The Alimond Show
Welcome to The Alimond Show --join us as we share our entrepreneurial guests' stories, uncover their secrets to success, and explore the unique paths they've taken to build thriving businesses in our community.
In each episode, our host, Aliyah Dastour, sits down with a diverse group of local business owners, from the corner cafe to the boutique shop, from tech startups to family-run enterprises. We peel back the curtain to reveal the trials, triumphs, and transformational moments that have shaped their entrepreneurial journey.
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The Alimond Show
Helen Hubbard Owner of Prestigious Pets
Embark on a journey from salon to sidewalk as we chat with a visionary who traded her hair styling shears for leashes, evolving into a pet care entrepreneur par excellence. With a leap of faith into the world of wagging tails and wet noses, our guest recounts the tale of a personal hairstylist's remarkable pivot towards her animal affinity, culminating in a flourishing pet care empire. This episode promises to map out the blueprint of turning a heartfelt passion into a thriving business, coupled with insights on navigating the hurdles of entrepreneurship while nurturing a family-like team.
The heart of our discussion beats to the rhythm of paws and footfalls, as we wade through the day-to-day triumphs and trials of managing a company that doesn't pause, not even for the holidays. Hear firsthand the heartfelt anecdotes, like Biscotti's story, that illustrate the profound bonds forged in the pet care world—a business where emotional dividends run as high as the financial ones. We unpack the strategies that have led to a 20-strong team, a testament to the guest's undying commitment and an unwavering belief in the magic of personal connections.
Finally, we take a peek behind the curtain of social media strategies that help our guest's business thrive in the digital age, all without spending a dime on ads. From charming reels to staff photo contests, we explore how these fun, engaging activities not only build client rapport but also serve as a catalyst for organic growth. As we wrap up, our guest leaves us with pearls of entrepreneurial wisdom, emphasizing the importance of self-care, the art of delegation, and the power of constantly setting higher goals. This episode isn't just a celebration of business success—it's a love letter to the perseverance and spirit that fuels every entrepreneur's dream.
Um, prestigious pets, and we offer dog walks and pet sitting and we're just basically a personal service for animal care. We do cats, dogs, rabbits, you name it. I've done birds, squirrels, fish, but not exotic fish. Ah, that's very tailored. You have to really know what you're doing in that field. So I try to stay away from exotic fish but, yeah, good to know Absolutely Like pretty much any furry friend that you could think of. So that's amazing.
Speaker 1:How did you get started in that? Um, well, I actually was a personal hairstylist and I went to Paul Mitchell and got my cosmetology license. That explains the good hair. Yes, thank you, um, and I, uh, did that. And then I had a passion for animals and I kind of started doing dog walks, walking on the side for my clients, and I realized quickly that I really enjoyed that and also, it was really, um, something that you can do on your time, and I kind of decided I'm going to start this as a company and I'm going to build it up and Um, because my goal was to have kids and I wanted to kind of figure out what I was going to do with my future and what my calling would be, because sitting at the salon I'm not really a sitter all day, so I really liked getting out there with the animals, and so I just kind of set a goal and I started the business in 2012.
Speaker 1:And I started as a one person team and then I've worked my way up to 20 people. So you have 20 employees, yeah. So at our busy season, like as we go into spring, um, all my college kids always come back and I always hire like two to three people a year. But, um, yeah, I have a good amount of people that are full time, that stay with me, and then you got your tabs or seasonals yeah, pretty much. So it's nice because I'm building up something that not can not only just help me, but help other families, other women, other people that are in my situation that kind of want to be able to make great money but call the shots on their schedule, like because if you have kids, you gotta work for three kids.
Speaker 1:So you were, you want to be able to be available in the evenings and these things, and um, it's just like a perfect job. Not that I have all women. I do have some men but, it's the perfect job for people with families, people in college just for like animals yeah. Yeah, yeah, animal lovers.
Speaker 2:So that's really great. Um, can you tell me a little bit about how you got started with your business, like, what resources did you use or how did you make that transition? Um, what?
Speaker 1:happened. I first started, I LLC'd it and I got insurance and then I joined carecom and I remember I started just like going out there and kind of like hitting jobs like that were for me like people that needed dog dog walks. I would be like, hey, I'm interested. And then once I built up about 10 or 20 dogs myself, then I really started to um, I built a website for my business and a platform and I started just going out and, hi, you need a dog walk. Um, with business cards and also referrals and um, then I would just hire somebody and I would make it my focus to fill them up to make sure that they can make the money that they want to make. So I would go out there and I would go get them dogs. And so I just went from each person that I started and like groom them to make them happy and content and they're part of my family and literally everybody that I brought in has stayed with a lot of people saved me over 10 years now. So it's really yeah, it's like a family. So we're a team. That's a good thing about us.
Speaker 1:If you have a dog walker and your dog walker gets sick or they need to go out of town, no matter what. We're open 365 days a year. We don't ever close. I mean we do so. We're always there for you, which is nice. We're like an extension of the family. So I just really feel like I just kind of handpicked the people, built up and put my time and love in them and then, like before I knew it, I was at where I didn't think I would be. Like where I first started the business I was like, oh, I want my sales to be this one day. And then you get there and you're past it and you're thinking past. So I would say, just dream big, because it's never. You'll be amazed what you can really do when you really stick with it.
Speaker 2:That's amazing, the persistence that you need in order for you to like okay, hit that Now. My next goal is this and keep going Right. I always am setting goals.
Speaker 1:Always. That's important and once you get to them, boom higher. You always got to keep going. That's the biggest thing. Goals, writing them down, putting them up, saying some of my friends might get tired. I'm one of those and I think when you're really obsessed with your business, it is you live it, you breathe it. Yeah, sometimes my family be like, okay, you're not working, but it's like you know you can't help it.
Speaker 1:No, I mean yes, it is an obsession, but it is a good obsession. You know we do a great job. All my clients are amazing. I've met so many wonderful people being in this business. I know so many amazing people and they're like family and, yeah, it's a great experience, yeah.
Speaker 2:And then how do you handpick your employees, like, what are you looking for? How do you find them?
Speaker 1:I take them to breakfast. Okay, every time I interview somebody, I take them out because I want them to feel comfortable and I want to get to know them. I'm kind of like an empath. I read people, I feel their energy. First and foremost they have to love animals, you know, and I kind of get to know them on a personal level and then I give them a chance, we train them, I put them with my staff, I train them.
Speaker 1:We kind of this in this job. Like a lot of people might be like, oh, you're a dog walker, well, I might not hire you. You couldn't do this job. This job isn't for everybody. This is an intense job. You have to know how to communicate with every type of person because all the clients are different and we tailor to them. You have to know how to deal with anything that could come out when you're out in the elements. I mean dogs run up on people all the time. You have to be able to deal with that situation. Cat scratch oh, don't even get me started. Christmas Eve two years ago, 5 am, I had an insulin shot for a cat. It scratched me right in the vein. It shot up in the air. I had to go to the emergency room at 5 am on Christmas Eve, starting my day. I had 20 visits that day on my schedule.
Speaker 2:Oh my God, how did that day go? I cried at the doctor. But then I pushed through. Girl. You said, I'm getting this job done. My client.
Speaker 1:You said, oh, my goodness, yeah, I mean you never know what's gonna happen in a day of a dog walker, no, or?
Speaker 2:a cat sitter. You really don't. You really don't.
Speaker 1:It's like amazing. But I mean we pay, this business pays very well. So you put in the time but you get the benefits. Like my team is very happy. I know I try to give. I think, out of all the companies, I give like a 60% and I give 70%, and I don't overnight. So I try to really give, not be great, to give that money out, so that they can, you know, make a good money and really take care of themselves. So, and that's they're happy.
Speaker 2:So how important is that to you to like help your employees out in this way.
Speaker 1:Very important because the biggest thing is giving back and love and helping others and that's how I feel my heart, so that's very important. Absolutely, that's one of the biggest things.
Speaker 2:And then I was looking on your Facebook and I saw a lot of biscotti. Tell me about biscotti, biscotti. Oh, one of the puppies.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's one of my clients. She actually she had a dog like 12 years ago named Sasha, and she was really close with me and we saw the hardest part in this industry is the dogs don't live forever and Sasha, crystal and I, my vice president, my company we went and said goodbye to Sasha like the day before they put her down, and so this client is close to me, thank you. It must have been like six or seven years, I'd have to say, but she didn't get a dog and she got biscotti. She called me right away, helen, you know I got a baby.
Speaker 2:Come meet me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so now biscotti is another one of our new prestigious pets that I take care of.
Speaker 2:But I saw that, I was like there's a lot of biscotti here. I was like what's the history here?
Speaker 1:It was a heart, yeah, my heart. I mean I don't have favorites, I would say I would say I know, I know, I know I try not to. I know I do love them all. I'm sure that's hard.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because they're all precious little angels. Yes, yes, yes, and tell me, do you have any pets? I'm sure you do, I do.
Speaker 1:I have a Rottweiler named Roman. He's my boy. He's actually my husband's dog, slash my dog.
Speaker 2:One of my clients.
Speaker 1:I wish you'd talk to him I know he's so big In the next step. No, we had another dog. One of my clients gifted him to me. Actually, what?
Speaker 2:Yeah, Later I guess.
Speaker 1:No, well, he got him. He was in some type of military and he got him for that. And then when he brought him in the house, his daughter was allergic and I had been caring for at the time. His name wasn't Roman, I don't think his name was. I changed it to Roman. Yeah, but I was caring from like from eight weeks to like maybe 15 weeks, and then the dad was like I brought him in, my daughter broke out in hives. You did such a good job, Would you take him? And I could not say no, oh my goodness. So I took him in. Actually, in this business I've gotten a lot of dogs in. The vice president of my company got a puppy from one of our clients. One of my managers from my company got a pup. So we always taking in dogs. Oh my, I feel like.
Speaker 1:I would have so many pets, I can't say no.
Speaker 2:It's really yeah, yeah, like. How do you say no? Like, okay, I'll take care of it.
Speaker 1:We have three kids, so that kind of helps right.
Speaker 1:They can kind of you know, walk in yeah, for now, but once I have my big farm then, um, is that the goal? Yeah, so the goal is to build and buy kind of out Leesburg, love-itzville area, and I'm going to be expanding because right now we do do boarding and I do it with my team. So I basically have my team or, if it's a good fit, the dogs stay with the team and then, um, I'm building my clientele with that because I'm going to be opening like a big boarding facility Like, uh, I guess on my, on my property I want like 13 acres and then like a farm and then a big dog park little dog park stage home where my staff can just come and live with the dogs and cause I like I already have all this in mind, but it's just cause I have the clientele, but I just have to have the facility, so that's down the road, kind of thing.
Speaker 2:What is your facility like right now? Or is it just Right now? It's so.
Speaker 1:Right, so there is no facility.
Speaker 2:Okay, so that's the first.
Speaker 1:So we offer service like we come to you and if we do keep your dog, if it's a good fit, they come to us and our home, but at the facility that will be on my property. Yeah, all dogs go to Helen's, is that?
Speaker 2:I love that that's such a big. Are you gonna expand to like bigger animals too, maybe?
Speaker 1:I've thought about that. Yeah, I have some connections that I've met in the horse area. I guess I'm very comfortable with dogs, so I would need to Get a little bit more, yeah, learn the craft and be able to know that I can absolutely do everything that the client needs. But I would just probably hire somebody that's a horse whisperer. There you go. A horse whisperer, that's always the best and they can train me.
Speaker 2:There you go, and then you can train everybody else and we're all happy here. A big team. I love that. And then did you always think that this was something that you were gonna do? I know the main goal for you in the beginning was to do hair, but did you ever see yourself doing this?
Speaker 1:today. So when I was younger, I always wanted to be a veterinarian and I always wanted to work with animals. But then when I kind of got a clip of that life, I realized I was a little too emotional to deal with that end. And then I guess I just kind of got called to the animal side, like I'm just big on. I was really thinking about what do I enjoy? What do I like? Because I really enjoyed making people beautiful and I really enjoyed hair and I was really good at it and I did it. And then I realized, well, I just don't wanna sit around in a salon forever. I'm not really into the gossip and the. I mean there are some saunas that I love, that I would love to be at.
Speaker 1:But back then it was just like, yeah, so once I got into the dogs it was just very I don't know rewarding because they really were so happy when you came, the clients were so happy. You're out in the elements, you're it's one on one, it's yeah, a lot of exercise, very healthy, just a lot of things that I enjoyed and also basically running your own show. You don't have to answer to anybody, I mean, except the client, obviously. I answered the client. I want the clients always come first and be happy, and the dogs and the cats. But I guess it's just I got pulled that direction. I follow the signs. So whatever I get pulled to and I tell my kids always make sure you're doing what you enjoy, you love. I think that's the biggest thing. I love animals. So if you're doing what you love, you should go well.
Speaker 2:I love that advice. Growing up, a lot of people are just like what you wanna do isn't always the good thing, like you know. People would just say, like I don't think you should do that. The money's here, the money's there and I'm just like I don't wanna do that. If I wanna do photography, I'm gonna do that. I'm happy you're doing that, so it really shows through with you that that's your passion and the close relationships that you have with your clients, where they gift you dogs or they're like come eat my new dog.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's family. It is family, it becomes family. I mean, you are with these people, some people you see every day, some people you see five days away for 15 years straight. So it's their children, yeah, that you're caring for.
Speaker 1:They're trusting you with such a big part of their life, their world. They're going out of town and yeah. So yeah, I built a great team. They all are amazing. I love every single person that works on my team. Yeah, it's just rewarding if you put your heart into something Like it took a long time to get here and you know you do sacrifice, you miss out on a lot. You don't get to go out all the time, you don't get to do whatever you want. You're working when your friends are. But then when you look back and you say, well, look what I built, it's worth it.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. How are you in social media, like with marketing, how are you getting your clientele Word of mouth? I have a lot of word of mouth.
Speaker 1:I've never actually paid for any of that stuff. I just have always. I feel like I never had to pay for more. Yeah, but I do do some on social media, I guess word of mouth.
Speaker 2:Are you putting any like reels out there?
Speaker 1:stories Like I do more. I do fun reels with my kids. No, not really, maybe a couple with the business. I probably should do more, I think people would love it's puppies.
Speaker 2:you'll get instant likes and stuff I thought about yeah doing some live like sometimes yeah. You got cute clients trust me.
Speaker 1:They're so cute.
Speaker 2:You could even go viral with puppies and funny bloopers.
Speaker 1:They're so cute, I know, I know, yeah, everybody loves. I do try to share some pictures, yeah, because yeah. It's very cute.
Speaker 2:I feel like you would thrive in that too, or even having, like, your staff just help you on that side too, since they're out there.
Speaker 1:Are you seeing it run competitions like who gets the best picture gets a bonus, and I would like put them up and this and that. That's great, and they definitely worked on their pictures when I did that, see.
Speaker 2:see you gotta do that again. I need to do that again. Yes, just do a contest. Just have your. Yeah, have a contest. Have the cutest puppy who's a Halloween costume. That would be so cute, oh yeah. Or seeing cats like in costumes is the funniest thing, because their faces always look so like I don't wanna be here. They're so cute, I know.
Speaker 1:I have some awesome cats too. Oh, you got cats too. Not me, but oh, but client cats, yeah some really cool cats.
Speaker 2:I know cats are interesting. I love cats, but they have their little personality, but you gotta love them. And then, what kind of training do you give to your employees when you're teaching them about like okay, this is an insulin shock. Do you teach them like all that or like no, there's only a?
Speaker 1:couple of few of us that do that Okay, all right, that have experience or, you know, vet techs or, depending on who's on the staff. So not everybody can do that. There's some jobs that only management, me, myself or other people that are trained can do.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, I was wondering about that Pretty much every job is tailored to the client. So we'll have some dogs that are very trained and some that dogs that aren't so trained. So I'm not gonna give somebody that can only handle small dogs. So it's really tailored to what the situation is. So all my walkers are different. I have some people that may be older and do a great job, but I'm not gonna give them a Saint Bernard. Yeah, oh my gosh. So I just kinda I have to know my team, I have to know my schedule, I have to know the client. It's all. Yeah, makes sense.
Speaker 2:So yeah, yeah, and are you booking all of your clients or do you have help on that end?
Speaker 1:I do everything. So I have a whole scheduling system. So basically we do the meet and greet and then there's a computer system they can schedule upon request and then I'll approve it, I'll schedule it to the staff and then put it in there, or they'll message me like I have to have my phone on usually on all times cause I'm on every thread pretty much with everybody in the company, unless it's a manager that I have allowed to do their own threads, just so you can oversee everything. So I'll look at my phone off like 75 missed messages, cause everybody sends a picture and update it with each client. So it's trail.
Speaker 1:I just want to make sure everything is if anything make sure the dog was walked If there was an emergency, if they need to get in touch with me. There's just a whole system. Somebody needs to add something.
Speaker 2:Have you ever thought about getting help on that end Cause?
Speaker 1:I mean, I've had some management like help me before, like I have somebody on the company that can do stuff. But I guess it's really good for me to always be involved and know what's going on. You know what. I mean You're alcoholic, I don't know. Things need to go right and I got to know what's going on. I can't run a company and have 75 dog walks in a day and have no clue what's going on. To where, like, somebody has to be responsible.
Speaker 1:So, regardless if I have help or not, I have to oversee, cause people can miss things.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so it never stops, so you like to be like yeah.
Speaker 1:Well, I have to. I mean, like my vice president, she's going out of town for four days for a birthday, so like I can't, just I always have to. You know what I mean. Her and I, she absolutely helps me, but, yeah, over and all I do, the payroll, the scheduling, I do it all.
Speaker 2:I mean I just yeah, how do you have boundaries for yourself? You know cause, I know you're working hard, but it's important, I think, to take some time for yourself and your mental health, like that's why I ask about the help.
Speaker 1:Well, when I get sick, luckily my team is amazing. So, like last week, I got out of the blue, came down with something for two days and I just text the management and the staff. I'm down, man down. I mean, yeah, I'm giving out this. You're running the show today. Like I do have people in place that know what to do. My husband was at one time the vice president or the president of my company, when before around COVID, and then when COVID happened, I had like I don't even know 50, 60 cancellations that day. Oh my goodness, it was the craziest day ever. So, like the business didn't shut down but there was only like 15, 20 walks still standing on the schedule, so I dispersed those out, for I took from my husband and dispersed them out to the team, cause I didn't want people to be without work. So he kind of stepped down and started his own thing. So he's always in the background If I needed something.
Speaker 1:Yeah, um, someone to like an extension, yeah that could be, but I I don't need it.
Speaker 2:Wow.
Speaker 1:I like it. I mean I, even if I'm in another state on my birthday, I'm still can run things from my phone, still can talk to clients, still can talk to management, still can reach out to staff, say hey, I need you to get over here. This happened, this person's sick. I can always maneuver, cause I have the team.
Speaker 2:Will you ever consider that later on down the line, Cause I know some?
Speaker 1:I just feel like if you give someone else the reins, it's not your, it's my baby. I gotta make sure my baby's doing good. Okay, I, you can't really. You gotta be a part of it.
Speaker 2:I'm not really gonna let go of my baby. Oh, my goodness, okay, that's, that's different advice.
Speaker 1:I have a lot of sales goals going forward too. I'm still pushing. I'm the sales of the company. I go out and get more. I gotta build for people. I gotta be. I don't wanna be disattached, no matter how big I get. You're a hard worker man.
Speaker 2:Thank you, you are Cause. I'm just like Somebody help her to like Let her help.
Speaker 1:I gotta be good Okay.
Speaker 2:But if you ever feel like that, don't ever not. Maybe consider that for you, cause you got. I have other things I wanna serve too.
Speaker 1:You're like to live Right? I want tons of life. I always make yeah, put it on the calendar, you know.
Speaker 2:Do you have any like trips or anything that you're planning ahead or that you're looking forward to?
Speaker 1:Yeah, one of my friends is birthday's coming up in May and I think her and I are gonna go out of town. And then one of my my birthday I turned 41 in October and my girlfriend's going to Taylor Swift and she invited me, so I think I'm gonna go to that, Okay where at Is she touring now?
Speaker 1:Miami. That's gonna be fun. So, yeah, I brought in Miami last year. I wasn't gonna do it two years in a row, but she got the tickets and I'm like, okay, well, are you a big Swifty? She is, so I'm just being supportive.
Speaker 2:I was gonna say I was like you seem like a tough Swifty. All the Swifties are always like sweet.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean, I mean you're sweet too, but like you got like this grit and I love it.
Speaker 2:I like nipsey hustle. Yeah, what kind of music do you like?
Speaker 1:Like that.
Speaker 2:Okay, all right.
Speaker 1:I think I have an interesting music line.
Speaker 2:Do you like going to concerts a lot or?
Speaker 1:anything in your shows, I would go to some concerts. Yeah, I'm trying to think. The last one we went to, I think we went to gosh who was it? Nas and all them that came.
Speaker 2:Yes, there was like a big festival of all like the greats. I saw that.
Speaker 1:I went to that.
Speaker 2:My husband loves to wrap a lot. My husband loves to wrap a lot. There you go. Yeah, see You're a wrap girl. Yeah, I love it. Yeah, and then for your kids, do they ever help you out with anything? Are they like mom, do they?
Speaker 1:Yeah, they do so my 10-year-old would love to Child labor.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:He's an animal whisperer, really yeah.
Speaker 2:Totally Give an example, like when it's older.
Speaker 1:I mean, he's just always had the heart, yeah, there you go, you've got your future CEO right there too.
Speaker 2:Pretty much yeah In the works. You're like building him up, like, okay, this is how you do an insulin shot. I'm just kidding. I'm kidding, I mean, he could probably do anything once he gets of age, there you go.
Speaker 1:I love that. He's a brave boy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and this has there been any challenges that you've had to overcome that helped you grow as a person?
Speaker 1:Absolutely. In business you learn as you go. I kind of have learned as I go. I think I got my entrepreneur spirit from my grandfather because he is a business owner 50 years McKinney Interior's and Vienna. He does the pollster, he did all the clides. Anything you went in there you would do that. So I saw him and I learned from him and I just feel like I got the spirit from him. But as you go you kind of learn what works and doesn't. I think the hardest part of the business is just overhead running it, collecting from the clients, getting the processes and everything behind the scenes done and hiring friends and family. Yeah, when I consult other people I say you live in your learn as you go. Yeah, what you should and shouldn't do, you know. People tell you you don't do it and you do it anyway you got to learn, sometimes yourself, right yeah, you still learn, you just keep learning.
Speaker 1:But yeah, just forget yourself. Be gentle with yourself, because nobody's perfect.
Speaker 2:No, we're always learning.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and just be graceful to your staff and yourself. I do have high expectations, I think sometimes that's good to have, though.
Speaker 2:Yeah, some people are like ugh, but it's like we need to have them. I'm kind of like that too here. I'm like guys, we said we were doing this and we're not. They probably find me the most annoying here, because I'm always on them about we said we were doing this, we're not doing it, we need to do that, and they're like damn it. Why does she remember?
Speaker 1:I'm like I do. I'm sorry, I'm that person. I say it like six or seven times. Yes.
Speaker 2:I think that's, but you need that. It's good to have someone there. I know I'm annoying, but trust me guys, your husband doesn't like it. He's. Like you already said that I'm going to keep saying it. You're letting it fall through the crack, sir. Yeah, okay, did you do it. How did you get this way? Did your parents instill that in you to always be like work, work, hustle, hustle, you know?
Speaker 1:No, I don't think so. I think I did it through trials, tribulations, life growing up. I started this business when I was 28. I definitely had. I did the bartending. I bartended, I worked in the restaurants, I did the hair, and then I was at a standstill what do I want to do? Then I was like, hmm, then I went this direction and I just feel like just kind of went with the pro. I really said like early age in this industry, I guess in the hair industry and moving into this industry, I like to work for myself, just because I know what comes. I saw my grandfather do it and I'm just like this is the way to go. I wanna start my own, I wanna do my own.
Speaker 1:I have too much of an opinion. That's okay To listen to others To listen, just no, that's okay.
Speaker 2:I know it's a good thing about them. No, we need those people because without them, we would not have our leaders. And, like, I can be a leader but I can also be a follower, but you're like for sure, a leader and that's good. We need those people in the world, but we don't want them to be overworked either as well. So take care of yourself as well.
Speaker 1:Yes, Please, yes, I do, I drink lots of water. Get your sleep.
Speaker 2:I do get sleep, I just wanna make sure, cause you seem like I gotta go, go and hustle this one.
Speaker 1:Like no, I'll be fine. Like your arm is like falling off, I'll get up at five and I'll go to bed. Yes, I will. Like I don't need a lot of sleep, like my body like, but mentally I'm like, I'm ready, let's do this.
Speaker 2:See, I just wanna hug you because I'm just like I think in my head like, okay, my arms fall off, that's okay, oh no.
Speaker 1:See that's I keep pushing. We don't need arms.
Speaker 2:See that's how I think Okay, you need somebody in your life to like. I mean like oh, you're sick, are you sure?
Speaker 1:No, Girl please. No, I know, but I am like I do, I'm down if I'm like.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah, if I'm laying in bed.
Speaker 1:ooh, that's cause I had to be in bed. Okay, Cause I'm not gonna lay in bed for no reason.
Speaker 2:No, no, no, no, no. Absolutely not Respect. Yeah, yeah, but where your parents like straight my grandfather's very hardworking man.
Speaker 1:I was raised by my grandfather. I think that's exactly why I am this way.
Speaker 2:That's a good thing, but also a bad thing. Mm-hmm, gonna, say that right there. I'm sorry, no offense. I just mean like, take care of yourself. Did your grandpa take care of himself?
Speaker 1:He's still alive. He's 82, but he still works and runs his business. Oh, they could keep him alive.
Speaker 2:That is true, cause they say when you like, he who rests, rocks that's what I heard, so we don't wanna rock Rest when I die, girl, okay, just don't forget to live life. Okay, you're like I do, girl, I do?
Speaker 1:I mean, I have three amazing kids, amazing husband, amazing friends, family.
Speaker 2:So when did you?
Speaker 1:meet your husband. He went to her in high school and I went to South Lakes and I actually went to his fashion show and saw him in the fashion show.
Speaker 2:Wait, is he a model or something I mean?
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:I'm gonna have to stock you later. I'm just kidding, I'm kidding.
Speaker 1:And then I just was like ooh. And then we met at a friend's party and then we dated a little and then we broke up. It was like 19, and then we got to back together at 25. And we've been together since. So we've been together like 16 years now or something.
Speaker 2:Okay, it's my man, yeah, and it looks like he helps you too when you like need it, so that's and he has his own business.
Speaker 1:So he's doing good. He has a food truck. Okay, what? Where? At Zell's.
Speaker 2:Kitchen. I'm not familiar Where's that at so?
Speaker 1:it's based.
Speaker 2:You gotta plug it. Come on, shout out Zell's.
Speaker 1:Kitchen. So he does baria tacos barbecue custom catering. He's phenomenal. I'll actually have to get him to make y'all something and drop it off.
Speaker 2:Oh, stop, that would be awesome Once you try his food.
Speaker 1:You are hooked.
Speaker 2:Okay, we need him to come here too and like do a little interview.
Speaker 1:Like I am too bougie now to eat out. Like it's like, like you know it's like Does he cook? Does he cook for?
Speaker 2:you? Yeah, oh, you're so lucky he's cooking is better than anybody's.
Speaker 1:Anybody's.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're set. You got apparently model, apparently a chef Boyardee or Chef Gordon Ramsay, whatever. Like you're set, girl, no wonder you're like. No, I'm good, you got it right there. Like sleeping next to you, that's awesome. Try to think of other good questions. You're like so good at answering that I have to like really work my brain there. I know right, no, you're good, I'm going to edit this. I'll cut this rumbling, rambling out. If there's any potential clients that are potential clients for you that are listening, what do you want them to know about your business and why should they come to you?
Speaker 1:You should absolutely come to us because we are very reliable. We are always there. You can ask anybody. Day or night, rain, shine, even if it's a 24 inch snowstorm, we're going to be there. We will collect your dog from the home and bring it to us or have someone stay there. We plan ahead. It's extension of a family, like once your procedure is patched, you are our family. So that's it. Like. You have my personal line, my number. You can get me at any time. If I'm not available, the vice president's available. If she's not available, we have your walker.
Speaker 2:I mean somebody will be there always.
Speaker 1:I love that.
Speaker 2:No matter what Dang, you heard it here first, y'all. Yeah, you need somebody to transmit it, or?
Speaker 1:anything, no matter what we got you. I mean literally, we do it all Taxi service, we bring the dog, anything your dog would ever need. Like we are there, we can do. I will tailor to your need.
Speaker 2:Awesome. And then, just to wrap things up, is there any particular message that you would like to leave with our listeners? It can be about the doggy world, the cat world, animal world, the world in general life.
Speaker 1:I would say just no matter what, figure out what your calling is. Always pay attention to the signs. I'm a big sign person, so I don't believe in coincidences. Something happening. It's because you're supposed to pay attention. Dream big, make your goals very big, even if you think they're too big. Make them bigger because you'll get to them. That's one thing I'm really pushing. All my friends like that have dreams. Dream big, yeah, because you're gonna get to them and say, wow, I can't believe it needs to be more.
Speaker 2:And I feel like sometimes we dream and we never do it and we kind of live with that question and regret and are like wait, what if I had done it? But I didn't push myself Do?
Speaker 1:it. Don't procrastinate, do it. Start the idea today. You're right, I love that. And set goals, set goals and then, once you get to them, set them higher. And that's really my biggest thing, especially in sales. I set a sales goal, I get to it, I move up constantly. It's constantly going up. There's not a plot. You know what I mean. It's always the same.
Speaker 1:The only time it went down was COVID and I had to start over. I mean, that's a fair that drops Obstacle there, but I'm back to where I was and higher. So I mean good, I mean just keep pushing.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for being here. We really appreciate your time and your advice.
Speaker 1:I'm happy I got to come.