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528: Stop Watching the Weather: Embracing Action Over Perfection in Business

528: Stop Watching the Weather: Embracing Action Over Perfection in Business

Collin

Are you too busy watching the weather to make real progress in your business? In this episode, Collin explores how overthinking and waiting for perfect conditions can paralyze business owners, preventing us from taking action. He discusses the dangers of getting stuck in analysis, the fear of imperfection, and how to strike the right balance between planning and executing. Learn the importance of focusing on core goals and remaining adaptable to change. Join him as he shares insights on taking proactive steps to grow your business, no matter the circumstances.

525: Pet Sitting From Argentina to the Netherlands with Sophie Canil

525: Pet Sitting From Argentina to the Netherlands with Sophie Canil

Collin

Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a pet sitting business in a foreign country? In this episode, Sophie Canil, owner of Pet Sitting by Sophie, shares her journey from Argentina to the Netherlands and how she turned her love for animals into a successful cat sitting business. She discusses the importance of setting boundaries and self-care, especially in such a solitary profession. Sophie also emphasizes the value of delegating tasks and finding a supportive community of fellow pet sitters. Tune in for practical advice on growing a pet care business abroad!

524: Hire the Heart, Train the Skill

524: Hire the Heart, Train the Skill

Collin

Have you ever struggled to find the perfect hire for your pet care business? In this episode, we dive into the importance of hiring for soft skills like empathy, communication, and adaptability, while training the technical aspects later. We discuss the value of a multi-stage hiring process to thoroughly vet candidates and ensure they fit your company culture. While the technical skills are trainable, finding someone with the right heart is key to long-term success. We share our own experiences in building a team that truly connects with both pets and clients.

522: FINCEN and Florida

522: FINCEN and Florida

Collin

Are you ready to comply with the latest FINCEN regulations that impact your pet care business? In this episode, we break down the new Beneficial Ownership Information reporting requirements and why they're crucial for staying on the right side of the law. We also explore how Florida's regional pet care groups are leading the way in building strong local networks and supporting pet sitters. Plus, we discuss the growing maturity of the pet care industry and what it means for business owners like you. Tune in for practical tips on filing with FINCEN and keeping your business compliant.

511: From Numbers to Strategy with Anne-Marie Kaden

511: From Numbers to Strategy with Anne-Marie Kaden

Collin

How do you navigate the financial uncertainties of running a business? Anne-Marie Kaden, from Tiny Paws Bookkeeping highlights the importance of regularly monitoring financial health and utilizing key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure your business adapts and thrives in changing markets. She emphasizes managing labor costs effectively, planning for cash flow variations, and leveraging historical data to make informed decisions. Through strategic financial management, business owners can better prepare for seasonal fluctuations and unexpected expenses, ensuring sustainability and growth. Anne-Marie's insights offer valuable strategies for maintaining financial stability and maximizing profitability in any economic environment.

483: Being More Than a Pet Sitter with Sarah Schloerb

483: Being More Than a Pet Sitter with Sarah Schloerb

Collin

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.

466: The Myth of Multitasking

466: The Myth of Multitasking

Collin

Do you consider yourself a multitasker? Contrary to popular belief, multitasking does not make us more productive. In fact, what we are capable of doing is not even considered true multitasking. Task switching, as it is known, is the process where our brain switches from one thing to another in rapid succession. While it may feel like we are getting more done, there are several drawbacks to this method of working. We walk through common misconceptions and the modern research on what multitasking actually does to us. We give several tactics you can use to break the habit of attempting to multitask to keep you productive and focused on the things that really matter.

462: Give Yourself Permission

462: Give Yourself Permission

Collin

Have you ever been frustrated by one more thing being added to your plate? There come times when our personal life impacts our ability to run our business and show up at our best. Whether it’s a personal loss, a new venture opportunity, or even moving to a new home, the pressure to continue to perform increases beyond our capacity sometimes. It’s in these moments where we have to carve out space we need to take that pressure off so we can focus on the right priorities.

450: You Need a Task Manager: Tracking Stuff in Your Biz

450: You Need a Task Manager: Tracking Stuff in Your Biz

Collin

How do you stay organized in your business? The options are pretty limitless. Everything from post-it notes, to reminder apps on your phones, or even just trying to remember things yourself. However, what if you find those just aren’t working? Today, we break down how using a task manager can help you be more productive, tackle bigger projects, and stop worrying you’ve forgotten something!

449: Letting the Client Be Heard with Natalie Spedden

449: Letting the Client Be Heard with Natalie Spedden

Collin

What are the unique challenges your business faces? Our business is shaped by our own values and how we want things done. It’s also molded by the community we service. Everything from how we hire, the services we can offer, and the kind of marketing we do is influenced by where we are. Natalie Spedden, owner of Aggieland Pet Sitting, walks through how she runs and hires in a town heavily influenced by a large university. Natalie shares how to take off our rose colored glasses to make hard decisions. She also talks about how she is building a professional team focused on the client’s needs.

448: When Word-of-Mouth Isn’t Enough: 20 Ideas to Market Your Business

448: When Word-of-Mouth Isn’t Enough: 20 Ideas to Market Your Business

Collin

How is word of mouth marketing working for you? If you’re like many people right now, you’re finding that word of mouth is not quite enough to keep your business growing or maintaining the level you need. Today, we break down 20 marketing ideas to try if you’ve never had to market before. If it’s all a little intimidating, we also discuss 5 things to focus on to get started.

439: Gaining Confidence by Doing Hard Work with Abby Strong

439: Gaining Confidence by Doing Hard Work with Abby Strong

Collin

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.

438: Don’t Stop Believing…in Marketing

438: Don’t Stop Believing…in Marketing

Collin

What should you do with your marketing during a busy period? While it may be tempting to take your foot off the gas, we think it’s the perfect time to keep going! Running your messaging year round will help develop brand awareness and even out the ups and downs that come with running a dog walking and pet sitting business. We break down the reason stopping marketing during busy periods can hurt your business, and the kinds of messaging to focus on to get the right clients once the slowdown comes.

417: Lost Pet Rescue and Prevention with Annalisa Berns

417: Lost Pet Rescue and Prevention with Annalisa Berns

Collin

What will you do if an owner’s pet escapes? When seconds count, planning and preparation are your best friend. Annalisa Berns, The Pet Detective, walks us through common ways dogs and cats go missing and explains the simple steps we can take to prevent that from happening. She points out that the normal behaviors we expect are replaced with more unpredictable ones once the pet goes missing. Annalisa speaks on the methods to recover a missing pet, and reminds us to get helps as soon as possible.

415: Fostering Relationships Through Your Software with Mike Grenier

415: Fostering Relationships Through Your Software with Mike Grenier

Collin

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.

403: Business Exit Planning with Joshua Winterswyk

403: Business Exit Planning with Joshua Winterswyk

Collin

Do you have an exit plan from your business? While it may feel like you’ll be working for the rest of your life, you will stop working eventually. Having an exit plan means taking the time to step out of your business in some way. Joshua Winterswyk, Certified Financial Planner with RPA Wealth Management, shares the strategies for exiting your business well. Josh walks through the various options you have as the business owner. He also discusses why you should build a strong team to guide you through the process.

402: Planning the Perfect Visit

402: Planning the Perfect Visit

Collin

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!

395: Roundtable: Self-Care

395: Roundtable: Self-Care

Collin

Are you prioritizing self-care? As a business owner, we are often the last to get cared for. The fact is, your business will suffer if you’re not taking care of yourself. Michelle Kline (DogCo Launch), Doug Keeling (Bad to the Bone Pet Care), and Dan Reitman (Dan’s Pet Care) share their journeys and struggles to learn what self-care means to them. Your health, and the health of your business, depend on you operating at your best. To do this, the roundtable encourages us to not numb the struggles and instead seek professional help and healthier ways of dealing with stress. They also walk through what “work-life” balance actually is and how to find your priorities.

382: Finding Your Approach to Social Media

382: Finding Your Approach to Social Media

Collin

How are you using social media in your business? From just having a presence to being the main powerhouse of new clients, there are an infinite number of ways to approach social media. We break down our own usage and why it’s so important to find your purpose before you create your next post. It’s all about the content, but you won’t know what to post until you figure out why you’re posting.

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