What makes a great pet photo? The photos we send to our clients are a snapshot into their pet's lives while they're away. Caitlin J. McColl, founder and co-President of the Pet Photographers Club, joins the show to share how to get the best photos possible for your clients. The best camera is the one you have on you, so Caitlin gives us tips for making the most out of our cellphone. We discuss how to know when you've got the best shot. Caitlin also shares how we can showcase each pet's personality in the photo.

Topics on this episode:

• Unique challenges in pet photography
• Picking good photos
• Making the most out of your cellphone
• Taking great action shots
• How can we go pro?

Main take away: Photos mean so much more than just an update. They are a gift we can give the client.

About our guest: Caitlin J. McColl is a multi-award winning professional pet photographer based in Melbourne, Australia. She launched her business, Ragamuffin Pet Photography after adopting her own scruffy dog twelve years ago. She is now the author of five dog-filled books, founder of the Tails of the World Collective and co-president of The Pet Photographers Club. She's passionate about celebrating the joy that dogs bring to our world through emotive, beautiful photography and teaching others how to do the same.

Links: Pet Photographers Club: https://thepetphotographersclub.com The Podcast: https://thepetphotographersclub.com/#episodes Caitlin's Business: https://ragamuffinpetphotography.com.au

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• Pet Perennials Promo Code: Use 'PSC' when registering for a $2 off coupon on any purchases in the 1st 90 days
• Time to Pet Promo Code: 50% off first 3 months
• Our AMAZING Patreon Members ❤️

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Summary:

Why do you need a budget? With everything going on in the world, it's more important than ever to know exactly where your money is going and wrestle back some control of our finances. The principles of budgeting apply to both your personal life, as well as your business. We break down 5 reasons why having a budget will help you and then dive into how to apply the principles of budgeting. Then, Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I see the long term view for my business?"

Main topics:

• Why you need a budget
• Simple principles
• Our major suggestions
• Automate saving/investing!
• Ask a Biz Coach

Main takeaway: If you want to see what's actually important to someone, look at their calendar AND their bank account. Setting a budget is you declaring what your priorities in life are and what you're willing to sacrifice to get there.

Links:

Ep 244: Roundtable on Pricing

Ep 245: Pricing Mindset

Ep 289: Investing as Business Owner

Ep 292: Tackling Inflation

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• Automated CEO Promo Code: PSC20 for 15% off
• Pet Sitters Associates Promo Code: Confessional
• Our AMAZING Patreon Members ❤️

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Have you decided to be a leader in the industry? Julie Fredrick, owner of The Pet Sitter of Boise, has been running her pet sitting business since 2003, while still holding down a full time job. With a team of over 35 employees, she spends her time focusing on giving the best possible service to the right clients. Julie shares how her background in operations and process improvement helps her run her business better and why more growth isn't always better. She also encourages us to start being a leader in the industry.

Main topics Process improvement Full-time job Saturation mode Being a leader

Main takeaways: Instead of getting more clients, get the right ones

About our guest: Thirteen years ago, Julie began fostering rescued animals. Her fostering adventure started with cats and grew into dogs (her first "dog" foster was a mama dog with 7 pups!). Since then, she has fostered hundreds of dogs for area rescue groups such as The Idaho Humane Society (I.H.S.), Idaho Domestic Animal Welfare Group(IDAWG), and the Fox Terrier Fanciers of Puget Sound Rescue. It brings her great joy to know that a small commitment of a few weeks of fostering saves a life.

While Julie is quite pet-centric, here are some other tidbits about her…Her career began in Research & Engineering with Kimberly-Clark Corporation, she earned an MBA from Boise State in 2005 (Go Broncos!), she was a process engineer in a toilet paper factory in South Carolina for several years and her favorite movie is Forrest Gump.

Throughout the years, Julie has been trusted to care for pets of friends and family. She truly enjoys caring for pets and getting to know them as individuals with unique personalities. Julie looks forward to meeting your four-legged, furry family members and would be honored to be trusted with their care while you're away.

Links: Website: https://thepetsitterofboise.com Email: [email protected] On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julie.fredrick.7 Pet Sitting for Profit: https://amzn.to/3u67oOk

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Sponsored By:

• Time to Pet Promo Code: 50% off first 3 months
• Our AMAZING Patreon Members ❤️

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How are you handling inflation and high gas prices? Prices on everything continue to rise and businesses are feeling the pinch more and more. Unfortunately, most economists aren't seeing any bright spots in the future. So how do we tackle these concerns and make sure our businesses continue to operate and provide us a living? We break down four things you should be considering in the days and months ahead to make sure you're positioned to weather the storms.

Main topics:

• Is raising prices enough?
• Cutting costs
• Locking in your expenses
• Going premium
• Ask a Biz Coach

Main takeaway: In a high inflation economy, controlling costs and having a long-term view of your business is critically important.

Links:

Episode 266: Rising Costs and Uncertainty

Gas Prices: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/11/business/energy-environment/gasoline-price.html

What's driving the increase: https://fortune.com/2022/06/11/why-is-the-price-of-gas-so-high/

Tackling inflation as a business: https://www.forbes.com/sites/billconerly/2022/03/18/business-strategy-for-the-high-inflation-economy/?sh=3dd9316e64f6

Give us a call! (636) 364-8260

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Sponsored By:

• Pet Sitters Associates Promo Code: Confessional
• Automated CEO Promo Code: PSC20 for 15% off
• Our AMAZING Patreon Members ❤️

Support Pet Sitter Confessional

What does it take to stay ambitious in business? Zach Shearer, owner of Zach's Pet Services, rejoins the show to share how much has changed since we last had him on. Zach talks about tackling large projects in the face of uncertainty and why surrounding yourself with experts is critical to your success. From his expanding kennel services to now grooming, Zach gives us some insight into the challenges they're facing and what he's doing to overcome them.

Main topics

• Building and expanding
• What makes a good kennel
• Highlighting staff
• Challenges ahead
• Working with a spouse

Main takeaway: Even if you do essentially the same service as someone else, you have your own morals and values behind your company, which sets you apart and attracts people to you.

Links: Previously on Episode 054: https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/054-covid-and-kennels-with-zach-shearer Website: https://www.zachspetservicesllc.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachspetservices/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Zachs-Pet-Services-ZPS-125543900790524/

Give us a call! (636) 364-8260

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Email us at: [email protected]

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Sponsored By:

• Pet Sitters International: Sign up for the April 3 day workshop on getting new clients!
• Time to Pet Promo Code: 50% off first 3 months
• Our AMAZING Patreon Members ❤️

Support Pet Sitter Confessional

Do new client's enjoy the onboarding experience with you and your business? The benefit of focusing on the details is that existing clients also benefit from any improvements you make. As a business, we should make the experience of interacting with our company as magical as possible. Collin shares a recent experience of having routine lab work run, and how not to handle new clients. Plus, Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I hold myself more accountable?"

Main topics: Making magical experiences Knowing your processes High quality touch points Ask a Biz Coach

Main takeaway: A positive client experience means it's something the clients ENJOY going through. Meaning they'll keep coming back!

Links:

Give us a call! (636) 364-8260

Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

Email us at: [email protected]

Full show notes and transcript

Sponsored By:

• Automated CEO Promo Code: PSC20 for 15% off
• Pet Sitters Associates Promo Code: Confessional
• Our AMAZING Patreon Members ❤️

Support Pet Sitter Confessional

Are you saving for retirement? 💰While it can seem daunting and like it's far away, it is critically important to get started as early as possible. Joshua Winterswyk, from RPA Wealth Management, talks all about saving and investing. He breaks down the options for self-employed individuals and how to have a long-term mindset around money. He also shares a holistic approach to managing your risk and assets.

Topics on this episode:

• Why save/invest?
• What is wealth management?
• How do I stay focused on the long term?

Main take away: Whether it's a little or a lot, saving money will help you financially prosper when you are ready to hang up your dog walking shoes!

About our guest:

Joshua had planned to study medicine—until a high school economics course changed his mind. That course ignited a passion for personal finance that propelled him to earn degrees in business and finance. After graduating from CSUSB, he launched his career in finance at Citibank—but soon realized it wasn't quite what he wanted. Though he appreciated the wide-ranging experience the job provided, he wanted to help people more comprehensively than his work allowed. That's when his mentor and RPA's founder, Brent Pasqua, reached out to him.

Today, Joshua helps clients achieve their goals by offering the comprehensive financial planning he had long envisioned. As an advisor, he helps meet the financial and investment needs of clients, including retirement planning, budgeting, and insurance analysis. He loves the process of putting a plan together that his clients can easily understand and deepened the impact he can have. Joshua attained his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation.

Joshua lives in Upland, CA with his wife, Brooke, their son Cruz, and their dogs, Memphis, and Mila. A lover of all thing's sports, he is a Los Angeles Football Club season ticket holder and a member of the American Outlaws, the supporters club for the U.S. men's national soccer team. When he's not cheering on his favorite teams, he and his wife enjoy days in L.A. with Cruz, Memphis, and Mila and trying out new restaurants, breweries, and wineries.

FUN FACTS

• Enjoys the global diversification of his pups, an American Boston terrier and French bulldog.
• Loves the variability of a dance floor, especially when 80's are playing.
• Goes all in for soccer and is an American Outlaw and LAFC season ticketholder.

_Podcast Disclosure

Advisory services offered through RPA Wealth Management, a registered investment advisor. Content provided for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell securities. A professional financial advisor should be consulted before implementing any investment strategy. _

Links: Email: [email protected]

Website: https://rpawealth.com/joshua-winterswyk/

The podcast: https://rpawealth.com/podcast/

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Email us at: [email protected]

Full show notes and transcript

Sponsored By:

• Pet Perennials Promo Code: Use 'PSC' when registering for a $2 off coupon on any purchases in the 1st 90 days
• Time to Pet Promo Code: 50% off first 3 months
• Our AMAZING Patreon Members ❤️

Support Pet Sitter Confessional

Summary Have you raised prices, brought on staff, made a policy change, and a client disagreed with the decision you made? Whether a new client or an existing client, it will happen eventually. It can be tough to get negative feedback on our businesses, so how do we properly (and professionally) handle it? We discuss the options and how to keep your business moving forward. Plus, Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I break bad habits in business?"

Main topics:

• When will client's disagree?
• Don't assume the intentions
• Two feedback reactions
• Sticking to the facts
• Ask a Business Coach

Main takeaway: You don't need to justify your business decisions, but know your policies and WHY you have them.

Links: [Episode 241: Handling Conflict in Business](www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/241)

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Email us at: [email protected]

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Sponsored By:

• Automated CEO Promo Code: PSC20 for 15% off
• Our AMAZING Patreon Members ❤️

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Summary: How do we continue to pivot, adapt, and overcome challenges in business? Miguel Rodriguez, owner of City Dog Pack, joins us to share how he continues to apply lessons from Covid to the way he operate his business. From slimming down the number of staff he oversees, to tackling dog training and coaching via Zoom, Miguel has learned to let things go that don't help him on his mission. He also shares how he uses social media as his only marketing tool, and why we should be reading more!

Main topics:

• How to keep pivoting
• Moving away and letting go
• Applying lessons from COVID
• Just using Instagram
• Mindset and reading

*Main takeaway: * To continue to pivot and adapt, we must continue to learn and challenge ourselves.

About our guest: Miguel Rodriguez Is the founder and owner of City Dog Pack established in 2010. City Dog Pack provides dog walking, dog boarding and dog training services in New York City

Miguel is a certified master dog trainer and behaviorist and teaches free dog training webinars via Zoom, and offers one on one virtual dog training sessions to anyone worldwide.

Miguel is also an advocate for small business owners and provides dog care business advice on his Instagram pages @citydogpack and @dogbiztv

Links: Dan Kennedy Book: https://amzn.to/3tLHAqx City Dog Pack on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/citydogpack/ Email: [email protected] Episode 038: https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/038-miguel-rodriguez Episode 065: https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/episodes/065-city-dog-pack-with-miguel-rodriguez

Give us a call! (636) 364-8260

Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

Email us at: [email protected]

Full show notes and transcript

Sponsored By:

• Pet Perennials Promo Code: Use 'PSC' when registering for a $2 off coupon on any purchases in the 1st 90 days
• Time to Pet Promo Code: 50% off first 3 months
• Automated CEO Promo Code: PSC20 for 15% off

Support Pet Sitter Confessional

Summary: How do you handle when a potential client's expectations don't match up with how you run your business? From policies to pricing, there are a million reasons it could not be a good fit. We've learned that while customers think hierarchically, business owners have to think wholistically when it comes to balancing the demands and expectations we have on ourselves. On this episode, we discuss the connection between what the client wants and the realities of running a business through the project management triangle.

Main topics:

• Client priorities
• importance of education
• What is the project triangle?
• Balancing it out
• Ask a Biz Coach

Main takeaway: Client's view their priorities in a hierarchy. We view our priorities as a connected triangle, where compromising on one, impacts everything else!

Links:

Give us a call! (636) 364-8260

Follow us on: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter

Email us at: [email protected]

Full show notes and transcript

Sponsored By:

• Automated CEO Promo Code: PSC20 for 15% off
• Pet Sitters Associates Promo Code: Confessional
• Our AMAZING Patreon Members ❤️

Support Pet Sitter Confessional