Let's Talk Dog Business

• Confronting Imposter Syndrome in Dog Training

  In this episode, Jo and Vicky explore the prevalence of imposter syndrome within the dog industry and discuss potential solutions. Many dog professionals continually seek to expand their knowledge through conferences and courses but often struggle to apply what they have learned. This can lead to a loss of confidence and open the door to imposter syndrome. Peer pressure, the way accreditation works and how course creators upsell are also fuelling the growth of imposter syndrome within the industry. Jo and Vicky provide insights and strategies to help you to avoid and overcome imposter syndrome. Enabling you to confidently apply new knowledge that improves your services. KEY TAKEAWAYS When you use too many training approaches (disciplines) you spread yourself too thin and imposter syndrome starts to creep in. It is better to specialise. You don´t have to take every course out there to become an expert. Believing that you need to do that when you don´t have time to do it can contribute to imposter syndrome. There is a lot of knowledge crossover between courses. Trying to beat imposter syndrome by becoming a serial course taker will waste a lot of your time. If you let imposter syndrome creep in, it will cripple your business. You won´t be willing to put yourself out there, which will greatly restrict the effectiveness of your advertising. Most business owners struggle to implement what they have learned. Often, because of the way the information is presented. Shoehorning something you learn into your existing services is rarely effective. The strategies you learned become too diluted to have much impact. Making too many changes at once is counterproductive. You have to put the implementation of some of the new strategies you like on the back burner. Let your business purpose dictate which new approaches you adopt, rather than peer pressure. BEST MOMENTS “I’m sitting there and I’m going it’s great I just love this, but How the f**k do I implement that?” “This just highlights the big gaping hole of things that need fixing in this industry.” “It´s like learning the theory without the practical application.” “This comes back down to having a strategy and a purpose for your business.” “There shouldn't be such a thing as imposter syndrome when it comes to dog knowledge... the education out there is epic.” “You need to be a specialist in one or other of the disciplines rather than trying to be that jack of all trades.” “Imposter syndrome isn't about a lack of knowledge or skills. It’s about that judgment.” EPISODE RESOURCES ACE Free Work - https://animalcentrededucation.teachable.com SOCIALS AND IMPORTANT LINKS https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness Website www.caninebusinessacademy.com Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/ Let´s Talk Dog Business Strategy Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Talk-Dog-Business-Strategy/dp/1068791705 ABOUT THE HOSTS Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.

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• Turning Frustration Into Opportunity and a 7-Figure Business with Paul Tinker

  In this episode, Jo & Vicky chat with Paul Tinker, an entrepreneur who transitioned from army trainer and construction worker to managing £7 million development projects. Frustrated by the chaotic way most property developers and their teams worked, Paul created training to address this issue. This year, his training business is set to turnover 7 figures. Paul shares some of the important lessons he has learned from founding and growing his businesses and helping his students to transform theirs. He explains why you need to network, challenge the norms, be transparent and honest, learn to manage customer expectations and take into account their personality type when working with them. KEY TAKEAWAYS In business it is all too easy to just carry on doing what you have always done. Developing a learning and growth mindset helps to counter this. You need to stand up to peer pressure from within your industry and do things differently. When something's difficult to overcome e.g. An industry practice, 99 times out of a 100 it is fear driven. Be transparent with your customers. Tell them exactly what they are getting for the price. Be prepared to really break down what´s involved. Managing customer expectations is the number one skill a business owner needs. Be sure that you understand what they expect, never assume. Take into consideration the personality type of your customer. Your personality type greatly influences how you interact with people, be aware of this. Paul shares a fascinating and surprising example of this. Everyone gets frustrated with their clients at some point. Often, that is a sign that you need to work a little bit differently with that person. When you give into the toxicity within your industry and just go with the flow, ultimately it is your customers that suffer. Being self employed is not less secure than working for someone else. You need support and network with others that are doing what you are doing. BEST MOMENTS “She almost challenged me to start a training business off the back of my frustration .” “I should do 7 figures in training this year.” “People are operating the business side of it so piss poorly that it's almost perceived by the public as like a hobbyist business.” “He won the job just from being transparent.” “It´s never the consumer’s job to work out what they’re buying.” “Being self-employed is a no-brainer.” EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.facebook.com/constructionmasterclass https://www.constructiontrainingacademy.com https://www.instagram.com/paul_tinker_32 https://www.youtube.com/@PaulTinkerMakeMOREprofit SOCIALS AND IMPORTANT LINKS https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness Website www.caninebusinessacademy.com Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/ Let´s Talk Dog Business Strategy Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Talk-Dog-Business-Strategy/dp/1068791705 ABOUT THE HOSTS Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.

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  1:11:57
• Sceptical About Business Coaches? – Are You Right to Be?

  In this episode, Jo & Vicky talk about why so many of us are sceptical about business coaches. They look at why this is and whether people who work in the dog industry are right to be sceptical. Jo & Vicky also explain how to work out if a business coach will help you to grow faster. If you conclude that you should hire one the advice shared in this episode will help you to find the right coach for you and your business. KEY TAKEAWAYS Most business coaches have no experience of the dog business, so often fail to appreciate the important differences and adequately adapt what they teach and the support they give. Having the right knowledge is vital, for example you have to understand how humans think as well as their dogs. Essentially you have two clients. When you have a coach who has been exactly where you are now, they remove most of the mental and practical barriers that have been holding you back. Often, by offering practical advice about how to overcome specific physical problems. The right coach will save you a lot of wasted effort, frustration and stress. If you have tried a coach before and not had good results don´t let that put you off. You just need to find the right one for you. Someone who provides support tailored to the stage your business is currently at. Working efficiently is an effective way to earn more. A coach that has worked in the dog business can provide practical advice and tips to help you to work smarter. A good coach will help you overcome overwhelm and make the right business decisions. How you structure your finances has a bit impact on wealth creation. The right coach will help you to understand this aspect of business too. Most business coaches are not just out to make money. Often, they see helping others as an important part of their purpose. BEST MOMENTS “Without the coaching, the strategy doesn't work, because there's always going to be a blockage.” “I genuinely believe that my purpose is to inspire others and to inspire a change.” “We are pretty unusual in terms of how deep we go on really getting into somebody's mindset.” “It´s about peeling those layers back. You´re all onions out there.” “If you need specific help on social media, go and find a social media coach.” “You have to really work hard as a professional to be able to adapt and tweak your style to suit somebody else’s.” “We know that the work we do with trainers and others is going to impact the dogs they train.” EPISODE RESOURCES Let´s Talk Dog Business Strategy Book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lets-Talk-Dog-Business-Strategy/dp/1068791705 SOCIALS AND IMPORTANT LINKS https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness Website www.caninebusinessacademy.com Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/ ABOUT THE HOSTS Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.

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• Closing the Deal - Actually Making That Sale

  In this episode, Jo & Vicky talk about an issue that they are coming across a lot during their client calls – a reluctance to actually ask for the sale. They explain why so many business owners struggle with this, including the role our own money mindset plays. Jo & Vicky explain how to work out whether this is your issue, then tackle it. To do this they use examples from their business and other dog trainers and take you through a demonstration sales conversation. You will also learn how the way you deal with lead generation impacts your ability to communicate effectively with potential customers. KEY TAKEAWAYS If you're finding yourself using language like expensive, cheap, and affordable, you almost certainly have money mindset issues that are holding you back. If you tell yourself what you are offering is expensive or the person you are speaking to can´t afford it, that will come across. Your subconscious will hold you back. Never assume that someone’s pain isn’t great enough for them to pay you practically anything to solve it for them. Take time to have a proper conversation with a potential client. You will make a connection with them and be better able to work out what they need. Don´t ask what have you tried before. Speak to the customer, don´t ask them to fill out 4 pages of information first. When your tone changes and you duck and dive when it´s time to talk about the price, people get suspicious and won´t book with you. People have to come to the conclusion that you are right for them on their own, you can´t force them but you can be clear about what you offer and how you can help. Constantly strive to improve what you offer. Review and tweak, or discard services that don´t work well. Genuinely putting your customer first and striving to improve builds your confidence in what you do. That and your passion comes through naturally when you speak to potential clients. Periodically review your sales process and hone it. BEST MOMENTS “People find it hard to ask for the sale.” “We're dealing with people; we’re not dealing with dogs.” “They just need to speak to somebody. They just need to figure out if you're the right fit.” “We make all of these c**y decisions because it's coming from a place of fear that we're not making enough money that month.” “The majority of clients I’ve had over the years have not been in affluent areas.” “It's not your job to get somebody to buy. It's your job to present a solution.” “Earn the right to be able to ask for that money. Earning the right is done by understanding that client.” SOCIALS AND IMPORTANT LINKS https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness Website www.caninebusinessacademy.com Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/ ABOUT THE HOSTS Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.

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  38:48
• Stop Scatter-Gunning - Instead, Focus On One Thing At a Time and Do That Really Well

  For this solo episode of the Let´s Talk Dog Business Podcast, Jo & Vicky discuss the importance of focusing on one business strategy at a time. Using examples from their own experience and that of their mentees, they demonstrate why splitting your time and energy and trying to achieve too much at once is counterproductive. They then explain how a business that currently offers numerous courses can distil and hone things so that they can offer one product and focus on that. Sharing how to do that in a way that enables you to make higher profits. They also explain how to identify which business tasks you need to focus on first. KEY TAKEAWAYS Focusing on one thing. Getting really good at it will take your business further faster. Not focusing usually means you end up only half doing things and not maximising opportunities. Once you are good at something you know for sure whether it is profitable or not. Offering one programme makes marketing far easier and more effective. How to distil everything down into one product or course is explained during the podcast. Learning one new skill at a time is by far the fastest way to learn and hone that skill. Religiously using the right calendar is a simple way to ensure that you always focus on the right thing at the right time. Plan out your time and stick to that schedule. Initially, it will feel restrictive but taking that focused action will quickly end up providing you with more freedom. Stop trying to cover too much in your classes. Instead, focus on getting your client to the stage where they can do the thing that will solve their problem, and do it well. Trying to cover too much in one lesson just overwhelms and frustrates clients. Ask the right questions to get your clients to think. When you do that, lightbulb moments happen, and your clients progress faster. BEST MOMENTS “Focus on understanding why your business exists and that outcome for your client.” “The biggest thing we did was to streamline all of our services into one.” “It's pointless dipping into loads of different areas. You've just got to do one thing.” “We should just be focusing on one thing per class. Just by doing that we hugely elevate that class.” “Set the expectation and dare to be different.” “Doing everything at once is not the answer.” SOCIALS AND IMPORTANT LINKS https://www.tiktok.com/@letstalkdogbusiness https://www.youtube.com/@LetsTalkDogBusiness Website www.caninebusinessacademy.com Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caninebusinessacademycommunity/ ABOUT THE HOSTS Meet Jo and Vicky! They bring a combined 25 years of expertise in the canine industry. Jo, with a background in corporate business, and Vicky, a dedicated advocate for rescue organisations, form an unstoppable team. Beyond the mic, their lives are a whirlwind – managing two successful businesses, pursuing a full-time university degree, and parenting two little ones under four. Each of their homes combined is a lively menagerie, housing five dogs and an abundance of chickens.

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  48:20

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