they can call you at 1030 at night to you know for a visit the following morning and you're gonna answer the phone live you know so you know there was just you know a lot of things that I knew that I needed to do and in order to do that I needed to be able to step away and I have I ever once in a blue moon I'll step in and help or I will go and go to a situation kind of evaluated or you know do a key lockout for a staff member or something but I don't pet said I haven't pet set regularly for for quite some time. Have
Collin 19:17
you heard of time to pet Dan from NYC pooch has this to say
19:22
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Collin 19:42
If you're looking for new pet setting software, give time to pet a try. Listeners of our show can save 50% off your first three months by visiting time to pet.com/confessional. What it is that is that decision of going where are my strengths right where am I most needed in got every business owner has that decision that they've got to make of where it is my time talents and attention need to be directed. And it because it kind of shifts doesn't it over time have a kind of ebbs and flows of where we need to focus on what we need to do and how we need to be connected and and ultimately deciding how do we want to function? What is our true passion in in running our business? Is it the is it the administrative? Is it the hiring? Is it the you know, all that stuff? The paperwork stuff? Is it the field work? Is it taking care of the pets? And that's one of the beauties of working for yourself is you get to kind of figure out how that functions with
Joette W. 20:33
you. Yeah, yeah. But you can also kill yourself that way, too. When you don't, when you because it's the same thing. It's like if you're the solo pet sitter, and you're doing all of that, and you're doing all the admin stuff, and you're like, Oh, I can't get a break. And I don't I can't get a vacation. But it's a such a huge, you feel that huge risk of hiring somebody else? Because oh my gosh, are they going to give deliver, you know, so when I took over the business, and I made that transition out of pet sitting, you know, I thought to myself, Okay, well, how now, what's the next step, because now I can only get to so far in this in this this level, I can only do so much, I can only manage so many staff and hire and do with all the things that I need to do. So now I've got to trust somebody to come in and help me with that. Ooh, I struggled with that for quite some time. And I tried, I hired internally, some of my staff, I just promoted up or tried to hire some people outside, I didn't really know what I wanted and or what I needed, I guess, because I'm a bit of a control freak. And I'd like to micromanage, which is not not good when you're trying to really grow a company. And you'll let people grow themselves. So I just was like, Okay, well, again, had to learn the hard way a few times had some bad experiences. And then I had a part time, pet sitter, who I liked, and she came and worked at my home office for a little while, and a part time there. And she was, you know, I liked her a lot. She is reliable. And she you know, she was knowledgeable about many things, and I got pregnant. And I was like, Oh, well, how hard can this be? I'll have a baby. I'm at home. I mean, how hard can it be to run a company and have a baby and you know, do all the things I don't need additional help? This is what we're good with what we got two weeks after I had the baby. And she tried to tell me she three weeks after having my first child, she I said, Oh, can you? Can you please work full time? And can you work from your house. And that was the biggest change for me at that point that made me realize, somebody else can do this, and I need somebody else. And I need to be able to let go of things and I micromanaged her quite a bit. She worked she she was in that role for 11 years. You know, we're like an old married couple. But there were still friends as well. So to this day, but it was one of the things that I had to learn, I had to learn the hard way, I had to wait for something not catastrophic, but something big to happen in my life. And it was the same thing again, when my dad passed away in 2019, I had to go back and forth to Arizona, where my dad was for about six months before he passed, and after he passed. So I was here half a week, gone half a week, it was the very first time that I've truly let go and let my admin team just do whatever they needed to do. I wasn't making a decision. I wasn't available mentally, emotionally, physically. And I was just blown away about how it survived. Oh, wow. You know, and I've learned over the time, too, sometimes I'm the cog in the wheel. And I need to move aside, you know, so yeah, good, good stuff, learn. But it's had to be the hard way Gen or there's something something biggest had to happen. Right? Well, and
Collin 23:37
you said that phrase let people grow themselves. And I love how you brought you said that because we often we have sometimes as business owners, we have a hard time to understand the difference between micromanaging versus holding people to high standards. And we think the only way to have the highest standards is to micromanage. So how did you How do you walk that line now of not compromising on what people do without the micromanaging and that stuff on top?
Joette W. 24:05
It's funny because I think it's been in the last, I would say probably the last maybe six to eight years that I've really started to recognize that especially the last six years, because it took me a while to really see that I was kind of in the way of, of these people actually being able to grow and do what they needed to do. I had moments of that with different people. But I think it ended up being again getting good counsel from from people around me other people in the industry that I have friends, coaches and stuff that I've worked with. I I just I realized if you don't give people the opportunity to fail, then they can't grow. You know, so I had to be okay with them sending in an email, maybe I didn't think the wording was quite right or, or saying this or that or letting a visit get missed. You know, that was the most horrible thing on the planet that you were case scenario, but you don't forget, I remember the very first time that happened to me when I was working for, for Jackie, the lady who started the company. And I literally missed a visit for a whole weekend for dying didn't get it scheduled. And so so it was Friday night through Sunday afternoon. So it was it was a full weekend. And I remember what she came back and the client was livid, obviously, she said, You need to call the client, and you need to explain what happened. And you need to take responsibility for that. I was like, Oh my gosh, mortified. And luckily, the dog was fine. And you know, if there was an accident or two in the house, but still I was in and lucky Lee was on a longer visit. But I can tell you, that never happened again. Because that's that, that that hit me so hard that I had that, that happened on my watch. So sometimes you have to let those people make those mistakes, just like kids, you know, you got it, which is hard, because I want to, I want everything to be perfect, and everyone can be happy. And it's just not reality, you know, and then you also kind of have to meet them where they are in their life, you know, so sometimes people are willing or ready to grow, or just you know, and then those who are, you know, man, I've seen some people really shine, people that I've hired, and I'm like, Oh, well, I think I'm desperate right now. And, um, you know, and then I've just blown me away, or people that are hired that I'm like, Oh, my gosh, I love this person, I want to be their friend, and have just not been a good fit at all, you know, so, you know, just trying to pay attention. And again, it's important for me, for people to feel like this is not just a job. I'm sure it is for many, but we also want them to succeed in their personal life. And maybe they do this first season and they move on. Or maybe they do it. Like a lot of my staff I've had 1520 plus years, you know, so you just never know. Yeah,
Collin 26:44
and that letting them fail is so hard, right? Because I know Megan and I have had that discussion, that same discussion of do we call now is now when we call to be called now we gotta it's like, no, hold? Wait, wait, wait, because on some instances, it's right. They need to feel that they also need to know that they are the ones responsible for this action. And that if they know that Colin and Megan are always going to be calling them going, hey, it looks like you haven't logged in yet everything okay, like that. That that doesn't build a good independent, focused staff. Right that that builds a codependent staff on you to the now you have to continue to micromanage because they are not putting the systems in or taking that responsibility in their own lives.
Joette W. 27:28
That's exactly right. I mean, that's it exactly. Because, and I think that's the part that I missed early on, is you they don't trust themselves. If you don't trust them, then they start doubting themselves. And so they, they they question everything they do, and they're like, in your end, I would get your kid going, like asking me this. I've told them this a million times, it's because I didn't let them follow through and just do it and make a choice. So now I really focus on if they come to me with a question or a problem, I'll say, Well, what do you think? You know what, you know, what do you say? Because I really want them to think outside the box, or you know, or I'll say, Hey, you remember that example, we had in an email all Yeah, I'll look back at that, you know, and if you want me to look at it, I'm happy to or whatever it might be. But I also recognize too, if I make myself too available, that also makes it easy for them to lean on me. So I've also kind of had to dial back, like, you know, what, I trust your judgment, you got this, you know, and, and most of the time it works out. And if it doesn't, again, we're going to make mistakes, we're all human. And I have to be able to trust just like the people going into the homes, I have to be able to trust that the people in the office are doing what they need to do. And I also have to give a little grace when they have life that happens. And I also need to be able to draw the line in the sand and let people go when it's not the right fit. And that's the hard part. I love to give people opportunities to you know, hey, I got fired. And you know, you know, give that second chance, you know, so yeah,
Collin 28:51
yeah, it is, it is important to to have that fine line and no, like, because sometimes we have to go from I'm the I'm the owner, I'm the boss, you know, whatever that is to like, I'm kind of a mentor slash life coach now and I've got to figure out like, what tools do they need? Where are they in their life? What is that walk like for them? Can they still meet these requirements? Or whatever that looks like and and that is never a fun position to be in. Right and but but it is that it because sometimes we even have to do that for ourselves. Don't we have going? Am I living a healthy, healthy and balanced life right now? Am I mentally okay to be taking this stuff on? And, and making that judgment call to the now I have to say no to myself or I have to say no to this person who I just brought on? Yeah,
Joette W. 29:33
again, another lesson I wish I'd learned early on but I also think too, I think certain things happen in your life at different periods. And I I could go and dwell on the regret. But I it's wasting my time. Why am I why am I you know, and trust me. I've had those moments where I'm wallowing in my own self pity and thinking, oh my gosh, it's all falling crumbling around me. But I don't I try not to live in that for very long and sometimes that's reaching out to friends or you know or prayer or whatever it might be, because I don't want to live there for a long period of time I've been I've even got to the point where at some point, I'm like, I might need to actually need some anxiety medication. I'm like, I'm not, but it's not that I'm anti that, but I've never taken anything in my entire life. And you know, sometimes it's, you know, there's something else going on with you, you can't just force yourself to be a certain way. And maybe you're, you know, going through the changes of life and menopause and things that I've gone through your chemical, makeup changes and stuff like that. So there's, there's, there's all types of help out there. And there's all types of opportunities for people to, to grow and to, and to let go. But it's, it's it's not an easy thing. And I'm not a fan of change, necessarily. But I recognize that change brings growth generally, if you if you figure out a way to embrace it, and I also have enough life history at 57 to look back and go, Well, I survived that I survived that I survived that I oh my gosh, all these things that in the moment, I thought I was not going to survive.
Collin 30:58
We've all had a game where you just can still remember, like things that happened in high school where you're just like, that was the end of the world thing. It was terrible. I didn't feel like anybody understood me. I didn't think anybody knew or could relate to me. Meanwhile, you know, my parents, my grandma and my were just kind of looking at me like gal buddy, like a we've all been there and be get ready, right? Because things are gonna happen. And but we're but but having those close partnerships as mentors, those coaches, those community members who can, who can say, yep, look, not not downplaying how you're feeling in the moment, but also been we've been there, done that got the got the corny t shirt, come on, you know, we're here to help.
Joette W. 31:40
Man, I you know, and I wish it was that way, which is every day I woke up and I had that positive attitude. I don't want to mislead people and think, oh, all the time. I'm just because it's not it's it's a, it's a choice you make every day. It's like being married. It's a choice you make to work on that relationship. It's a choice you make to work. And this is a relationship business that we're in, right. And so And there's times that I again, I'm more of a visionary, not a, an integrator that breaks things down. I like the big picture stuff, but breaking it down and making it happen, I kind of get can get lost there. So having good people in your life, and there's times that those people are they're like, Oh, I wish I had some advice for I don't know what to tell you. Sorry. But still getting talking about it not and trying not to dwell on the negative and then realizing, is this? Is this really what I'm manifesting in my mind? Or am I making a choice to be, you know, feeling this way? Or to be offended? Or to be, you know, you know, sometimes there's nothing you can do but wait, and other times there's things action steps you can take, you know, and then I have to own what I don't do. And there's a lot of that.
Collin 32:47
Well, and what that does is it kind of it helps arrest those feelings of not necessarily instability, but helplessness when we can come in and we can take agency back over and go know that you said this is today's a choice. I'm choosing to continue my business operations, I'm choosing this and I'm choosing to do this, and I get to do these things. And it's more about us going, No, here's my little low sigh of control, but with how I can what I can impact what I actually have control over and kind of acknowledging that to have going, Nope, here it is. And it doesn't extend very far. But at least in my little bubble here, this is what I can control. Yeah,
Joette W. 33:25
well, you know, when the whole pandemic happened, and everything and kind of, you know, the world fell apart or whatever you want to I, I, of course, I went through lots of different emotions, like everybody else did. But I, I also took it as the opportunity to see what positive I could get from it, you know, and it took me a while to realize that, but I realized, I don't have to kill myself for this. I can say no. And it was empowering. It was like, I was like, I knew this. I knew, you know, and why am I worried about pleasing everybody all the time. It's not realistic. What other industry does, works, works, it's hard to do, you know, and it's like, you're not you don't, it's not like you have to compromise necessarily on what you're providing or what you're doing for people. But you also have to set boundaries. And so we really kind of looked at, wow, you know, we don't want to be a jack in the box where we have all these different types of things on a menu, we want to really specialize in what we do. And let's go back to the basics. So we kind of what is the core thing of what we do and that's what we need to do and just do it really well. Like we'd like we, we know it and it's easy and we love it. It's much easier to be passionate about something that you that you enjoy that you do. And so the things that the negative things that come with any type of job or role are less negative as a whole because you know, you're enjoying it, you're getting some something else out of it other than you know, just showing up being a robot, whatever.
Collin 34:44
Well, and after, you know, coming up on 30 years in as as a business with Park City's a there's a lot of institutional knowledge that that the business has and this is something that I've been trying to mull over in my brain as they we've been in business longer and longer of like, there are expats variances that the business has just had that, Megan, I couldn't experience by ourselves, because staff are learning things, we're encountering a lot more different things. And I know that that's something that you lean on is like us as a true selling point of why go with with Park Cities because of that, that bulk of institutional knowledge of experiences that the company has right now, no, one employee has been there for almost 30 years, but the culmination of everything, and I was curious how you, how do you try and get your hands around that to capture and to store and like, what do you because, you know, with with 30, with over 30 employees out there doing stuff, like, there's a lot of experiences to kind of keep track of,
Joette W. 35:39
it's so true. And we had before the pandemic, we had 45. And and we've always done a large amount of revenue with a small team, that's not the norm. So I have a friend who is her company, she's got 60 people, and they're doing about the same revenue. So but it's just structured differently. But we also recognize, too, we had to have more flexibility and times have changed. To try to answer that question and trying to get wrap my head around it. Yeah, it is. It's almost been, well, this isn't this now. It is, I mean, you know, no, it's not, you know, I found out, you know, I'm just a naturally a puppy, I'm a people person. So it's easier, I think, for me to, to try to relate to people. And so, you know, again, I can try to look beyond just the fact that this person works for me, or this person, as a client, you know, and dig a little deeper into their world if they let me. But, yeah, I mean, when we were more selling our service, it's not. So I don't have to say, I've never felt like I've had to sell this ever. Because I'm confident in what we provide. It's not rocket science, but at the same time, reliability, and you know, that, that that consistency, where you can get it, and you're not gonna have 100% Each person I have in a somebody song as a different human being, they have their strengths and their weaknesses, but predominantly, they should have the same, the client should have the same experience. Making sure that people that they do have some sort of a passion for animals, and they're doing this because you hire the wrong people in it, you know, the minute they start complaining about scoop and litter and whatever else, it's like, okay, well, that's kind of big part of the job. It's a neat thing, I love having to look back all those years, and I'm super transparent with my staff with my clients. I think that's a big thing as well, again, it's a relationship business, both sides. So I have clients that have been here since I've been here. And that word of mouth is priceless. That's the best marketing that we could ever, ever, ever have. And we didn't mark it for a very long time because of that. So it's hard to keep those relationships always, you know, thriving, because again, as I would grow, I was very in tune with all my staff early on, when I had 12 1314 people, it was easy. Then I have kids, and then you know, the company grew. And then you know, it became such a almost like a burden that I felt like I was failing everybody because I wasn't available all the time for whatever they might need. And but I had to be recognized again, that's when I needed additional help. And you know, it's it's, it's been it's been, it's been an incredible journey. I can't think of anything else that I would want to do than what I'm doing. But at the same time, also trying to figure out how can I help other people try to pull that out of themselves where they're not stuck in something that they absolutely dread and hate? Because life's just too short? So I don't know if that answered any of that question, are
Collin 38:37
you? Well, I think it's starts trying to get at that idea of just like, of the people, right? It's a people business, it's a people business, because we're serving people, it's a people business, because there are people involved in it, and to rely on their strengths to support them in their weaknesses, to learn from one another and to grow together. You know, so when on a website, or when you're talking to a potential client to say, we have over 30 years, you know, or you know, however many years of experience that's speaking to the fact that we're always learning and new things are coming up. So while we we've seen a thing, right? It's always when something comes up in the business and a staff member comes to me, it's like, Have you ever experienced this before? I feel like I'm running back to the archives and blowing the dust off of a box and be like, well, but 11 years ago, now sit down, everybody, we're going to tell a story. But those becomes so invaluable as a company, right, like Zillow does.
Joette W. 39:33
Yeah. And like I said that especially the mistakes that I've made, you know, because they resonate with me and they stick in my mind. I'm like, oh, we'll go back there again. But you know, when it comes to this, this those this staff members when I'm interviewing people for and I still do some of that from time to time, I'd immediately let the person know I'm not looking for you to fit in a box because you're you. I'm going to try to meet you where you are. If you have these qualifications, you Matt, you meet you meet. And you're maybe your availability isn't what ideally would like. Because back in the day, if you didn't have full availability, I didn't hire you. So part time and full time was just about how many visits you took to be available. And you know, that's just not realistic in this day and age. So that's still fine. Find that person from time to time, but I saw, I just really tried to put them at ease and let them know, you might be great at technology, or you might not, or you might be great with this. And you know, so again, I'm going to try to pull out what I what their strengths are, what their weaknesses are, without making them feel like they're a bad person, because they're not this, I want to play on their strengths. So they recognize what's valuable, and so that they, they can see that in themselves. And, you know, and build that confidence. And sometimes you have really young people that you know, are not confident or really old people that are not getting so it doesn't matter where they are in age, or what generation they are, people are people at the end of the day, and if you could find a way to relate to them, and put them at ease, and I don't like people to think oh, I'm the owner of the company. It's your she combs oh, I want people to feel like hey, there's to let you know that girl, you know, so but yeah, they know I mean business. So you know, we get stuff done. So but yes, but that we're all human, because I probably overshare I think with with my especially my admin staff, because I am that person that just wants to be kind of an open book. And sure it's burned me a few times for sure. And I know that I can't, you can't prevent that from happening. But I also am quick to cut the cord a lot, a lot a lot quicker than I used to be where I used to be on mute being held hostage by this because I have these clients that are relying on me, I got to the point where I'm like, Well, if I have to let somebody go, because it's poisonous to the to the culture, then I have to let that person go. And I'll do the best I can to take care of the clients or I'll find them an alternative. But I'm not going to kill myself and take on that that negative because it affects the entire team. Whether you realize it or not. I mean, it really does.
Collin 41:52
We are also brought to you by our amazing Patreon supporters. Your help allows us to bring these insightful conversations, expert tips and the latest in the pet care industry. Join our community@patreon.com slash p s confessional and get access to exclusive content behind the scenes insights and much more including a monthly zoom get together. Your support keeps us going and we couldn't do it without you. Again, that's patreon.com/p s confessional. Thank you for being a part of the podcast. You mentioned about the doc coming in and making a fit into a box. You know, we hired somebody recently, and technology was not their strong suit. And I remember sitting with them and going is this going to be a problem, Colin? And I was like, well, it might be but we've got a few steps that we can do. And we've got it we're going to work with this to see where the problem is and how we can make this best fit. Because we know this person is just so passionate about pets like they really just want to they have such a servant's heart that it was like, I want to work with that. I want to work with that part. Okay, now we're going to come over here, we're going to put some tutorials about the technology and we're going to talk about that, like what this means everything, and we're going to work on that we're gonna give that a chance. And if that if that seriously doesn't work out like, Okay, we're gonna have to have that that tough conversation. But let's start with where you are. And I just remember that, is this gonna be a problem, Colin, like, well, maybe, but we're gonna go a little bit.
Joette W. 43:19
A good thing too. This is this is an opportunity for them to try to step up and stretch out of their comfort zone. And I like, you know, I like people to be proactive, you know? So if I see that, you know, hey, I went online, and I Googled this to sit down. But oh my gosh, that's fantastic. You know, because a lot of people don't take those opportunities. And there's so much information and so much, you know, and my husband is not techie at all, I mean, he barely texts, and yeah, he doesn't do he barely does email he just does. He's not It's not his thing. He's not on any social. He doesn't do he doesn't like any of it. But he can learn it really, really wants to it might be harder for him because he's dyslexic, and other things. But if you really want something bad enough, you figure out how to get past that hurdle and or, you know, is it something that can be? Can there be an accommodation for this or that you don't want to get into a ton of that, because then you've got all these different things are working around. But sometimes there's, there's, it's a right reason to do that, you know, so it just depends on again, what are you willing to do on as a business owner, I try to stay away from trying to be doing things out of desperate, desperate mindset, because that's I'm making a lot of bad choices that way early on. But sometimes you're like, okay, am I doing this? Because I'm desperate or am I doing this? Because I really think it's going to be a potentially great, you know, a time time investment or whatever it might be. So, yeah, I just have to check with myself on or check with somebody else because I can tell you that my staff will tell me you don't get to hire on immediately. I used to hire I'm like, I like you. I'm hiring you right now. They're like, you know, we have to you have to give it a beat before you know so because I get I get excited about people too, so easily. So, yeah, well,
Collin 44:58
you've mentioned a few times along Your business journey you've you've brought on help. And I know you that's in reference to sometimes growing the team growing the dog walker as a pet sitters. It's also been, I think, talking about bringing on different people, people in different management and administrative roles to business, I did want you to kind of talk about what that process of bringing on managers has been like, and how you've been working with them to take over some of those responsibilities.
Joette W. 45:21
Yeah, that's been definitely been a challenge as well, because it's one of those things that, Ah, man, again, giving up that control, I've not been a great person, when it comes to articulating what I need, or what I are really drilling down to what what do I need? I mean, I know my weaknesses are, well, if that's the great place to start. So what am I not good at? And let's get somebody who's good at that, you know, so I found those fits, but try to figure out how do you how do you find them? You know, are you? Are you placing a certain kind of ad? Or are you you know, keywords or are you You know, there's all people tell you all different ways to do it, I've tried creative, fun writing to, you know, very just kind of sterile AppleCare job advertisements, it I finally kind of locked into and actually just been in the last year and a half on mute, I'm doing ELS I don't know, if you're familiar with them, they entrepreneur operating system. And it's, it's phenomenal i It gives me the structure that I don't have. And it breaks it down very simple. And it really focuses on your accountability chart, you know, and getting people in the right place at the right seats, the right fit, elevating and delegating. And, you know, having regular meetings and really focusing on, these are the three things you're going to work on for the next 90 days. And if I'm working on this one thing, and it's not, you know, going towards the one of these three, then that I'm spending my time where it shouldn't be. So all and recognizing like for me I'm I'm at the point where we're hiring another person to come in and kind of really kind of run the company, because I am has I find as I get older one, I really again, like to focus on the bigger picture, I want to go and explore, I want to go to other people's businesses, I want to, you know, go to seminar, I just like to figure out what's new, what's out there. Being at the Texas petsitter conference last couple of years was so wonderful. I mean a lot of fresh people out in the industry, that really look at this as a business. And so it's been super exciting. So I want to spend my time doing those things, and then have somebody else do the implementing, and the accountability and that type of thing. And I recognize that that's because that's not my strength. Now I'm I will get excited about something and start something and get get going with it. And then I see something else. I'm like, Oh, I'm gonna do that. So your team starts to doubt you after a while. They're like, Hey, I thought we were doing this, oh, six months later, we're doing this Oh, okay, well, are we what are we doing? So leadership is it's and consistency with your team is such an important thing. And I'm at the point where I have such a good solid team that I know, I'd like to kind of step aside and let somebody else come in and do that. So I'm in the process of working with a fractional integrator, which is a kind of a new thing, apparently. So they're not, I'm not hiring somebody full time, I'm taking on somebody part time that specializes in this and runs on the Eos system. And that can really get in there. And, you know, rather than trying to go into the slow way and develop the people into those roles, I want people who know it, I want to move on, I want to get moving faster and get further on. But in the past, again, I would take a role, and I'd hire somebody and then find out oh my gosh, they're they're better at this, you know, and I'm like, Okay, and so every time I've hired for whether it's a hiring Training Manager, or an office manager or whatever, it might be a scheduling coordinator. That rule has changed every single time that I've that I've, because I've recognized okay, I'm asking too much for one person, if I'm wanting to do all these different things, really, you know, and again, it's finding out what, what their strengths are, what their weaknesses are. Are they good at communication? Are they are they better at being in the background? And they don't really want to have to talk to the client, are they, you know, where is their strength? And so we do a couple of different assessments for that as well, to try to pull that out when we're looking for admin team. So yeah, I, you know, it's, it's, it's, it's an interesting process. But I've had some really good strong people, but I didn't do well enough to keep them I don't think at the time, the people that I have now again, my office manager, she's been here almost 10 years. And my other admin, my other strong admin person has been here, probably about three or four. And I've got a fairly new one that I've promoted up from a sitter, and she's been in the office for about a year so yeah, so it's a challenge, you know, but again, let go, gotta try it. If you don't try it, you'll never know and you can't and you can't go Oh, it didn't work out so I can never do that again. You got to get on the horse and and give it another go. Because the right people are out. There they are. Well,
Collin 50:04
how do you get back on that horse? Because I don't know I can get and I know many people are like this where we get kicked off, we get thrown, we're laying on the ground dust is still settling on our face. I'm sneezing because I'm allergic to a lot of stuff. And I'm like, Why? Why would I even get what's the, for you to wet? Like, you know, how do you get stand back up? What's that process like for you?
Joette W. 50:24
Well, sometimes it's a quick get up desktop, sometimes it takes me a couple of months to really kind of get, you know, to get my feet underway. Again, it's been a while since I've had a longer one. But I think for me, it's a give myself permission to to have that pity party or to go through whatever that is, because it's like a grieving period. And that's natural. I mean, like anything, it's a loss. It's, it's going backwards. But I really try not to focus on it for a long period of time, I don't want it to be when I find myself doing it, or I find myself, it's like when you had a bad breakup, and you're talking about it all the time with friends all the time. It's all you can talk about, because you can't get over the guy or whatever it might be. And it's the same thing. It's like, if you just keep wallowing in it, then you never get further. So it's baby steps. Generally, if it's something that's hit me really hard, or I feel like because the pandemic was one of those, I was just it, I had to go back and I was doing full time scheduling. Again, I hadn't done full time scheduling in quite a while. And I was hiring, I was doing everything I was doing. Like I'm back to square one almost Oh, you know, I was like no, no, this is an opportunity to really fix the things that were bugging me to really kind of lay a stronger foundation, this isn't. It's a challenge. It's an opportunity. It's not a problem. It's not a, you know, a terrible thing that I've gone through, you can see it that way. And you can live in that. And I know a lot of people that do. And again, I you know, I guess I'm more fortunate that could be a little bit more on the positive side. But I'd beat myself up all the time about all kinds of stuff in the background. And I'm the first to admit, I don't have a clue what I'm doing half the time. But I did doesn't stop me I'm still going to try to do something and fail or not. I just, I there's and there's times I want to quit, I've thought about selling or trying to figure out a way out or like I'm done with this. I'm done with people, I don't want to talk to another human being on the planet. You know, I'm not it doesn't last long. But I'm again, I allow myself that, that that that time as well. Because the feelings I'm going through and the emotions, some of them are very valid, you know, but I also have to put in check very quickly the things that I know that are sending me down that spiral, because you can get in such a deep, dark hole that sometimes it's it's really hard to get out of and then can't change can't change the past. All I can do is move forward from today on and if that means I'm starting over sort of then okay, well, then, what can I do? Let's get excited about that. What does that mean? You know, so yeah, it's it's a it's a choice. And it's not always an easy one. So I make it sound like it's easy, but it's not. It's
Collin 52:57
it's not but like you said, it starts with that little that little reframe of it's an opportunity, something, something, there's an opportunity somewhere for something, and it might not be, you know, do a whole, you know, tear down and redo and revamp, it may just be tweak one little thing or tweak another little thing and just finding those opportunities, because that's what allows us to go, oh, now I'm fixing things and I'm going to build it back better, right? I'm gonna make it stronger. But but as you said, also, giving yourself time to go through that grieving process when you do get kicked off when you do get knocked down. Because it is I mean, I can't tell you how many times we're making it. We're rockin and rollin. We got our full team and then quit illness, you know, whatever it is like oh, okay, well, Wordsworth. Nevermind, nevermind.
Joette W. 53:42
You find yourself? Oh, yeah. When we oh my gosh, that's so many times when you feel like you've got I've got this great momentum and you feel like you've been kicked in the gut when because it doesn't seem like it just one thing happens. It's like, oh, multiple, ah, you know, and so how do you you don't no problem proof yourself? It doesn't have you can't, you know, you can't, things are gonna happen, it's gonna happen. It's how you react to it with forget a negative client review, or we have a client complaint or a sitter's. You know, we're having an issue. It used to really just, we'd all fuel up in the office, and it might, I could feel my neck getting read. And I'm like, you know, just, you just have to deal with this fire or this, you know, whatever it might be. And it's like, Why? Why am I? Why am I choosing to look at this in such a negative way? Yeah, I'm not thrilled about this happened. And maybe my person did make a mistake, or maybe they didn't, maybe the client did some issue with the client, but there's an opportunity I can try to, you know, work this out. And, you know, again, I'm going to be transparent with the clients do what I can to resolve it, but I'm also not going to go crazy where I'm like, I got a free service for a year, you know, I'm gonna put it in perspective. Most of the time we find plants that type of thing. They just want to be listened to. I can tell you, there's been so many times that the clients like you know what, this and that and, you know, I feel like this happened and you know, it's like, okay, sure, send me the you know, you want to get your law exchanged, send me the thing or reimburse you, they really just wanted me to, to listen to them and understand and where they're coming from, because it's not that they were, you know, necessarily being outrageous or times you'd have those clients, but they've just had a bad experience and maybe something else was going on in their world. And that was kind of the last straw for them. So, you know, being that listening ear and sympathetic and not trying to make a bunch of excuses, and de escalating, de escalate. Oh, is it? Okay? Oh, my gosh, my sister just, you know, has a flat tire. Now I've got all these last minute visits to cover, you know, and I don't have Google going to use and oh, you know, or someone says not responding. Okay, well, What's plan B? What's Plan C? Oh, you know, what looks like I'm gonna step in and do it myself, or I'm gonna let the client know, we're unable to do it, you know, maybe the clients in town or it depends on their circumstance, but we're not going to, it's not the end of the world, it's just normal part of business, you're dealing with humans. So you got to figure out and de escalate it and not let it stress you out so much, and just kind of roll with it. So yeah.
Collin 56:01
And that's where that experience comes in yet again, of looking back and reflecting of not only have I survived this before, but look, this happened, you know, five years ago, and that really bad winter, whatever, whatever whatever this happened, and look in, I think it's important to do that, from time to time, it's just reflect on not just man, look at all those battles. We survived, but men, look how we thrived through that. And, and I may still be the importantly, like, I may still be the same size company as it was, after I went through all that stuff. I'm way more experienced. And I have tools, policies, resources, I have built internal mechanisms for myself to process those because I know I was I was way off my rocker whenever I was over there just screaming at people or whatever and angry, I'm not gonna do that anymore, because that didn't help. And now I can I can learn from the past in that way. And now I can actually, that's what it means to apply that to our business and what it gives people of, oh, I'm better because of that, or we are, we're better because of that. Yeah,
Joette W. 56:56
I mean, that's really what it is embracing that, because again, dwelling in that negative space, it's a choice, it's a choice, and maybe somebody did wrong, maybe it has nothing to do with you, and it's all on that other side, you still have a choice on what you're gonna do with that. So you know, you can't make somebody else be something or do something that they don't want to do. So you have to decide, we know what you're willing to do. So, yeah, you know, just talking to you. Yeah, you're right, looking back on all those years. So for somebody starting out, or somebody that's fairly new to this industry, I would just probably encourage them to just get doesn't have to be in the same industry, get other business people in your life, you know, friend, maybe maybe it's a friend and they don't have, you know, something different, or just somebody's got some experience, but also just rely on our experience of life in general, because we all have life going on in the background, you know, so I was going through a lot of stuff in the in the in around 2008 2009 10 area, just a lot of personal things. And just a lot of, you know, just Why just watch it every day was a beating to try to just keep things moving forward and the business or my personal life. And we all we aren't going to have seasons of that. And, you know, if you feel like I've got no one I've got there there that you can find someone there are people out there that will you know, that will listen and kind of give you counsel but looking back and saying, you know, like you said pointing back to high school that's that's a great one. Because high school you feel like oh my gosh, is my whole life is my whole world. Oh my gosh, that somebody said something to someone, so about such and such, and we all know, oh, I'll never be able to show my face again. And now with social media. Oh my gosh, can imagine. Yeah, I tell my kids all the time. I've got one just graduated high school this year, and I've got one it's gonna be a freshman in high school. And I said, this is such a small part of your life. I said, it feels like such a big thing and the emotions you're feeling and everything's you know, real, but you have to recognize that it passes in it. So I love to point out those times in essence, remember last year when you were going through whatever you're going through, and you were just like Mom, I just can't you know, there you are on the other side of it. Just like you know, so they tried to instill that in them that you know, no matter what it is time is gonna pass we're gonna be dead one day and know why still going on. So
Collin 59:03
it is well do I want to thank you so much for coming on the show and taking time out of your busy day to talk us through this and your story and and encouraging us to focus on and learn from the past in that ways and actually make it very real and applicable to today. So it impacts us impacts our business and also impacts our clients everybody benefits from that when we go through that in an intentional way. I know there's a lot here and you you know there's there's a lot more to to your entire story and everything so if people want to get in touch follow along see all the cool stuff that Park Cities is up to or pick your brain on stuff how best can they do that?
Joette W. 59:36
Um, yeah, I'm kind of old school is like website of course, which is PCP si.com which the acronym acronym for Park City's Pet Sitter Inc. Of course, we've got our Facebook page as well as Instagram page. I can tell you what those candles are, but they're on our website. And honestly, if people are I have no problem. If they want to reach out to me directly, my email address is Jo e TT e at PC psi.com. I'd love to help when I can, I will promise I'll be getting right back to you. But I will get to you. Because I'd like to point people in, I'd like to save people to going through some of the things I've gone through. So if I can, if they're open to it, you know, so but I'm not a coach by any means. And I'm not looking to. But yeah, I love to be a mentor and kind of encourage people. Okay,
Collin 1:00:24
well, I will have all those links in the show notes, including Facebook and Instagram. So people can just click right there, and on the website and stuff, too. But it's been an immense pleasure, I can't thank you enough to add. So thank you so much for your time today. Thank
Joette W. 1:00:36
you, I appreciate your time as well. And I hope you have a great weekend.
Collin 1:00:40
At the end of the day, it all comes down to trust, trust in clients, that they are a good fit for you and will treat you well. Trust in your staff, if you have them, that they will do the tasks to set before them and will follow your training and ultimately, trust in our selves, to make good decisions to lean into our intuition. And to know that we have what it takes to push through those hard times to find those resources when we need it. And to take care of ourselves as well. Trust in this business is everything. Our clients must trust us, we must trust others. Otherwise, nothing will get taken care of and nothing will happen in your business. It will stagnate and you'll be left in the same place wondering where everything went. So take that extra step this week. And make sure before all else and before all others, that you trust yourself that you trust yourself enough to move forward. We want to thank today's sponsors time to pet it our Patreon supporters for making today's show possible. And we really want to thank you for listening. We hope you have a wonderful rest of your week and we'll be back again soon.
