Bella In Your Business: Pet Sitting and Dog Walking Podcast

On this episode of Bella In Your Business, Bella talks with Javier and Shauna Lee from Geek Ghost, LLC and Tampa Pet Sitters on all things website hosting and Wordpress! Listen in as they dissect:

What is a virtual private server and who needs one?

Biggest mistakes business owners make when web hosting

Why is Wordpress a better alternative than Wix?

Companies to consider hosting your website Shauna & Javier Lee

Back in 2011, two Techs and a graphic designer walked into a bar. The blueprints for what will become GeekGhost were laid out and the Lee's start offering Web Hosting to a few select design clients.

Over the next few years, they expanded to include clients from over 50 countries and across two continents, having launched servers in the EU as well as the US. GeekGhost's objective is to provide Web hosting on par with the bigger providers in terms of reliability and technology while offering a small host feel in terms of support and customer service.  Shauna & Javier have been doing this a while and genuinely enjoy what they do. They're happy to help in any way they can!

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Transcript:

Bella:This is episode 66 of Bella in Your Business. Welcome to Bella in Your Business, where Bella will discuss anything and everything about your pet sitting business to help you land on target. So get ready, Bella's got your chute. Let's jump. Welcome to Bella in Your Business. This is Bella Vasta. And today I have a very unique topic for you. I'm so excited, and I think I need to tell you the backstory on this.

So Shauna Lee is actually the owner of Tampa Pet Sitters in Tampa, Florida. She approached me on Facebook one day after one of those threads popped up—you know, those threads where people are just ready to pull their hair out because something happened with their website or their server or their host or their domain. I don’t even understand what all that stuff means. So Shauna reached out to me and said it’s driving her crazy. She sees this happen in all of the groups where people are having a hard time with it, and there’s a lot of misinformation out there.

So Shauna is here with her tech husband. They actually own this company called Geek Ghost, and they’re here to lay it all out and help us understand this whole big thing called websites. Without further ado, welcome, Shauna.

Shauna:Hi, how are you?

Bella:Good! So why don’t you expand on that for me and explain how the pet sitting world met the geek world. How did this start?

Shauna:I actually have a background in web and graphic design, and my husband has been a tech for years. We started the web hosting company together, and our running joke was that he makes everything work and I make it pretty. After a while, it took off, but I got kind of crazy being in front of a computer all day working from home. I’ve always loved animals—I grew up on a farm—and I had a friend who owned a dog walking business. I started working for her just to get out of the house, and it snowballed. I ended up buying the business and growing it to where it is now.

Bella:And that’s what you do daily now while Geek Ghost keeps growing. What drew me to this and made me want to get you on the podcast was when you said you wanted to help educate people and steer them clear of bad experiences or companies that don’t support their users.

So I do want to break it down with you and Javier today. Perhaps we’ll bring him on, and he can get into all the geeky stuff. Maybe you can start and he can finish.

Shauna:Yeah, I wanted to bring him because while I have a good understanding of how this works from my background, when it comes to explaining things, I sometimes have difficulty finding the right words. It makes sense in my head, but he explains it better.

Bella:Perfect. I always equate a website to a house. You have your plot of land, your address, you live in a city and state, and you need security. And with SEO and keeping people on your website, I call that interior decorating—your design, probably, right?

Shauna:Yeah, kind of.

Bella:So what exactly is web hosting and a server and this VPS thing? And let’s cue the tech. Welcome, Javier!

Javier:Hi!

Bella:We were just talking about how you’re the brains behind the geeky stuff, and Shauna makes it look pretty. Can you explain what web hosting and a server are?

Javier:Web hosting is kind of like internet real estate. A server is like an apartment building, and each apartment is an account. The server runs your email, web files, PHP scripts, and databases, and it’s divided into many smaller accounts for individual users.

Bella:So like an apartment building—you’ve got your superintendent, your mailman, your cleaning lady…

Javier:Exactly. Each has its own function.

Bella:And where does web hosting fall into that?

Javier:A website is a collection of files. The web server serves those files in a way that your browser can display them. It’s just instructions telling your browser how the page should look.

Bella:So it’s like when I go to Subway—they put all these things in a sandwich and serve it up?

Javier:Yeah, that’s a good analogy. Your website consists of files and databases, and you want to be able to email people. DNS is part of that—it’s how your website is found online. DNS resolves an IP address to a domain name.

Bella:So instead of remembering a long number, we just type geekghost.net.

Javier:Exactly. The server combines all these services to provide your web hosting, email, and database service.

Bella:What’s a VPS?

Javier:It’s a virtual private server. It’s when you take one physical server and partition it into multiple smaller servers. Each one is separate with its own resources.

Bella:So it’s like instead of renting an apartment, I own one and handle my own stuff?

Javier:More like a duplex—you have your own water, electricity, and mailbox separate from others.

Bella:So when I go to GoDaddy, that’s shared hosting, like a big apartment building?

Javier:Exactly.

Bella:Why should I care whether I have an apartment or a duplex as long as my website runs?

Javier:Because with shared hosting, you’re sharing resources. If one site crashes, everyone crashes. If one sends spam, your email gets blacklisted too. On a VPS, your resources are your own.

Bella:Got it. Like insurance—you can have a group policy or an individual one.

Javier:Exactly.

Bella:What bad advice do people usually follow?

Javier:A lot of people think WordPress sites are simple. They’re not. Every page calls multiple databases and scripts. Plugins especially use resources—even deactivated ones. They still take up memory.

Bella:So we should delete unused plugins?

Javier:Yes. Also, never download paid themes for free from random sites—they’re often full of malware.

Bella:Ah, that’s how sites start sending spam!

Javier:Exactly. And worse, some include keyloggers that record everything you type, including passwords. Always buy from the original source.

Bella:So in web world, you really do get what you pay for.

Javier:Absolutely.

Bella:Let’s talk about good and bad hosts. Two years ago, my website started selling Viagra. My host didn’t care. I switched to SiteGround and they helped me. What should we look for in a good host?

Javier:Response time is key. If they take more than an hour to reply, avoid them. A 24-hour turnaround is unacceptable. Companies that only do phone support are inefficient—they rely on you hanging up. Smaller or mid-sized hosts like SiteGround or Liquid Web do better. We aim for 5–7 minute ticket responses. We don’t do phone-only support because written records are essential.

Bella:That’s smart. Now, when pet sitting software goes down, why does that happen?

Javier:Usually it’s database overload. Too many queries crash the system. Software should be downloadable so businesses can host it themselves if they want to. Our servers haven’t gone down in six years because we take nightly backups of every site on multiple servers. If one fails, we move you instantly to another.

Bella:So if my apartment building crashes, you have another ready so I’m not homeless.

Javier:Exactly.

Bella:If listeners want to reach you?

Javier:Visit geekghost.net or email [email protected]. We also have live chat and a Facebook page—Geek Ghost LLC.

Bella:Perfect. And you’re offering 25% off any plan using code BELLA. That’s so generous.

Javier:We just want to help.

Bella:Any final advice?

Javier:Contact a company’s sales team before signing up. See how fast they respond, whether they upsell you, and if they genuinely try to understand your needs. That’ll tell you if they’re worth trusting.

Bella:That’s great advice. Thank you, Javier and Shauna, for joining me today. Everyone, this has been another episode of Bella in Your Business. Remember to subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher, and always keep jumping.

On this episode, Bella spends time with Bruce Irving from SmartPizzaMarketing.com.

Bruce Irving is the marketing visionary behind SmartPizzaMarketing.com and host of the weekly Smart Pizza Marketing podcast. On his podcasts, he interviews the leading minds of the pizza restaurant industry. You can listen to his Smart Pizza Marketing podcast at www.smartpizzamarketing.com. In addition, Bruce speaks at conferences about how to better use social media in your restaurant or small business.

Listen in as they dissect several tips to maximize local marketing on different social media channels such as Facebook & Instagram. They discuss important topics such as:

Tips for micromarketing

What's better - Instagram or Facebook?

How FAST does FB advertising impact businesses?

Pros & Cons of digital marketing vs. face-to-face

Biggest mistakes marketers make on Instagram & Facebook

How important is VIDEO on social media?

What are your top tips for micro marketing?

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Transcript:

This is episode 65 of Bella in Your Business. Welcome to Bella in Your Business, where Bella will discuss anything and everything about your pet sitting business to help you land on target. So get ready, Bella's got your chute. Let's jump. Welcome to Bella in Your Business. This is Bella Vasta with Jump Consulting, and today I have a special treat for you. I have Bruce Irving with me, and guys, I was listening to another podcast, the Social Media Marketing Podcast, which you know I love, and Bruce was on it. Bruce, I remember I was meal prepping, listening to you. I was so excited because I was like, this man is talking about the pet industry. You guys are in for a treat today because Bruce actually helps pizzerias or pizza restaurants all around the country do exactly what we're looking to do, which is to saturate the markets. Bruce is the visionary behind smartpizzamarketing.com and the host of another podcast, which you should totally go check out, called Smart Pizza Marketing Podcast. On his podcast, he interviews the leading minds in the pizza industry, but you guys can learn so much from this. It's global lessons. You can listen to Smart Pizza Marketing Podcast at smartpizzamarketing.com. Bruce is also a speaker, and he teaches us how to use social media better in our restaurant or small businesses.

Bella: Thanks so much for having me, Belle. I'm excited to be here today.

Bruce: I know it's crazy. I was in the pizza industry my whole life, and I always tell stories on our podcast of how people got into the pizza industry specifically because it's always a unique story. Either their parents owned it, or they went to school for something else, or they thought it would be fun to open a pizzeria—and it's not that much fun, they come to find out. I was the same way. I started off in high school working for a local pizzeria here that’s a well-known brand. I loved it. I wasn’t great at school or testing, so I knew business had to be my way out. Pizza is just what I grew up with and what I knew. That’s how I got started in the business. As I grew older and built businesses in the pizza industry, people would ask what we were doing for marketing. We had a successful restaurant, and that turned into the podcast. Now that’s turned into our agency where we help pizzerias and restaurants use today’s marketing to grow their local business.

Bella: I love it. It’s so organic, and I can totally relate. When someone comes to you, they’re probably looking to get more clients, right? What are they doing wrong that you turn around and fix?

Bruce: The problem with the restaurants and pizzerias we deal with is they’re busy. Times change quickly, especially over the last five to eight years—way quicker than you think. They may have a successful business that’s grown organically over 10–20 years, but the things they were doing aren’t working today. Direct mail is expensive—it works, but you need a large budget. So we teach operators to use the marketing that’s working today: Facebook advertising, Instagram advertising, collecting emails, and being consistent. We also teach them how to talk on those platforms. What you say on Facebook is different from what you say on Snapchat or email. On the podcast, we talk about what’s working and share data from our agency so others can do the same.

Bella: Let’s talk about the differences between Instagram and Facebook.

Bruce: Instagram’s great for branding. The feed is for high-quality photos or short videos, while Stories is perfect for behind-the-scenes content—showing your staff, your daily work, what it’s like in your kitchen. A lot of people are afraid of video, so if you use Instagram Stories to tell your story, you’ll stand out. Nine out of ten people we talk to are afraid of video. If you can be that one who’s not—or who gets comfortable—you’ll be the person who stands out in your market.

Bella: That’s so good. For pet sitters and dog walkers, they could record a 15-second clip at every house, introduce the new dog, and show a “day in the life.” Not just the cute stuff—even the messy moments. You could make a story out of that.

Bruce: Exactly. Facebook’s data is powerful. If you’re a dog walker, you can target people in your zip code who own dogs, have jobs, and make enough to afford a walker. You could run ads like “Too busy to walk your dog? Check out this free guide.” You can also upload your email list, retarget visitors, and exclude your current followers to reach new people. Facebook’s the best advertising platform right now.

Bella: Speaking of retargeting—how does that work?

Bruce: You can upload your email list to Facebook and target those people, or install a Facebook pixel on your site. That lets you retarget visitors, even by specific pages. If someone views your contact page but doesn’t reach out, you can show them ads later. You can also target friends of followers or exclude certain groups. You don’t need to spend much to test what works.

Bella: That’s huge. I like how you said Facebook should be treated like a database.

Bruce: Yes, exactly. And now we’re doing Facebook chatbots, too.

Bella: Chatbots? Tell us about that.

Bruce: A chatbot automates your Messenger communication. For example, we’ll post, “Want 20% off this weekend? Type yes below.” When people comment “yes,” they get an automated message in Messenger that says, “Hi, this is Jamie from XYZ Pizza. Can I send your coupon here?” When they reply “yes,” it sends the coupon and subscribes them to your Messenger list. From there, you can send future updates directly to Messenger with 80–95% open rates.

Bella: That’s incredible. For pet sitters, they could use it for a “Top 5 Foods for a Healthy Dog” offer—people message you, and you send it through Messenger. It feels more personal.

Bruce: Exactly. Use tools like ManyChat—it’s free or $10/month for automation. Keep it conversational and not spammy. Do it now, because like email in 2003, it’s new and effective—but it won’t stay that way forever.

Bella: I totally agree. Text marketing feels too intimate, but Messenger is the perfect middle ground.

Bruce: Yes, it’s personal but not invasive.

Bella: Tell me a story of how your strategies turned things around for a client.

Bruce: One client was spending $1,200/month on direct mail, which was 80–90% of his marketing budget. I told him to try Facebook and Instagram instead. He cut back on direct mail, implemented ads, started email marketing, and his business has grown 10–20% monthly since 2016. Another client hired us to do it for them because they didn’t have the time. You either have resources or time—you need one or the other.

Bella: That’s so true. And about platforms—you mentioned Snapchat works in college towns, but maybe not everywhere.

Bruce: Exactly. Snapchat works great in college towns, but maybe not in Iowa. Facebook and Instagram dominate—700 million users on Instagram, 2 billion on Facebook. If it’s not working for you, it’s because of a bad strategy or lack of consistency. The algorithms change—Instagram now prioritizes engagement over post frequency. Focus on high-quality content and interaction.

Bella: I love that. Social media doesn’t cost much to test. You can run small experiments, track what works, and adjust.

Bruce: Exactly. Be consistent and take action. If you really want it, you’ll make time. You can sleep an hour less if needed. We live in an amazing time with more opportunities than ever. Decide, commit, and be consistent—the results will come.

Bella: That’s powerful. I just got chills. You’re so right—it all comes down to consistency. Thank you so much, Bruce. Everyone, go check out Smart Pizza Marketing Podcast and smartpizzamarketing.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to Bella in Your Business on iTunes or Stitcher. And remember to always keep jumping.

Thanks for jumping with Bella in Your Business. For more information, free articles, and more, go to jumpconsulting.net. And remember, Bella’s got your chute.

SEO, or "search engine optimization," is an extremely important aspect of your business in terms of gaining new clients. Why? Because it dictates how your website will show up on Google results!

So how can you improve your SEO and how will you know if your efforts are working? Bethanie Nonami of Marley Nonami has the answers.

Bethanie Nonami

Bethanie is an avid reader (and Audible & podcast listener), movie goer, foodie and loves super fast & loud cars. She helps people grow and scale their businesses by giving you access to your data and understanding the why behind your customers, leads and sales.   Bethanie's insight changes the way you sell. Bethanie loves fixing broken marketing systems and business processes to increase your revenues so you get back to doing what you loved enough to start your business in the first place!

Listen in as Bella & Bethanie discuss these important questions regarding SEO and analytics:

Whether or not your business needs to have a blog

The most important aspects to understand about SEO and analytics

What a "sales funnel" is and why you need one

As a special gift, Bethanie is offering a SEO Masterclass exclusively for Bella In Your Business listeners! Claim it here: http://marleynonami.com/bella/

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Transcript:

This is episode 64 of Bella in Your Business. Welcome to Bella in Your Business, where Bella will discuss anything and everything about your pet sitting business to help you land on target. So get ready, Bella's got your chute. Let's jump. Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. I'm Bella from Jump Consulting, and today I am here with Bethany Nonami. Did I say that right? No, not me. My gosh, I'm so sorry. I even practiced before we came on. I am bringing Bethany to all of the listeners today because she is a wealth of knowledge. She is a moviegoer, a foodie, she loves super fast and loud cars, but more importantly, she helps people grow and scale their businesses by giving people access to the data and understanding the why behind the sales that our customers buy from us. Bethany's insight changes the way we sell our positioning in the market, and she loves fixing broken marketing systems and businesses to increase people's revenues so that they can get doing what they love to do, which for most of us, it's pet sitters, dog walkers, hanging out with the pets, right? So a lot of us say we don't mind marketing, but anytime, Bethany, I ask my clients—I just did it an hour ago—I go, “So how are you marketing?” They go, “Well, we're baking goodies for the vet.” I go, “And how much revenue has that brought in for you?” She goes, “I don't know.” And I'm like, “I need the numbers to back it up.”

So, Bethany, without further ado, fill in the gaps from what I did and explain to our listeners what’s about to come and what you do. Oftentimes, people come to us and they're like, “I need SEO for my website.” We look at their website and it's kind of clear what they do, but it's not really clear. So one of the things that everybody needs to do is they have to understand that you are competing for attention. You are competing against many crappy websites and some awesome websites. The average person sees four to ten thousand ads a day, which is what we would see in a month twenty years ago. Not only do you have to compete with your competitors or compete with them just not hiring you as a dog walker and paying the neighbor kid, you have to be very clear, or they’re going to be distracted in five seconds.

Understanding the value of what you bring—because everybody probably has something unique. If you wash the dogs once a week after you walk them, you're like, “I wash dogs once a week.” Something that you can take, the convenience factor, and save your client time or money—that's a differentiator. People shouldn’t have to work with you to learn those differentiations. You should be able to clearly articulate that in three to five seconds because that’s how much time you have before they decide to leave, not open your email, not respond to your text, or not look at your flyer. Anything that you do—three to five seconds.

The messaging that is on our website is very selling the industry and not the actual business. The most important thing to understand about your website is it's not about you. Nobody cares about “exclusive,” “premier,” “the best pet sitter.” Who cares, right? We're all busy. If you can save me time or money, or if you can help my life in some way, then say that. So don't think your website is about you and how awesome you are. Imagine that someone's finding you because you're solving a problem. You're trying to make their life easier and continue that conversation with them on your site.

If you're listening and you have a pet sitting or dog walking business, the difference between “We are the best pet sitting company in Miami, and we do dog walking and overnight care” versus “We are the locally and nationally award-winning company that will help save your lunch hour so you don't have to run home and walk the dog and take the guilt away when you're away on your vacation, knowing that we're sleeping with your dog in your bed” is a completely different effect. People are going through the Google list and first seeing what website they like and feel good about, then which one they connect with. If that viewer can see themselves right from the front page of your website, you've got them for more than that three to five seconds Bethany just said.

What about a blog? A lot of us have the best intentions by trying to reach people and add value. But what you have to realize is nobody needs to be smart anymore. What we used to blog for twenty years ago was to establish ourselves as an expert and say that we're credible and get people to trust us. Where now, you can just press a button on your phone and find out anything. You can't just have a blog and stand out because information is everywhere. If you can give people insight, if someone's Googling “How can I stop my dog from barking when I leave the house?” and maybe they don't understand that the dog has separation anxiety, you can give them insight. They find your site and they're like, “This is what you can do. This is why the dog is barking. Here's some puzzle toys. Put on Animal Planet.” And at the end of that, say, “By the way, these are some of the things we do for our clients.”

When a client can see themselves in the words of another client's mouth, it's more powerful than saying what you do. Pick the right testimony to go on there—not just “is the best, we love her,” but “why.” What specifically happened that accentuates the experience you're giving through that one blog. Many people think, “If I write a blog, my company will come up.” It’s about relevance.

So what’s a sales funnel? A sales funnel is really anything that you can automate and turn into a conversation. If you are talking to a client and they're like, “I just don’t want to give people a key to my house,” that's an objection. That’s part of their buying decision before they feel comfortable. That can be an email or a section on your website. A funnel nurtures someone to the time that they see you. “I want to know how to overcome separation anxiety for my dog.” “Okay, great. Give me your email and I’ll give you a checklist of things to try.” A funnel is nurturing them to where you want them to go—from a lead to a client, from a one-time buyer to a recurring buyer. Automate as much as you can if you’re going to scale beyond eight hours in your day.

Even if you use something as simple as an Excel sheet to capture emails, use tools like ConvertKit or Drip. Be thoughtful—know what people will do and where they’ll go. Use analytics and heat maps like Hotjar to see where people are reading, stopping, and leaving on your website. It can even track words they hover around. You can see what they’re drawn to and make that a clickable link.

It’s important to know that your website and marketing aren’t “done.” They evolve as you do. The pet industry, for example, faces disruptors like Rover.com, which draws people with convenience and social proof. Pet sitters can compete by highlighting how easy it is to sign up and book. Everything is fluid—you’re never done with your website.

SEO—Search Engine Optimization—means search engine optimization. Whatever you type, whatever questions you have, Google accounts for 90% of the traffic. Assume people are looking for the problem, not your solution. If someone is looking for a dog sitter and you’re local, include your city in your SEO terms. It’s not just your city but suburbs too. There are certain terms you will never rank for. Dog training, dog walking—some old domains are unbeatable. The easiest way to check what’s worth targeting is Google’s Keyword Planner. You can use it free. Look for terms with “low” competition and avoid “high” or expensive ones.

If there’s a successful local competitor, look at their site in Keyword Planner to see what keywords they rank for. If they rank for something with poor content, do better and you’ll take that traffic.

Analytics matter because you can’t improve what you can’t measure. Google Analytics and Search Console are free. They tell you who’s coming to your site and what they’re doing. Maybe your visitors aren’t who you think they are. Facebook’s data lets you target your ideal clients precisely. From there, nurture them through funnels, emails, calls, and texts. No one converts at 100%, but tracking helps you improve step by step.

Bethany offers growth assessments to review your traffic, marketing, and overall strategy. You can find her at marleynonami.com/bella. Connect with her through her website for contact details.

For more information, free articles, and more, go to JumpConsulting.net. And remember, Bella’s got your chute.

Throughout life, our paths are constantly evolving.

I break the normal rhythm of interviews in my podcasts to spend this next episode sharing my big announcement.

No, I am not pregnant.

It is something that actually started in my life back in 2012 and I take you on this journey how this seed has evolved in my heart and translated into my life.

Admittedly, having a vision is only a dream and it only becomes a goal once we attach a plan to it. In June 2017 I got a chance to attach a plan to it and I am finally ready to show the world.

Join me as I I pull the curtain back and you can see what's been happening behind the scenes.

From my heart to yours,

Bella

Video played during the podcast:

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Transcript:

This is episode 63 of Bella in Your Business. To all my loyal listeners, this next episode is actually going to break the rhythm that I normally have when I interview people. It's not often that I have a big announcement or something to say, and recently I had just that. I wanted to share it with you all here on my podcast because I know that some of you might not have seen the Facebook Live announcement, and I really wanted to share it from my heart to yours. So here goes my big announcement.

Hello, Facebook land. We are live. I am so excited that you have joined me. I am so excited. My heart's actually pounding, which is why I know that this is gonna be huge. And I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you for listening to me. I am Bella Vasta and you have known me as a previous pet sitting business owner of Bella's House and Pet Sitting that I sold in March of 2016. And you know me as your business coach and cheerleader from Jump Consulting. Well, after today, you're going to know me as something else. And I really want to take you on this journey with me. So please come along. I'm talking to all of my friends and followers and family, honestly, extended family all around the world. And I just really love how the internet can bring us together. And I know that it seems like I do so much, so I figured that this kind of deserved a little bit of an explanation. And I hope that you can get as excited about it as I am. Usually I get to spend my days pouring into your companies, your lives, and your businesses, and now I'm gonna let you into mine and open up the doors behind mine and hopefully you guys can help me. I would love for you to help me.

So here's the thing. You all know that life changes and it develops, right? And this is not a life pivot because a pivot kind of means you're moving away from something and it's not. I'm actually adding something. I'm very, very proud to say that I've been able to get Jump Consulting and running in such a manner that I've got my flagship things going. I've got Better Marketing with Bella, I've got the mastermind groups and I've got my Facebook groups and all this other stuff, but I want more. And by I want more, I mean I want to encourage so many more people out there.

Back in 2012, I met Marcus Sheridan. Marcus is the author of They Ask You Answer. He said something to me that I’ll never forget. He said, “Bella, you can do it.” Sometimes we just need someone to speak life into us and just to believe in us. That seed was planted inside of me. At that time, I still had Bella’s House and Pet Sitting and Jump Consulting, but I wasn’t going full force yet. I didn’t know how or what, but that seed stayed with me. Life happened—I got married, had a baby, and had a micro preemie who was born at 12 ounces. We were in the NICU for six months. Everything was survival mode.

Fast forward—God bless Olivia, she’s amazing now. She’s three years old, in preschool, and thriving. I sold the pet sitting company a little over a year ago and went full force with Jump Consulting. But this year, I hit a breaking point. In January, before our anniversary trip, I didn’t want to get out of bed. I wasn’t myself. Something had to give. A friend introduced me to a fitness program, and it changed everything. I worked out daily for 46 days, lost 26 pounds and 13 inches, and started feeling amazing. You can’t rock your business unless you feel good. I’ve learned that you can have a good business, but you can’t have an amazing one until you feel great inside.

In March, I went to Social Media Marketing World. There, I met Marcus Sheridan again. He asked me, “What are your five main stories?” I didn’t know, but that question stuck. Then in June, I attended a local conference called Fast Ink where Damon John from Shark Tank was the headliner. It was life-changing. There was a media pitch event. I was scared, took my name off the list, but then realized I needed to walk the talk. I got on stage, did the pitch, and when I finished, people high-fived me. I was shaking and emotional, but I knew that the seed had started to sprout.

I went home, talked to my husband Alex, and cried tears of joy. I knew I was meant for something more. I reached out to people who could help me establish a foundation. Gellie connected me to the event, Joan pushed me to write a book, and Dee helped me with branding. Joan said, “If you want to be taken seriously in the speaking world, you need a book.” I told her I’d write one by August 31st. Dee and I did a full branding session. Lane helped with copywriting. The result was my new website, BellaVasta.com, and a four-minute video that captures my story.

The video shares my journey—building my pet sitting company, winning awards, helping others, and finding my true passion for being a cheerleader in people’s lives. It tells how I balanced business and motherhood, endured the NICU, and built systems that allowed my business to survive when life got hard. It ends with my message: we can thrive in adversity and build businesses that support our lives, not consume them.

Now I have this website, this video, and a book in the works called The Four Dogs Every Business Owner Needs—the Pitbull, the Poodle, the Jack Russell, and the Border Collie. Each one represents something different. It’s rooted in my pet industry background but appeals to a wider audience. I want to inspire entrepreneurs, moms, and people who feel stuck. I want to encourage them to prepare for life’s catastrophes, build sustainable businesses, and lead themselves and others with confidence.

I’m not leaving Jump Consulting or the pet industry. I’m still doing Better Marketing with Bella, masterminds, and coaching. But I also want to inspire larger audiences. This isn’t about ego—it’s about purpose. God has given me the gift to motivate people, and I’d be doing the world a disservice if I didn’t follow it. I don’t know exactly what it looks like yet, but I’m asking for your help and support.

If I’ve ever helped you, encouraged you, or connected you, this is my ask—be part of my launch team. Be my cheerleader. Help me bring this next chapter to life. Thank you all for your love, encouragement, and belief in me. Go to BellaVasta.com to see the new site, and like my public Facebook page at facebook.com/TheBellaVasta.

Thanks for jumping with Bella in Your Business. For more information, free articles, and coaching sessions, go to jumpconsulting.net. And remember—Bella’s got your chute.

As a pet sitting business owner, one of the most challenging hurdles you may encounter is hiring the right staff to help you grow your business. Many reach a point where they absolutely cannot take on anymore clients, unless they bring on some extra hands. But hiring is not as easy as it may seem, it requires a lot of consideration and preparation to make sure you're hiring a HERO rather than a ZERO.

On this episode, Bella is joined by three successful pet sitting business owners who have been through the process many times before. Listen in as they share their personal stories, tips, and tricks for hiring the perfect pet sitting employees. In three 10-minute segments, you will learn from the best in the business, and gain valuable insights that will help you make the right hiring decisions for your pet sitting business. Don't miss out on this exciting episode!

Biggest Take Aways:

What is the best way to find pet sitting employees?

What's the biggest mistake you've made when hiring pet sitting employees?

What's your best secret that you would tell your old self about hiring pet sitting employees

Maureen McCarthy

Maureen McCarthy has worked with dogs and cats either grooming or pet sitting since 1980.  When she moved to North Carolina in 2006, she started Love and Kisses Pet Sitting  which she continues to successfully operate today. Love and Kisses Pet Sitting is now an award winning company (4 years and counting!), honored as the recipient of the Best Pet Sitting Business In Union County. Additionally, Maureen's business has attained the 2015 and 2016 Angie's List Super Service Award. Maureen now has 21 pet sitting employees working for her, all of which she requires to continually undergo continuing education to ensure they provide the best service possible.

David Steinberg

David Steinberg founded David's Pet Sitting while studying in graduate school to become a therapist at the UConn School of Social Work. Luckily, the program was located in his hometown (West Hartford). His friends then demanded he watched their pets when they went away. David happily obliged and before he knew it, David’s Pet Services was a thing.  David now has a number of employee's working under him, and is continuing to hire more and more while honing the process.

In 2003 Cara Armour co-founded Active Paws Inc., in the Boston, MA area. In 2009, Cara won Pet Sitter of the Year. She is decorated in many accolades and even expanded to opening a grooming and holistic pet supply store.

Cara Armour

Since 2003, Cara has been trained by the American Red Cross as well as several veterinarians in Pet First Aid and CPR. In 2011 she completed an instructor training course and became a certified Pet First Aid and CPR instructor. In 2015 she co-founded an online Pet First Aid academy and now works as a product and marketing manager for ProPetHero, the Pet First Aid and CPR division of ProTrainings.

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Transcript:

This is episode 62 of Bella in Your Business. Welcome to Bella in Your Business, where Bella will discuss anything and everything about your pet sitting business to help you land on target. So get ready, Bella's got your chute. Let's jump. We're all good to go. I love it. How are you guys? The number one thing that a lot of people are always asking about in the pet industry is employees. Truth be told, there's actually not one way to do it. It's a very gray area. Now, sure, you have labor laws and HR consultants and all that stuff you really have to pay attention to. You also have to develop your own systems and processes. But a lot of us have learned by just falling down, breaking our leg, and getting back up, saying we’re not going to do that again. And that's what today's podcast is about.

This podcast is going to feature three very successful pet sitters. The first is Maureen Dunn McCarthy of Loving Kisses Pet Sitting. She’s been on the podcast before and told the story about how she increased her bottom line $5,000 through Facebook and online groups, which I think is incredible. I’m also talking to David Steinberg from David’s Pet Services. David knocks it out of the park with live video and is a fantastic business owner. He’s also written a few blogs for me because he used to be a psychiatrist before becoming a dog walking business owner. We talked about how to establish and enforce rules with employees, so he has a lot to say about the topic. And finally, Kara Armour, who has become one of my really good friends—she’s like my sister from another mister.

We’re both from Boston. You should hear us on the phone—we talk fast, loud, and over each other. It’s so exciting. You guys are in for a special treat. The way this is going to go is 10-minute segments where I ask all three of them the same questions. You’ll see the different answers they give. Technology permitting, we’re going to give this our best shot and just have fun with it.

At the end, I’ll take your questions personally, but to keep it moving, I’ll bring them in one at a time. Type your questions or comments, and I can answer them live or afterward. Without further ado, I want to bring on my first guest, Maureen Dunn-McCarthy.

Maureen: My business is located in the Charlotte area in a town called Indian Trail. I service a 10-mile radius and have 19 employees now. I started out as just myself, and it just got bigger and bigger, and I had to bring on employees. I’m enjoying it.

That’s awesome. Maureen, I love watching your journey. You’re fearless, and that’s what I love. Everyone should check out Loving Kisses Pet Sitting—Maureen is a thought leader and someone you want to follow. My three questions for you: first, what’s the best way to find employees?

Maureen: What works best for me is going into Facebook, into local town pages. If I need a pet sitter in a town called Matthews, I’ll go to that town’s page and post that I’m looking for pet sitters, have them email me. That’s my number one way to get employees.

I’ve also posted on Indeed, but I use the free version and get tons of people, and it gets crazy. Word of mouth works too, and lately, a few employees actually reached out to me.

That’s when you know you’ve made it—when people want to work for you.

Maureen: I have fantastic employees. There were a few I had to weed out, but for the most part, they’re awesome. You need employees if you want to have a life or a weekend off. My daughter’s going to college, and I had a lot of college stuff to take care of, so the employees kick in.

That’s great. What’s the biggest mistake you made?

Maureen: Assuming things. You assume someone knows something. You assume they have common sense. Not asking enough questions—not asking “what would you do if…” scenarios. If you don’t tell them, they won’t know.

Can you teach common sense or just be a better trainer?

Maureen: Be a better trainer. In the beginning, I thought everyone knew certain things, but they didn’t. If you don’t tell them and walk them through it, they won’t know.

Not only tell them but also put it in writing. Final question—what’s the best secret you’d tell your old self just starting out?

Maureen: Keep hiring. Always be hiring. Train really well. Hire go-getters. Hire people with drive and common sense. Don’t assume.

Why do people stop hiring?

Maureen: People think it’s all petting dogs and cats. It’s actually a big responsibility, a lot of walking in all weather. Some realize it’s not what they thought and leave, so you always need to be hiring.

I love it. Thank you so much for joining, Maureen.

Now we’re bringing on Kara Armour.

Kara: I’m located just outside Boston. My company covers Waltham, Watertown, and Belmont—close to Boston proper. My company is Active Paws, and I’ve had it for 14 years. I started it with my husband, who I met at the dog park.

That’s adorable! Okay, Kara, rapid fire. What’s the best way you’ve discovered to find employees?

Kara: I’ve tried everything. Craigslist and Hireology have worked best for me. Hireology connects with Indeed, so you get volume and can filter for quality. They even have a pre-interview survey where I sneak in questions like “Do you have a smartphone?”

That’s a great approach. Second question—what’s the biggest mistake you’ve made?

Kara: Hiring out of desperation. We all get to that point where we’re trapped by our staff. You fix that by constantly hiring. I’ve hired people even when my gut screamed not to. One woman said, “My mom said we should start a company together,” and I still hired her because I was desperate. Guess what? She did exactly what she said she would.

Don’t settle or hire out of desperation.

Kara: Exactly. It’ll suck for a while, but you’ll find the right person eventually.

Final question—if you could tell your old self one thing, what would it be?

Kara: Get over it. People lie and steal. I’ve had people steal clients. It happens. Don’t get emotionally wrapped up. Love and train your employees well, but if they leave, move on. Don’t waste energy trying to fix what’s gone.

That’s such good advice.

Kara: People are your greatest asset, but also your biggest risk. Stay connected, keep training, and be ready to let go.

Perfect. Tell us about Pet Pro Hero.

Kara: It’s an online pet first aid and CPR course taught by an ER vet. Bella has a discount code, CPR-PETSITTER, for 10% off.

Thank you, Kara!

Now we have David Steinberg from David’s Pet Services.

David: I was born and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut. I went to the University of Connecticut and became a clinical social worker, but I started pet sitting for people I knew. I got business cards, and suddenly people thought I was a big company. I eventually quit therapy to run my pet service full-time.

That’s amazing. What’s the best way to find employees?

David: Start with yourself. Know what kind of person you’re looking for. Once you know, you can target better. Facebook is 100% the best place....

Procrastination is something that EVERYBODY struggles with - and Eric Twiggs, expert in overcoming procrastination, knows that. But is there anything you can do about it?

Join Bella & Eric on this episode of Bella In Your Business where they discuss:

Why procrastination is something you need to tackle and overcome NOW

A few easy steps to overcoming procrastination

How to know if you struggle with procrastination

Eric Twiggs is an expert in overcoming procrastination and the author of The Discipline Of Now: 12 Practical Principles To Overcome Procrastination. 

He has conducted over 28,000 coaching sessions with entrepreneurs, lead organizations of 500 or more people in corporate America, and shared his message with corporations, associations, and congregations across the country.

If you have been looking for practical principles to help you maximize your time, minimize your stress, and break the procrastination habit so that you can accomplish your goals and achieve fulfillment.

Learn more about Eric Twiggs on his website or Twitter:

Website www.ericmtwiggs.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedisciplineofnow

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Transcript:

This is episode 61 of Bella in Your Business. Welcome to Bella in Your Business, where Bella will discuss anything and everything about your pet sitting business to help you land on target. So get ready, Bella’s got your chute. Let’s jump. Welcome, everybody, to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta from Jump Consulting, and today I want you to listen up if you’ve been looking for some practical principles to help you maximize your time, minimize your stress, and break that God-forsaken procrastination habit. My guest, Eric Twiggs, has helped over 28,000 people accomplish their goals, fulfill achievement, and stop procrastinating.

Bella: Eric, without further ado, welcome to the show.

Eric: Hey, Bella, thank you for having me. Glad to be here.

Bella: Thank you so much. This is definitely a topic that we haven’t had in our 60-plus episodes, so I’m so excited for you to just rock it on this topic and tell us everything you know and give us some good actionable things that we can just start doing today. Because I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who hasn’t said, “Oh no, I don’t procrastinate at all.” I think we all do, right?

Eric: It’s a common thing that we share. Yeah, it’s very common. The studies show 95 percent of the population admits to having some type of issue with procrastination.

Bella: I believe it. Before we dive deep into the topic, why don’t we bring it back a little bit and tell our listeners a little bit about you—who you are, where you came from, how you became an expert on this topic.

Eric: I became an expert just through my life experiences and research and study. I had an experience that I talk about in the book back when I was in college that really got me motivated to think about how I use my time. I was in college with my friend Donnell. Donnell was the total opposite of me at that particular time—very conscientious, focused, and purpose-driven. His goal was to be a Marine Corps officer, and he was always telling me, “Eric, you need to get serious.” And I was like, “Donnell, when’s the next party?” We were totally different. We were good friends though, and everything changed in one moment when I hadn’t heard from him in a week or so, and I got a phone call from his mother telling me that he had tragically passed away in a car accident. That changed everything for me as far as how I view time, and I really started to become more intentional as far as how I spend my time.

Through a lot of my experiences—in the book, I talk about having 28,000 coaching sessions. I’ve had an eight-year span where I did 12 to 15 sessions a day, back-to-back, on the half-hour. That’s how I got to 28,000 coaching sessions. I’ve also been an executive where I’ve had as many as 500 employees working for me at any given time. All of those experiences with different people and personalities—seeing trends and patterns—is how I gained my expertise. I’ve also read tons of books on the topic.

Bella: Incredible. So you’ve definitely walked that walk. Let’s talk about it. Why do people need to tackle procrastination? I’m one of those people who says, “I work well under pressure.” I know I have this big TEDx talk coming up, and I can’t prepare five months in advance—I like to wait until four weeks before. I like to procrastinate, but then that inflicts a lot of pressure on myself. So tell us, why do we need to tackle our procrastination? Why can’t we say, “I use it for the good”?

Eric: Procrastination has hidden costs. What’s interesting about procrastination is that you get away with it. You think everything’s fine, but everything’s not fine. There’s a proven link between innovation and preparation. The earlier you start, the ideas start to incubate, and your end product is better. So procrastination has hidden costs—you just don’t realize how much you’re costing yourself until one day, maybe there’s a promotion you don’t get, or maybe the presentation you thought went well doesn’t get you invited back.

Everyone’s worked with someone who’s always late. If the meeting starts at nine o’clock, they’re there at nine-ten. They’re branded as “the late guy.” It seems funny, but in all my conversations with senior executives, I’ve never heard one say, “Let’s promote the guy who’s always late.” It doesn’t work that way.

Bella: So for pet sitters and dog walkers listening—maybe they procrastinate calling clients back, replying to emails, or upgrading their website. What’s going on there?

Eric: A lot of procrastination is rooted in fear. Sometimes it’s fear of success. Deep down, you’re afraid of what’s going to happen if you go to the next level. If you update that website and it looks amazing and your phone starts ringing, then you have to hire more people and be away from your family. Believe it or not, fear of success is huge. It’s about becoming aware of what’s causing you to procrastinate.

Bella: So procrastination is a secondary reaction to something deeper?

Eric: Exactly. Before I got into this, I figured people who procrastinated were just lazy, but it’s more of an anxiety issue. The best way we deal with pain is by putting it off. Let’s say you have a TED Talk coming up. You feel anxiety about it, but then you procrastinate and feel anxiety because you’re procrastinating. It’s a vicious cycle, and you find temporary relief in distractions like checking social media.

Bella: That’s fascinating. It’s true for things like working out or eating right too—people procrastinate because of fear or resistance to change.

Eric: Exactly.

Bella: Let’s take a quick break, and when we come back, I want to talk about simple steps people can take today to start combating procrastination.

Commercial break

Bella: And we’re back with Eric Twiggs, talking about procrastination. Let’s bring it home with practical steps.

Eric: One basic thing you can do is take your smartphone and get rid of all the chimes, notifications, and alerts that distract you. You’ll notice a big difference in productivity when you’re not getting a ding every time you get an email. Another thing—use productivity apps like Hootsuite to schedule social media posts ahead of time so you’re not distracted scrolling your feed. SMS Scheduler lets you send reminder texts to yourself for recurring tasks. RescueTime tracks how much time you spend on social media—it can even cut off your access after a set limit.

Another important step is to be aware of your mindset. Don’t label yourself as “a procrastinator.” Just because you procrastinated yesterday doesn’t mean you can’t do something different today. Yesterday ended last night. Have a growth mindset and move forward.

Bella: So watch your mindset, use helpful apps, and remove distractions. Can procrastination be chronic?

Eric: It affects everyone to some degree, which is why it helps to put disciplines and tools in place. Even I have to be vigilant.

Bella: You said a great word—habit. It’s like anything in life—you have to make it a habit. You can’t just say, “On Monday, I’ll stop procrastinating forever.” You have to commit daily.

Eric: Exactly.

Bella: Tell me about your book.

Eric: It’s called The Discipline of Now. I noticed that good performers and great performers often know the same things—the difference is that great performers take action whether they feel like it or not. I wanted to create an easy-to-read, practical tool—only 100 pages on purpose—because someone with procrastination issues probably won’t finish a long book.

Bella: Why your book?

Eric: Many time management books offer one-size-fits-all solutions like “Don’t check email before noon.” That doesn’t work for everyone. My book tailors tips to your personality and genetics—whether you’re a morning person or a night owl—so you can schedule tasks around when you have the most energy.

Bella: That’s awesome. Where can people find it?

Eric: You can find The Discipline of Now at ericmtwiggs.com or on Amazon.

Bella: Any final takeaways?

Eric: Don’t allow perfect to become the enemy of progress. Sometimes done is better than perfect. Perfectionism can be procrastination in disguise—it’s a stalling tactic because we’re afraid to move forward.

Bella: I love that. Thank you, Eric.

This has been another episode of Bella in Your Business. Remember to like and subscribe on iTunes and Stitcher, and always keep jumping.

Thanks for jumping with Bella in Your Business. For more information, free articles, free coaching sessions, and more, go to jumpconsulting.net. And remember—Bella’s got your chute.

On our 60th episode of Bella In Your Business, we have Calvin Wayman. He is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and the CEO of a social media agency  called CobbsMedia designed to make corporations, small businesses, and personal brands grow and stand out through the power of social media.

Calvin Wayman of CobbsMedia

He recently published his first book, which debuted on the Amazon top-100  called “Fish Out of Water: The Guide To Achieving Breakthrough and Permanently Transforming Into the New You.”  To find out more about Calvin, visit him on his website: calvinwayman.com

Social media can be both daunting and overwhelming. There's not only a variety of different platforms, but each of them have their own uses and strengths. It can be difficult knowing which platform is worth investing your time into, and even harder making that platform lucrative. Listen in as Calvin and Bella discuss:

The 4 C's of social media

Things that EVERYBODY does wrong on social media

Instagram Vs. Facebook - which is better for pet sitters?

The impact Facebook Live can have in your business

Advice for managing your social media pages while saving your sanity!

As a gift to our audience, Calvin has a free downloadable offer for a social media makeover ($300 value!). Learn more about the offer here:  socialmediamakeover.org

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Transcript:

This is episode 60 of Bella in Your Business. Welcome to Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, your host, and today we have Calvin Wayman. He is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and the CEO of a social media agency, Cobbs Media, designed to help corporations, small businesses, and personal brands grow and stand out through the power of social media. He also recently published a book which debuted on Amazon’s Top 100 called Fish Out of Water: The Guide to Achieving Breakthrough and Permanently Transforming Into the New You. Calvin, welcome to the show.

Thank you and thanks for having me. I’m pumped to be here. When I met you, you definitely had a colorful life and a lot of different experiences, and I just kind of knew, especially from a social media background, that you’d have a lot to offer our listeners. Stay tuned for the end too, because Calvin actually has something free for you in ways of him doing something pretty cool for you. It’s not just some free downloads, but you’ll have to wait to listen to that. Calvin, you created this “four Cs of social media,” and like the Huffington Post picked it up and stuff, so why don’t you systematically and slowly—because I’m sure we’re walking dogs, doing laundry, meal prepping, doing something while we’re listening—break it down for us.

Awesome. So what it is, is there’s one more C—there’s four—and it’s super important to get all four of them in there. To give a little backstory, it’s related to social media. If you’ve tried to grow a brand or gain business from social media, you could spend hours and hours scouring through different tactics—Instagram, Facebook, ads, YouTube, Google AdWords—and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I asked myself, what actually works? What makes it stick? So I studied people with strong brands on social media, looked at a cross-section of different people, and asked what makes this work—not just tactically, but philosophically. That’s where these four Cs came from. It’s a way to simplify social media so you can focus on four things instead of hundreds: content, context, consistency, and connection.

Let’s break it down. The first one is content. If your business isn’t where you want it to be, it doesn’t mean your business is bad or that you’re a bad person. If it’s not growing, it’s because of one simple factor—obscurity. Not enough of the right people know who you are and what you stand for. Content is the gateway to break you out of obscurity. Content is anything you post on social media—a photo, a video, a message. But here’s the key: don’t just post about your business. Don’t say “buy my book” or “hire me.” That’s what 98% of people do, and it doesn’t work. Instead, post about who you are, what you stand for, and why you do what you do.

Your content should connect to your “why.” Simon Sinek’s TED Talk Start With Why explains this well. Most people talk about what they do; the few who stand out talk about why they do it. Apple doesn’t say “we build the best computers.” They say, “We believe in challenging the status quo. We believe in thinking differently. Because we believe this, we create beautifully designed, user-friendly computers.” The computer is just the byproduct of their belief. If you’re in the pet business, what do you believe about it? Maybe that dogs truly are man’s best friend. That belief should shine through your posts. That’s the first C—content.

The second is context. It’s often misunderstood. Imagine walking into a funeral home during a service and saying, “Hey, I’m sorry you’re crying about Joe. I don’t know Joe, but I have a great dog walking business—here’s my card.” The problem isn’t the message; it’s the context. There’s nothing wrong with talking about your business, but timing and placement matter. The same goes for social media. What you post on Instagram shouldn’t be what you post on Twitter or Facebook—they’re different “rooms.” Play with the platform and understand the language of each. Selling isn’t bad, but social media isn’t where you hard-sell your audience. Save that for calls or emails.

Be careful with automation tools that blast the same content everywhere—they can help you “suck at social media.” You might post one thing across all platforms and wonder why there’s no engagement—it’s because it doesn’t fit the context. Repurpose content, yes, but tailor it for each platform.

Now, consistency. People don’t post enough. Think of brands like McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, or Nike—they’re instantly recognizable because they’ve been relentlessly consistent in telling the world who they are and what they stand for. Most small business owners aren’t known because they don’t post enough. Instead of two or three times a week, start posting two or three times a day on Facebook and Instagram. On Twitter, it might take 12–15 posts to make an impact. Consistency helps break you out of obscurity.

It’s also important to track metrics and test. Try different posting frequencies for a month and measure engagement—not just likes, but comments, shares, and conversations. That leads to the last C—connection. Connection is the biggest missed opportunity in social media. Everyone focuses on conversions and sales, but the people who connect with their audience blow up—whether it’s Gary Vaynerchuk in business or Taylor Swift in music.

Calvin shared a story: One day, he was tagged in a podcast video from three Australian guys he didn’t know. They were talking about him. Six months earlier, one of them had followed him on social media, and Calvin had sent a quick 4-second video: “Hey brother, I noticed you followed me. Thanks.” That small gesture created a real connection. Six months later, that person bought a bulk order of Calvin’s book and gave away 10 copies to an Australian audience—all because of that one short video.

Connection matters. For pet sitters and dog walkers, it might mean sending a short thank-you video to new clients, greeting followers on Facebook Live, or replying personally to comments. Never let a comment go unanswered—no comment left behind. Engage with every person who engages with you. Always have the last word, and keep the conversation going by asking open-ended questions. On Facebook, you can now send messages as your page to people who comment—use it! Send a quick thank-you video or personalized note.

These are actionable steps to grow connection and community. Post the right content, understand context, stay consistent, and prioritize connection.

Calvin also shared a free offer: a Social Media Makeover—a phone session with him or his team to help you apply the four Cs to your page. You can sign up at socialmediamakeover.org. To connect with Calvin personally, go to calvinwayman.com or find him on Facebook, Instagram, or Snapchat by searching his name. His book Fish Out of Water is available on Amazon, or at calvinwayman.com/book.

Thank you, Calvin, for being on Bella in Your Business. If you loved this podcast, share it with your friends, subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher, and remember to always keep jumping.

Thanks for jumping with Bella in Your Business. For more information, free articles, and coaching sessions, go to jumpconsulting.net. And remember—Bella’s got your chute.

When entrepreneurs, experts, and small business owners want to get their story straight, they call Dr. Adrian McIntyre. He's a cultural anthropologist and storytelling consultant who's worked in over 30 countries. Adrian has been telling stories on stages and in the media since he was 5 years old, and he's advised and trained hundreds of clients on high-performance communication, business storytelling, personal branding, publicity, and media skills.

Dr. Adrian McIntyre

However, It is tough for pet sitters and dog walkers to know which story to tell and when in their businesses.

But mastering this skill could help you market your business and increase your bottom line.

Listen in on this Bella In Your Business podcast episode to learn more. Plus, hear a 30 second commercial for a networking meeting and the breakdown of what makes a good story.

Adrian & Bella also chat about:

Why storytelling is so important

Whether a business owner should tell stories about their GOOD experiences or their BAD ones.

What to do if storytelling isn't your strong suit (yet!)

They keys to successful storytelling

Blog mentioned of a pet sitter losing a dog

http://menlyspetcare.com/lost-clients-dog-professional-pet-sitter-confessional/

Adrian's free download: www.storyprofit.com/bella

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Transcript:

This is episode 59 of Bella in Your Business. Welcome to Bella in Your Business, where Bella will discuss anything and everything about your pet sitting business to help you land on target. So get ready, Bella's got your chute. Let's jump. Welcome to Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, your host, and today I have Adrian McIntyre, the guy that entrepreneurs, experts, and small business owners call when they want to get their story straight. Not like the story of what happened last night, but their actual true story about themselves. They call Dr. Adrian McIntyre. He's a cultural anthropologist—definitely never had one of you on my show before—and he's a storytelling consultant who's worked in over 30 countries. He actually broke the story in Darfur years ago.

Adrian has been telling stories on stages and in the media since he was five years old and has advised and trained hundreds of clients on high-performance communication, business storytelling, personal branding, publicity, and media skills. He also has two dogs named George and Gracie, which I think is the most important part of this whole interview. No, I'm just kidding.

As a little bit of background, Adrian and I met at a local conference that we both showed up to, and we were kind of like long-lost friends. We just started talking and have had many more conversations since then. He's a very intriguing and interesting person that I am pretty sure I can say you have not heard of in the pet industry ever. So it's a really unique topic. Sit down, grab that cup of coffee, and listen up.

Adrian: Sure. So I like to start by saying I literally grew up in my dad's radio station. I've been in the media my whole life—not just as the kid of the guy who ran the place, but we also started our own family children's program when I was five. We started recording this show in our home studio in 1978, and it turned into the longest-running children's radio show in California history. So I come at story from the perspective of a practitioner.

I went on to study how story works, both as an academic researcher and as an anthropologist—the science of human beings. It looks at pretty much every dimension of what it is to be human. The part that interested me was the way we use language to form our identities, groups, cultures, and nations. I traveled around the world doing research and engaging with people who were practicing storytelling.

I wrote a master’s thesis about how museums create stories about the past and tie them into our sense of who we are, whatever the “we” is. I spent almost 10 years working in the Middle East and Africa. I covered the invasion of Iraq for Newsweek and later worked in Baghdad as a storyteller and cultural analyst for international nonprofits. That took me into Africa, where I worked in Sudan and Kenya.

What brought me back home was realizing that despite all the stories we told to try to solve these massive global problems—wars, famines—it wasn’t working. Yes, I helped make the crisis in Darfur the biggest news story of 2004, but we didn’t save Darfur. That war is still happening today. It became another forgotten conflict. I also had personal heartbreaks and PTSD from being in those war zones. Friends of mine died doing aid work. The weight of those stories became too much.

When I came back to California, I finished my PhD and discovered another angle on story: the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves and how they shape everything we think we can or can’t do. I started working with individuals and business owners who wanted to get their message out into the world. I realized I had been taking storytelling skills for granted and could really help people. In business, when you impact someone’s life, it shows up in their bottom line. That was what had been missing for me all those years. So now this is what I do—I help people tell better stories, both to themselves and about their work.

Bella: I want to really connect this back to pet sitters, dog walkers, pet groomers, and trainers. What you said was really interesting—the story that we tell ourselves about ourselves. Why storytelling in business?

Adrian: I just came from a chamber of commerce meeting where people gave 30-second introductions. Everyone described their services—what they do—but they didn’t connect with the audience. Eventually, that becomes important, but if you don’t start with who you are, you’re missing the connection. You’ve got to brand yourself first. Then people will ask you about your business because they’re compelled to find out.

Storytelling works on so many levels because it’s the water we swim in. Fish are born in water, live in it, die in it, and never see it as water because it’s all they know. Language and story are the same for humans. We don’t often see our stories as stories because we look at the world through them. What we can see and talk about shows up through the lens of our story.

How is it important in business? It’s the most important way to transform your brand, marketing, and visibility. If you want media attention or better marketing and content, it must be story-driven. For most people, there’s the story they think is their story and the invisible story they’re telling themselves—the reason why they haven’t told the other one. You need to alter that internal story before you can share your true one.

Storytelling is not an expert-only skill. There’s no secret formula. Everyone can do it. You’re born into it—you just haven’t been shown how to use it.

Bella: I love that. I want to break it down and actually get your critique. I have an ebook that pet sitters have downloaded called Barking Up the Right Tree: A Pet Sitter’s Guide to Networking. In it, I give scenarios for 30-second speeches. I want your feedback.

So here’s one example: I’d say, “How many of you get asked to watch your friends’ or family’s pets?” People raise their hands. Or, “How many of you have a pet or know someone who has one?” Then I’d say, “Next time someone asks you and you don’t feel like doing it, think of us. Did you know people actually make a living doing this? We help people who work long hours or feel bad leaving their dog in a kennel. We even send GPS notifications showing when we arrive, how long we stay, and how many times Fido went number one or two. You probably don’t want to deal with that, but we are the solution for those people. Come up to me after; I have a gift certificate you can give them.”

Adrian: I love that you’re thinking about who’s listening. Any story has to be about the audience, or it won’t be heard. You want to engage them, but you also need authenticity without gimmicks. Personally, I’m not a fan of barking or meowing into the mic—it might grab attention but can feel gimmicky. I once saw someone stand up and say, “I grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Oregon, and now I live in a city where everyone’s house is so close it freaks me out. But I love small business, because if you’re not supporting local, you’re not supporting your own community.” She wasn’t selling her insurance—she was selling herself.

You could adjust your intro: “How many of you have ever been asked to watch someone’s pet? If you love pets—or even if you don’t—it’s a big deal to find someone you can trust. We’re the people who make that easy.” That sells by sharing, not pitching.

Bella: What if someone says, “I can’t tell stories”?

Adrian: You can, but you haven’t been shown how. Everyone’s a natural-born storyteller. We just need to practice. Like learning to talk, you learned it at home without formal lessons. Being a native storyteller doesn’t make you an extraordinary one, but anyone can improve. It’s more about getting out of your own way.

Bella: I’d say, look at Facebook—pet sitters tell stories all the time. “My client did this!” “You won’t believe what happened!” That’s storytelling.

Adrian: Exactly. And understand stories can take many forms. A photo on Instagram with a long caption is storytelling. The algorithm even favors longer captions that hold attention. So when you post pictures, tell us about Fido—why is Fido with you, what’s his story? Create a narrative. When people hire pet sitters, they’re outsourcing love and guilt—they’re buying peace of mind, trust, and security. They’ll check your Instagram and Facebook, so make sure your stories reflect that.

The keys to successful storytelling: stories happen somewhere, sometime, and to someone. Give context: “Last week…” “June 2003…” Introduce characters, include emotion, and tell the truth.

On this episode, Bella speaks with Gelie Akhenblit, CEO/Founder of NetworkingPhoenix. They discuss the importance of networking, "do"s and "do not"s when going to a marketing event, and best practices for following up.

“Networking is finding friends with professional benefits”

Gelie Akhenblit (CEO / Founder of NetworkingPhoenix) has revolutionized the way Arizona’s professionals, small business owners, and entrepreneurs network in the Valley. Founded in October 2008, Gelie left her corporate position in order to launch her vision as a tech startup. This startup, NetworkingPhoenix.com, created a democratized platform for local networkers to connect online and in person through mixers, business events,  and local educational partners. Since its inception,NetworkingPhoenix has skyrocketed in popularity and has become one of the most visited websites in Arizona with nearly 40,000 members and growing.

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Transcript:

This is episode 58 of Bella in Your Business. Welcome to Bella in Your Business, where Bella will discuss anything and everything about your pet sitting business to help you land on target. So get ready, Bella's got your chute. Let's jump. Welcome to Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, your host, and today I have a friend with me. Her name is Gellie Akhenblit, and she is—my gosh, I don't even know how to introduce her. She's amazing. I've known her for almost a decade. Interestingly enough, we met through a boy. He connected us, and Gellie has started an incredible thing that Phoenix is very, very fortunate to have. It's called networkingphoenix.com. She's going to tell you her story today, but we're going to talk all about networking. So I want you to listen up if you are that pet sitter who shies away from those networking meetings or those lunches or those breakfasts or those mixers, because today we're going to give you lots of awesome tips to help you. Without further ado, Gellie, welcome to the show.

Thank you so much for having me, and I love that introduction. So I came from the former Soviet Union, but I ended up in Phoenix, Arizona. The majority of my life I’ve spent in Phoenix. After going to college here and doing the traditional thing, I had two jobs out of college, and I was like, you know what? This whole job thing is not for me. I couldn’t handle it. I’d been working since I was fourteen, but what I didn’t realize was that I was a little hustler, a little entrepreneur, and I never knew it. I didn’t have anyone to guide me or explain to me that being an entrepreneur is a personality trait.

During my second job out of college, it was absolutely horrific—for my soul, just to clarify. So I started networking to discover other opportunities and not so much other jobs, but just to see what it is that other people do for a living, what my options were. I was in my mid-twenties, so not working wasn’t an option. I started networking and realized that I was in love with it—completely addicted to finding people, hearing their stories, and connecting with them on a human level. It just does something to me. So I thought, how do I turn this into an entrepreneurial venture? How do I make money with this?

I’d never taken a business class in my life. My background was marketing and communications, which I still use daily. I found holes in the market for opportunities. There were so many networking events happening every day, but there wasn’t a hub where they were all listed. I created one—a Word document where I copied and pasted events, different fonts, different colors. It was a mess, but people contacted me asking for it. Then it dawned on me in 2007—why not build a website?

At the time, I happened to be married to a software engineer. I came home one night and asked if he could build me a calendar to list all the networking events. He took my vision and built an amazing online platform that, to this day, doesn’t exist elsewhere.

On this episode, Bella spends time with Lisa Cummings, Founder of Lead Through Strengths.  Lisa talks about how it is her life's mission to help people get over their obsession of fixing weaknesses instead of focusing on their strengths, the things that make them happy, give them energy and make them successful.

Lisa Cummings

“Notice what works to get more of what works!” - Lisa Cummings

Pay attention to what is working. Make sure in your customer surveys you aren’t just asking what needs improvement. Ask customers what they loved most about the various parts of the service. You may find that some simple little thing you do, like giving out a little “report card” at the end of a stay, may be the thing that keeps them coming back and gets them referring you. After all, it is easier to replicate what is working for you than to try to figure out the 50 or 60 potential solutions to something one client says they don’t like.

To zero in on your strengths Lisa recommends the book Strengthsfinder 2.0 which gives you a code to take an online strengths survey. It gets away from skills and knowledge and helps you find your natural talents, the way you think, feel and act that feel good to you. It gives a filter for helping figure out the best way for you to approach issues. The book explains the definition of the 34 potential talent themes revealed by the survey.

Another way to zero in on strengths is to look for what brings you ease, energy and enjoyment. If a particular activity causes you to lose track of time, stop and exam just what about it really kept you engaged.

On her website, Lisa  has a list of things you may want “more of” in your daily life. It can give you clues as to what activities you are more attracted to.

Two books that Lisa recommends are First Break All the Rules by Gallup Press and Now Discover Your Strengths by Marcus Buckingham. She says that if you read them from the standpoint of managing people and then combine that with a strengthsfinder of those people you manage it is most helpful in managing people.

When you have a business challenge imagine putting it through a funnel.  You drop it in at the top and you filter it through all the top talents and strengths in your business.  Try thinking how to solve it using each of those strengths.  Lisa says is causes your brain to think in ways it normally doesn’t and can lead to some creative solutions.

One first step you can take is to decide what you want your company to remembered for and what you want to be remembered for. Come up with a list of words and phrases around that which will serve as an outline of what is most important to you.  Another is to list out the values that are important to you. Lisa has a list of values on her website you can use as a reference.

Lisa also recommends finding out similar information from your customers.  Casually ask customers what word or words come to mind when they think of you or your business.

Finally, she suggests you make a list of at least 100 responses to "I am good at _________!". It helps you not only affirm how much you are good at but you can group them into trends and see if you are truly applying them in your business.

About Lisa

Lisa Cummings has delivered training & speaking events to over 9,000 participants in 14 countries. You can see her featured in places like Harvard Business Publishing, Training Magazine, and Forbes. She’s the CEO of a company called Lead Through Strengths. When she’s not out spotting strengths with teams, you’ll find her rescuing stray dogs or playing drums in her band Spiral Mischief.

Links mentioned in this episode

Lead Through Strengths - http://leadthroughstrengths.com

Twitter - @LisaCummings

“More Of”  Inventory - http://leadthroughstrengths.com/moreof/

Values Inventory - http://leadthroughstrengths.com/values/

Strengthsfinder 2.0 - http://strengths.gallup.com/110440/About-StrengthsFinder-20.aspx