Why did you start your business? Was it a desire to be independent, to manage your own time, to make piles of money? Maybe, but I’m guessing there was more to it than that. Most entrepreneurs go down this road because they want more in life. Not necessarily more money or more things or more recognition; what they really want is more meaning. They’ve realized and acted upon what evades most people in life, that your worth and your happiness isn’t determined by what you take and what you have, it’s defined by what you give back.
As a human being you have an opportunity to give back to your community. As a small business owner, you’ve been given a gift. In starting your business and building your brand you’ve created a platform to, not just give back, but to reach others as well. To help others understand the value of giving to causes that are important to you both.
So how do you get started? Where do you focus your giving efforts? The good news is you already know the answer to this question. The answer is in your business. I started a pet care company because I’m passionate about animals. It’s not just a business to me, the desire to help make animal’s lives a little better is what motivates me and drives me (and makes me smile each morning when I wake up). Maybe you started an accounting firm because you love working with numbers, maybe you starting a retail boutique because you love fashion, maybe you started a bakery because you love cooking. The point is, your existing passion drove what kind of business you started and that same passion should drive the ways you give back. I volunteer for local animal rescue organizations. You need to find what speaks to you and the answer is in your business.
And remember that this applies to your business relationships as well. Any business book on networking and relationship building will tell you that the best way to build connections is to give much more often than you take. Your first thought when you meet anyone new shouldn’t be how can this person help me but rather, what can I do to help this person.
Not only is giving personally gratifying, it’s ultimately the best way to grow your business. Giving my time to local animal rescues allows me to build relationships within the animal community. It allows me access to an entire group of people who share my passions and, on a practical level, have pets and have friends who have pets. It opens doors for me in so many ways, all of which move my business forward.
What successful small business owners have realized is that giving back shouldn’t be the last or even the second or third thought. It should be the first thought and the first action. The beauty of giving is, if you focus on it, it will come back to you ten-fold in your business and personal life. You won’t have to worry about finding ways to build your business. They will present themselves to you.
Your passion drives your actions, your actions drive your business. So go out and give, give some more, and then give some more.
How to Protect Your Business…From Your Employees
In the last article we talked about non solicit agreements and whether they were effective or worth it. The conclusion was that that are but they shouldn’t be used in isolation. What else can and should you do to protect your business from employees turned bad. I know...
Non Solicit Agreements – Are they worth it?
Do you have a non-solicit agreement with your employees? I do. It’s part of the employment contract that I have every employee sign before they start work. It’s not something I intentionally set out to do. Back when I was hiring my first employee, I purchased...
(Hiring) Tales From The Dark Side
My husband hates to spend money. Which is okay because I’m a little less frugal. The one thing he enjoys though is a biweekly massage. Every other Friday he goes to a massage therapist and comes home relaxed and happy. He recently called to book his next appointment...
Owning Your Own Business Stinks!
As I sit down to put my thoughts on paper it’s all I can do to remember why I started a pet care business in the first place. Most of us are coming off an incredibly busy couple of months. For pet sitters in particular November and December are the months that can...
Behind the Scenes at PPP – Part 2
In part 1 of this two-part article, I took you behind the scenes at my own pet business, Preferred Pet Partners. We focused on processes and what I do to insure everything runs smoothly day to day. Today we’ll be taking another look behind the scenes but with a focus...
Behind the Scenes at PPP – Part 1
I run a successful 6 figure Pet Sitting and Dog Walking business in Omaha, Nebraska. I live in North Carolina. You’re probably wondering how I pull this off without constant travel back and forth between states (which I don’t do). I thought I’d spend some time today...
We are NOT hiring – How to keep employees long term
You’ve found and hired a new employee, good job! Maybe it’s your first one, maybe you’ve hired several this go round. You might have had an easy road of it with tons of responses of really qualified candidates responding to your job posting. Chances are, though, this...
Dos and Don’ts for your business this holiday season
It’s that time of year again. The crazy busy period between October and January when pet sitting businesses collect a large portion of their annual income. Or is it? This year is going to be a little bit different. Many pet sitters had an amazing summer with more...
Are you desperately trying to hire? Look Here!
The pet care industry is booming right now. Nearly everyone is hiring pet care professionals. In fact, nearly everyone in the service industries is hiring, period. There has never been a period in history so optimal for job seekers. This is great for those looking for...
Happy Birthday Preferred Pet Partners!
Hi! June 2021 marks the 4 year anniversary of Preferred Pet Partners. I’m so grateful to my amazing employees and our awesome clients, human and furry! It’s been such a hard year for everyone and I’m thankful every day for the opportunity to help pet parents. To...
