Marissa LeJune, owner of Tail Swaggers, joins the podcast! Marissa shares what her first three years in business have been like, the important role a coach played in her life, and what it’s like running her business with the help of her daughter.
104- Setting Yourself Apart
There are thousands of pet care providers across the world so, many times we are left wondering how we can set ourselves apart from the pet sitter down the street. On this episode we dive into what it looks like to make yourself stand out in this industry.
103- Pet Sitter Self Care with Nicole Ryan
Self-care is a big topic and one that Nicole Ryan joins us to break down. She shares the lessons she’s learned from running her business, the importance of setting boundaries, and understanding your mindset. Nicole also discusses when to walk away and the power of routines in our daily lives.
102- Staying Content
This episode is about being content and knowing why we do what we do. In business, we can get pushed by outside influences to do things we may not want to. Staying grounded and aligned with our business mission and purpose takes practice, but will help us feel content in our business and personal life. Natasha answers, “How do I refresh my business?”
101 - Elise Proctor with Canine Company
On episode 101, Elise Proctor, owner of Canine Company, shares how her experiences with her own reactive dogs shaped her pet care business. Elise started her own training groups to be more inclusive and welcoming to owners of reactive dogs, and works hard to meet and set proper expectations with her clients. She also wrote a book about her best stories of being a dog walker to help shine the light on the life a pet sitter.
100- 100th Episode Q&A!!
We cannot believe we are celebrating 100 episodes! What an awesome journey it’s been, so far. We reintroduce ourselves and then dive into some great listener questions. Natasha O’Banion answers, “How do I provide promotion opportunities for my employees?”
099- Marketing with Jane Harrell
Jane Harrell, President of ‘cause Digital Marketing, joins the show to break down the marketing world in the pet care industry. Jane shares her passion to see people make money while changing the world, and the impact that both Covid-19 and the global discussion around racial justice have had on the pet care industry.
098- Self-Care
On today's episode, we discuss our self-care routines and feelings toward the idea of self-care. This episode is just as much for us as anyone because we don't have this figured out either! We talk through some tools and self-care methods. On our Ask a Pet Biz Coach segment, Natasha answers the question, “Should I even bother starting a pet care business in 2020?”
097- Robin Bennett from The Dog Gurus
Robin Bennett, from the Dog Gurus, joins us to talk all about safety and day cares! Whether you’ve been operating a daycare for 10 years or haven’t eve started yet, Robin has something for you. From being careful about zoning in your area to screening dogs, Robin shares some great information that we can all learn from.
096- Learning to say 'YES'
We covered saying ‘no’ and setting clear boundaries, but what about saying ‘yes’? Today, we break down every facet of saying ‘yes’. From overcoming the fear of the unknown, to the right reasons to say ‘yes’, we share some of our learned experiences. Natasha O’Banion joins the show to answer “How do you keep you and your staff organized?”
095- Jessica Abernathy with NAPPS
Jessica Abernathy, President of NAPPS, comes on the show to share about their 2020 conference and her encouragement and excitement for the future of the industry. Jessica also describes the importance of taking time right now to dig into your business and where opportunities are opening up.
094- Holistic Pet Care with Gillian Edwards
On today’s episode, Gillian Edwards, owner of Four Paws Holistic Therapy, joins us to talk all about holistic pet care. Gillian shares how pet sitters are a part of the pets care team, and how we can learn more about massage, animal communication, and the role reiki plays in their long term care.
093- One Year Podcast Anniversary
Today's episode is our one year celebration! We dive into listener questions, from our background to some podcasting basics. Thank you so much for all of your support. We appreciate you going on this journey with us! Natasha also joins us to answer the question, "Do we really need insurance?"
092- Beth Stultz-Hairston with PSI
Beth Stultz, President of Pet Sitters International (PSI), joins us on the podcast to discuss their move to a virtual conference. Beth shares how to prepare for an online conference format and what kind of talks to expect. We also discuss how PSI has supported its members, and the industry at large, though education and training opportunities throughout the pandemic.
091- Coping with the Unexpected, with the House Sit Diva
The House Sit Diva, Kelly Hayes-Raitt, joins us for her SIXTH appearance on the podcast. Kelly shares how, not surprisingly, not every pet sit or house sit goes according to plan. Even though we screen and ask all the questions, unforeseen things can and do happen. Kelly gives us some awesome tips for overcoming the unexpected and how to avoid becoming overwhelmed in the midst of the let down.
090- Knowing Your Worth
We share responses from last week’s episode and discuss knowing your worth. We take a holistic approach to understanding that you are valuable and your business provides a value to your clients. Natasha O’Banion answers the question, “How do you know when to delegate and actually stick to it?”
089- Carmen Rustenbeck with IBPSA
Carmen Rustenbeck, CEO of the International Boarding and Pet Services Association (IBPSA), talks about how IBPSA has adapted their upcoming conference to a virtual format, the state of the pet care industry, and what the road forward looks like. Carmen also shares how IBPSA has supported and fought for their members this year, and how that helps the entire industry.
088- Supporting Your Staff with Susan Anderson
Susan Anderson, owner of The Pet Gal, shares why she started pet sitting, how she expanded across multiple states, and the importance of supporting her employees. Susan discusses how, by taking care of the back-end work and making sure her field staff are well equipped with tools and knowledge, they’re able to provide better care.
087- Industry Standards
We discuss regulations and industry in the pet care industry. It’s a hot topic, and one with lots of potential for needed healthy conversations. Some people will say regulations hurt business, while others say it puts everyone on equal footing. It’s important, however, that as an industry, we are proactive in setting forth regulations which will help instead of hindering advancement and innovation. Natasha is back to answer another question, “What tools does she use to run her business?”
086- Social Media in Pet Care with Dan and Mauro
On today's episode Dan, owner of Dan's Dog Walking and Pet sitting, and Mauro, their Media Director, join us to talk all about social media in the pet care industry. Dan and Mauro discuss their social media strategy and simple tools and equipment we can use to produce high quality content. They also talk candidly about both the best practices and the ones to avoid when engaging on social media.