THRIVE! Success Story

Overwork and uncertainty can drain the joy from dog training. Kizz transformed her chaotic schedule into a sustainable, single-focus career, finding success and balance.

Terrifying, hopeless, unpredictable.

Before THRIVE!, Elizabeth “Kizz” Robinson was caught in a storm of overwork and uncertainty. Juggling a support job alongside full-time dog training, Kizz was working seven days a week, feeling that success came only through word of mouth. When COVID hit, her fears intensified, leaving her wondering how dog training businesses would survive the upheaval.

Being given specific actions to take that lead to successes I could build on has made all the difference to me.

Kizz joined THRIVE! as a founding member, recognizing the value of the program. Through THRIVE!, Kizz learned to make data-driven decisions, reducing the emotional roller coaster of small business ownership. She implemented regular price increases, established clear policies, and began automating administrative tasks. Most importantly, THRIVE! gave her the confidence to leave her support job and focus solely on dog training.

I have 1 job now. I train dogs and their people.

The results of Kizz’s THRIVE! journey have been significant. For the first time in her life, she has only one job. Her income from training has remained consistent, and she’s working on increasing it further. Kizz no longer works seven days a week and has become a better coach to both clients and colleagues.

Beyond business improvements, THRIVE! has given Kizz the flexibility to prioritize what matters most to her. She was able to spend six weeks with her father as he passed away – something that would have been difficult to manage before.

THRIVE! is finding these small pockets of community and making connections so that we’re creating a wider, supportive community across the US and around the world.

For Kizz, THRIVE! isn’t just about business growth – it’s about community. She’s found a supportive network that spans the globe. She now pays it forward by encouraging other trainers to join THRIVE!, helping them build sustainable businesses. While the challenges of small business ownership remain, Kizz has the tools, community, and confidence to face them head-on, building a sustainable career doing what she loves.

Create YOUR business success story with THRIVE!

Mariana went from selling off treasured items to make ends meet to running a successful business she loves – and doing it with confidence.

I went from living an unbelievably stressful life but making a stupid amount of money to living my very best life and making no money.

Before joining THRIVE!, Mariana had four very different careers. From a successful modeling career that spanned nearly a decade to restaurant management, followed by a long stint in the corporate world, she’d seen it all. It was her transition to the world of dog training, however, that marked a profound shift in her life.

Mariana’s previous careers had been demanding and stressful, but they had also brought in a healthy income. Now, as a dog trainer, she found herself living her best life in terms of fulfillment and happiness, but struggling to scrape by finanically. Mariana was determined to make her dog training business work, but she faced numerous obstacles – not knowing how to attract her ideal clients, struggling with marketing, and grappling with time management.

Her introduction to THRIVE! came at a critical moment. Although initially hesitant due to financial constraints, the encouragement from Veronica and the THRIVE! team convinced Mariana to take the plunge. Little did she know how profoundly this decision would impact her life.

You have all changed my life because nobody had ever said I deserved to invest in myself and that I was worth it.

Fast forward to today, and Mariana’s business and life have transformed. No longer forced to sell her beloved “Swarovski sparklies” to make ends meet, she has networked with local trainers, established herself as a specialist trainer in her area and raised her prices to match her worth. Her monthly revenue is approaching her targets, and she’s well on her way to financial stability.

Mariana no longer complains about being busy because she’s confident in her ability to prioritize her life. She can now “say ‘no’ to things, knowing that I’m saying ‘yes’ to my priorities – which are my kids, dogs, family, friends and me!”.

Mariana set five goals when she joined THRIVE!, and she’s achieved 4.5 of them within a short span. Her new goals are equally ambitious, including becoming the community’s trusted subject matter expert on canine behavior and hosting her first annual Be Your Dog’s Superhuman Event in 2024.

We band together when someone needs help, we share our successes and are not afraid to reach out when needed. It’s an incredible community of kind, empathetic, compassionate, like minded people….it’s truly remarkable!

Mariana credits THRIVE! to opening her eyes to opportunities she never knew existed. The ongoing business education and support has helped her set smart rates, understand the importance of an ideal client, structure her programs, and approach marketing with enthusiasm rather than fear. The concepts of “done is better than perfect” and “you can’t do all the things” have reshaped her perspective. 

What’s most remarkable to Mariana is the generosity, kindness, and empathy of the THRIVE! team and fellow members. The community’s unwavering support, the weekly sharing of wins, and the willingness to lend a hand when needed make the program “truly remarkable!”.

THRIVE! helps all R+ trainers, in all stages of their business to do exactly what the program is called…..THRIVE!

Create YOUR business success story with THRIVE!

When excitement about becoming a certified dog trainer turned to disappointment, Ashley ditched the bad business advice and found success and confidence through THRIVE!.

I spent LOADS of money on scummy ‘business coaches’ who did far more harm than good.

Ashley was ready to jump into life as a dog trainer after becoming a Certified Trick Dog Instructor and completing a certification in canine behavior. But the excitement of starting her own business quickly turned into discouragement when she fell prey to unhelpful “business coaches” who left her with no clear direction. Ashley felt like she was floundering. Her turning point came when a successful fellow dog trainer told her about THRIVE!

I am unrecognizable from my past self in just a little over half a year. My confidence in myself, my skills, and my business have grown.

After almost a year of THRIVE! membership, Ashley’s confidence has skyrocketed. Imposter syndrome, once a nagging presence, has nearly disappeared. Ashley now confidently introduces herself as the go-to expert for her clients. Financial stress has diminished and she no longer feels the need to accept whatever work comes her way, instead focusing on working with clients she truly enjoys. Ashley is doing the work she loves, and relishing the role of being her own boss.

I can thrive by allowing myself to do the work that I LOVE, instead of desperately taking whatever is offered. I have opportunities I could have only DREAMED of!

Being a THRIVE! member provided Ashley with technical knowledge about the business, but more crucially, it offered a supportive community. The encouragement, support, and celebratory atmosphere around both small and big wins were the positive reinforcement she needed.

The live sessions and the program Hub provided essential resources, and the flexibility allowed her to access valuable content on her own timeline. The THRIVE! Facebook group also emerged as a lifeline for Ashley, offering feedback on her work and a supportive space whenever she needed it. She’s excited to see what she and fellow members accomplish next. 

THRIVE! is a group of inspiring, dedicated, and hardworking R+ dog trainers who lift one another up to succeed and don’t gate-keep success secrets.

Create YOUR business success story with THRIVE!

Athena went from the brink of burnout to a thriving business with a healthy work/life balance – the dream!

Prior to THRIVE!, I was very burnt out and had started looking for another job altogether.

Before joining THRIVE!, Athena found herself on the brink of burnout, contemplating a shift to an office job far removed from the challenges of dog training. The onset of COVID-19 intensified feelings of defeat, as well as self-doubt and a lack of clear direction. Having learned about THRIVE!, Athena hoped the collective support of the dogbiz community could help her build the business she envisioned.

Now, I am always comfortably busy. I have a very good work/life balance. I have clients that I enjoy, and I am able to add more to the family budget.

Fast forward to today, Athena’s business and life have undergone a significant transformation. She’s comfortably busy and enjoying an enviable work/life balance. Her clients bring her joy rather than exhaustion, and she’s contributing more to the family budget without working evenings or weekends. Athena has used guidance from THRIVE! to set up a structured and balanced master schedule, and the dedicated ‘office hours’ helps her stay focused.

Among her noteworthy accomplishments are:

New website: Athena revamped her website, putting in the effort until she loved the result.
Rebranding: She rebranded her company, including filing a dba and updating all associated marketing materials.
SEO work: Athena delved into SEO work, constantly learning and improving her skills.
Service mix: Athena’s training now comprises 75% Day Training and 25% coaching.
CSAT certification: Athena’s proudest achievement, obtaining a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer (CSAT) certification, has empowered her to focus on separation anxiety, her next big goal.

All of these things have helped me be more confident and able to advocate for myself and my business.

THRIVE! became Athena’s main support group. The community, working towards similar goals, provided the encouragement needed to stretch her limits. This has helped Athena pick up more marbles and tackle challenges head-on. She loves that if she can’t attend live sessions, the Hub is a reliable resource, allowing her to grow her business at her own pace.

The dogbiz team have been in the training world themselves, and they use their talents at marketing, organizing, and teaching to help all of us succeed.

Create YOUR business success story with THRIVE!

Reduced working hours and more income? You bet! Georgette tackled rollercoaster earnings and hit six figures by finding a sense of direction and embracing her leadership skills.

My business was doing okay, but I had too many months of rollercoaster income, up one month and down the next.

Before joining THRIVE!, Georgette struggled with inconsistent client bookings and income, and balancing work and life seemed unattainable. “Free time” felt like a distant dream.

In the last two years, income has become stable and I have a better sense of direction.

Since joining THRIVE! Georgette’s business and life have seen a significant transformation. Not only has her income smoothed out, she’s hit six figures for the first time ever, despite no longer working nights and weekends and missing three weeks of work due to jury duty. She also used this time to focus on her book project, turning an obstacle into an opportunity. With a newfound sense of direction Georgette no longer stresses over whether a potential client signs up– she knows who her ideal clients are and that they’ll recognize her, too.

It feels incredible being able to push beyond where I thought I could be.

To reach this point, Georgette overcame reservations about being a “boss,” learning to embrace her own potential as a leader. She now manages two part-time employees, a position she’d never envisioned.

Georgette credits her growth to her connection with fellow THRIVE! members worldwide, sharing similar goals and challenges and supporting each other through them. Georgette values being part of something larger than herself, emphasizing the importance of treating each other with support and kindness, a sentiment she extends to her clients. The camaraderie of Booster Seat sessions, where members rally to help each other, are one of her favorite THRIVE! features.

We love to watch each other succeed and cheer each other on to greater success. It is celebrating when we win and dusting each other off when it is rough. Being part of this group is special and I set aside THRIVE! Thursdays in my schedule every year. Hope you like me being around, because I’m not going anywhere!

Create YOUR business success story with THRIVE!