What if the secret to growing your business isn’t in the metrics—but in your mindset? In this soul-stirring episode, Fern gets real about what it takes to build not just a thriving pet care business, but a fulfilling life along the way. Inspired by personal stories and lessons from his book Getting Paid to Play with Puppies, he explores the surprising traps that can quietly drain your joy—even as your business appears successful on the outside.

From the dangers of staying “comfortably unhappy” to redefining what wealth and success actually mean to you, this episode is a powerful reminder to check in with yourself and your goals. If you've ever felt stuck, burnt out, or just unsure whether you're building the right kind of business for your life, this one’s going to hit home. Tune in and rediscover how to find happiness in the hustle—because the journey should be as rewarding as the destination.

What if your general manager could think and act like a business owner—fully invested, capable, and trusted to lead your team? In this episode, Fern is joined by leadership pro Kelli Dodds, who unveils her brand-new initiative designed to level up managers into true leaders. They dive into the crucial mindset shifts, skill development, and emotional intelligence needed to transform your GM into the MVP of your pet resort. This isn’t about managing schedules and putting out fires—it’s about cultivating ownership mentality and building high-functioning teams.

If you’re tired of being the bottleneck in your business or struggling to delegate confidently, this conversation is your wake-up call. Kelli shares how her decades of experience and hands-on leadership training can help turn potential into performance, freeing you up to actually enjoy running your business. Whether your current GM is green or seasoned, this episode will open your eyes to what’s really possible with the right guidance and support.

Toxic employees can quietly destroy everything you've worked to build—your team morale, your client experience, and your overall business culture. In this episode, Fern breaks down how even one negative team member can ripple through your pet resort and create serious damage. From subtle eye-rolls to full-blown defiance, it all adds up faster than you think. The big question is: how do you spot it early, and what do you do once it's there?

You'll learn how to recognize the different "stages" of toxicity and get practical strategies for handling each one—whether you're dealing with minor moodiness or someone who's completely derailing your team. Fern also shares why hiring slow and firing fast is more than just a cliché—it’s essential for protecting your business. If you've ever made excuses for an underperforming employee or hesitated to act, this episode is your wake-up call.

AI isn’t just for tech giants and sci-fi movies anymore—it’s here, it’s powerful, and it’s ready to transform your pet business if you let it. In this episode, Fern dives deep into the practical ways ChatGPT can supercharge your daycare or boarding facility. From content creation and marketing to staff training and operations, you’ll find out how this tool can become your new behind-the-scenes assistant—saving you time, boosting creativity, and helping you stand out from the pack
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Whether you’ve never touched AI before or you’re already experimenting with it, this episode breaks down how to use it effectively without getting overwhelmed. Fern also shares real-world tips on getting better results, avoiding common mistakes, and even how to build your own custom GPTs tailored for your business. If you're ready to stop watching from the sidelines and start using tech to your advantage, this is your nudge to dive in.

Sometimes the best way to grow your business is to hit pause and take a hard look at what’s really working—and what’s not. In this episode, Fern opens up about a difficult decision he had to make at Overdog and why cutting back can sometimes be the smartest move forward. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure whether to keep pushing or pivot, you’ll relate big time.

This isn’t just theory—it’s a real-world look at what it means to prune parts of your business to make space for stronger, healthier growth. You’ll walk away with fresh perspective and maybe even permission to let go of what’s holding you back. Ready to rethink your strategy? Let’s go.

Ever feel like you're the only one who can’t seem to get things right? This episode is your permission slip to stop beating yourself up and start looking at failure as fuel. Fern pulls back the curtain on one of his biggest flops—something he poured months and thousands of dollars into—only to watch it crash and burn. But instead of quitting, he found the hidden gold in the ashes. You’ll hear how that experience ended up reshaping the way he runs his business—and how it can do the same for you.

Whether you're trying a bold new offer, tweaking your marketing, or just dealing with the daily chaos of running a pet business, this episode will challenge the way you think about mistakes. Fern breaks down how to process failure without letting it wreck you, how to learn from it fast, and how to bounce back stronger (and smarter) every time.

Struggling to make Facebook actually work for your dog daycare or boarding business? You're not alone—and you're probably just a few tweaks away from turning it into a reliable lead machine. In this episode, we dive into a powerful three-tier strategy that breaks down exactly what kind of content you should be posting (and who it's for) so you can stop guessing and start attracting the right people at the right time.

Whether you're trying to reach total strangers, warm up curious lurkers, or finally convert those hot leads that seem to hover but never commit, this episode gives you a roadmap to do it right. With real examples and actionable tactics, it's your blueprint for building trust, growing engagement, and actually booking more services. If Facebook has ever felt like a black hole, this one’s for you.

If you’ve ever felt like you're stuck in a revolving door of employees, this episode is about to hit home. Fern teams up once again with his buddy and business retreat co-host Patrick Lyons for a deep dive into the real reasons your team might be walking out the door—and what you can actually do about it. Spoiler: it’s not just about the money. They unpack fresh research and real-life experiences to reveal the five key drivers behind employee turnover in the pet care space (and beyond).

This conversation doesn’t just scratch the surface—it offers practical strategies you can implement right now to create a workplace people actually want to stick around in. From rethinking how you train and promote, to building real connections with your staff, this one’s packed with insights that might just change how you run your business. If keeping great people feels like an uphill battle, don’t miss this one.

If your numbers are down and you’re stressing about getting more leads in the door, you might be looking at the wrong problem. In this episode, we're flipping the script and diving into a major blind spot for many pet care businesses—customer retention. Before you start pouring money into marketing, you’ve got to find out why people are leaving. And more importantly, what you can do to stop the slow leak.

From decoding external trends like economic shifts and competition, to uncovering the internal cracks you might not even realize are there—this episode walks you through the real reasons behind customer churn. You’ll get practical ways to plug the holes, ramp up your client experience, and actually get people to stick around. It’s all about keeping the customers you already earned—because bringing in new ones won’t matter if they’re slipping out the back.

If you’ve ever wished more people would say “yes” to your services, this episode is going to open your eyes. Fern dives into the fascinating world of psychological selling — and no, it’s not about manipulation or cheesy tactics. He breaks down why humans make emotional decisions, how to use that to guide potential customers, and why things like “most popular” labels and small surprises can have a huge impact. You’ll hear real-world examples, clever techniques, and actionable tips you can start using today to convert more leads and build customer loyalty.

This isn’t about tricking anyone — it’s about helping people choose what’s truly best for them (and their dogs). From creating urgency and showcasing social proof, to framing your offers in ways that feel irresistible, Fern shows you how to ethically use psychology to boost your sales and your client’s happiness. If you want to attract more customers and keep them coming back, you’ll definitely want to tune in and take notes on this one!