3 Ways Having Pets And A Business Are Basically The Same
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash
It was the worst thing they could possibly do. They wouldn’t let us have a dog.
As a kid I wanted a “real” pet like a dog so bad but my parents refused so I was stuck with a hamster, Lily.
So I did what any normal kid deprived of a dog does and pretended like my friends pets were mine.
Now that I have pets, currently 1 dog and 4 cats, I see why my parents were less than enthusiastic about having a dog.
They are a lot of work, walking and training them and a lot of fun. As a business owner I’ve also seen how having pets and running a business can feel similar.
Don’t Ignore Problems
This is applicable for anyone not just pet owners. When you have issues with your pets, business or life ignoring them usually makes it worse. I totally get the impulse to bury your head in the sand when everything is too overwhelming. But the funny thing about these tasks is they can usually be resolved pretty easily.
Like our puppy was licking himself a lot. I wasn’t sure if this was normal behavior for his breed, pit-bull, until a few bald patches showed up on his fur seemingly overnight. That’s when I started searching online and looking through reddit threads for some guidance.
Since I’d already noticed this habit I made sure to take action before it got worse. We got the dreaded “cone of shame” to use so he would stop licking these spots and making them worse. I ordered a special balm to soothe them and gave him allergy medication because pit-bulls can be allergic to so many things that make them itchy.
Just like in business ignoring problems or tasks usually makes them harder to tackle later. Much like the eat the frog philosophy I like to tackle the task that I’ll keep pushing off to tomorrow and dreading right away. This frees up the rest of my time to be more productive instead of endlessly procrastinating.
Take Breaks
It’s easy to get obsessive and into the weeds of all the details you’re worried about, speaking from experience here. Even going on our daily walk can be stressful. I’m looking out for cars, we don’t have sidewalks, making sure he doesn’t poop in peoples yards, the list goes on and on.
But every time we get back from our walk whether it’s 10 minutes or almost an hour we’re both energized and calm. That’s the power of moving your body and taking a break. For me if I don’t take breaks from behind my computer screen I start curling in on myself like a giant shrimp and getting cranky. The best remedy for that is the easiest; a break.
The same goes for your business. It’s like that common saying, “I quit my 9 to 5 and now I work 24/7.” While it’s so tempting to just keep going or force yourself to keep working it’s usually not worth it unless under a special circumstance like a launch. The best days to take breaks are the ones where it feels luxurious and wrong to do it. That’s when it’s most important.
Enjoy The Little Things
In a world where we’re inundated with how to create 10k months and people flaunting their bank account balances on social media it can feel like you’re not accomplishing anything in comparison. Making sure to celebrate your small wins is so important. Otherwise you might lose your motivation when your big goals take longer to accomplish.
While doing a very basic training exercise I was so pleased when my dog was learning and picking up on the task we wanted him to do. It was the smallest of baby steps but still worth celebrating. He’s very treat motivated so using treats to help him learn was a no brainer.
Be sure to celebrate the small goals you accomplish on a daily and weekly basis. Whether that’s remembering to post once a week, engaging in 3 other people’s posts or booking sales calls it’s important to not diminish these small wins.
How Pets and Businesses Are Similar
This post is for all the pet and business owners out there who are trying to make it work every day. I see you and understand the struggles. Just like with juggling other priorities like friends, family and kids it usually makes out lives easier to have the flexibility of entrepreneurship to get everything done on our own schedules.
Take tech off your to do list
If you are beyond busy with pets, your business and life in general make sure to check out the Squarespace template shop for websites you can customize with your own content.
