Getting Organized

R+ dog pros are good at a lot of things. We’re good at empathy and reading body language. We’re good at training plans. We’re good at situational awareness and leash handling and timing. We’re good at cheerleading. (“What a good dog you are!”) Some of us are blazes with a clicker, and we’re all fast with a tasty treat.

But most of us are far less skilled when it comes to saying no. Being the positive beings we are, saying no doesn’t come naturally, and is often accompanied by a heaped serving of guilt.

It’s time to reframe: What if saying no really meant saying yes? Because that’s the truth of it.

Every yes is a no
Saying yes to too much usually means saying no to the things that matter most—like building a successful business in order to help more dogs, taking good care of ourselves to avoid burnout and help more dogs, and spending time with our own dogs and friends and family.

It’s easy to overlook the very real fact that every yes is a no to something else. When you say yes to something you must make time for whatever you’ve agreed to. Time is finite, so making time for one thing inevitably means there won’t be time for something else.

This is how we find ourselves mired in guilt about not training our own dogs, or full of regret about letting another year go by without creating that marketing plan or starting that personal exercise routine, or whatever else our best of intentions intended.

Every no is a yes
It’s also easy to overlook that every time we say no we preserve room and energy for something else. We get so caught up in the guilt of saying no, or the fear of missing out on an opportunity, or our desire to help and serve, that we miss the positive in the word no—the space it preserves for the things that matter most.

Saying no to a client who’s not a good fit means making room for one who is.

Saying no to an all-day Sunday event means saying yes to some much needed and deserved downtime with your family or dog.

Saying no to scheduling consults outside of your normal spots means saying yes to a sustainable schedule.

Saying no to a non-work related request means making progress on that new marketing project to push your business forward.

You get the idea.

Deciding between yes and no
The things that matter most—that’s the key. Part of the struggle in saying no is that most things have value. There’s almost always a reason to say yes to an opportunity or request, a way to justify the time and energy spent. If everything has value, and time is finite, the trick is weighing the relative values of all the things we could choose to do.

Here’s a 5-point formula for making sure you’re saying yes to the things that matter most to you:

1. Know what matters most
Get really, really clear on your priorities and goals, both personal and for your business. How do you want to spend your time? What are you trying to accomplish? What matters most to you?

2. Evaluate each new request or opportunity
How does what you’re considering serve your goals and match your priorities? (If it doesn’t, that’s a clear no.)

3. Try to put it in your calendar
If you say yes to this, how much time will it take? When will that time be needed? Where will it fit?

4. Identify the no in the yes
If you say yes to this and add it into your schedule, what will you be saying no to? What will you not have time for because you made time for this?

5. Weigh the relative values
Which is more important—the potential new thing, or what you’d be giving up for it? Which better matches your priorities or serves your goals? Which is likely to bring you most success in the long run? Or the most happiness?

Saying no is hard. But reframing to focus on what you’re saying yes to makes it much easier to find the will to decline. Don’t forget the R+ when you do—always celebrate a decision well made!

We know managing expectations and finding the perfect work-life balance isn’t easy. That’s why THRIVE! is packed full of practical time management tips, peer support, and ways to streamline processes. Discover how THRIVE! can help you and your business.

Owning a small business is big work. The to-do list extends far beyond the obvious tasks involving taking care of your human and canine clients. First of all, there’s all the admin work that comes along for that ride. Then there’s marketing to get those clients in the first place. And what about all the great ideas you have about new services or ways to adjust and improve those you already offer? As a dog business owner you know the list of things to do is never-ending.

Problem is, the list may be bottomless but time is finite. In our THRIVE! group coaching program we have a saying (a mantra, really): You cannot do ALL THE THINGS. It’s just not possible to pursue every idea and manage every task—especially not if you aim to enjoy any semblance of work/life balance.

But if you can’t do all the things, how do you decide which things to do? These are the four rules we teach for taming a beastly to-do list:

To-Do List Tamer #1: Focus On Your Goals
The most common mistake when tackling an overgrown to-do list is to jump on the easy stuff first. While it may feel good to get a few quicker things crossed off, this approach usually means the most important items get left undone.

Organize your to-dos by prioritizing the high-level work that pushes you and your business forward. Focus on the tasks most directly related to your goals. Want to grow your dog training or walking client base? Prioritize your marketing work. Looking to improve your training case outcomes? Prioritize your client support project ideas—creating a training video library or adding Zoom office hours to your training packages, for example.

And if you’re not sure what your goals are, that’s priority number one!

To-Do List Tamer #2: Put Your Energy Where Your Passion Lies
You’ll have more energy if you focus on the things that matter most to you, and on the tasks you most enjoy. That’s probably not keeping up on your bookkeeping or cleaning your facility floor or scheduling clients.

For many dog pros this strategy is about putting energy where you can do the most good. This may mean finally prioritizing that educational blog post you’ve been writing in your head for months, or starting that puppy socialization service, or deliberately carving out the time to add a mental stimulation element to your dog walking service.

What’s on your “someday when I get time” passion list? Get it done by declaring every day “someday.”

To-Do List Tamer #3: Don’t Do Things You Don’t Have To Do
While you’re focusing on your passion and goal work, the bookkeeping and floor cleaning still needs to get done, and clients must be scheduled. It’s just that you don’t necessarily have to be the one to take care of it all. Successful business owners in any industry cheat time by delegating.

If you really want to get control over your to-do list and make more time for yourself, take this double pledge right now:

1. I will stop doing things other people could do for me so that I can focus on the things only I can do.
2. I will stop doing things I’m not good at so that I can use my time where I can do the most good.

You may think you aren’t yet in a position to hire help. The reality is that hiring help is how you get in that position. You can start small, but you need to start.

To-Do List Tamer #4: Say No More Often Than You Say Yes
Warren Buffet puts it this way: “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.” If you’re going to reach your goals, make the biggest possible impact on the lives of dogs and their people, and do so while enjoying your own work/life balance, it’s imperative that you say no more often than you say yes.

It all comes back to your goals and protecting your steady work toward them by fighting off distractions. Saying no is really an act of saying yes—yes to what matters most.

You Cannot Do ALL THE THINGS
It’s a frustrating reality, but also an inescapable one. Running a small business involves a truly endless series of tasks and obligations, along with a constant stream of “squirrels” waiting to pull you away from what matters most.

Sustainable success—reaching your goals while enjoying both the ride and the results—requires careful, deliberate prioritization of tasks and your time. Following these four to-do list prioritization rules will help transform your to-do list from beastly to well-behaved.

 

Want help enjoying a successful dog training business and focusing on the things that matter most to you? Get on the THRIVE! waitlist to be the first to know next time we open to new members.

The world gets more high tech every day, and we dog pros aren’t always the first in the rush to adopt new technology. Learning curves can be time consuming and tech learning curves are their own brand of pain.

But there’s a lot of software out there ready to make a powerful difference in how you run your business and what you’re able to accomplish for yourself and for dogs. And if the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we dog pros can learn new tech to amazing effect. (Zoom, anyone?)

Still, there’s no point adopting new software just to do so. Here’s a rundown of four types of software and what they can do for your dog businesses, and some advice about how to choose what’s right for you…

Video Conferencing Software
We’ll start here, as it’s something most of us have become at least somewhat familiar and reasonably comfortable with. Who among us hasn’t spent time doing things on Zoom we’d never previously imagined? For many of you, that includes training dogs. And for many of you, that’s proven to be far more effective than anticipated. It’s also proven to put quite a few hours back in your day that used to be spent in your car.

Dog trainers have found that video conferencing software allows them to meet with clients (both individually and in groups) more often, providing an unprecedented level of training support. Some trainers use video conferencing to schedule more frequent consults or class sessions. Another approach has been to augment online or in-person consults and classes with package features like drop-in Q&A or office hours.

Increased touch points help to keep dog lovers motivated and on top of their homework, get your learner’s questions answered faster, and allow for quicker training adjustments and less wasted time.

There are also teaching advantages, like removing the trainer from the picture for anxious dogs or those who pick up on the “training picture” too easily, or regular use of strategies like video review sessions.

Options to start your research: Zoom, Google Meet, Facetime, Click Meeting, Zoho

LMS—Learning Management System Software
Learning management system software is the engine behind online courses. If you’ve taken a dogbiz University course you’ve experienced an LMS as a student. It’s essentially an online classroom space.

If you’re teaching live group dog training classes online, video conferencing software like Zoom is really all you need. But if you’re thinking about creating pre-recorded, on-demand classes that can be downloaded anytime for passive income, an LMS is a necessity. This type of software houses your course—the video lesson recordings, handouts, etc.—and provides students a professional platform through which to experience it. Many options also allow you to build in quizzes and other interactive learning devices, too.

Options to start your research: Ruzuku, Canvas, Thinkific, LearnDash (WordPress plugin)

CRM—Customer Relationship Management Software
Chances are you’re already using some form of CRM. CRM software is essentially a database allowing you to store client information, schedule and track their service use (training appointments, walks, daycare days, boarding stays, etc.), and handle their billing. CRM software can be also be connected to your website to allow for direct scheduling and payment—a particularly useful feature for group class registration, for example.

Think of a CRM as basic business administration software, or a very inexpensive admin assistant. It’s really a must for efficiency’s sake—as well as avoiding mistakes that may cost you income. CRM software can also help you stay organized in other areas, like reminders to follow up with a client or check on their progress.

Options to start your research: Dog Biz Pro (no relation to dogbiz), Pocket Suite, PetSitClick, TimeToPet, Paw Loyalty

Marketing Automation Software
Taking automation beyond basic scheduling and billing and into marketing with marketing automation software can do wondrous things for your business.

If you’re sending out an email newsletter you’re probably already using a simple form of this powerful tool, such as Constant Contact or MailChimp. The next step is using lead magnets to collect email addresses. This could be a housetraining e-book or webinar you give away on your website, for example. To take things further you’d set up an automated marketing funnel—perhaps a series of emails and other educational shares (like articles or blog post links) sent out on a pre-determined schedule to follow the original e-book or webinar, designed ultimately to lead to registration in your puppy class or a spot in your puppy daycare & train program.

The point of marketing automation is staying in touch with potential clients in an active, useful, supportive way until they become actual clients. There’s a bit of work and a learning curve involved up front, but it’s well worth the time saved afterward when the system does it all for you—and well worth the increased conversion rates, too!

Options to start your research: Constant Contact, MailChimp, Click Funnels, Hubspot (Hubspot has a free version plenty robust for most dog businesses)

How to find the right software for your dog business
First, don’t feel compelled to collect fancy software just because it exists. Ask yourself if a particular class of software (video conferencing, CRM, marketing automation, LMS):

• Will allow you to do things you’re already doing better or more efficiently?
• Will allow you to do things you aren’t already doing but should be (like regularly scheduled client check-ins, for example)?
• Will allow you to better reach a goal (such as growing your business)?
• Will allow you to add a service (such as an online course) that serves your goals and mission and that fuels your passion?

Before you start your search:

Once you’ve decided you need a new class of software, take some time to think through what you want it to be able to do for you. For example, if you’re going to build a class on an LMS, do you want to be able to track student progress through the course? Do you want to be able to send automated tracking reminders or check ins? Do you want students to be able to chat together inside the course? Software programs in every category will vary in the features they offer—knowing what you need will help you choose the option most likely to make you happy.

If you decide to pursue a new class of software, here are 5 steps to help find the right program choice for you:

1. Ask Google

Do a search like “Best LMS for small businesses” or “Best CRM for dog walking companies.” You’ll likely find both direct product links and multiple articles helping you to compare options.

2. Ask fellow dog pros

Ask your dog pro friends and colleagues what they use, and what they like and don’t like about it. You can do this one-on-one as well as through any online forums or Facebook groups you belong to. (You might try searching them first—chances are this conversation has already taken place more than once!)

3. Review on C-NET

cnet.com describes themselves as the “world’s leader in tech product reviews, news, prices, videos, forums, and how-tos.” In short, this website is a gold mine resource for comparing software program options. You can type any program name into the search bar and be rewarded with helpful professional reviews. (Warning: The site can be a bit overwhelming!)

4. Compare features & pricing

Reduce the list of options you’ve built from the first 3 steps down to a small handful of finalists (2 to 5 at most) by comparing functionality and pricing. Cut any from your list that don’t include your most important features, and any that don’t fit your budget.

5. Take a test drive

Most software programs offer a free test drive period, and some will even schedule a one-on-one to walk you through the program and answer your specific questions. It’s worth taking the time to get to know any program you’re considering, as it will save time in the long run by avoiding time lost to the wrong choice.

New tech means a learning curve, yes. But the rewards are well worth the effort. And besides, we’re dog pros; we know all about helping dogs and their people to successfully climb learning curves. Just apply that learning theory to yourself and you and your business will be reaping the benefits in no time!

Imagine a job description which read:

Seeking a motivated and passionate individual with expertise in marketing, accounting, customer service, web design, operations, management, event planning, coaching and networking. Must also have a thorough understanding of canine and human behavior and be willing to lie awake at 3am pondering training plans.

Being a dog professional can feel like a lot. And just as we remind our THRIVE! members that they can’t always do all the things, it’s important to recognize that you can’t always be all the things either. Figuring out what you love and excel at and what you can ship elsewhere (and how) is a useful exercise for all business owners, whether you’re just starting out or have been at it for decades.

Here are some tips for getting control of your own job description:

Identify your pain points
Are there areas of your business that you avoid or find stressful? Do you have ideas that excite you but are contingent on things that make your head spin, like putting together a social media campaign or developing a new financial model? In order to tackle these barriers, you need to be able to identify them. Making a list of all the different areas of your work, including the systems that support them, can be a helpful starting point. Do you maintain your website or does someone else? How are you tracking expenses? And crucially, how much time per week are you devoting to these tasks? This is a great time to revisit your master schedule and ensure it’s capturing all those pieces that can easily fall by the wayside.

Make friends with technology
There’s a plethora of nifty systems out there when it comes to running your own business. If you struggle with juggling clients, online booking systems can save you from lots of back and forth trying to pinpoint dates and times (they’re also convenient for many clients). If dealing with accounts and taxes makes you despair, online accounting systems can help you develop simpler and more automated processes. For those who find social media exhausting, using a social media management tool allows you to schedule everything in advance and be more strategic about what you post. There’s lots of great project management tools out there as well, which can help you stay focused on all those exciting endeavors you’ve been dreaming up.

Essentially, if there’s a roadblock in your business you’ve identified, there’s likely to be an online solution for it out there. Often the biggest challenge is finding and selecting the one that works for you. Some people love to play with new technology, while others want to throw their laptop across the room just thinking about it. This is where dog pro communities come in handy! Ask colleagues for input and recommendations. Many of these systems also have free trial periods, so you can get a feel for the tool and how it works before committing.

Skill up or skill swap
While tools and systems can be incredibly helpful, sometimes the barrier is simply a knowledge, confidence or skill gap. We’ll say it again – running a business can be complex, and we have so much respect for all the dog pros we work with and the many plates they are spinning. The first thing we recommend is to acknowledge and congratulate yourself for being able to switch channels so dynamically across your work.

There are many ways to grow your business skills, from online courses and communities to seeking a mentor or business support group. Local councils sometimes offer community workshops for small business owners – these can be a great way to network and you may gain fresh ideas from those outside the dog world. If you have nailed a certain element of your business and like working with others, how about a skill swap? Maybe you have a friend who relishes doing their taxes (actually – can we have their number?) but would love to know how you stay on top of those emails. Sharing this information over a coffee or Zoom session can be an easy and cost effective way to up your business game.

Let it go…
Your time is exceptionally valuable. When you run your own business, and especially when starting out, it’s easy to feel like you have to tackle every part of it alone. For some people, this ‘do it all’ approach can quickly become overwhelming and isolating. It also means you can end up spending hours wrestling with a task or problem that may have been solved quickly with some external support. These are hours you could have spent doing (and being paid for) the thing you love – helping dogs and their humans.

While it can feel counterintuitive, outsourcing parts of your business saves you time and money in the long run. Common areas for this are things like accounting, logo and web design, SEO support, printing, marketing and legal compliance. Just like the multitude of online systems you can choose from, there are also plenty of options when it comes to people and organizations offering these services. Ask colleagues for recommendations, check out online reviews and make a list of questions and requirements in advance so you can articulate your needs. You may even find that working with local businesses has a positive knock on effect for your business. Dogs are loved by a diverse range of people, so maybe that local printer would be happy to have some of your postcards on display in their office, or your accountant turns out to be dog obsessed and starts recommending you to all their clients.

Have you had success with new technology, skill development or outsourcing? We’d love to hear about it!

Here’s another way to take some weight off your shoulders: Join the THRIVE! waitlist.