How Pet Business Owners Can Use AI: Your 'Personal Touch' Is Actually Holding You Back

Are you scared AI will steal the soul of your pet business? If you’re a pet sitter or dog walker clinging to the belief that AI is cold, impersonal, or "not for you," this episode will rock your world—in the best way possible. I'm diving deep into how pet business owners can use AI not just to save time, but to get their life back, serve more clients better, and still sound exactly like YOU.

I’m walking you through mindset shifts, real-life applications, and why AI is actually the most powerful way to keep your personal touch while finally getting off the hamster wheel. It’s part pep talk, part strategy session, and totally packed with love, truth, and a little kick in the pants (you know how I do).

By the end, you'll either be running toward the future or realize you’re already getting left behind. Let’s fix that.

In This Episode, You'll Learn...

AI Doesn’t Erase Your Personal Touch—It Enhances It

You Can’t Use AI Well Without a Solid Foundation

Burnout Is Optional, Automation Is the Cure

AI Isn’t a Threat to Your Business. It’s a Tool for Leadership

You’re Either Using AI Or Competing Against Those Who Are

Timestamps

2:35 – Why pet industry resistance to AI is rooted in burnout, not values

4:58 – What AI actually requires from your business before it can help

9:15 – The 2025 way to handle tough client convos without losing your mind

15:54 – How AI is a leadership move (not laziness or cheating)

22:55 – The truth: AI won’t take your job—but someone using it might take your clients

Notable Quotes

"AI is not here to replace your heart—it’s here to amplify your humanity."

"Pet business owners can use AI to work smarter, not harder—and still be more you than ever."

"AI is not the enemy of authenticity. Burnout is."

Resources & Links

Try Magai: My favorite AI dashboard. Use code BELLA25 for $25 off/month

Jump Consulting on YouTube

Connect on IG: @bellavasta

Ready to talk it out and get unstuck? Book a complimentary 20-min strategy call.

Surround yourself with other forward-thinking petpreneurs. Join Bella’s Mastermind.

Watch all our Podcasts on YouTube

Here is last week's episode:

Transcript

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. First, thank you so much for all the subscribes and likes — when you hit that like and share button, it really helps. It's the best thing you can do for any creator. I've seen it in the stats and I genuinely appreciate it.

Something new: you can now watch the video version of this podcast on Spotify and YouTube. We’ve created an omnipresence where you can either listen or watch. This shift was by request, and let me tell you — it’s a labor of love. It’s 7:01 AM, my daughter’s in the other room playing, and we just wrapped up birthday weekend — hers and mine. I’m exhausted and recording this in hair and makeup, even though pajamas with no video would be easier. I hope you appreciate the video and if you do, please like, subscribe, comment, and leave a review. We're coming up on 450 episodes — wild. I started this when she was in the hospital over a decade ago. If you have suggestions for the 450th episode, send them in — this podcast is as much yours as it is mine.

Today I want to talk about AI and the concern around losing personal touch. I hear this a lot. But I want to go at a pace that aligns with where most pet sitters and dog walkers are. I’m ready to sprint, but I know we need to get on the same page before opening Pandora’s box. AI requires everything to be written down — emails, SOPs, handbooks, job descriptions — because it needs something to be trained on.

You also have to understand that AI is just a tool — practically free — but not always right. You need to know when and where to insert personal, human touch. And here's the blunt truth: from July 22, 2025 forward,

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How to Make AI Sound Authentic in Your

Pet Sitting Business

Ever feel like AI-generated content sounds stiff, robotic, or just... not like you? In this episode, I share exactly how to fix that. I'm walking you through the biggest mistake people make when using AI—and how to shift your approach so it sounds like you, not like a bot.

This episode will help you tap into the magic of your voice, infuse your personality into prompts, and get AI to mirror the tone, energy, and intention you actually want. Whether you're writing blogs, captions, emails, or responses, you're going to learn how to make AI content feel real, raw, and resonant.

In This Episode, You'll Learn...

The Wake-Up Call - You’re Already Living in AI Land

The Graveyard of “Old School” Thinking

The Psychology of Struggle Worship

What AI Really Gives You (The Value Proposition)

The REAL Authenticity Problem - You’re Using AI Wrong

The Action Plan - Training AI to Sound Like YOU

Timestamps

00:00 – Why AI sounds fake—and what no one tells you about fixing it04:17 – The secret to injecting YOUR voice into your AI outputs07:45 – Real examples: what bad AI sounds like vs. authentic AI10:58 – How to “season” your AI with brand language and intent14:39 – A final mindset shift that will change the way you use AI forever

Notable Quotes

“AI doesn’t sound fake—you sound fake when you don’t tell it who you are.”

“If you want authentic output, you need to give it authentic input. It’s that simple.”

“Tone, rhythm, and context are everything. AI is just the amplifier—you are still the instrument.”

Resources & Links

Ready to make AI sound like you? Start by shifting how you talk to it. Then come tell me what changed—DM me, tag me, or email me. I want to hear your voice in it.

Join the Mastermind

Book a Free 20-min Call with Bella

Bella’s Marketing Services

Watch all our Podcasts on YouTube

Catch up on last week's episode:

 

Transcript

Welcome back to another episode of Bella in your business. My name is Bella Vasta.

And things are good. My daughter just got back from a 2 and a half week trip to Macedonia. That's where her dad's from for those of you who have been part of this podcast for the past 11 years! Oh, my God!

Also, if you are watching on Spotify right now, there, we have a video up. We also have video up on YouTube for this podcast. You're gonna see in my back corner I got a new plant and I need help naming her. So let me know if you have any fun names for that. I was sick and tired of seeing that plug, and it's a um... oh, gosh! I even forget what that's called. It's one of those ones that are supposed to be really good for the room and the air, aren't they?

Anyways, today we're gonna talk about something that I see a lot. And honestly, it was started by Pet Sitters International. I am so excited that they posted something about AI, and it sparked a lot of conversation, and it was all over the board. And if you have been listening to the podcast, you know that I have been asking and asking and asking for other people in the industry to step up and start talking about this, because it's time that we all elevate the industry with what is actually going on out there.

It's just like back in... was it 2006, 7, 8? I'm really bad at dates. When I was trying to teach everyone how to do—on why they should have a Facebook page for the business. And you know, AI is just like that.

But before we get into the episode, I promised my team that I would ask you to like and subscribe and comment anywhere you are listening or watching to this podcast. We spend about a hundred dollars every single episode to produce this for you with the video, the editing, and the emails, and all the things.

And if you find this valuable, if you could just do me that one little favor, that would be amazing. Or even share it with a friend. If there's someone that you know that needs to hear ab...

Word of Mouth Marketing for Pet Sitters to Increase Sales By 5x!

 

Are you pouring hours into social media but still struggling to attract the right clients? What if the real game-changer isn’t another algorithm hack—but a return to something more personal? In this episode, I want to share what’s working way better. I’m diving into how word of mouth marketing for pet sitters can completely change the game for your business. I’ll show you why it outperforms paid ads, how to tap into it without feeling pushy, and the simple steps you can take to start seeing real results from genuine community relationships. If you’re ready to stop chasing the algorithm and start building something sustainable, this one’s for you.

In This Episode, You'll Learn...

Why word of mouth marketing generates 5x more sales than paid ads

The psychology behind pet parent trust and buying decisions

How to become the go-to pet care provider in your community

Real examples of pet businesses growing through vet, school, and PTO partnerships

How AI can boost your referral output without sounding “salesy”

Timestamps

03:00 – The data behind why referred clients are more valuable05:30 – What pet parents really want when they ask for referrals online08:15 – The real service you're selling (hint: it's not dog walking)12:50 – Using AI and creativity to scale your referral strategy20:10 – Real-world examples: how others turned partnerships into $600k+ businesses

Notable Quotes

“We're not selling pet sitting and dog walking. We're selling peace of mind, trust, and security.”

“Word of mouth generates five times more sales than paid advertisements—and it costs less to acquire the client.”

“What you do right now in July shows up in your business three to six months from now.”

Resources & Links

Are you ready to stop relying on social media alone and start becoming the most referred pet sitter in your area? Join Bella inside the Mastermind for done-with-you strategies and tools to grow your business through trusted relationships.

Join the Mastermind

Book a Free 20-min Call with Bella

Bella’s Marketing Services

Watch all our Podcasts on YouTube

Catch up on last week's episode:

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Transcript

Welcome to another episode of Bella in your business. My name is Bella Vasta. We spend so much time trying to figure out the algorithms on social media just to have them change on us. Right away. At the time of this recording, it is 2 days before Instagram makes their big change that I've announced in my mastermind, I've announced on my Facebook page. It is simply that all their postings are now going to be public. So that means every single thing that you post—and if it was already a business public page, it should have been because they could do it already—you should have your keywords in there. But now it's even more important. Every single time you post on Facebook or Instagram, it's basically like a micro blog.

But what if I told you that there was something that was even better? That outperforms any day of the week than social media to help attract people to your business. Would you be interested? Because that's what today's episode's all about. I'm going to be throwing a lot of statistics at you because I wanted to throw the numbers really heavily into this episode so that you could hopefully be motivated.

The topic that I'm about to tell you about is something that a lot of people are either really scared, or apprehensive, or self-conscious about. Perhaps sometimes they're even—they say they don't have time for it, which really, when you say you don't have time, it means it's not a priority, right? That's in anything in life. Or it's just something that maybe they've done before, but they don't feel like they got an ROI—a return on investment—therefore they're just like no.

And so what that is is word of mouth marketing.

AI Prompts for Pet Sitters: Why Basic Questions Aren't Enough (And What To Do Instead)

Have you ever asked ChatGPT to “write a caption” or “make a post” and ended up with something totally bland? Yeah, you’re not alone—and that’s exactly what I’m unpacking in this episode of Bella in Your Business.

In this episode, I’m not just talking about AI. I’m showing you how to use it smarter. We’re going deep into what most pet sitters are getting wrong about AI prompts, why a recent MIT study scared people for the wrong reasons, and how you can build a GPT that actually knows your tone, your clients, and your strategy.

I even introduce you to Suzi—my custom GPT who’s basically my brain in AI form. If you’ve ever wanted to clone your brain (without the burnout), you’re gonna want to hear this.

If you’ve ever listened to Episode 443, you know that was us capturing your brain in repeatable systems. This episode goes deeper, turning that brain into an autonomous thinker.

And yes, we invited George B. Thomas on Episode 435 for a masterclass in AI cloning. George built a voice?powered clone that talks, teaches, and problem?solves like him, and I legit forgot I was talking to AI when I called it

Whether you’ve been playing around with AI or still don’t know where to start, I promise you’ll walk away with practical ways to level up how you use it and maybe even fall in love with what it can do.

In This Episode, You'll Learn...

The MIT Study Bombshell

Why Basic AI Prompts for Pet Sitters Aren't Enough

What Deep AI Prompts for Pet Sitters Look Like

The Suzi Example: AI Prompts for Pet Sitters Done RIGHT

Signs You're Using AI Prompts for Pet Sitters Too Shallow

How to Create POWERFUL AI Prompts for Pet Sitters

Real Pet Business Examples Using Advanced AI Prompts for Pet Sitters

Your Next Steps with AI Prompts for Pet Sitters

Timestamps

00:01:10 – Why the pet industry is behind on AI—but not for long

00:05:20 – What the MIT study really means for your business

00:08:54 – The difference between shallow and strategic prompts

00:14:15 – Creating AI systems that build SOPs, sequences, and success

00:22:00 – How to shift from “write me a…” to strategic frameworks

Notable Quotes

"AI won’t replace you. But people using AI will."

"Most of y’all are spoon-feeding yourself AI content and wondering why you’re still hungry."

"You don’t need more answers—you need better questions."

"Suzi sounds like a real person because I trained her to be a reflection of ME."

Resources & Links

If this episode lit a fire under you, don’t let it burn out. Join me inside the Mastermind where we take these AI prompts and turn them into real-deal systems, strategy, and success stories.

Want your own “Suzi”? Grab my GPT class at  jumpconsulting.net/bot. Don’t just play with AI. Master it.

Magai Membership – Use code BELLA25 for $25 off/month

Jump Consulting on YouTube

Learn how to build your own AI assistant.

Connect on IG: @bellavasta

Book a complimentary 20-min strategy call.

Join Bella’s Mastermind.

Did You Love This Episode?

Share it on Instagram and tag @BellaVasta with your biggest takeaway using #BellaInYourBusiness. Start building your business BFF.

Transcript

Welcome back to another episode of Bella in your business.

Today we're going to talk all about how to level up your prompts for AI. And we're going to go into it deep. I'm really looking forward—I have a lot prepared for you. But before I do that, I really want to give a shout out to all of you. I've been talking to a lot of you on the phone. A lot of you have been signing up for that 20-minute call and chatting. I just love how you are starting to understand that Jump Consulting is the go-to for AI in the pet industry.

I talked to Angela a couple of weeks ago, and she was just listening along and blown away at the AI stuff. I talked to Katie, and she was learning how to use it for SOPs.

How Pet Business Owners Can Clone Themselves

with AI (Without Losing Their Soul)

Have you ever thought, “I need to clone myself just to keep up”? I know that feeling all too well. In this episode of Bella In Your Business, I’m sharing how I, as a busy pet business owner, actually figured out how to clone myself with AI. I’ve trained tools to write like me, create branded visuals, and even replicate my voice and videos so I’m showing up even when I’m not “on.” This episode is all about real ways pet sitters can clone themselves with AI and still keep their business grounded in their unique voice. If you’re exhausted trying to be everywhere, this one will give you a new way to work smarter and scale without burning out.

In This Episode, You'll Learn...

Why You NEED to Clone Yourself

The Writing Clone - Your Voice, Amplified

The Visual Clone - Your Brand, Everywhere

The Voice Clone - This One's a Game Changer

 The Video Clone - Show Up Without Showing Up

The System That Makes It All Work

Timestamps

0:33 – “I need to clone myself”—the moment it all clicked

3:05 – Why not using AI means you’re stuck in a hobby, not a business

7:00 – How I trained AI to write like me

13:05 – Visual branding secrets that save hours

22:00 – Cloning my voice and video for onboarding and beyond

Notable Quotes

"If you’re not using AI right now, you’re running a hobby—not a business."

"I taught AI to write like me, so it’s not guessing—it’s echoing my voice."

"Cloning yourself doesn’t mean losing authenticity; it means multiplying your impact."

Resources & Links

Imagine having more time without sacrificing your brand's presence. If you're ready to stop doing it all and start scaling with intention, join Magai and let AI do the heavy lifting for you. You don’t have to hustle harder just smarter.

Magai Membership – Use code BELLA25 for $25 off/month

Jump Consulting on YouTube

Try Bella’s custom pet sitting GPT.

Learn how to build your own AI assistant.

Connect on IG: @bellavasta

Book a complimentary 20-min strategy call.

Join Bella’s Mastermind.

Did You Love This Episode?

Share it on Instagram and tag @BellaVasta with your biggest takeaway using #BellaInYourBusiness. Ready to stop being the bottleneck in your business?

Transcript

Hey there, pet business owners. Bella Vasta here, and welcome back to another episode of Bella in Your Business.

Y’all, we need to talk. I keep hearing the same thing from pet business owners in my DMs: “Bella, I’m drowning. I’m writing every email, answering every text, creating every post. I need to clone myself.” Well, guess what? You can clone yourself. And no, I’m not talking about some creepy sci-fi nonsense. I’m talking about showing up everywhere without actually being everywhere. I’m talking about your voice, your energy, your brand working for you 24/7—while you're walking a dog, sitting with anxious puppies, or actually getting some sleep.

Here’s the thing: if you’re still doing everything yourself, you’re not running a business. You’re running a very expensive hobby that’s about to burn you out. But today, we’re changing that. I’m going to show you exactly how I’ve cloned myself using AI—and how you can do the same thing without losing what makes you special. So grab your coffee, leash up that energy, and let’s jump in.

Okay, that intro? That wasn’t even me. That was my AI clone. It has come a long way since I first experimented with it in February. Back then, I used it for the first seven minutes of an episode, and it blew my mind. I can’t even keep up with how fast everything is evolving.

Today, I’m going to show and tell you something really cool. If you're listening on audio, I highly recommend checking out this episode on YouTube—just head over to the Jump Consulting YouTube Channel and find Episode 443. I demonstrated something there that’s worth se...

The Secret to Delivering Custom Pet Marketing with AI (and How You Can Too)

Are you watching competitors soar while you're stuck with outdated pet marketing tactics? In this episode, I pull back the curtain on how AI is not just some flashy tool. It’s a total game-changer for how we market pet businesses.

I’m sharing the full story of why I shut down my long-standing program and rebuilt it from the ground up to deliver truly custom, AI-powered marketing. You’ll hear how I worked one-on-one with clients to create region-specific, personality-infused campaigns that felt like they were made by hand. Because, honestly, they kind of were (with AI as my right-hand!).

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by tech or unsure how to even start using AI in your business, I promise you this: it’s easier and more essential than you think.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover...

Why AI Isn’t Coming for Your Job but Someone Using AI Might Be

The Big Shift: From Mass Marketing to Custom AI-Driven Strategies

Real Examples: How AI Created Region-Specific, Avatar-Driven Campaigns

Why SOPs, Checklists & Documentation Are the Foundation of AI Success

The Tools You Need to Start Using AI Effectively in Your Pet Business Today

Timestamps:

00:00 – Why I shut down my old program and started over with AI06:30 – The real problem with pet businesses avoiding AI10:45 – Custom pet marketing ideas you can steal today15:30 – How I use AI to deliver hyper-local, avatar-driven content24:00 – The mindset shift you need to lead your market with AI

Notable Quotes:

“AI is not coming for your job, but people using AI are.”

“Custom marketing isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s what your pet biz needs to compete.”

“If you’re still using stock photos, you’re doing it wrong.”

“AI is the best hire you’ll ever make.”

Links & Resources:

Try Bella’s custom pet sitting GPT.

Learn how to build your own AI assistant.

Connect on IG: @bellavasta

Book a complimentary 20-min strategy call.

Join Bella’s Mastermind

Did You Love This Episode?

Share it on Instagram and tag @BellaVasta with your biggest takeaway using #BellaInYourBusiness. Let me know what blew your mind or what’s still holding you back.

Transcript

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today I want to show you what’s possible. This episode isn’t a “5 tips” kind of teaching session. It’s meant to expand your mind and help you realize, “Oh my gosh, this is doable—and not just for Bella, but for me too.” Everything I’m going to talk about has been incorporated into my business and into many of my clients’ businesses. Today is about planting a seed. I won’t go into every “how-to,” but I’ll explain what’s possible and how it came to be.

For some quick context, I ran my own pet sitting company from 2002 to 2016. When I sold it, I was heartbroken that I couldn’t do the marketing for it anymore. So, as I always do, I innovated. At that time, no one was doing marketing specifically for pet businesses. That’s how Better Marketing with Bella started. I wanted to help as many people as I could, but I was just one person. So we started small with 5 or 6 people, and over the years the program grew to over 40 clients.

Back then, video content wasn’t a priority—reels didn’t even exist. Carousels weren’t a thing. But as trends evolved, so did we. We created marketing content using client photos, fonts, colors, and logos. It wasn’t fully custom, but we made it feel personal. The goal was always to meet clients halfway. I couldn’t be you. I couldn’t post your exact beachside summer photos if you lived in the mountains. But I always longed to create custom marketing—unique content based on someone’s real needs, real brand, and real goals.

Eventually, I ended the old program. Our last delivery was May 15, 2025. The first delivery of the new program was just two days ago. That’s where this story really begins.

AI Mindset Shifts for Pet Sitters: 5 Beliefs Blocking Your Growth

AI mindset shifts for pet sitters are no longer optional—they’re essential. If the idea of using AI in your pet business feels intimidating or overwhelming, you’re not alone. But here’s the truth: it’s not the tech that’s holding you back, it’s your mindset.

In this episode, I’m opening up about the invisible blocks I see so many pet sitters carrying when it comes to AI—beliefs that keep them stuck in busy work, burn out, and creative paralysis. I’ve been having more and more conversations with business owners who are watching others use AI to their advantage, but still feel hesitant to jump in. It’s not because they can’t. It’s because they think they can’t.

This episode is your invitation to shift those thoughts. I want to help you stop waiting for perfection, stop fearing that AI will dull your creativity, and stop assuming it’s only for “techy people.” Because once you embrace the right mindset, AI becomes a powerful tool—not a threat.

You don’t have to be perfect to start. You just have to be willing to think differently.

If you’ve been second-guessing yourself or stuck in analysis paralysis, let’s change that together, starting now.

In this Episode, You'll Learn...

Why waiting for AI to be “perfect” is costing you time and opportunity

The false belief that creativity dies with automation

How to use AI without sounding robotic

The difference between information and instruction—and why it matters

What makes AI better with your unique voice and guidance

Timestamps

00:01 – Why mindset matters more than tools05:18 – The perfection trap with AI08:42 – “AI will kill my creativity” myth14:36 – Why your input makes the output18:50 – Using AI to sound like you

Resources & Links

Ready to stop playing small? Upgrade your tools and start working smarter, not harder. If you’re still using the free version of ChatGPT, it’s time to level up.

Try Bella’s custom pet sitting GPT.

Learn how to build your own AI assistant.

Connect on IG: @bellavasta

Book a complimentary 20-min strategy call.

Join Bella’s Mastermind.

Did You Love This Episode?

Share it on Instagram and tag @BellaVasta with your biggest takeaway using #BellaInYourBusiness. What’s one AI mindset shift you’re ready to make in your pet sitting business?

Transcript

Welcome to another episode of Bella in your business. My name is Bella Vasta.

You know, I'm gonna go in a lot of different directions today, because there's a mindset thing happening, and it's starting from some of the leaders in our industry.

I'm gonna keep this pretty anonymous. But without saying names. I had 2 people share with me the same exact message that was in a group by someone who is positioning themselves as a leader in our industry.

And it came to me because these people paused after reading this message, thinking, “Wait, Bella, is this true?”

And so I read through it. And it was this message that was like alert: Google has made an update. You need to know what this update is.

And it was talking about AI, and it was basically saying Google is now specifically directing their quality raters to identify pages where main content is created using AI tools and automated generators.

Okay, if you just read that part, you're gonna be like, “Oh, my gosh! I can't use AI on my website.”

And then it goes on, and it says, if your content is mostly AI generated with little original value added, it gets rated as lowest quality, which means it basically disappears.

And then it went on to say, like what this means — AI content that shows little effort will not get ranked in the searches, and that Google’s doubling down on their reward content that demonstrates experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness.

Okay, this thing got like 31 comments when I saw it. 36 likes and stuff. But here's the — and then a lot of the people that start...

Pet Sitting Business Burnout:

6 Lies That Are Draining Your Energy

Are you running on fumes, questioning if your pet business is even worth it anymore? You’re not broken—you’re burned out. In this episode, I’m calling out the six lies that fuel pet sitting business burnout and block your growth.

These myths sneak in through Facebook groups, outdated advice, and even your own inner critic. But today, we’re flipping the script.

You’ll learn:

Why taking time off isn’t a luxury—it’s how real CEOs stay creative and sane.

How doing everything yourself drains your energy and stalls your success.

What “professional” really looks like—and why boring branding doesn’t work.

Why showing up on every platform isn’t helping (and what to do instead).

How S.O.P.s and AI tools can save your sanity—even if you're a solo pet sitter.

Why your business should never look the same all year long.

Huge thank-you to Becky from Paws Around Motown for showing us what strong systems, great leadership, and actual balance can look like in real life. Your example is pure gold.

This episode is not about surface-level tips. It’s a truth-packed reality check with practical steps you can take right now. If you’ve been stuck in survival mode, it’s time to shift. You don’t have to keep spinning your wheels.

Let’s bust these myths and beat pet sitting business burnout together—so you can lead with vision, energy, and joy again.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover...

How to stop believing the lies that cause pet business burnout

Practical ways to reclaim your time and energy

Real examples from business owners making bold shifts

How to use AI and seasonal trends to stay proactive, not reactive

Learn how to delegate with clarity and confidence—even if past hires left you burned.

Timestamps

00:42 – The myth of “I can’t take time off” and how Becky from Paws Around Motown proves otherwise

08:51 – The trap of being on every social platform and what to do instead

12:24 – Why “professional” doesn’t have to mean “boring”

14:32 – S.O.P.s aren’t just for big businesses

19:05 – The myth of “I’ll save money by doing it all myself” and the true cost of DIYing everything

Notable Quotes

“Just because it didn’t work doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. It means it doesn’t work that way.”

“You can still be fun and serious about safety. You can be warm and still have rock-solid SOPs.”

“Professional doesn’t mean boring. It means intentional, trustworthy, and human.”

Links & Resources:

Join the Mastermind

Email Bella: bella @jumpconsulting.net

Connect on IG: @bellavasta

Book a complimentary 20-min strategy call. 

Transcript

Welcome back to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta.

And you know what I told you last episode that we might just continue on. And we totally are. I got a couple of emails and texts from you guys, that last week's message was totally on point.

I even want to read one from Lily Johnston, she said. Bella, this episode was a smash hit with my brain. It's given me so much confidence.

I've listened to a lot of your podcast episodes. But this one was perfect and just what I needed for the moment.

I am in right now. Thank you.

Girl, you are so welcome! Absolutely. And it wasn't just you. It was some other people that was like, yes, that totally hit it home.

So I decided, I'm going to keep going.

I'm gonna keep going. Because why not? And this is like literally what I call stinking thinking. If you've ever worked with me, and as we're on episode 440 and guys, I don't plan on stopping anytime soon. I'm like the slow and steady. Okay.

If you've been with me for a long time, you know that I started this podcast in my closet.

10 years ago, when my daughter was in NICU. It was the only place in my entire house that had a carpet and everything else had tiles, so it was very echoey,

Top 5 Pet Sitting Business Myths That Are

Holding You Back

If you’ve ever felt stuck, underpaid, or unsure how to scale your pet sitting business… you might be believing lies that aren’t serving you.

In this episode of Bella in Your Business, I’m calling out 5 of the most common and damaging pet sitting business myths I see over and over again. These myths are like industry propaganda—and they keep smart business owners small, broke, and stressed.

Maybe you’ve heard that “everyone uses independent contractors,” or “clients only care about price.” Or maybe you've convinced yourself, “you can’t charge that much in your area.” I’m here to tell you: none of that is true.

I’ve coached hundreds of pet business owners, and the ones who succeed stop believing these lies—and start building smarter, stronger businesses that work for their lives.

I’ll walk you through each myth, why it’s harmful, and what to believe instead. This isn’t just a pep talk. It’s a mindset shift and strategic realignment.

Let’s stop repeating what the Facebook groups say and start building a business that’s built on truth, value, and bold leadership.

In this Episode, You’ll Discover...

Why using independent contractors “just to get started” is a trap

How underpricing based on fear is hurting your growth

Why pet care is a real career—and how to own it

What clients actually care about (hint: it’s not price)

How to lead your market instead of blending in with it

Timestamps:

00:05 – Why I had to do this episode: the propaganda ends here05:10 – My IC truth bomb: it’s not fine, it’s dangerous14:00 – Stop selling your soul for price shoppers20:00 – If you treat this like a hobby, don’t expect professional pay29:00 – Why copying the competition will never make you stand out

Notable Quotes:

“The ones who build profitable, sustainable businesses are the ones who stop falling for these lies.”“If you don’t differentiate, you disappear.”“Pet care is a billion-dollar industry. Stop treating it like a hobby.”“You don’t need permission to build the business you really want—just truth.”

Links & Resources:

Join the Mastermind

Email Bella: bella @jumpconsulting.net

Connect on IG: @bellavasta

Book a complimentary 20-min strategy call. 

Transcript

Welcome back to another episode of Bella in Your Business. We just got off a Memorial Day weekend. I hope you had a really good time, whether working hard or taking time for yourself and your family. Today, we're going to talk about myths.

I'm taking a break from AI and focusing on myths. What prompted this was a trend on social media talking about propaganda people aren’t falling for. I was creating one myself when I thought—why not turn it into a podcast episode? Depending on your feedback, maybe I’ll even do a part two. I’ve got five for you today that are extremely relevant—whether you’re new, seasoned, or thinking about the future of your business. These myths are something I’ve seen repeatedly over the past 20 years.

Shoutout to all the Mastermind members doing Joey Coleman’s 100 Days and mapping out their phases—you’re crushing it. Not just for clients, but for employees, too. With AI, it’s easier than ever to build systems based on avatars, and that growth has been exponential.

Quick PSA on AI: there's a lot happening every single day. I even predict that ChatGPT may not always remain the dominant player. People will need to learn the nuances between different platforms. It’s powerful when used with subscriptions, folders, and GPTs—tools that can cut down hours of work by thinking for you.

But today, we’re setting AI aside and diving into five pieces of propaganda—five myths about pet sitting businesses that circulate like gospel and keep people stuck. Sometimes we believe these lies because we don’t have the right community around us. Facebook groups often perpetuate them. You ask one question and get 20 different answers.

A Day in the Life of a Pet Sitter Using AI

Ever feel like you're juggling flaming tennis balls running your pet sitting business? Between client texts, staff questions, scheduling madness, and marketing? Same. That’s why I created this episode—to show you exactly what it looks like to live a day in the life of a pet sitter using AI.

This isn’t theory. I’m walking you through a real story—let’s call her Bailey—who’s not only a busy business owner, but also a mom and wife with 10 staff members and a million tabs open in her brain.

From sunrise to bedtime, I break down how she uses AI to write care notes, handle hiring, manage her schedule, respond to clients, and even do homework with her kids—without losing her mind.

You’ll hear how AI handles admin work, keeps her voice consistent, and gives her back hours of her time—all for less than the cost of a weekly Starbucks run.

This episode proves it: you don’t have to be techy to let AI transform your business. You just have to start.

In This Episode, You'll Learn...

How a real pet sitter uses AI from morning to night

What tasks AI can take over to free up your brain

How AI can support parenting and pet sitting

Why it’s not about replacing you—it’s about extending you

The power of routines + automation for sanity and scaling

Timestamps

01:20 – Meet Bailey: mom, pet biz owner, and AI user

04:40 – Morning chaos: how AI sets the tone

09:15 – Letting AI handle visit notes and streamline your daily schedule

14:05 – Using AI in family life (yep, even homework)

18:30 – Why this isn’t about tech—it’s about freedom

Resources & Links

Ready to stop playing small? Upgrade your tools and start working smarter, not harder. If you’re still using the free version of ChatGPT, it’s time to level up.

Try Bella’s custom pet sitting GPT.

Learn how to build your own AI assistant.

Connect on IG: @bellavasta

Book a complimentary 20-min strategy call.

Join Bella’s Mastermind.

Did You Love This Episode?

Share it on Instagram and tag @BellaVasta with your biggest takeaway using #BellaInYourBusiness. Ready to step into the future of pet sitting without the burnout?

Transcript

Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. Today, we're going to do something completely different. I'm really excited to share this with you. I want to paint you a picture.

And it's not some fake story like, "Oh, I used AI and now I make 7 figures in 6 minutes." That's not what we're doing here. I want to walk you through what a normal, grounded, real-life day could look like for a pet sitting business owner—someone like you. Maybe you're a mom, running a team, juggling a household, trying not to burn out.

Every Sunday in the Mastermind, I post: “What did you do with AI this week?” Every single thing you're going to hear in this episode actually happened. It’s been done by one of your colleagues. So this isn’t just me making things up.

I'm introducing a fictional character who might sound a lot like you. Her name is Bailey. You may or may not be a single mom—she is. She’s got two kids, a pet sitting and dog walking team of 8 to 10 people, and she definitely doesn’t have time to waste. She’s not trying to learn 52 platforms or hire an entire internal team or VA. She just wants to figure out how to leverage AI to take the mental load off—bit by bit, moment by moment.

So let’s begin at 6 AM.

Mornings are loud and scrambled. Bailey’s up at 6 AM. Coffee hasn't kicked in yet. Her 6-year-old is half-dressed and groggy, her 13-year-old is already melting down because her hair won’t cooperate. Bailey has five minutes to throw on makeup before heading out the door for drop-offs. Meanwhile, an email from a high-maintenance client is sitting in her inbox.

Old Bailey would have stared at it and said, “I’ll deal with it later.” But now she has ChatGPT. Bailey opens voice mode and starts talking while brushing her teeth.