Running a pet sitting and dog walking company is a full time job. Imagine running more than one!
The thought is exciting. The idea sounds lucrative and rewarding. Well, it can also sound pretty nutty to those of us who know exactly what it takes to be in this business…
My close friends and family members have been asking me for years whether I was ready to expand my pet sitting and dog walking business to other cities. People were approaching me with franchise opportunities for DFW Pet Sitting. Investors wanted to finance the process… In the meantime, I was just putting one foot in front of another as I was going through a divorce, having a baby, and moving to a different state.
That was the longest and at the same time the most defining 4 years of my life. My children kept me focused on what is important in life. It was then when I realized that inner strength, attitude, and general life outlook can move mountains.
Going back to “simple ways” created a lot more clarity on how I manage my dog walking and pet sitting businesses.
Doing the right thing, creating a positive work environment, and believing in people expanded my existing business, DFW Pet Sitting, and built a strong foundation to opening a new brand, Paw Valet.
Right now, this company’s focus is to provide pet sitting and dog walking services in Houston – Sugar Land – The Woodlands metroplex. I run it the exact same way I run DFW Pet Sitting. I pre-screen and train my employees, and then give them the freedom to shine and be the best they can be in a positive happy environment. My employees are the most valuable part of the company, and I try to make them feel comfortable and happy while working for my companies. I am genuinely grateful for each customer who entrusts us with their pets. Also I am grateful for my flexible schedule that allows me to spend time with my children when they get off school. I am grateful for my amazing boyfriend who makes me shine not like a diamond but like a star. My Russian parents are still shaking their heads trying to understand what it is that I do for a living, but support me in everything I do.
I am terrified and nervous imagining the growth scale of Paw Valet. Any US city is my potential market. Actually, any city in the world is my potential market. How will I handle this opportunity? I doubt myself every day, but I force those negative thoughts out of my head every time I notice them. What helps me keep pushing myself past the boundaries of my comfort zone is opening up on this blog and social media. I sometimes fear that being transparent will make me vulnerable, but I have discovered that authenticity attracts people who value it, and it’s much better to be surrounded by people who value authenticity over pretense.
Therefore, I choose to let go of my fears and believe in myself. I realize that all these times when I thought I was broken, I was actually whole. All these times when I thought I was scared, I was actually fearless. All these times when I thought that it was too much, it was just perfect. It was exactly what I needed to get where I am today. And I am today at a very exciting place, doing what I love, and enjoying every step.
I am fortunate to have support from my family, friends, and peers. In fact, networking with other pet sitters and dog walkers has given me the belief I needed to realize that we are stronger collaborating with each other instead of competing. There are so many pets around us. There is really enough business for everyone. It is amazing how everything changes when we truly begin to believe that what we have is actually enough. The pet sitting industry as a whole has impacted my life in the most profound way. In fact, pet sitters all over the country are now working together on raising funds for a movie that offers a never-before-seen, insiders look at pet sitting and dog walking business. We are strong when we stand together. We are strong when we support each other. The sky is not the limit, the mind is. Anything is possible when you truly believe.