In this conversation with bestselling author Joey Coleman, we dive deep into client retention, employee retention, customer experience, AI, automation, relationship-building, and what actually creates loyalty in 2026. This episode originally aired earlier in the DogCo Secrets podcast, but honestly? It may be even MORE relevant now.

As more businesses race toward automation, AI systems, and scale-at-all-costs growth models, Joey brings the conversation back to something timeless: humans want to feel seen, valued, remembered, and connected.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Why this conversation matters even more in 2026

01:20 – Meet Joey Coleman & his background

05:20 – Why humans are “beautiful and messy”

07:40 – Curiosity before criticism

11:30 – Transactional vs relational businesses

16:50 – AI, automation & the danger of losing connection

19:00 – Why businesses obsess over acquisition instead of retention

27:00 – Building loyalty through identity & belonging

35:20 – The easiest retention strategy almost everyone ignores

40:20 – Why the basics still outperform “fancy” strategies

We also talk about:

🐾 Why pet care businesses are uniquely positioned for retention

📈 The dangerous obsession with customer acquisition

🤖 AI vs real relationship-building

🧠 Curiosity vs assumptions in leadership

💡 Why remarkable businesses obsess over small moments

📸 The retention power of simple client touchpoints

🔥 Why most “advanced” strategies fail without basics

Joey is officially returning for the 2026 DogCo Summit. Want to get in on the action? Get your in-person or virtual tickets:

https://dogcosummit.com

If you’ve ever struggled with churn, team culture, scaling relationships, or building a business people genuinely want to stay with, this one is packed. This conversation with Joey Coleman is a powerful reminder that sustainable growth is built through relationships, not just acquisition. The businesses that win in 2026 will be the ones that make people feel valued long after the initial transaction or hiring date. If you want to build a business people genuinely want to stay connected to, this episode is packed with insight.

-M

There are a lot of tools out there, and it’s easy to overcomplicate your tech stack. But if your goal is to grow and scale, you don’t need everything, you need the right things working together.  

I walk through the three core systems I believe are non-negotiable, a pet care software to run your operations, a dedicated team communication platform to replace text messaging, and a scheduling or CRM tool to streamline how clients book with you.

We also get into why delaying these decisions can cost you growth, how the right systems improve both team experience and client experience, and where you can start simple versus where it might make sense to build something more advanced over time.

If you’re trying to clean up your operations or feel like things are more complicated than they need to be, this episode will help you refocus on what actually matters.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• You don’t need a large tech stack to scale effectively

• A pet care software is a non-negotiable for growth

• The right system can directly increase revenue

• Text messaging is not a sustainable team communication tool

• Centralized communication improves clarity and culture

• Scheduling tools reduce friction in the sales process

• Letting clients book directly increases efficiency and conversions

• CRMs can add power, but simplicity wins early on

• Systems should support both your team and your clients

• Start simple, then layer complexity as needed

🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit

If you’re serious about building a more efficient, scalable pet care business, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit.

📍 October 2nd–4th 📍Winston-Salem, North Carolina 👉 https://dogcosummit.com

–M

This year has already forced a lot of growth for me, and I’m realizing that some of the biggest lessons aren’t about what’s working, they’re about what I missed.  

I walk through everything from the identity shift required when your team scales quickly, to how changes in AI and search are impacting lead flow, to some personal decisions around travel and energy that didn’t play out the way I expected.

We also get into a tactical miss around marketing cadence, specifically how stepping away from audience building too early created friction when it came time to promote something new.

If you’re in a season of growth or things feel a little messy right now, this episode will help you think more clearly about what might be happening underneath the surface and how to adjust.

And if you’re looking to grow alongside other operators who are thinking this way, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit. 👉 https://dogcosummit.com

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Why I’m reflecting this early into the year

1:30 – The “messy middle” of growth

2:00 – Mistake #1: Not making the identity shift to CEO

4:20 – Leading vs collaborating inside a growing team

6:00 – Mistake #2: Misreading changes in SEO and AI discovery

8:00 – Why lead flow has shifted in 2026

9:30 – Mistake #3: Overloading the first half of the year with travel

12:00 – The cost of poor energy and calendar planning

13:30 – Mistake #4: Neglecting audience building early in the year

15:30 – Give vs ask, and why marketing felt off

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Rapid growth requires an identity shift as a leader

• You can’t scale a team while operating like an individual contributor

• How businesses get discovered online is changing quickly

• SEO alone is no longer a reliable lead source

• Asking better questions early leads to better decisions

• Poor calendar planning creates unnecessary stress and risk

• Energy management is just as important as strategy

• Audience building must happen before you need it

• Giving value consistently builds trust and conversion

• Marketing without value feels forced and less effective

🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit

If you’re serious about growing your pet care business and want to be around others navigating similar challenges, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit.

📍 October 2nd–4th

📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina

👉 https://dogcosummit.com

–M

As a business owner, there are real limits to how much you can increase wages without putting pressure on your margins. I ran into that ceiling myself, and instead of pushing further on hourly pay, I started asking a different question: how can I increase what my team takes home in a way the business can actually sustain?  

That led me to rethink how tipping works inside a service business, and more specifically, how systems influence behavior.

In this episode, I walk through the exact shift I made, moving from an “opt-in” tipping model to an “opt-out” system, and how that simple change significantly increased tips for my team. We also talk about the concept of friction, how small barriers inside your systems shape client decisions, and why where you place that friction matters.

This is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and I want you to make the decision that feels aligned for your business. But if you’re looking for ways to better support your team financially without breaking your model, this is worth thinking about.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Wage increases are often limited by business margins

• Systems can influence behavior more than intention alone

• Opt-out models typically outperform opt-in models

• Friction determines what actions clients take or avoid

• Small system changes can create a significant financial impact

• Tipping can be structured intentionally, not left to chance

• Supporting your team may require creative problem-solving

• Transparency is key when implementing changes like this

🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit

If you’re serious about building a stronger, more sustainable pet care business, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit.

📍 October 2nd–4th

📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina

👉 https://dogcosummit.com

I walk through three scenarios where investing tends to make sense, including when you see a clear return, when you’re solving a specific skill gap, and when an investment frees up your time. We also get into the other side of this, the conditions where you should be more cautious, especially around financial stability, lack of savings, or being behind on taxes.

If you’ve ever felt unsure about where to put your time or money, this episode will help you think more clearly about how to make those decisions. If you’re ready to take your business seriously and surround yourself with other operators doing the same, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit. We’re bringing together top speakers and real operators to help you grow and scale with clarity. 👉 https://dogcosummit.com

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Why investing needs more nuance

1:30 – Time vs money as forms of investment

3:00 – Infinite opportunities, limited resources

4:00 – The DogCo Business Summit announcement

5:15 – Scenario 1: Clear return on investment (80/20)

7:00 – Why data matters before spending money

8:30 – Scenario 2: Closing a specific skill gap

10:15 – Scenario 3: Buying back your time

12:00 – When NOT to invest (financial stability, savings, taxes)

14:30 – Final framework for making better decisions

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Not all investments are created equal

• Time is often your most expensive resource

• Invest more into what produces disproportionate returns

• Data should guide your financial decisions

• Solving a clear skill gap can justify investment

• Buying back your time creates long-term leverage

• Avoid “panic investing” without clear direction

• Financial stability should come before major risk

• Savings create flexibility in decision-making

• Strategic thinking leads to better long-term growth

🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit

If you’re serious about growing your pet care business and want to be around others doing the same, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit. October 2nd–4th, 2026 📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Learn more at: https://dogcosummit.com

-M

The biggest one is this, avoiding hard conversations is often the real bottleneck in your business. Not operations, not marketing, not lead flow, but the things you know need to be addressed and haven’t.  

I also talk about why inconsistent feedback creates bigger problems over time, and how normalizing feedback early and often changes the entire dynamic of your team.

And finally, we get into something that I think is non-negotiable for leaders, you cannot create psychological safety for your team if you are not practicing it yourself.

This episode is a quick reflection, but it’s one I’d encourage you to take seriously. If something here stands out to you, it’s probably worth addressing directly.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Avoiding hard conversations creates hidden bottlenecks in your business

• People problems are often the root of stalled growth

• Inconsistent feedback makes small issues harder to fix later

• Frequent feedback makes teams stronger and more adaptable

• Leaders set the tone for how feedback is received

• Psychological safety starts with the leader, not the team

• You can’t expect vulnerability if you’re not modeling it

• Addressing problems early prevents bigger breakdowns

🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit

If this episode resonated, this is exactly the kind of work we’re diving deeper into at the DogCo Business Summit.

📍 October 2nd–4th, 2026

📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina

👉 https://dogcosummit.com

We talk about one of the most overlooked challenges in growing a team, navigating people, conflict, and communication in a way that actually moves the business forward.  

If you’ve ever felt like your business got harder as you added more people, or like you accidentally became a “people leader” without being trained for it, this conversation will resonate.

Steve shares how most team issues don’t come from big moments; they come from a lack of clarity, avoided conversations, and delayed feedback. We also get into what actually creates psychological safety on a team, why insecurity shows up in leadership, and how to start addressing problems earlier, before they become much harder to fix.

This is one of those conversations that will challenge how you think about leadership, not from a theory standpoint, but from what actually happens inside real teams.

Learn more about Steve on his Website: 👉 https://www.cstevebeck.com

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Introducing Steve Beck + why this conversation matters

2:00 – From loving animals to managing people

4:30 – Why most people problems are actually preventable

7:30 – The real friction point: lack of clarity and expectations

10:00 – Why feedback breakdowns create team issues

12:45 – Can leaders create psychological safety?

14:30 – Signs ego is driving your leadership

16:00 – Avoiding hard conversations and the cost

17:45 – “Everything you want is on the other side of a hard conversation”

19:30 – Courage vs fear in leadership

22:00 – Why avoidance turns into resentment

25:00 – How to normalize feedback early

27:30 – Catching problems before they compound

30:00 – How great teams review and improve consistently

31:30 – What Steve hopes for businesses in 2026

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Most team issues come from delayed or avoided conversations

• Clarity of expectations prevents the majority of conflict

• Leadership requires a completely different skill set than execution

• Psychological safety starts with the leader

• Insecurity shows up as reactivity or avoidance

• Hard conversations are unavoidable if you want to grow

• Feedback should be frequent, not reserved for big problems

• Avoidance leads to resentment and bigger breakdowns

• Strong teams normalize feedback in all directions

• Growth requires courage, not the absence of fear

🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit

If this conversation hit for you, this is exactly the type of work we’re going deeper into at the DogCo Business Summit.

📍 October 2nd–4th, 2026

📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Steve will be speaking live, and we’ll be working through these exact challenges, leadership, communication, and building stronger teams.

👉 https://dogcosummit.com

-M

Most issues inside a team aren’t big at the start, they become big because no one addressed them early. They are often a result of avoided conversations, delayed feedback, and an attempt to keep things comfortable in the moment, which creates much bigger problems later.  

This episode is about normalizing feedback as part of your culture, not something that only happens when things go wrong. When feedback is consistent, timely, and expected, it becomes easier to give, easier to receive, and far less emotionally charged.

If you want a stronger team, better communication, and fewer “hard conversations,” this is a rule worth implementing.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Delayed feedback creates bigger problems over time

• Most “hard conversations” could be avoided with earlier input

• Feedback should be normalized, not reserved for mistakes

• Timely feedback reduces emotional weight and tension

• Consistency builds trust across a team

• Avoiding feedback limits growth and clarity

• Feedback is one of the most valuable tools for development

• Strong teams are built on clear, ongoing communication

🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit

If you’re serious about building a stronger team and scaling your pet care business, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit.

📍 October 2nd–4th

📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina

👉 https://dogcosummit.com

I’ll be honest, I don’t consider myself an early adopter when it comes to technology. It’s not something I naturally gravitate toward. But after hearing a compelling argument about how businesses that ignore AI right now may end up in the same position as those that ignored the internet, I decided to take it seriously.

So this is not a “perfect system” episode. This is a real look at how I’m learning, testing, and building a working understanding of AI in real time.

If you’ve been hesitant to explore AI or you’re not sure where it actually fits in your business, this will give you a practical starting point without overcomplicating it.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Why I decided to take AI seriously

1:10 – The risk of ignoring AI right now

2:30 – Where I draw the line with AI

3:45 – Using AI to synthesize content into tools

5:15 – Turning ideas and SOPs into usable outputs

6:40 – Using AI for analysis and feedback

8:20 – AI as a thinking and planning partner

9:45 – My AI learning challenge

11:15 – The importance of context when using AI

12:45 – Treating AI like an employee

14:00 – Using AI to support, not replace thinking

🧠 Key Takeaways

• AI is a tool to support how you work, not replace you

• Ignoring AI right now may put businesses at a disadvantage

• Synthesizing information is one of the most practical use cases

• AI can help bring clarity to data and decision-making

• Context significantly improves the quality of output

• Treat AI like something you need to train and refine

• It can be useful as a thinking and planning partner

• You don’t need to master it, you need to start using it

• Structured practice accelerates learning

• The goal is better clarity, not less thinking

🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit

If you’re serious about growing and scaling your pet care business, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit.

📍 October 2nd–4th

📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina

We’ve brought together top operators and speakers to give you real strategies for growth, leadership, and scaling.

👉 https://dogcosummit.com

If you’re looking for one of the highest leverage areas in your business right now, this might be it.

As DogCo has grown, I’ve had to rethink how work actually moves through the business. What worked when it was just me or a very small team stopped working quickly once we added more people. Communication started breaking down, things weren’t as visible, and it became harder to track who was responsible for what.

I share a personal realization I had recently. I was asking my team to operate inside structured systems, but I hadn’t fully done that for myself yet. Once I built out my own workflow inside a project management system, it immediately changed how I think, how I prioritize, and how I execute.

So this episode is about what happens when you move from individual effort to structured workflow, and why that shift is critical if you want your team (and yourself) to operate at a high level.  

I walk through how I’ve been building this out internally, from capturing meeting notes and turning them into actionable tasks, to creating project dashboards that give visibility across the entire team. I share some great tools that can be used to accomplish this. 

I also talk about building what I would call a “second brain,” a system for capturing ideas and resources in a way that actually helps you solve problems over time, instead of constantly starting from scratch.

If you feel like things are slipping through the cracks in your business, or like your team isn’t as aligned as they could be, this episode will help you start thinking differently about how work gets done.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Workflow design is one of the highest leverage areas in your business

• What works for a small team breaks quickly as you grow

• Lack of visibility creates confusion and missed communication

• Systems create accountability and clarity across a team

• You need to operationalize yourself, not just your team

• Organized thinking leads to better execution

• A “second brain” helps you retain and apply what you learn

• You don’t need perfect systems, you just need to start

• Most workflow systems can be built in a few focused hours

• Treat yourself like an operator inside your own business

🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit

If you’re ready to take your pet care business to the next level, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit.

📍 October 2nd–4th, 2026

📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina

We’ve brought together some of the best speakers and operators in the industry to give you real strategies for growth, scaling, and leadership.

👉 Learn more and grab your spot at: https://dogcosummit.com

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Why Q2 is the perfect reset point

1:30 – Thinking in 90-day sprints

3:00 – How to properly evaluate Q1

5:00 – “If there isn’t a system, there isn’t a commitment.”

7:30 – From effort to systems thinking

9:00 – Scaling team structure and workflow

11:00 – Going digital with operations

12:30 – Purpose over panic mindset shift

14:00 – How to measure real progress

16:30 – When to pivot vs stay the course

18:30 – Seasonal realities in pet care businesses

20:00 – Building your Q2 90-day plan

🧠 Key Takeaways

• 90-day sprints create focus and flexibility

• You should be directionally on track by the end of Q1

• Systems turn effort into sustainable growth

• Team organization directly impacts output

• Visibility and accountability are critical as you scale

• Panic is not a sustainable operating strategy

• Progress does not need to be linear, but it must be measurable

• If something isn’t working, adjust the inputs

• Focus on three priorities for the next 90 days

• Consistency beats intensity over time

🚀 Want Help Structuring Your Next 90 Days?

If you’re trying to figure out what to focus on next and want a clearer path forward, I put together a case study showing how a pet care business scaled from $17K to $73K/month by improving structure, decision-making, and execution.

👉 https://dogcolaunch.com/casestudy

Thanks for watching! You got this!

-M

This is one of the most underrated numbers in your business, and once you understand it, it changes how you think about growth, marketing, and retention.

LTV is the total revenue a client generates for your business over time, minus your cost to deliver the service. When you know that number, you can make better decisions about how much you can afford to spend to acquire a client, and what it’s worth to keep them.

The reality in pet care is that most clients are not very valuable at the beginning. By the time you factor in onboarding, meet and greets, communication, and time, that first booking often isn’t very profitable. But over time, especially with recurring services, that same client can become incredibly valuable to your business.

That’s where this gets powerful. The goal isn’t just getting new clients, it’s keeping the right clients for as long as possible.

When you start looking at lifetime value across different client types, you begin to see patterns. Some services naturally produce higher value clients, and that should influence how you market, how you sell, and how you guide client behavior.

It also puts a real number behind things like customer experience. If better service keeps someone with you longer, that directly increases their lifetime value. That’s not just a nice-to-have, it’s a revenue driver.

If you take anything from this episode, start getting familiar with your numbers. Look at how long your clients stay, how much they spend, and what that actually turns into for your business over time.

You don’t need to overcomplicate it, but you do need to start paying attention to it.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Lifetime value (LTV) is one of the most important metrics in your business

• Most clients are not profitable at the beginning

• Long-term retention is where real value is created

• LTV helps determine what you can spend on client acquisition

• Different services produce different levels of client value

• Customer experience directly impacts revenue over time

• Better data leads to better decision-making

• You don’t need perfect systems to start tracking this

🚀 Want to See This Applied in a Real Business?

If you want to understand how metrics like this actually translate into growth, I put together a case study showing how a pet care business scaled from $17K to $73K/month by improving structure, decision-making, and retention.

👉 dogcolaunch.com/casestudy

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, frustrated, or like you’ve hit a wall in your business, this is a conversation to slow that moment down and actually evaluate what’s going on before making a decision you can’t undo.

I want to be clear upfront, I don’t believe you should stay in something that isn’t serving you. If your business truly isn’t aligned anymore, it is okay to call that. But what I don’t want to see is a decision made purely out of burnout, exhaustion, or a temporary emotional low.

In most cases, when someone is ready to quit, it comes down to one of two things, they are either completely exhausted from carrying too much for too long, or they feel stuck in a situation they don’t believe they can change.

So in this episode, I break down practical steps to help you step out of the noise, reset your thinking, and figure out what your next move actually should be.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Why every entrepreneur hits this point

1:10 – When quitting is valid vs emotional

2:30 – The sunk cost fallacy in business

3:40 – Exhaustion vs disempowerment

5:20 – Why most people want to quit

6:10 – Step 1, take time away from the business

8:15 – The ROI of stepping back to think

10:00 – Step 2, reflect and write things out

11:45 – “If it’s not written, it’s not real”

12:50 – Step 3, what’s actually in your control

14:20 – Reframing ownership and responsibility

15:40 – Step 4, finding your 80/20 leverage

17:10 – Choosing your next step forward

18:30 – Planning time off before burnout hits

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Wanting to quit is a normal phase of entrepreneurship

• Not every “I’m done” moment means you should actually quit

• Burnout and lack of control are the two most common root causes

• Stepping away from the business creates clarity

• Writing things down helps you process what’s actually happening

• More is within your control than it feels like

• Avoiding hard decisions is still a decision

• Small changes can create disproportionate improvements

• You don’t need a full exit plan, just a next step

• Proactive rest is essential for long-term sustainability

🚀 Want Help Getting Unstuck in Your Business?

If this episode hits close to home and you’re trying to figure out what your next move should be, I put together a case study showing how one pet care business scaled from $17K to $73K/month by improving structure, decision-making, and leadership.

👉 dogcolaunch.com/casestudy

-M

In this conversation, my good friend Collin, the co-host of the Pet Sitters Confessional - https://www.petsitterconfessional.com/ - takes over the podcast and asks me direct questions that force a clearer look at some of my progress this past year. We are not just talking about tactics here. We are talking about the shifts in thinking that led to better outcomes. Early on, a lot of my decisions were reactive, but over time, that shifted toward more structured evaluation, clearer metrics, and a better understanding of where growth actually comes from (and how data is such a huge part of that revelation). 

This episode is essentially a real-time diagnosis of that transition. What used to feel unclear is now easier for me to identify. What used to create friction is now more predictable. The biggest change has not been effort, it has been clarity around what actually matters and what does not.

If you are in a phase where your results feel inconsistent or difficult to interpret, I hope that my own reflections on my business journey will help you zoom out and understand what tends to change as your business matures.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Episode 100 and why I wanted to have this conversation

1:18 – Collin’s opening question, what actually changed?

3:02 – How I used to make decisions vs how I think now

5:11 – How my interpretation of results has evolved

7:36 – What I misunderstood about growth early on

10:04 – How I use data in decision-making today

12:48 – Emotional reactions vs analytical evaluation

15:21 – What has become simpler over time

18:07 – The shift in how I see myself as an operator

21:10 – How this changes the way I move forward

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Early on, I was making reactive decisions without enough clarity

• Growth became more predictable as I started tracking the right metrics

• Misinterpreting data led me to make unnecessary changes

• Emotional reactions distorted how I evaluated performance

• Over time, it became easier to identify the real constraint

• Better decision-making reduced friction across the business

• Simplicity came from experience, not shortcuts

• My identity as an owner shifted alongside the business

• Reflection helped me see what actually created progress

• Long-term growth has come from clarity, not just effort

PS - If you got value out of this episode, please check out the Pet Sitter Confessional Podcast, co-hosted by Collin and Meghan Funkhouser. Their podcast is amazing and if you are in the pet care space, you are sure to get value. 

-M

If you’ve ever had friends, family, or people in your network question your lifestyle, your work habits, or your decisions as a business owner… you’re not alone. More importantly, it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.

Entrepreneurship is, by definition, a different path. It often looks intense, unpredictable, and even “crazy” to people who haven’t chosen it themselves. And while that concern can sometimes come from a good place, it can still feel isolating when you’re the one living it.

In this episode, we unpack what it really means to choose a path that isn’t “normal,” how to navigate that disconnect, and why learning to embrace your differences might be one of the most important mindset shifts you make as a business owner.  

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why entrepreneurship often looks “crazy” from the outside

• How to reframe other people’s concern or skepticism

• The reality that your lifestyle is different, and that’s okay

• Why driven, growth-oriented people often feel “out of place” early on

• The importance of accepting your unique wiring as an entrepreneur

• How to appreciate different lifestyles without conforming to them

• Why finding “your people” matters more than having a large network

• The power of choosing depth over breadth in relationships

• How long-term persistence leads to finding aligned community

• A reminder that not everyone needs to understand your path for it to be right

🚀 Want to See What’s Possible When You Stay the Course?

If you’re building something that other people don’t fully understand yet, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

Because the truth is, entrepreneurship is not easy.

Running a business is messy, vulnerable, and often far more demanding than most people expect when they first get started. Many pet care business owners didn’t originally set out to build large teams or manage dozens of employees. Yet as companies grow, the complexity grows with them.

And on any given day, it’s easy to find something that feels discouraging.

This episode is a reminder that those difficult seasons are often the ones that shape us the most. In hindsight, the moments that feel the hardest are frequently the ones we end up being most proud of, because we stayed in the work instead of walking away.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or questioning whether you’re capable of figuring things out, this conversation is meant to serve as a quick reset.

Sometimes what we need most isn’t another strategy.

Sometimes we just need someone to remind us that it’s going to be okay and that there’s always another move we can make.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why discouragement is a normal part of entrepreneurship

• The emotional reality of growing and managing a team

• How difficult seasons often become the most meaningful ones in hindsight

• Why pushing through discomfort builds stronger leadership

• The value of having someone remind you that you can figure things out

• Why coaching often provides clarity beyond strategy

• The mindset shift that prevents entrepreneurs from spiraling

• The powerful reminder: you cannot lose if you do not quit

• How setbacks can become the turning point that drives better decisions

• Why every challenge in business contains an opportunity to pivot forward

🚀 Want a Real-World Example of What’s Possible?

If you want to see how structure, leadership, and better decision-making can transform a pet care business, I’ve put together a case study showing how one company grew monthly revenue from $17,000 to over $73,000 in a single year.

It walks through the real decisions, systems, and leadership shifts that made that growth possible.

👉 dogcolaunch.com/casestudy

If this episode helped you reset your mindset, share it with another pet care business owner who might need the reminder today.

-M

Should you bring on a business partner?

At first glance, partnership can feel like a smart move. Entrepreneurship can be lonely, the risk can feel heavy, and having someone to share the responsibility might seem like the safest path forward.

But in most cases, bringing on a partner does not actually reduce risk. In fact, it often introduces new complexity that can make running your business harder, not easier.

In this episode, I break down why partnership is rarely the right solution for pet care businesses, and the three specific conditions where it might actually make sense.

If you’ve ever wondered whether bringing in a co-owner could help your business grow faster, this conversation will help you think through the decision more strategically.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction

0:18 – Should you bring on a business partner?

1:10 – Why entrepreneurs consider partnerships

2:45 – The hidden risks of co-ownership

4:30 – The 3 situations where partnership might make sense

6:20 – When money as a partner contribution matters

8:00 – When time contribution could justify partnership

9:10 – Why revenue sharing may be a better alternative

10:40 – Safeguards to put in place if you do partner

12:20 – Building advisors and mentors outside your business

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why partnership often increases complexity rather than reducing risk

• The emotional reasons entrepreneurs often want partners

• How splitting ownership can reduce reward without lowering risk

• The three situations where partnership might make strategic sense

• Why specialized knowledge can justify equity sharing

• When outside capital could accelerate business growth

• How time contribution from a partner could change the equation

• Why revenue sharing can sometimes work better than ownership

• The importance of written agreements and operating documents

• Why outside mentors and advisors are critical in partnerships

🚀 Want a Real Example of What Scaling a Pet Care Business Looks Like?

If you want to see how structure, strategy, and leadership decisions can transform a pet care company, I’ve put together a case study showing how one business grew monthly revenue from $19,000 to over $73,000 in a single year.

It breaks down the operational decisions and growth strategy behind that transformation.

👉 dogcolaunch.com/casestudy

If this episode helped you rethink how you’re structuring your business, share it with another pet care business owner who might benefit from the conversation.

-M

These are not magic tools and they’re not the only options available. What matters is the principle behind them, building systems that remove friction, reduce errors, and allow your company to scale without relying on constant manual effort.

In this episode, I break down three categories of automation that every growing pet care business should strongly consider: a pet-care-specific scheduling platform, a self-serve meeting scheduler, and a dedicated team communication tool.

If you’re still coordinating visits through texts, emails, and Google Calendar, you are operating with unnecessary risk and complexity. Systems create clarity, reduce mistakes, and give your team the structure they need to perform well.

These tools are simple shifts, but they can completely change how organized and scalable your business becomes.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why pet-care-specific scheduling software is essential for growing companies

• The operational risks of managing visits through texts and emails

• How scheduling software protects against costly communication mistakes

• Why clients benefit from structured scheduling systems

• How tools like Calendly eliminate back-and-forth scheduling friction

• The role automation plays in scaling service businesses

• Why centralized team communication improves retention and clarity

• The hidden problems with using text messages to manage staff communication

• How better systems lead to more professional client experiences

If this episode helped you rethink how you’re running your operations, share it with another pet care business owner who might need it.

-M

There are seasons in business where the data says things are working, but internally, it still feels messy. You’re learning new skills, pushing toward the next level, and suddenly the confidence you once had feels shaky.

In this episode, I talk about what it feels like when you’re trying to grow into a better leader, a better operator, and a better business owner, while also wrestling with ego, perfectionism, and the discomfort that real growth requires.

We talk about leadership, mistakes I made earlier this year around hiring and staffing, why ego can block progress, and the difference between being responsible to people versus being responsible for them.

If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t showing up the way you wanted to as a leader, this episode is for you.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction and why this episode is different

0:39 – When you feel like you’re a bad boss

1:16 – The “murky middle” of growth

2:57 – The tension between accountability and being human

4:09 – Why business forces personal growth

5:52 – Let the data guide you through uncertainty

6:20 – Lesson #1: Give yourself space to learn

9:01 – Lesson #2: Ego and the fear of imperfection

11:21 – A leadership mistake I made this year

15:13 – Lesson #3: Responsible to people, not for them

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why growth seasons often feel chaotic and disorienting

• What the “murky middle” of business development actually looks like

• How perfectionism and ego can slow your progress

• Why data should guide decisions during uncertain seasons

• The leadership tension between accountability and self-compassion

• Why nobody comes preloaded with leadership skills

• How vulnerability with your team can strengthen trust

• The importance of trusting data and forward planning in hiring decisions

• Why discomfort is often a signal of growth, not failure

• The difference between being responsible to your team versus responsible for them

🚀 Want a Real-World Example of What’s Possible?

If you want to see how clarity, systems, and leadership decisions can transform a pet care business, I’ve put together a case study showing how one company grew monthly revenue from $19,000 to over $73,000 in a single year.

It breaks down the decisions, structure, and leadership shifts behind that growth, not just the numbers.

👉 You can access the case study at dogcolaunch.com/casestudy and see how DogCo Launch supports pet care owners who are ready to grow with clarity and confidence.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another business owner who might be navigating their own “murky middle.”

-M

If you are treating them like simple information exchanges, you are leaving money on the table. Meet and greets are not just client onboarding moments. They are sales meetings. They are positioning moments. They are leverage points inside your revenue model.

In this episode, I break down three tactical strategies you can use immediately to increase conversion rates and client lifetime value without being pushy, awkward, or salesy.

We’re talking about authority positioning, recurring service framing, and having a strategic down-sell in your back pocket.

If you want predictable revenue in your pet care business, this conversation matters.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why meet and greets should be treated as structured sales meetings

• The difference between client-centered and authority-positioned conversations

• How framing impacts conversion more than pricing

• Why recurring services must be positioned as the default, not the add-on

• How social reinforcement increases client buy-in

• Why friction should work in your favor inside your business model

• The case for charging more for one-off services

• How to create a strategic down-sell package that protects your margins

• Why onboarding must pay for itself

🚀 Want a Real-World Example of Predictable Revenue Growth?

If you want to see what happens when pet care businesses build predictable, recurring revenue systems instead of hoping for bookings, I’ve put together a case study showing how one company grew monthly revenue from $19,000 to over $73,000 in a single year.

It breaks down the structure, decisions, and positioning that made that possible.

👉 You can access the case study at dogcolaunch.com/casestudy and see how DogCo Launch supports pet care owners who are ready to grow with clarity and confidence.

If this episode made you rethink your meet and greet process, share it with another owner who needs to hear it.

-M

Yes, “five habits to make you wealthy” sounds bold. And I mean it with intention. But before we dive in, I share what I believe is the ultimate wealth-building lever: focusing on how to earn more, not just how to spend less.

From getting comfortable looking at your numbers daily, to gamifying savings, to automating wealth-building systems, these habits are about reducing avoidance, increasing clarity, and building long-term leverage.

This is practical, tactical, and rooted in real behavior shifts I have implemented myself.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – New office update + episode intro

0:35 – Five habits to make you wealthy this year

1:09 – Earn more vs spend less philosophy

2:11 – Habit #1: Get comfortable looking at your money

3:24 – Habit #2: Gamify your money

4:46 – Habit #3: Automate savings transfers

5:28 – Habit #4: Review numbers with experts

6:28 – Habit #5: Pay taxes monthly

7:07 – Recap and final encouragement

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why earning potential has more upside than expense compression

• How avoidance around money creates unnecessary stress

• The psychological power of checking your accounts daily

• How to gamify savings to build momentum

• Why automation removes willpower from wealth building

• The importance of reviewing numbers with financial professionals

• How paying estimated taxes monthly reduces anxiety

• Why time and consistency are your biggest leverage tools

• The difference between managing money and mastering it

🚀 Want to See What Strategic Growth Looks Like?

If you want a real-world example of what happens when pet care owners focus on increasing earning power and making smarter financial decisions, I’ve put together a case study showing how one company grew monthly revenue from $17,000 to over $73,000 in a single year. It breaks down the structure, decisions, and leadership shifts behind that growth, not just the revenue jump.

👉 You can access the case study at dogcolaunch.com/casestudy and see how DogCo Launch supports pet care owners who are ready to grow with clarity and confidence.

If this episode helped you think differently about money, share it with another business owner who needs it.

-M

If you are not tracking data inside your pet care business, this is not about shaming you. It is about empowering you. I am not advocating for mindlessly tracking every metric possible. I am advocating for clarity. If you want to influence change in your business, you need objective information that supports your decisions.

This episode is about eliminating guesswork, strengthening the quality of your decision-making, and reducing unnecessary anxiety as a business owner. Because when you choose not to track what matters, you are not just avoiding numbers. You are often choosing uncertainty.

These truths are direct, but I hope you feel them as intended (with respect and encouragement). If you have resisted tracking metrics because you do not see yourself as a “data person,” this conversation is especially for you.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why not tracking data forces you to guess when you do not have to

• How guessing creates unnecessary risk in your business

• Why decisions made on “feel” are almost always less precise

• The difference between tracking everything and tracking strategically

• How clarity improves the specificity of your decisions

• Why data reduces second-guessing and internal chaos

• The connection between anxiety and lack of visibility

• How objective metrics create empowerment and control

• Why your business needs what it needs, even if it stretches you

🚀 Want a Real-World Example of Data-Driven Growth?

If you want to see what happens when clarity replaces guessing, I have put together a case study showing how one pet care business grew monthly revenue from $19,000 to over $73,000 in a single year.

It walks through the decisions, leadership shifts, and tracking discipline that supported that growth, not just the numbers.

👉 You can access the case study at dogcolaunch.com/casestudy and learn how DogCo Launch supports pet care owners who are ready to grow with data, confidence, and strategic focus.

If this episode challenged you in a helpful way, share it with another business owner who needs to hear it.

Jessica built and scaled her pet care company through grief, COVID, team expansion, and major identity shifts as a business owner. But what makes this episode powerful is not just the revenue growth. It is the internal growth.

We talk about the emotional bottlenecks entrepreneurs create for themselves, how data can quiet panic, why boundaries are leadership, and how investing in yourself changes how seriously you take your business.

This episode is about stepping into your role fully. Not perfectly. But intentionally.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction to Jessica Barry

1:11 – From pre-vet student to pet care entrepreneur

3:21 – Surviving COVID and quitting her full-time job

5:24 – Ascending toward seven figures

7:13 – The real bottleneck: yourself

8:14 – Emotional overwhelm and leadership boundaries

10:26 – The revenue tracking system that changed everything

12:23 – Data vs emotion in business decisions

14:15 – Why Jessica invests heavily in coaching

16:20 – Building a personal “board of advisors”

20:04 – Turning knowledge into frameworks

22:46 – The truth about ROI in coaching

25:23 – Identity shift as a business owner

27:25 – The Vegas workshop story

29:03 – Final takeaways on investing in yourself

🧠 Key Takeaways

• The biggest bottleneck in most businesses is the owner

• Data can neutralize emotional decision-making

• Tracking revenue correctly prevents panic

• Leadership requires boundaries, even when it is uncomfortable

• Coaching ROI is often internal before it is financial

• Building a “board of advisors” prevents chaos while encouraging growth

• Writing down frameworks accelerates clarity and execution

• Investing in yourself changes how seriously you take your business

• Growth is as much identity work as it is operational work

If this episode resonated, share it with another pet care owner who is ready to level up.

-M

In today’s episode, I share three things I would do differently if I still owned my pet care company. Not from regret, but from experience. I built that business from 2017 to 2023, grew it to 25 staff and 600 clients, navigated the pandemic, and ultimately sold it to launch DogCo Launch. Looking back now, with the perspective I have from working with so many companies, there are a few missed opportunities that feel crystal clear.

If you’re building right now, I want to save you time, money, and frustration by helping you see what I didn’t fully understand then.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why working your leads consistently matters more than generating them

• How failing to nurture prospects quietly leaves revenue on the table

• Why retention and client lifetime value deserve more focus than new acquisition

• How structure and environment dramatically impact founder productivity

• Why investing in your workspace is sometimes a growth decision

• The hidden cost of “floundering” without proactive time blocking

• Why asking for feedback feels threatening but accelerates growth

• How accepting feedback earlier shortens the learning curve

This episode isn’t about regret. It’s about refinement. Entrepreneurship is iterative, and the more willing you are to examine your own patterns, the faster you evolve.

Cheering you on,
M

In today’s conversation, I walk through what it actually means to be “stuck” in your pet care business and how to diagnose the real reason growth hasn’t happened yet. January was strange for many companies, unexpected weather, seasonal slowdowns, and discouragement can easily distort how we interpret performance. So instead of reacting emotionally, I want to help you get analytical.

This episode breaks growth into four measurable areas. If revenue isn’t moving, it’s not random. There is always a constraint. And when you identify it correctly, you regain control.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – If you feel stuck at last year’s revenue

1:52 – Understanding your historical growth arc

4:02 – January trends vs emotional reactions

5:41 – What is the actual constraint in your business?

6:46 – Operational vs demand constraints

8:30 – Area #1: Not enough qualified leads

9:19 – Area #2: Leads not converting

11:34 – Area #3: Client churn is shrinking revenue

13:00 – Area #4: Clients not spending enough

14:04 – The four growth levers recap

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why January numbers rarely tell the whole story

• How to analyze year-over-year growth correctly

• The difference between operational and demand constraints

• Why most businesses misdiagnose lead problems

• How conversion gaps quietly stall growth

• Why churn is inevitable and must be planned for

• The role of client spend in sustainable scaling

• How identifying the correct constraint restores momentum

If this episode helped you reframe your numbers, I’d love to hear from you. Tag me on social media and let me know which of the four areas you’re digging into first.

Cheering you on,
M

In today’s episode, I talk about mindset in a way that feels different than how I would have approached it years ago. This isn’t about hype, positivity, or forcing yourself into a better mood. It’s about understanding how mindset quietly shapes behavior, how behavior compounds over time, and how to reset your internal framing when you feel overwhelmed, stuck, or unable to move forward.

I share four specific mindset framings I return to when I notice myself spiraling into overcomplication, pressure, or paralysis. These aren’t theories I picked up somewhere else, they’re tools I’ve earned by building, leading, and staying in the work long enough to know what actually helps.

If you feel capable but blocked, driven but exhausted, or motivated yet unsure where to start, this episode is an invitation to slow the noise down and reorient yourself toward empowered action.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why mindset isn’t fluff, but the frame behavior flows from

• How overcomplication is often the real source of overwhelm

• Why asking “what if this were easy?” unlocks clearer action

• How identifying one true next step restores momentum

• Why taking your work too seriously can quietly sabotage progress

• How lightness and rigor can coexist in meaningful work

• Why discomfort isn’t a warning sign, but a growth signal

• How accepting discomfort accelerates empowered decision-making

This episode is a reminder that success isn’t just about pushing harder or thinking bigger. Sometimes it’s about removing what’s unnecessary, choosing clarity over pressure, and learning how to stay grounded long enough to keep going.

-M

In today’s episode, I’m joined by my friend, colleague, and now team member Rebecca Thompson from Skyline Pet Care - https://www.skylinepetcarehtx.com/ -  Rebecca shares her real, unfiltered growth journey over the last year, including what it looked like to stay emotionally resilient, lean into community, and keep showing up even when things felt overwhelming.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s actually possible in a single year when you stay engaged, invest early, and don’t give up on yourself, this conversation will give you a very honest look behind the scenes.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why emotional resilience matters more than perfect strategy

• How community creates safety during hard seasons

• Why investing early can dramatically shorten the growth curve

• What happens when you stay leaned in during discomfort

• How confidence compounds through proximity and environment

• Why being the smallest company in the room is an advantage

• How showing up consistently rewires how you see yourself

• Why growth accelerates when you stop doing it alone

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Why this episode is so special

0:49 – How Rebecca and I first crossed paths

2:28 – Joining DogCo as a small, early-stage business

3:05 – Nearly doubling revenue in one year

4:31 – What the last year really felt like emotionally

5:40 – How community changed everything

7:31 – Investing early and choosing acceleration

9:03 – Being the smallest company in the room

11:10 – Confidence, rewiring your mindset, and growth

14:53 – Showing up even when it’s uncomfortable

16:01 – The moment that defined Rebecca’s resilience

19:27 – “How hard do you want to be pushed?”

22:00 – Responsibility, ownership, and doing the work

23:12 – Final encouragement and why you shouldn’t do this alone

This episode is a reminder that business growth isn’t just about tactics or timing. It’s about who you surround yourself with, how willing you are to keep going, and how much you’re willing to let the process shape you.

In today’s Hot Take episode, I talk about why businesses get stuck at the same revenue level, the same problems, and the same frustrations, and how the theory of constraints offers a much more useful way to think about growth. Instead of constantly pushing toward the next shiny goal, I explain why real progress comes from identifying and dismantling the single biggest problem directly in front of you.

If your business feels gridlocked, or if you keep sensing there’s one hard decision you’ve been avoiding, this episode is meant to help you sit with that discomfort and recognize it for what it is, an invitation to grow.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why businesses grow only as fast as their biggest constraint

• How focusing on bottlenecks creates more control than chasing goals

• Why avoidance is often the real thing holding growth back

• How discomfort is a signal, not a stop sign

• Why the hardest decision is usually the most important one

• How solving the next problem matters more than perfect planning

• What it actually takes to move your business to the next level

🚀 Want a Real-World Example of What’s Possible?

If you want to see how facing constraints and making intentional decisions can transform a business, I’ve put together a case study showing how one pet care company grew monthly revenue from $19,000 to over $73,000 in a single year.

It breaks down the decisions, mindset shifts, and leadership choices behind that growth, not just the outcome.

👉 You can access the case study at dogcolaunch.com/case-study and see how DogCo Launch supports pet care owners who are ready to confront the right problems and grow with intention.

This episode is a reminder that the thing you’re most tempted to avoid is often the exact thing standing between where you are and where you want to go.

In today’s episode, I talk honestly about why the start of February can feel like one of the hardest inflection points of the year, especially if January didn’t go the way you hoped. Whether it’s weather-related revenue hits, unexpected cancellations, team challenges, or simply feeling behind on your goals, I share three high-level principles that can help you regain clarity and momentum.

If you’re feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, or questioning whether this will really be your year, this episode is meant to help you step out of panic mode, identify what’s actually holding you back, and make the decisions that will move you forward.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Why February can feel like a make-or-break moment

0:44 – Taking a breath when the year starts rough

1:39 – Three principles for resetting momentum

2:25 – Principle #1: Slow down and exit panic mode

4:39 – Facing the real barrier beneath the surface problem

6:33 – What’s actually within your control to change

8:20 – Principle #3: Making the hard decision

8:46 – A real DogCo bottleneck and what I missed

10:47 – Hiring before capacity breaks

12:55 – Recap and encouragement moving forward

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why panic-driven decisions almost always make things worse

• How slowing down improves the quality of your decisions

• Why surface problems often hide deeper constraints

• How to identify what is actually within your control

• Why unaddressed bottlenecks only grow over time

• How avoiding hard decisions compounds pressure

• Why honest reflection creates faster course correction

🚀 Want a Real-World Example of What’s Possible?

If you want to see how clarity, leadership, and intentional decision-making can change the direction of a business, I’ve put together a case study showing how one pet care company grew monthly revenue from $19,000 to over $73,000 in a single year.

👉 You can access the case study at https://www.dogcolaunch.com/casestudy and see how DogCo Launch supports pet care owners who are ready to grow with intention and resilience.

This episode is a reminder that a hard start does not define your year. What matters is how quickly you slow down, face the real barrier, and make the decision that allows you to move forward.

-M

In today’s episode, I walk through a 30-day check-in for 2026 and share the questions I ask myself at this point in the year to make sure I’m moving in the direction I intended. Whether your year has started exactly how you hoped or already taken a few unexpected turns, this episode is meant to create space for reflection, clarity, and course correction.

If you’ve set big goals for this year but feel slightly off-track, overwhelmed, or unsure what to focus on next, this episode will help you slow down just enough to realign your time, attention, and decisions with what actually matters.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why a 30-day check-in can prevent an entire year from drifting

• How to identify what’s going well before jumping into self-criticism

• Why unexpected information should shape, not derail, your goals

• How tracking where your time goes reveals what you’re really prioritizing

• Why clarity often comes from better questions, not more effort

• How data can guide your next move when motivation fades

• Why accountability is often the missing link between goals and results

🚀 Want a Real-World Example of What’s Possible?

If you want to see how reflection, data, and accountability can translate into meaningful growth, I’ve put together a case study showing how one pet care business grew monthly revenue from $17,000 to over $73,000 in a single year.

It breaks down the decisions, structure, and mindset shifts behind that growth, not just the outcome.

👉 You can access the case study at dogcolaunch.com/case-study and see how DogCo Launch supports pet care owners who want to build with intention and clarity.

This episode is a reminder that progress doesn’t come from pushing harder without direction. It comes from pausing long enough to see where you are, adjusting with honesty, and putting the right accountability in place to move forward.

In today’s episode, I break down why employees quit and what you can realistically do to keep them longer. I share the three most common reasons I see staff leave pet care companies and the specific areas I recommend focusing on if retention has become a bottleneck in your business.

If you’re frustrated by turnover, constantly rehiring, or feeling like you can’t move forward because your team won’t stick, this episode will help you identify where things are breaking down and how to course-correct without trying to fix everything at once.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Why retention is the name of the game for real growth

1:24 – The difference between one-off work and recurring value

2:09 – A resource that changed how I think about retention

4:06 – The true cost of losing and replacing an employee

5:48 – Reason #1 employees quit: no pathway for growth

10:12 – Reason #2 employees quit: lack of clarity

14:31 – Reason #3 employees quit: culture and people

17:53 – Why culture standards must be enforced

18:46 – A pro tip that reveals the real problem

19:23 – Final thoughts on retention and leadership

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why retention matters more than hiring volume

• The real financial cost of employee turnover

• How growth pathways improve retention even for non-career staff

• Why clarity in onboarding reduces early exits

• How cognitive overload leads to employee frustration

• Why culture tolerance directly impacts churn

• How exit interviews reveal the truth about retention issues

🚀 Want a Real-World Example of What’s Possible?

If you want to see how clarity, leadership, and intentional systems can transform a pet care business, I’ve put together a case study showing how one company grew monthly revenue from $19,000 to over $73,000 in a single year.

It breaks down the decisions, structure, and leadership shifts behind that growth, not just the outcome.

👉 You can access the case study at dogcolaunch.com/case-study and see how DogCo Launch supports pet care owners who are ready to grow sustainably.

This episode is a reminder that people don’t leave businesses randomly. They leave systems, environments, and experiences that aren’t supporting them, and those are things you can change.

In today’s episode, I share five lessons I wish I had known earlier in my entrepreneurial journey. These are not tactical shortcuts or growth hacks, but hard-earned truths that have shaped how I lead, make decisions, and care for myself as a business owner.

If you’re early in your journey, I hope this gives you language for things you may already be feeling. And if you’ve been in business for a while, I hope it helps you reflect on how far you’ve come and what you want to carry forward differently.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why leadership can feel lonely, and why that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong

• How delaying hard decisions only makes them heavier over time

• Why people take you as seriously as you take yourself

• The one skill that quietly strengthens every other skill in your business

• Why understanding your numbers creates better decisions and less stress

• How urgency can serve you, but also burn you out if left unchecked

• Why the work will always be there, and why learning to step away matters

🚀 Want a Real-World Example of What’s Possible?

If you want to see how clarity, ownership, and intentional decision-making can transform a business, I’ve put together a case study showing how one pet care company grew monthly revenue from $19,000 to over $73,000 in a single year.

It breaks down the decisions, structure, and leadership shifts behind that growth, not just the outcome.

👉 You can access the case study at dogcolaunch.com/case-study and see how DogCo Launch supports pet care owners who are building something meaningful and sustainable.

This episode is a reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t about doing everything perfectly or knowing everything ahead of time. It’s about learning, adapting, and giving yourself permission to grow into the role over time.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by my good friend Doug Keeling, and we dig deep into what actually breaks down when companies struggle to grow their teams. Doug shares his personal journey from solo pet sitter to leading a 30-person team, and the hard-earned lessons that eventually led him to specialize in hiring and retention.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by staffing, unsure where to start with hiring, or frustrated by turnover that keeps slowing your momentum, this conversation will help you understand why these challenges exist and how to approach them more intentionally.

🐶 Check out Doug

👉 DougTheDogGuy

youtube.com/DougTheDogGuy

Instagram (Personal / Main Account)

👉 @DougTheDogGuyOfficial

Facebook (Pawsitive Hiring Course)

👉 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583169482484

Website

👉 https://dougthedogguy.co/pawsitive-hiring-course

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Why hiring and retention are the biggest bottlenecks in pet care

0:30 – How Doug accidentally grew his first team

2:08 – Making every hiring mistake and learning the hard way

4:49 – Why Doug shifted fully to W-2 employees

6:05 – From YouTube videos to the Positive Hiring Course

8:02 – Why hiring is mystifying for so many owners

10:02 – Who the Positive Hiring Course is really for

13:02 – Why foundations matter before scaling

15:43 – How hiring and retention changed post-pandemic

27:00 – Looking ahead to 2026 and supporting teams long-term

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why hiring and retention are long-term systems, not quick fixes

• How most owners skip foundational steps when building teams

• Why culture and alignment now matter more than wages alone

• How post-pandemic shifts changed employee expectations

• Why proactive culture-building prevents burnout and turnover

• How slowing down to build foundations leads to faster growth later

• Why staffing issues are solvable with the right framework

🚀 Want a Real-World Example of What’s Possible?

If you want to see how clarity, systems, and intentional leadership can transform a business, I’ve put together a case study showing how one pet care company grew monthly revenue from $17,000 to over $73,000 in a single year.

It breaks down the decisions, structure, and leadership shifts that made that growth possible, not just the numbers.

👉 You can access the case study at dogcolaunch.com/case-study and see how DogCo Launch supports pet care owners who are ready to scale sustainably.

This episode is a reminder that growing a team isn’t about finding perfect people, it’s about building the right foundation so good people can succeed and stay.

I walk through three core mindsets that I believe must shift if you want to see real growth in your business. These are patterns I see over and over again with smart, hardworking pet care owners who care deeply about what they’re building, but feel stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated by a lack of momentum.

Everything I share in this episode comes from a place of support, not judgment. If something here feels confronting, it’s because I believe you’re capable of more and I want to help you get there.

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Why no one is coming to do the hard things for you, and why that’s actually empowering
• How avoiding difficult decisions compounds problems over time
• Why deciding something is “out of your control” guarantees that it always will be
• How reframing control changes what’s possible in your business
• Why working harder is rarely the real solution
• How slowing down strategically can unlock faster, more sustainable growth
• Why these mindset shifts matter if you want this year to be different

I want to send you a case study showing how one of my clients grew monthly revenue from $19,000 to over $73,000 in just one year.

👉 Visit dogcolaunch.com/case-study to get the case study and learn more.

In today’s episode, I walk through how to assess real opportunity in your local market. Too often, business owners focus first on competitors, pricing, and what everyone else is doing. In this conversation, I explain why that’s the least important place to start and what actually matters if you want sustainable growth.

If you’ve been setting big goals for this year but feel unsure where to focus, this episode will help you rethink how you evaluate opportunity, define your value, and identify the client types that create outsized returns in your specific community.

⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Why local market context matters going into a big year
0:34 – What people get wrong about competitor research
1:17 – Differentiation and why pricing should follow value
2:14 – Why being the price leader starts with clarity
2:52 – Defining your unique value proposition
3:20 – Why “who your business is for” should guide everything
4:09 – Using community data to identify opportunity
5:01 – A real example of narrowing focus without losing growth
6:02 – Looking inward at your current client base
7:01 – Final thoughts on starting the year grounded and focused

🧠 Key Takeaways
• Why competitor research matters less than most people think
• How clear differentiation creates pricing confidence
• Why narrowing your focus actually reduces risk, not opportunity
• How defining your ideal client improves every marketing decision
• Two practical ways to identify high-opportunity client types
• Why local data is more powerful than assumptions
• How looking inward can reveal overlooked growth paths

🚀 Want a Real-World Example of What’s Possible?
If you want to see what clarity, positioning, and strategic focus can actually create, I’ve put together a case study showing how one pet care business grew monthly revenue from $19,000 to over $73,000 in a single year.

It breaks down how opportunity was assessed, where decisions were made differently, and why focus mattered more than expansion.

👉 You can access the case study at dogcolaunch.com/case-study and see how DogCo supports pet care owners who are ready to grow with intention and confidence.

This episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t come from copying competitors or doing more for the sake of doing more. It comes from understanding your market, your people, and the opportunities already around you, and choosing to build from there.

After returning to building a team following time as a solo founder, I'll share an honest look at what changed between an early hiring misstep and a year of rapid, healthy growth at DogCo. With a growing team and expanding responsibilities, I'll breaks down why clarity, context, and intentional onboarding are not optional leadership skills, but foundational ones.

This episode explores:

• Why vision alone isn’t enough without clear communication
• The responsibility leaders carry when teams lack context
• How clarity directly impacts execution, morale, and scalability
• The shift from explaining everything yourself to building systems that create clarity
• What I'm intentionally focusing on as DogCo moves into 2026

If you lead people, or plan to, this episode is a powerful reminder that when people don’t have what they need to succeed, the work starts with leadership.

To learn more about how DogCo Launch helps pet care companies grow and scale, visit dogcolaunch.com.

What started as a message to dog walkers and pet sitters working through Thanksgiving turned into a powerful conversation about conviction, sales, mindset, and how tools like AI can help service-based businesses grow without sacrificing integrity.

Dan shares the real story behind a Black Friday campaign that generated over $100,000 in four days, why sales isn’t a dirty word, and how belief in your work directly impacts results.

🧠 What You’ll Learn in This Episode
• Why sales and compassion can coexist in pet care
• Why conviction matters more than perfection
• What actually drives high-performing promotions
• How AI tools like ChatGPT support ethical marketing
• Why long-term consistency beats shortcuts

⏱️ Timestamps
0:00 – Why I wanted to have this conversation
0:16 – Dan’s background and the post that sparked it all
2:47 – Reading the Thanksgiving post and its impact
4:37 – From $40K in 18 hours to $100K in four days
7:08 – DogCo Launch case study
8:32 – Why sales applies to every pet care business model
12:10 – Reframing sales as service and education
18:14 – Conviction vs perfection in business growth
26:15 – How to start planning now for Black Friday 2026
36:21 – Final thoughts on belief, trust, and leadership

🎵 Let's Connect!
What does it take to scale your pet care business?
I want to send you a case study showing how one of my clients grew monthly revenue from $19,000 to over $73,000 in just one year. 👉 Visit dogcolaunch.com/case-study to get the case study and learn more.

🔗 Resources & Mentions
•  Business frameworks inspired by Alex Hormozi
•  Marketing philosophy influenced by Gary Vaynerchuk
• Industry wisdom from Kristen Morrison
• Tools discussed include ChatGPT, email segmentation, form builders, UTMs, and CRM systems

🔔 Subscribe & Stay Connected
If you’re building or scaling a pet care business and want honest conversations about leadership, sales, and sustainable growth, subscribe to the DogCo Secrets Podcast for weekly episodes.

-M

I walk you through three specific shifts I believe make the biggest difference for entrepreneurs, especially pet care business owners who are scaling and carrying a lot of responsibility. These are changes I am actively focusing on myself, and they are rooted in time clarity, execution, and the courage to face hard things sooner instead of later.

This is not about setting vague resolutions or chasing more ideas. It is about focus, follow through, and creating real momentum by doing fewer things better.

Key Takeaways

• Why understanding where your time actually goes is foundational to growth

• How doing less, but executing better, creates faster and more sustainable results

• Why pushing hard conversations and difficult decisions into the future keeps you stuck

• How facing discomfort directly creates the biggest breakthroughs as a leader

If you are stepping into 2026 wanting real change, not just good intentions, this episode will help you reset your focus and choose where to apply your energy in a way that actually moves the needle.

If you want to learn more about how I support pet care business owners through growth and strategy, you can explore resources and case studies at dogcolaunch.com.

Thanks for being here, and I hope this episode helps you start the year with clarity and confidence.

Cheering you on.

-Michelle

This is not a highlight reel. It is an honest look at health, momentum, leadership, systems, and what it really takes to build something sustainable without burning yourself out.

✨ Key Takeaways

• Why prioritizing health changed how I show up in business
• What investing in myself taught me about clarity and momentum
• The hidden cost of growing without clean systems and data
• Why planning further ahead is now non-negotiable for me
• How closing the loop on projects creates real client success
• What I want 2026 to feel like, not just look like on paper

⏰ Timestamps

0:00 Intro and why I wanted to reflect publicly
1:23 The sweatshirt, discipline, and following the plan
1:36 My biggest personal win in 2025
3:48 What surprised me about DogCo this year
4:49 Why investing in yourself creates clarity
6:59 The DogCo Summit and momentum heading into 2026
7:45 Why the podcast became one of my favorite projects
9:03 Gratitude for the DogCo team
10:26 Planning further ahead and communication gaps
12:44 Data, metrics, and systems debt
15:46 Shipping full cycles and closing the loop
19:41 Hopes, plans, and personal goals for 2026
24:35 Final reflections and closing thoughts

I also want to say happy holidays! 🎄 I sincerely hope you had a restful, meaningful holiday season and were able to spend time with the people who matter most to you. Thank you for listening, for supporting this podcast, and for being part of the DogCo community. I am incredibly grateful for you and excited for what we are building together in the year ahead!

- M

I am talking about labor costs, recurring service models, and before and after hours fees, and I am being very direct about where I see businesses getting stuck, what growth will not fix, and where profit actually comes from in this industry.

If you feel burned out, underpaid, stuck, or frustrated that growth has not solved your financial problems, this episode is for you.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Labor costs above 60 percent will always bottleneck profit and growth

• Growth does not fix high labor, it often makes it worse

• Recurring service models protect margin better than one off visits

• As needed services should cost more, not less

• Before and after hours fees are one of the fastest ways to increase net profit

• Profit creates stability for you, your team, and your business long term

🎯 Mentioned in This Episode

• Episode 067 with Lauren Dunkle, where she shares how she reduced labor by over 24 percent in a high cost market

• Real examples from companies inside DogCo that have implemented these strategies successfully

🚀 Ready to Go Deeper?

If this episode is hitting close to home and you want hands on support applying these strategies to your business, mastermind enrollment is now open - doors close December 31, 2025.

The Mastermind enrollment page is - dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

We only open enrollment once a year. If working with DogCo is on your radar for 2026, now is the time to take action.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend, mentor, and DogCo automation expert Robert Strickland to talk about how pet care business owners can use systems, AI, and intentional automation to reduce burnout, reclaim time, and scale sustainably.

Robert shares his journey from corporate process work to building and scaling a multi-state pet care business, and how automation became the unlock that changed everything. If you feel buried by daily operations, stretched thin, or unsure where automation actually helps, this episode is for you.

🔗 Connect with Robert Strickland
Next Level Pet Businesses Facebook Group
👉 https://www.facebook.com/groups/nextlevelpetbusinesses

This is where Robert teaches practical AI and automation strategies alongside some of the sharpest minds in the pet care industry.

✨ Key Takeaways
• Automation should protect your time, not create complexity
• Most bottlenecks in growing businesses start with the owner
• Client onboarding and employee management are the biggest time drains
• Tracking your time reveals what actually needs automation
• AI is changing SEO, discovery, and how clients find pet care companies
• Systems should support your life goals, not just revenue growth

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 – Welcome and introduction to Robert Strickland
1:20 – How Michelle and Robert first connected
3:40 – Robert’s background in corporate systems and tech
5:15 – Hitting burnout as a solo pet care owner
6:06 – Treating your side hustle like a real business
7:24 – Why automation changed everything
9:50 – Time return vs money return
12:20 – Scaling impact beyond one on one work
14:13 – Building DogCo as something bigger than one person
17:09 – Automation as a path to autonomy
19:47 – Identifying yourself as the bottleneck
21:17 – Tracking time to find what should be automated
24:22 – What Robert hopes DogCo members experience next year
25:17 – AI, SEO, and the future of client discovery
28:41 – Where to find Robert and how to connect

🚀 Work With DogCo
If you are ready to scale your pet care business with intention, clarity, and real systems support:

👉 Mastermind enrollment page:
https://dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

Enrollment opens once per year and spots are limited.

-M

In today’s Hot Take episode, I break down three core behaviors I consistently see in companies that successfully scale past the seven-figure mark. This is not about chasing growth for growth’s sake. It is about learning to think long term, to build the right systems early, and to prepare your business for volume before it arrives.

If you are feeling stuck, burned out, unsure why profit feels tight, or frustrated that growth feels harder than it should, this episode is for you. These shifts do not happen by accident; they happen by intention.

I also share why tracking data earlier than you think matters, how future-focused problem-solving separates growing companies from reactive ones, and how asking “what breaks if we double?” can completely change the way you lead your business.

If working with DogCo has been on your radar, Mastermind enrollment is now open. We only enroll once per year.

Learn more and schedule a consultation at:
dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

Key Takeaways

• Seven-figure companies think long term, not just in short-term wins

• Building systems early makes scaling dramatically easier later

• Tracking data when you are smaller gives you a major advantage

• Growth requires proactive problem-solving, not constant reaction

• Building for volume starts long before you reach it

Cheering you on, 

Michele

In this episode, I sit down with Angela Watts to talk about what it really looks like to intentionally design your role inside your business, rather than letting the business dictate every hour of your time. Angela shares her full journey from early hustle, burnout, and chaos to building systems, leadership, and a role that protects her energy while supporting real growth.

This is an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, identity, delegation, community, and why you cannot scale chaos, but you can scale systems. If you are building a pet care business and want it to serve you long term, this episode is for you. 

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 Introduction and why this conversation matters
1:24 Angela’s early story and starting a pet care business
4:34 Transitioning from field work to leadership
7:54 Hitting burnout and almost selling the business
10:35 Asking for help and building management
12:26 Community as a turning point
15:57 Investing in yourself and education
18:37 Joining the DogCo team and mentoring others
21:08 Advice for business owners entering a new year
25:15 Final thoughts on designing your own path

✨ Key Takeaways
• You cannot scale chaos, but you can scale systems
• Designing your role requires intention, not perfection
• Delegation and leadership unlock sustainable growth
• Community can prevent burnout and isolation
• Investing in yourself directly impacts business health

🚀 Ready to Build a Business That Works for You?
Mastermind enrollment is now open, but doors close December 31.

If you are ready to intentionally design your role, protect your energy, and scale your pet care business with support, learn more at
👉 dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

🎧 Listen to the DogCo Secrets Podcast on
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

I am sharing practical strategies that are simple, implementable, and based on what I have seen work across hundreds of pet care companies. These ideas will help you ease the load on your team, reduce friction with clients, improve communication, and add touches of delight that make holiday work feel a little more human. This is a great episode for any owner who wants to nurture a healthy culture even in a high-demand season.

What You Will Learn

• How client-side expectations can drastically reduce stress for your staff

• Why shift-based scheduling is a major holiday sanity saver

• Small surprise and delight moments that have a huge cultural payoff

• What “status” looks like and why public appreciation matters

• How to reinforce healthy boundaries without sacrificing the client experience

• Ways to keep your team motivated during the toughest stretch of the year

Join the DogCo Mastermind

If you want to work with me in 2026, enrollment is open right now and we only accept companies once per year. This is your window to join us and completely transform the way you grow and scale your business.

👉 dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

If you want support in scaling your team-based pet care business in 2026, enrollment for DogCo Mastermind is open now. Apply at 👉 http://dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 Welcome to the episode
0:15 Why I am already planning for 2026
0:29 The art of planning well
0:47 Five skills for becoming a better planner
1:01 Tip 1: Slow down
1:12 The client story that changed how I think about planning
2:05 Giving yourself the gift of time to think
2:39 Why rushing sabotages good planning
3:27 If you feel stuck in your pet care business, here is why
3:48 Mastermind enrollment is officially open
4:24 Tip 2: Follow the thread
5:01 Letting curiosity lead your planning
5:48 My personal quarterly planning ritual
6:41 Tip 3: Break big goals into actionable steps
7:26 Why defining next steps increases follow-through
8:12 Writing steps down to make them real
8:30 Tip 4: Ask better questions when planning
9:19 What does done look like vs done well
9:20 Identifying failure points and pivots
9:45 Tip 5: Manufacture accountability
10:08 Why accountability improves discipline
10:50 The trainer story and changing your environment
11:46 The truth about hitting goals
12:33 Final thoughts

✨ Key Takeaways
• Great planning begins by slowing down and resisting the pressure to rush
• Following the thread of your curiosity reveals insights you normally miss
• Break every goal into next steps so action becomes inevitable
• Ask the four questions that create clarity for any plan
• Accountability is not a character trait, it is a structure you can build

📣 Work With Michelle in 2026
DogCo Mastermind enrollment is officially open and we only bring in new companies once a year. If scaling your pet care business with clear systems, stronger leadership, and better profitability is a goal for next year, submit your application now at 👉 http://dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

🎧 Listen on Your Favorite Platform
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube

-M

If you ever feel like you are carrying too much, worrying about things you cannot control, or frustrated by slow progress, this episode is for you. I hope it gives you a sense of grounding, power, and clarity for the road ahead.

✨ Key Takeaways

• If it is outside your control, it is not worth the time and energy you are giving it

• You have more control than you think, and extreme ownership can change everything

• The work has to get done regardless of how you feel about it

• Your mindset is one of your strongest business assets

• Avoidance feels safe in the moment but creates more pain in the long run

🔗 Helpful Links

• Explore the DogCo Mastermind and apply at dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

• Follow along on Instagram for more coaching insights

• Share this episode with a pet care owner who needs a little clarity this week

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 Welcome and why this episode matters
0:17 Meet guest Lauren Dunkle
0:52 The financial breaking point in 2023
2:03 Entering DogCo with a 78 percent labor cost
3:40 Learning to understand the numbers
4:50 How Illinois labor laws shaped her business
5:47 Transitioning from ICs to employees
7:01 Discovering and repairing the labor cost gap
8:48 Cutting labor cost from 78 percent to 52 percent
10:36 Paying staff well without destroying margins
12:49 Protecting profit and protecting your team
14:25 The mindset shift that changed her business
17:16 Why she did not fire anyone to fix the problem
20:32 Why profit matters for long term stability
23:00 Developing a data skill set from scratch
26:09 Deciding to drop pet sitting using clean data
33:01 Systems that allowed her to onboard 120 clients
36:00 Lauren joins the DogCo team and final reflections

This conversation is real, honest, tactical, and incredibly empowering for anyone who wants to run a healthier business without sacrificing values, team culture, or long term goals. I cannot wait for you to hear it.

✨ Key Takeaways
• How Lauren cut her labor cost from 78 percent to 52 percent
• Why labor cost is the most important number in a team based pet care company
• How to make data based decisions even if numbers make you nervous
• What it looks like to restructure a business without losing momentum
• The truth about growth curves, slow seasons, and emotional resilience
• How to position staff pay, benefits, and pathways in a high cost of living state
• How letting data guide decisions can help you scale cleanly and profitably

🚀 Ready to Scale Your Pet Care Business?
Mastermind enrollment is open for January 2026. If you want to work with DogCo, this is your window. Schedule your consultation at: dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

🎧 Listen on Your Favorite Platform

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube

Cheering you on, 

Michelle

If you are growing a pet care company and feeling stuck, tired, or unsure of what comes next, I hope this episode encourages you to look at what is already working, who is already beside you, and why those relational anchors matter more than we sometimes admit.

This episode covers three things I am deeply grateful for, pulled directly from what I have experienced this year in DogCo.

✨ Key Takeaways

• Running a relational company is not always simple, but the richness it adds to your work is unmatched.

• Bringing on the right people changes the energy of your entire business and allows you to grow in new ways.

• Feeling aligned in your priorities, systems, and direction gives you the energy needed to scale to the next level.

• Growth does not happen by accident. When you are ready, the right support can change everything.

💛 A Note From Me

Thank you for being here. Whether you are a long time client, a DogCo Secrets listener, or someone who just found this podcast today, I am thankful for you. I am excited to finish this year strong and step boldly into the next one together.

Cheering you on,

Michelle

📣 Ready to grow your business in 2025? Join the DogCo Mastermind.
Mastermind enrollment page is dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 Welcome and introduction to Kristin
0:52 How Kristin's business began and the story behind the name
4:51 Early bottlenecks and moving quickly into hiring
6:05 Realizing she was running both a pet care company and a recruiting company
8:26 Why ongoing recruiting is essential to staying ahead of demand
10:05 Why Kristin invests heavily in learning and conferences
11:03 Building groups like PCP and the early days of NAPS networking
12:56 How COVID forced major pivots in the business
14:30 Why in person learning accelerates growth dramatically
16:57 Entering new seasons as a parent and business owner
17:47 Digital learning versus in person transformation
20:01 Why the pet industry has massive opportunity going into 2026
21:20 Building a business that supports your life stage
23:08 Industry growth and higher expectations for professional care
25:35 Why finding your trusted circle is critical
27:10 Pet care as a real career path for teams
28:44 The mindset required for long term growth
29:35 Creating “almost overnights” and evolving service packages
31:47 Reducing service menus and finding the right model
32:56 Accepting imperfection and continuing to refine
33:39 Closing reflections on learning, community, and growth

✨ Key Takeaways
• Scaling a pet care company means mastering hiring and recruiting
• The industry is full of opportunities for owners who stay adaptable
• In-person learning creates breakthroughs that digital content cannot
• Your business model will evolve as your life evolves
• Long-term success requires refining systems again and again
• Networking and your professional circle directly impact your trajectory
• Growth is not linear and requires courage to keep changing

#DogCoLaunch #DogCoMasterMind

-M

I am sharing the exact things I am doing inside DogCo as we grow our team. These are the foundations I believe every pet care business should have in place before the new year hits.

This episode will help you get crystal clear on what to focus on for stronger financial health, how to protect your net profit while still investing wisely, and how to prepare for your biggest year of growth yet.

What You Will Learn

• How I am planning my own 2026 financial strategy
• Why net profit protection matters more than top line growth
• The two financial support roles every pet care business needs
• How to prep your savings and tax accounts the smart way
• What to audit before the new year to keep your business lean
• Why planning ahead creates massive clarity for your goals
• The simplest way to map the gap between where you are and where you want to go

Mastermind Enrollment Now Open

If you want support scaling your team-based pet care company in 2026, this is your moment.

Enrollment for the DogCo Mastermind is officially open, and we only take companies once a year.

Learn more and schedule your consultation at dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

#petcarebusiness #businessfinancialplanning #dogcolaunch

If this episode gave you clarity or momentum, share it with another pet care business owner who wants to level up next year. Cheering you on as always.

-M

Maris shares how she went from doing everything herself to running a thriving team of 27, stepping out of the field, taking maternity leave, and now using her experience to help other companies grow through DogCo.

If you have ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next move, this conversation is full of clarity, actionable insight, and the permission to build a business that works for the life you want.

Want to work with DogCo in 2026?
💡💡💡 Mastermind enrollment page: dogcolaunch.com/mastermind 💡💡💡

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:37 How Michelle and Maris met
01:25 Maris shares her business story
03:05 From doing everything to hiring a full team
04:40 Eliminating services that did not serve the business
06:50 What it took to get out of burnout
08:40 The role DogCo played in restructuring profitable service lines
10:24 Preparing for maternity leave while still scaling
12:05 Why investing in yourself matters
14:45 Implementing coaching vs only consuming it
16:00 Time blocking and getting unstuck
18:05 Learning to prioritize freedom and family
20:00 Why Maris joined the DogCo team
22:35 Honest conversations about fit and readiness for the Mastermind
25:00 Advice for companies stuck before the new year
27:00 Believing your business is within your control
28:40 Why reinventing the wheel slows companies down
30:10 The real value of proven SOPs and systems
31:50 The new DogCo Process Builder tool
33:40 Maris emotional story of growth
35:05 The invitation to schedule a consultation

🔥 Key Takeaways
• You do not have to offer every service to be successful
• Eliminating mismatched services often unlocks profit and sanity
• Investing in yourself pays off when you actually implement what you learn
• Time blocking creates clarity, momentum, and freedom
• You can still scale even in complex life seasons
• Your business can serve your life, not the other way around
• Proven systems save years of trial and error
• Scheduling a consultation costs nothing, and can change everything

dogco #michellekline #petcarebusiness #petbusinesscoach #smallbusinessgrowth 

-M

I’ve had seasons where I was half-in and half-out, and they were always the most exhausting, confusing, and least successful seasons of my life. I’ll share a conversation I had with my husband that changed the way I approach my work, and how giving myself permission to go all in on DogCo completely shifted my momentum.

If you’re feeling torn between paths or hesitant to commit, I want to encourage you, clarity and progress only come when you make the call. Whether that means going all in or all out, you deserve to move forward with full alignment and energy.

✨ Key Takeaways

• Being half-in keeps you stuck longer than failing fast

• Clarity comes when you commit to one direction

• Sometimes stepping back fully is the healthiest decision

• Alignment and peace beat divided focus every time

• Go all in on what you truly want to build

💡 Join the DogCo Mastermind

If you’re ready to go all in on your business, the DogCo Mastermind is the place to do it. Enrollment is open now at dogcolaunch.com/mastermind.

I think its critical to reframe self-talk like “Can I do this?” into “What would it take to do this?” I share how this subtle shift can change everything about the way you lead, grow, and scale. If you’re ready to reframe the way that you think about your own capabilities, this one’s for you.

✨ Key Takeaways
• Success starts with how you view your own capability
• The right question isn’t “Can I?” but “What would it take?”
• Every goal has trade-offs — decide which are worth it
• Growth is about wisdom, not just feasibility
• Stop asking if it’s possible, and start building your plan

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 – Welcome and episode overview
0:35 – Why “realistic” goals limit entrepreneurs
1:18 – Shifting from feasibility to wisdom
2:06 – The belief that anything is possible
3:03 – Understanding trade-offs in scaling
4:01 – Paying for growth with time or resources
5:08 – Replacing “Can I?” with “How could I?”
6:06 – Scaling with intention, not ego
7:01 – Closing reflections and next steps

🚀 Join the DogCo Mastermind
Ready to take your business to the next level with expert coaching and community? Enrollment is now open for the DogCo Mastermind — visit dogcolaunch.com/mastermind to learn more and apply.

🎧 Also listen on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

-M

I’ll share how I structured time-off requests in my own pet care company, what systems made it easier, and why focusing on clarity instead of control is the key to reducing burnout and building trust.

✨ Key Takeaways

• Shift your mindset from “how much time off” to “what system best supports clarity”

• Implement a clear notice cadence for time-off requests

• Protect your business by tracking averages and seasonal trends

• Encourage your team to post shifts and find coverage within a system

• Claim your own time off first - and protect it

Cheering you on,

Michelle

If you’ve ever dreamed about creating something bigger than yourself or wondered what it looks like to lead a movement inside an industry that’s still evolving, this episode is for you.

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 – Welcome and post-Summit reflections
0:41 – How the Summit idea began
2:02 – The pet industry event that inspired DogCo
3:15 – Realizing the in-home pet care industry lacked representation
4:48 – Why I wanted to build something for our community
6:30 – The power of in-person connection in a digital world
7:55 – Setting the stage for the future of the pet care industry
9:03 – How speakers like Joey Coleman and Jamie Trull brought the event to life
10:21 – Lessons learned and goals for next year’s Summit
11:45 – The official 2025 DogCo Summit dates

✨ Key Takeaways
• How the vision for the DogCo Summit began
• Why in-person connection is more valuable than ever in the AI era
• The pet care industry is still in its early stages of recognition, and we’re changing that
• Behind-the-scenes lessons learned (and what’s improving next year)
• The exciting plans for the 2026 DogCo Business Summit

🐾 Join Us Next Year
The DogCo Business Summit returns October 2–4, 2026 in Winston-Salem, NC. Featuring Joey Coleman, live workshops, and more ways to connect and grow your business.

Get your early access ticket at 👉 http://dogcosummit.com

🎧 Also listen on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Amazon Music

-M

I walk through how to make your brand known in your area, how to connect your personal and business identities in a way that earns loyalty, and why the human side of your company is about to become your biggest competitive edge in an AI-saturated world.

✨ Key Takeaways

• Trust is the foundation of every effective sales strategy

• Relationship-driven marketing always outperforms quick hacks

• Local brand associations build long-term awareness and referrals

• Your personal brand can amplify your business brand

• The “human” element will set pet care businesses apart in the AI era

💡 Final Thought:

Scaling a business isn’t just about systems and strategy; it’s about alignment. Take the time to evaluate what truly drives growth for you, and double down on that.

🚀 Join the DogCo Mastermind

Ready to build your next level of business clarity and community?

Apply today at http://dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

🎧 Listen on:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 – What causes bottlenecks in business
0:48 – Feeling stuck and identifying the root issue
2:20 – How to pinpoint your real constraint
3:30 – Why growth stalls even when leads increase
5:05 – The staffing bottleneck most owners miss
7:01 – How to simplify your focus and accelerate
8:10 – Using Facebook and content intentionally
10:12 – Going deeper on fewer marketing channels
12:00 – The danger of overextending your focus
13:05 – Getting out of your own way
14:20 – Aligning growth with your well-being

✨ Key Takeaways
• Bottlenecks often appear where you least expect them
• Balance operations and marketing for true growth
• Go deeper, not broader, in your strategy
• Focus on what actually drives results
• Learn to get out of your own way

💡 Final Thought:
Scaling a business isn’t just about systems and strategy; it’s about alignment. Take the time to evaluate what truly drives growth for you, and double down on that.

🚀 Join the DogCo Mastermind
Ready to build your next level of business clarity and community?
Apply today at http://dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

🎧 Also listen on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

-M

So many business owners shy away from offering discounts or deals because they’re afraid it will hurt their margins. But what if you could build flexibility into your pricing from the start? In this episode, I break down exactly how to price your services to protect your profit while giving yourself room to test creative offers, run seasonal promotions, and attract new clients without cutting into your bottom line.

We’ll cover how to determine your ideal profit margin, what “wiggle room” to plan for, and how to think strategically about recurring services, after-hours fees, and value perception. This is one of those foundational mindset shifts that can completely change how you approach sales and profitability.

✨ Key Takeaways

• Why flexibility in pricing is key to long-term growth

• How to calculate a healthy net profit margin (20–30%)

• The benefit of building in 10–15% extra margin for promotions and creative offers

• How to structure “core pricing” and recurring service models

• Why being the price leader in your market is actually a good thing

💡 Final Thought

Give yourself permission to lead with confidence in your pricing. When you plan for margin, you create freedom, sustainability, and space for innovation.

🐾 Ready to elevate your business in 2026?

Join the DogCo Mastermind and get access to exclusive trainings, support, and strategy sessions at dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

- M

In this episode, I walk through the exact three areas I’m focused on to wrap up the year with clarity and momentum, and the three things I’m putting in place to set up 2026 for success. Whether you’re running a growing pet care business or managing your own entrepreneurial goals, these strategies can help you finish strong and start the new year ahead of the curve.

✨ Key Takeaways
• How to refocus your energy after a major event or season of growth
• The three key areas to finish 2025 strong
• Why presence and gratitude are the real productivity hacks
• How to set systems, data, and people up for success next year
• The importance of taking intentional rest to reset your creativity

⏰ Timestamps
0:00  Welcome back to DogCo Secrets
0:45  Reflections on the DogCo Summit
2:30  Why refocusing matters after big wins
4:05  My 60-day focus to finish strong
6:10  The power of being present with clients and commitments
8:25  The importance of structure and data before growth
10:40  Taking time off intentionally to recharge
12:55  Setting the foundation for next year
15:00  Building proactive systems and empowering your team
17:00  Why people and relationships remain DogCo’s core
18:30  Setting clear goals for 2026
20:00  Why slowing down is sometimes the best growth strategy

💬 Final Thoughts
This time of year can feel like a whirlwind, but the last 60 days are where your next year begins. Take the time to reflect, rebuild, and rest so you can start strong in 2026.

🐾 Ready to elevate your business in 2026?
Join the DogCo Mastermind and get access to exclusive trainings, support, and strategy sessions at dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

🎧 Also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

— M

If you have been feeling the pull to grow into a new market or add another location, this episode is for you. I share my own experience of opening and later closing a second territory, and the lessons I learned about the real costs of expansion, including the hidden risks to your focus, team performance, and profit margin.

✨ What You’ll Learn

• The biggest risks of expanding too early

• When expansion makes strategic sense

• How to weigh operational complexity against opportunity

• The financial prep you must do before adding a new area

• Why more is not always better when it comes to growth

If you are considering an expansion, press play before you make the leap. Sometimes, the best next move for your business is not going wider, but going deeper.

- M

We talk about what it really takes to scale while staying true to your values, the fear and freedom of letting go of old business models, and how to navigate massive change without losing your “why.” Abby shares the pivotal decisions that propelled her forward, from ending overnight services to transitioning her team from contractors to employees, and what that journey has taught her about courage, burnout, leadership, and trust.

✨ Key Takeaways

• How embracing discomfort can spark powerful business transformation

• Why narrowing your focus can actually accelerate growth

• What shifting from contractors to employees taught Abby about leadership

• How to protect yourself and your team from burnout in a high-demand industry

• The importance of community and connection for long-term success

💡 Whether you’re an early-stage pet care business or scaling past six figures, Abby’s story offers wisdom, warmth, and inspiration for the road ahead.

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you tune in.

-M

This week’s hot take? Data. Why it matters, how to use it, and the seven essential metrics you should know to make faster, smarter decisions in your business—without drowning in spreadsheets or chasing perfection.

📈 If the phrase “track your KPIs” makes your eyes glaze over, I gets it. But in this bite-sized episode, I'll cut through the noise and shares quick + dirty math strategies that will help you:

 • Protect your profit

 • Diagnose weak spots

 • Focus your energy where it actually matters

From labor cost percentage to client retention and hiring trends, I'll break down the most actionable metrics that support real-time business health.

Key Metrics Covered:

 1. Labor cost percentage

 2. Profit margin percentage

 3. Week-over-week/month-over-month revenue

 4. Average client spend

 5. Average client retention

 6. Employee hiring leads

 7. Employee retention

💡 Takeaway: Protect your net profit. It is the lifeblood of your business.

Hi everyone! Michelle here. Today’s episode is a big one. I had the absolute honor of sitting down with Joey Coleman, renowned speaker and bestselling author of Never Lose a Customer Again and Never Lose an Employee Again. Joey is not only a master of customer experience—he’s also someone who fundamentally understands how to make people feel seen, valued, and loyal from Day One.

We talk through everything from why so many businesses drop the ball during onboarding, to how pet care brands can scale trust without sacrificing humanity. Whether you’re just starting out or deep in the weeds of growing your team and services, this episode is packed with takeaways that can literally change your business.

📚 Get Joey’s Books (Affiliate Links):
• Never Lose a Customer Again → https://amzn.to/3SQRYdT
• Never Lose an Employee Again → https://amzn.to/4jqVDtp

⏱️ Chapters:
00:00 Welcome and Intro to Joey Coleman
03:51 Joey’s background and mission
09:32 The cost of bad onboarding
13:10 Why most businesses lose clients early
18:27 Designing a first impression that lasts
24:03 Joey’s six stages of the customer journey
30:45 Turning casual buyers into lifelong fans
37:00 Building team culture that retains talent
43:19 Applying Joey’s principles to pet care
49:44 Joey’s advice on scaling experience with heart
55:02 What most businesses still get wrong
59:40 Behind the scenes of writing his books
1:03:55 Live Q&A with Joey Coleman
1:09:22 Closing thoughts and next steps

💥 Key Takeaways:
• The first 100 days of client or employee experience are the most influential
• Most businesses lose loyalty early due to lack of intentionality
• Great onboarding isn’t about automation, it’s about emotion
• It’s easier to fix broken internal systems than it is to repair broken relationships
• Customer experience is your brand
• Loyal clients and employees become your best marketers

Cheering you on - 

Michelle

💥 Key Takeaways:

• Investing in your skills is the single most impactful way to grow your business
• 10% of your revenue should go toward your education and development
• Budget for it before the opportunity arrives, not after
• If you’re stuck, action beats perfection—just move
• Self-trust is built through action, not hesitation
• Profit First is a helpful system to carve out your investment bucket

I'll also share the exact percentage she uses (hint: it’s higher than you think), along with a powerful mindset shift to help you take action before you’re “ready.” This episode will challenge you to stop waiting, start betting on yourself, and trust that you are the best asset your business has.

🎯 What’s Inside This Episode:

• Why investing in yourself creates the biggest ROI
• The exact percentage I budget for personal growth
• 3 common barriers to investing in your education
• A mindset shift that makes saying “yes” easier
• Why betting on yourself beats betting on someone else

In this Hot Take episode, I share exactly how to make the most of your investment. From building meaningful connections to taking advantage of the event social pages, to setting yourself up for success after the Summit wraps, this is your roadmap for leaving the weekend with practical steps, deeper relationships, and renewed energy for your business.

👉 Did you miss attending in person? Want access to the full digital ticket for the DogCo Summit 2025? Grab yours today at http://dogcosummit.com

✨ What’s in this Episode:

• Why meeting just one person can transform your business journey.

• How to use the event Facebook group to connect before and after sessions.

• The secret value of Saturday night’s social event.

• A practical Monday morning plan to turn your notes into action.

This Summit is going to be game-changing, not only for the content but for the community you will build. If you are listening in real time, come find me and say hi. If you missed it, we’ll be announcing dates for 2026!

🎧 Also, listen to this podcast episode on:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube

-M

👉 And don’t forget, the DogCo Business Summit is this week! Check out the online event with our digital ticket at http://dogcosummit.com

✨ Key Takeaways
• How to avoid systems debt as your company grows
• Why profit margins often compress at higher revenue levels
• The power and pitfalls of brand recognition at scale
• When to consider a rebrand and how to avoid losing equity
• Tech challenges facing seven-figure companies and what to do about them

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 – Welcome to the final scaling series episode
0:35 – Why hitting seven figures can look very different depending on structure
2:01 – Overview of scaling from $750K to 1 million in pet care
3:12 – Lessons from the Seven-Figure DogCo mastermind
4:50 – Risks of systems debt at this stage
8:02 – Compressed profit margins and what that means for growth
10:00 – Brand recognition and referral power at scale
11:00 – The dangers of rebranding too late
12:47 – Tech struggles for large pet care businesses
13:41 – Biggest risks for owners at this level
15:20 – Solutions: protecting profit and simplifying systems
20:00 – Final thoughts and invitation to share feedback

🚨 Final Call: DogCo Summit is Almost Here! 🚨
The industry’s most powerful event is happening this week September 26–28 in Winston-Salem, NC. This is the last call for you to join us. While in-person ticket sales are closed, you can still purchase a digital ticket to join in on the fun. You’ll walk away with strategies to grow your pet care business with confidence. Grab yours today at 👉 http://dogcosummit.com

🎧 Listen to this episode on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

-M