Summary: After 15 years in business, Christina Walker shares her transition from corporate America to full-time pet sitter. She gives us some great advice for practical ways to set boundaries in our business and personal life. Christina talks about what it means for her to be consistent and her biggest lessons since starting Top Dog Pet Sitter.

Topics on this episode:

• Celebrating 15 years
• Transitioning out of corporate America
• Maintaining boundaries
• Staying Consistent

Main take away? Stop waiting and the patience comes naturally.

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Understanding your "brand" and what it means for you and your business takes time. We share our experience rebranding our pet sitting business and our struggles working on a logo. We also talk about how we developed a deeper understanding of what we wanted our business to mean to not just our clients, but to ourselves as well. On the 'Ask a Pet Biz Coach' segment, Natasha answers, "How do you set your priorities"

Topics on this episode:

• Finding a logo
• Learning what a 'brand' is
• Giving meaning to your logo and colors
• Ask a Pet Biz Coach with Natasha O'Banion

**Main take away? **Branding is about experience and connection.

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• Texas Pet Sitters Association
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Summary: Growing community has become increasingly more important over the past year. While it may look different for each of us the principles of connecting with a broader group of people and cultivating relationships remain the same. Lyndsay Shackleford, owner of dogs of charm city, joins The show to talk about what it means to be a community focused business.

Topics on this episode:

• Members of a community
• Building relationships
• Running events
• Managing an online store
• What pet parents want these days

Main takeaway: Our community is made up of our team members (if we have them), the evangelists who tell everyone about us, our clients, and our email subscribers and followers.

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Summary Finding new clients has always been challenging, even more so this past year. While the challenges have changed, the fundamentals haven't. We have to identify who our clients are, what problems they need solved, and then tell them about our services. How that looks for each business is different as we each focus on unique clients. Natasha O'Banion answers, "What was your biggest lesson from 2020?"

Topics on this episode:

• Marketing vs advertising
• Who is your client and what problem do they need solved?
• Methods of advertising
• Ask a Pet Biz Coach with Natasha O'Banion

Main take away? It's not necessarily about the method of advertising, it's about the messaging. .

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• Texas Pet Sitters Association

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Summary: Building a website that works for you takes planning and understanding of who your client actually is. Mikaela Vargas joins the show to discuss the best practices in websites, the role of colors, and how to make your website get the clients you want to work with. Mikaela shares how a well designed website saves us time and simple things we can do to make our existing websites better.

Topics on this episode:

• DIY vs hire
• Appealing to your client
• Branding your site
• Easy website wins to make today

**Main take away? **With just a few simple changes, your website can start working for you instead of against you.

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Summary: We have so many demands on our time and attention. By setting healthy boundaries, we create more time and space for doing what we actually want to be doing. We discuss how boundaries are a way to take back control from the things demanding our attention. Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I make time for friends and family during my busy times?"

Topics on this episode:

• Feeling overwhelmed
• Internal vs external boundaries
• Setting priorities
• Ask a Pet Biz Coach with Natasha O'Banion

Main take away? When we allow outside forces to influence us, we are no longer in control of our own life and businesses.

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Summary: Claire Harris, owner of Pets 2 Place, has such a passion for pet transportion that she's made it her entire business. As a growing part of the pet care industry, especially in 2020 and into 2021, there are many things to consider to make it the best possible service. Claire also discusses her experience franchising her business and whether it's a good fit for everyone.

Topics on this episode:

• Importance of safety
• A growing market
• Best practices
• Franchising

**Main take away? **Just following the rules and regulations around pet transportation doesn't mean it's following the best practices.

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Summary: With all that happened in 2020, you are new! It's time to take advantage of the new year and reaffirm, reapply, and reassess what we learned from last year so we can have a fruitful 2021. Also, Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do I get out of my own way?"

Topics on this episode:

• Our 2020 review
• The new world of 2021
• Are you embracing being new?
• Reapplying, Reaffirming, Reassessing
• Ask a Pet Biz Coach with Natasha O'Banion

*Main take away? *: You ARE new going into 2021, whether you recognize it or not, and that should change how we operate in 2021.

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Summary:

Kylie Holliman-Rivera, owner of Fire Hydrant Pet Sitting, has been a leader in many arenas. This past year she led her team through Covid while also leading the conversation on the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the pet care industry. Kylie shares what caused her to move to full-time, what it's like working with her husband in the company, and the success of pack walks in 2020. We also have a great conversation about BLM, staying engaged in the conversation, and how to speak your beliefs as a company.

*Topics on this episode: *

• Overcoming hurdles
• Her team through Covid
• Pack walks
• BLM and pet care
• Recommended resources

Main take away? As pet care providers, we can continue to be part of the conversation around racism and stay engaged in solutions.

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Summary: The biggest change to the pet care industry this year has been mid-day dog walks. On our last Back to Basics episode, we discuss how dog walkers have pivoted, dog walking safety, and things you should remember when out with pups. Plus, Natasha O'Banion answers, "How do you do a year end review?"

Topics on this episode:

• How covid changed everything
• The two questions we always ask
• Favorite gear and safety
• Ask a Pet Biz Coach with Natasha O'Banion

Main take away? Stay on top of bad behaviors with dogs and watch out for micro-injuries to yourself over time!

Full show notes and transcript

Sponsored By:

• Automated CEO Promo Code: PSC20 for 15% off
• Texas Pet Sitters Association
• Pet Sitters Associates Promo Code: Confessional

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