Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kathleen Smith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kathleen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.
First and foremost find a mentor! A great business mentor will really help set you up for success. I was lucky enough to find a business mentor that has a business model pretty close to what I was thinking of, and he already had a formal business program to enroll in. If a formal mentorship program doesn’t exist in the line of work/business you want, find someone as close as you can and just talk to them, most small business owners are excited to talk to other people about their business. The mentor I have has already successfully grown his business and survived many trial and errors that I got to learn from instead of going through. His program helped me set realistic goals from the beginning, and gave me direction on where to begin with the logistics. Aside from my mentor, I also researched A TON of businesses throughout the country and even a few out of the country that were similar to what I wanted just to pick things I liked and didn’t. The business mentorship program and getting an idea of how I wanted and needed to start took a few months, but I am not done with my mentor, I can and do reach out regularly with questions and even just to be reminded I am on the right track.
It will feel like a giant scary cliff of a leap, but don’t listen to the naysayers, take the leap and commit! It will be worth it, even if the business is not immediately succesfull you will grow in ways you never imagined!
Kathleen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Im a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and worked in the human world for a decade before being thrown to the dogs, spent a year getting certified in canine rehab and now own an in home canine rehab business. What that means is I help your dogs move better, get stronger and be pain free, whether it is from an injury, accident or typical age related changes. I provide all care in the comfort of their home, and provide a range of care modalities meaning hands on treatment like massage, as well as exercises. I place an emphasis on the home exercise program that you complete with your dog for the true lasting changes they need for the best outcomes! There are so many things about my job and business that I love, but I feel the clients and the dogs love the fact that I come to them. So many dogs do not enjoy public places, and especially vet like settings that they truly cannot relax and enjoy a session, but in their home I get to see what they are typically like and where they struggle. I love getting to be a part of the dogs journey to a better physical life, and helping the pet parent be an active participant as well. I have seen many dogs get much stronger and be able to return to the activities the love the most like hiking and running. I love getting to “play” with dogs all day, and little do they know of all of the benefits they are getting!!
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
This is still a work in progress for sure, it has only been 14 months since I launched the business but it is about being honest, and providing the care (or product) you say you are going to. I have marketed to all of the local vet offices letting them know my services exist but really most people end of finding me through google, and google reviews and then once they give me a chance know that I truly care about their pet and their success. I hear so many times of clients complaining about such and such business not calling them back, or not showing up to the agreed time, which is mind blowing to me! If you have so much business that you do not care about that client, then don’t agree to it! I am a person of my word, and I run my business that way. That will be how I continue to build my reputation in my market, providing the best quality of services that I can provide.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
There have been a few different podcasts that I have listened too and picked things from that appealed to me. My most influential business mentor is Francisco Maia with TheK9PT business academy- I ahve completed his business mentoring, and he has additional mindset mentorship that is more life as a business owner than the business details. Other podcases include The Brainy Business, Profit First nantion, On Purpose with Jay Shetty- and there are definitely a few things I don’t agree with from each of them, but there are plenty of things that I took from all of them. Find a good business mentor, but you also need some guidance financially, and even general mindset mentoring. Your business can only grow as much as you do!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fureverstrongk9rehab.com/
- Instagram: @fureverstrongk9
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FureverStrongK9/