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512: The State of Job Sharing

512: The State of Job Sharing

Collin

Have you seen an increase in requests to job share? In this episode, we delve into the increasingly common practice of job sharing, where multiple caregivers collaborate on a pet's care. We discuss the reasons behind this trend, such as more pet sitters entering the market and clients seeking cost-effective solutions. We also highlight the challenges, including communication issues and varying standards of care, emphasizing the importance of clear documentation and agreements. Finally, we cover practical advice, stressing the need to know when to trust your gut and when to decline job sharing requests.

508: From I to We, Fears of Growing A Team

508: From I to We, Fears of Growing A Team

Collin

What fears do you have about hiring employees? Many business owners find themselves needing to hire to achieve a better balance, grow their business, or both. However, several fears can prevent them from moving forward. Today, we share the three biggest fears and challenges associated with hiring employees and how to overcome them. It all comes down to having a process that isn't just about getting the right people in the door but also about training and managing the right people well to maintain high standards.

487: Keeping it Simple with Scott Black

487: Keeping it Simple with Scott Black

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How do you keep things simple in your business? Scott Black, owner of Personal Touch Pet Sitting, discusses the importance of personalized communication, screening clients thoroughly, and managing risks in the industry. He also emphasizes the significance of continuing education and balancing growing a pet sitting business while prioritizing quality and safety. Scott shares his thoughts on liability and risk management, setting boundaries, and managing client relationships.

479: Empowering Pets and People with Mary Reid

479: Empowering Pets and People with Mary Reid

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

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.

447: From Leashes to Lattes with Alisha Riley

447: From Leashes to Lattes with Alisha Riley

Collin

What does it mean to embrace change while staying focused on the client experience? As your business grows, you may face necessary changes that push you out of your comfort zone. Transform any doubt in your abilities into motivation to learn, grow, and discover new methods. Alisha Riley, the owner of Alisha’s Pet Playcations, exemplifies this. She restarted her business after relocating across the country. In her journey, she discusses the importance of integrating oneself into the community and leveraging personal connections through your network. Additionally, Alisha shares her decision to start a coffee shop driven by a very special mission.

445: When Life Happens with Jessica and Chris Milam

445: When Life Happens with Jessica and Chris Milam

Collin

What do you do when life happens? The fact is, things happen that are out of our control, and our only roll is in how we respond. When running a business, we set policies that match the flexibility many clients need, or adapt to their requests if we want. In our personal lives, we respond by stepping up and showing our true character. Jessica and Chris Milam, owners of Fur Services Fur Pets, discuss what it means to live a life full of the right amount of crazy, love, and passion.

444: Stress Testing Your Business, How to Learn From the Busy Times

444: Stress Testing Your Business, How to Learn From the Busy Times

Collin

How did your business hold up during the recent busy period? If you found yourself pulling your hair out, with multiple things falling through the cracks and your systems breaking, you’re not alone! Stress testing your business comes in the form of tackling more visits than you typically do. It allows us to see where our existing systems and policies fall down so we improve for next time! We break down 4 areas that commonly buckle under heavy business, questions to ask yourself to assess how you did, and ways to improve before the next busy time!

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

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

Collin

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

434: Affordable vs Cheap Services in a Slowing Economy

434: Affordable vs Cheap Services in a Slowing Economy

Collin

How do spending habits change in a slowing economy? How should we respond? We break down possible options for making your business and services more valuable to your clients. It’s not about being cheap, it’s about finding an affordable way of serving our clients. There are pros and cons to consider when offering a more affordable option in your service line-up. Everything from a possible wider market appeal, to administrative overhead, you must have a clearer picture of whether introducing a more affordable service aligns with your business goals, the needs of your target market, and your operational capacities.

429: Being a Problem Solver with Kevin Johnson

429: Being a Problem Solver with Kevin Johnson

Collin

What problems are you solving for your clients? Kevin Johnson, owner of Planet Paws Pet Care, views his entire role as being the problem solver for his clients. Kevin transitioned from being a defense attorney to running a successful pet sitting business. He emphasizes the importance of communication skills in building trust with clients and identifying their pain points. He believes in being a problem solver and guiding clients to the right services, even if it means referring them elsewhere. Kevin also highlights the value of networking, joining the chamber of commerce, and filling gaps in the market. He and his wife work together in the business, with her focusing on marketing and business operations. Kevin participates in events to raise awareness of his business and engage with the community.

427: Finding Flexibility and Freedom with Shade Long

427: Finding Flexibility and Freedom with Shade Long

Collin

How much is your time worth to you? As busy business owners, we often get caught up in the grind and hustle of our day-to-day operations. Ultimately, we have to step back and ask what truly matters in our lives. Shade Long, owner of Complete Pet Care, joins the show to share the learning curve she's experienced over the last two years. From managing massive business growth amidst overwhelm, to refining her onboarding process, she's finding ways to strike a better balance. Shade explains why it's not all about bursting at the seams and emphasizes that you can run the business you want while also having a life outside of it.

426: Managing the Pet Business Triangle: Time - People - Money

426: Managing the Pet Business Triangle: Time - People - Money

Collin

Do you consider yourself a project manager? Running a pet sitting and dog walking company, we face many unique challenges and have to be able to adapt quickly, while keeping everything organized and structured. We take the traditional project management triangle and adapt it to the pet services industry, with the primary focus being on people. Obviously pet care is a number one priority in our businesses, but the people aspect cannot be minimized and should be accounted for when taking on any visit, walk, or extended care.

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!

394: How We Expanded to a Remote Service Area

394: How We Expanded to a Remote Service Area

Collin

Have you ever wanted to start a remote location for your business? We share our experiences two years into our experiment with our business. We needed a way to grow our business, and found a remote location fit exactly what we needed. From our struggles hiring and training the right staff, to managing an office and learning a brand new city, there was a lot we had to learn. We’ve changed our entire operations and many of our policies to meet the new challenge, and give insights into how that went for us.

393: Working From Your Passion with Stephanie Brown

393: Working From Your Passion with Stephanie Brown

Collin

How do you know it's time to bite down and go 110% to make your dream a reality? We all find our own motivating forces in our lives. For Stephanie Brown, owner of Happy Trail's Pet Sitting & Dog Walking Services, she found her motivation in her family. She shares how her business has evolved and how it wasn't always easy to leave services behind. Stephanie focuses on client education and fostering relationships through a personal touch. She also gives great advice around implementing a power hour to stay organized in your business and how she's navigated bringing on a manager in her business.

389: Live Life Full and Happy with Morgan Weber

389: Live Life Full and Happy with Morgan Weber

Collin

How do you delight your clients? To delight your clients, you must first find delight and joy in the services you’re offering. Morgan Weber, owner of Lucky Pups Adventure, joins the show to talk about how living a fulfilling life in the present is crucial rather than waiting for some future event to happen. She explains how taking the time to appreciate the little things in life and finding joy in even the most mundane tasks is essential. She discusses how to ensure customer satisfaction by finding delight in the services you offer. Then stresses the importance of treating every client with the utmost care and attention to detail, which can lead to word-of-mouth referrals and long-term client relationships. She also gives advice on how to grieve the loss of a client’s pet and how to work closely with a significant other in your business.

366: Best Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Tips from Listeners

366: Best Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Tips from Listeners

Collin

What’s your best pet sitting or dog walking tip? We asked, and you answered! Everything from how to deal with nervous cats, to when should you get a poop bag ready, you sent in your best tips. On today’s episode, we share the results and share some tips of our own. Thank you to all who submitted feedback!

357: Empowering Empathy with Stephanie Castro

357: Empowering Empathy with Stephanie Castro

Collin

What does it mean to be empathetic in our business? Showing empathy allows you to connect with nervous clients. It also helps both clients and staff feel like they are understood and are not alone. Stephanie Castro, owner of Stay Home Pet Sitting, joins the show to share why the words we use help clients see the value in our business. She also explains how she’s growing her company culture, and what it means to make hard decisions.

354: What’s in a Name?

354: What’s in a Name?

Collin

Does it matter what you call your services? The language we use in our businesses is a very powerful tool in both attracting the right clients and repelling the wrong ones. As a business owner, we need to use clear language in everything we do, including what we name our services. We break down some areas of possible confusion, and then suggest ways to overcome those to connect with your clients.

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