All tagged expectations

518: Pulling Your Punches

518: Pulling Your Punches

Collin

What does it mean to pull your punches in business? In this episode, we explore the concept of strategically holding back to ensure sustainable growth and long-term success. We discuss how pacing your expansion, marketing, and client onboarding can help maintain high service quality and prevent burnout. Learn how to set realistic client expectations, manage your resources wisely, and avoid the race to the bottom on pricing. Join us as we dive into strategies for balancing ambition with caution, adapting to challenges, and positioning your business for lasting success.

452: Keeping the Momentum After a Difficult Year

452: Keeping the Momentum After a Difficult Year

Collin

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.

401: How to Retain the Best Clients with Candace D’Agnolo

401: How to Retain the Best Clients with Candace D’Agnolo

Collin

How do you keep clients coming back over and over? Candace D’Agnolo, from Pet Boss Nation, joins the show to discuss how to create raving fans of your business. Candace breaks down strategies for building long-lasting relationships with clients, and how to help them fall in love with your services. She also shows us ways to increase the perceived value of your business, while anticipating your client’s needs. Finally, Candace encourages us to implement follow-up services as a way to keep clients invested and engaged.

377: Keeping a Business Owner Mindset with Maria Teran

377: Keeping a Business Owner Mindset with Maria Teran

Collin

Where do you go for new ideas and adapt to changing business landscapes? The ability to create and seek out new ways of thinking is a super power. As a business owner, it’s critical to staying successful and relevant to your clients. Maria Teran, owner of Chicawoof Dog Walking and Field Days, joins us for a conversation centered around how to seek out feedback and then make necessary changes. Maria walks through her two powerful tools for getting feedback, and why you have to leave emotion out of it. She also shares what it means to stay creative as a business owner and the importance of continually exposing ourselves to novel ideas. Throughout the process of changing and adapting, Maria stresses how to stay connected with your mission so you stay true to yourself.

318: One Year Hiring Retrospective

318: One Year Hiring Retrospective

Collin

It’s been one year since we started hiring in our business! A lot has changed in our company since then so we discuss what we’ve learned. We share the importance of trying new things, leaning on your strengths, and what it looks like to grow company culture. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I scale as a solo sitter?”

310: How to Recharge When You Feel Drained

310: How to Recharge When You Feel Drained

Collin

Have you ever felt completely drained in the middle of a busy schedule? As small business owners, we don’t always have the luxury of pressing pause on everything to catch up and recharge. Today, we break down steps to take to invest back in yourself, even in the middle of the chaos. Then, Natasha O’Banion answers, “What does it mean to systematize my business?”

297: Evolving as a Business Owner with Michelle Sabia

297: Evolving as a Business Owner with Michelle Sabia

Collin

How do you grow in the role of being the founder of your company? Many of us feel uncomfortable using such formal titles in our businesses, but words have meaning for a reason. Michelle Sabia, owner of Paws and Claws Pet Sitting, discusses what it's like growing into new roles in her business. She shares how her expansion into a brand new market has been going, and how she has been trying to break her addiction of working 24/7. She also encourages us to get more involved in pet sitting organizations.

232: Valuing Yourself with Carla Tittle

232: Valuing Yourself with Carla Tittle

Collin

How do you value yourself? Carla Tittle, owner of Texas Ruff House, stepped way from a career in elementary education on a sabbatical and found herself running a pet care business. Carla shares how she uses the skills of a teacher to read between the lines of client expectations. She also discusses her process in finding her ideal client, how she markets to them, and what it was like hiring for the first time. Carla’s pet care community suffered a tragic loss that reached the national news; she talks about the mark it’s left and how they all have come together. All through her time in pet care, she continues to reflect back on what she values and whether it’s reflected in her work, and she encourages us to do the same.

208: What is Shaping Client Expectations

208: What is Shaping Client Expectations

Collin

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.

148: The Extra Mile

148: The Extra Mile

Collin

Going the extra mile means something different to everyone. From making clients happy, to settings ourselves apart, going above and beyond can meet various goals in our business. We discuss ways to go the extra mile while maintaining healthy relationships. On the Ask a Pet Biz Coach segment, Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I set my pricing if I’m looking to hire?”

114: Burnout Recovery with Jennifer Bassman

114: Burnout Recovery with Jennifer Bassman

Collin

Jennifer Bassman, The Witty Entrepreneur, joins us talk about avoiding burnout, setting healthy boundaries around email and phone calls, and her three principles of saying No. Whether you pass out into a pizza or just lack patience with those around you, burnout looks different for everyone. Jennifer encourages us to stop playing by other peoples rules and start setting healthy boundaries.

080- Customer Service in Pet Care

080- Customer Service in Pet Care

Collin

Today on the podcast, Meghan and Collin discuss their personal approach to customer service and point out some best practices to ensure clients have the best experience possible. The goal is to provide the best possible care to the pet, but we can’t forget about how we treat the owners! On the ‘Ask a Pet Business Coach’ segment, Natasha O’Banion answers the question everyone has as they start to grow: how you stay connected and communicate with clients as you add staff.