We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tori Mistick a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tori, thanks for joining us today. Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?

Yes, I make it a point to take vacations a few times a year and completely disconnect from work. However, I also prioritize personal time within my daily and weekly schedule. I have blocked off my Friday mornings on a regular basis so that I can enjoy hiking with my dogs at our favorite local trails, instead of our usual weekday walks around the neighborhood. Anticipating this outing motivates me to complete my work efficiently.

I schedule and batch content in advance whenever possible. For instance, I already planned the next 4 months of my weekly podcast, with half of the episodes pre-recorded. I rely on scheduling and automation to help me stay consistent even when I’m away from my office.

However, I have also realized that it is acceptable to take time off without posting. It’s okay for me to be inactive on Instagram for 5 days while on a trip. When I return, I feel refreshed and more enthusiastic about posting. Additionally, being fully present in the moment during my vacation allows me to truly enjoy the experience without concerning myself with content creation (the source of a lot of burnout!).

The fact that I’m a solopreneur also works to my advantage as I don’t get a lot of questions or have to grant approvals while on vacation.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m the founder of Wear Wag Repeat, an award-winning multi-media brand dedicated to helping women live their best life with dogs – as pet parents and petpreneurs!

I started the blog in 2013 as a hobby to document my many passions. I blogged about fashion, recipes, home decor, DIYs, and of course, dogs! My dream of becoming a famous fashion blogger quickly pivoted into my reality as a dog blogger. The dog blogging community has always been so welcoming and supportive. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them!

As I worked on blog posts in the early days I had another business as a social media consultant for local businesses here in Pittsburgh. I was growing my clients’ social media accounts to 10,000 and 30,000 followers. That’s when I realized I needed to put that expertise to use growing my own social media following.

My success on Instagram lead me to opportunities to do paid influencer work for a variety of brands. Other dog lovers started to take notice and ask me how I grew my account and became a “pupfluencer”. I tapped into my knowledge from my Bachelor’s Degree in Integrated Marketing Communication and my Master’s Degree in Digital Media to put together online courses to help others in the pet industry grow their businesses online.

In 2018 I created my first online course called Instagram Strategy for the Pet Obsessed. Today, I offer courses on digital marketing for pet businesses in addition to my monthly membership that covers a different topic each month. If you’re working to make your dog dream a reality, I’d be honored to help you do that!

I’m also proud to provide a platform for women in the pet industry through the Wear Wag Repeat Podcast. It’s given me the opportunity to speak with hundreds of inspiring women and share their stories. My nationally-recognized podcast will hit 300 episodes at the end of this year.

One of the best parts of this whole dog-obsessed dreamworld that I’ve created is knowing how many people I reach. Thanks to features in The Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America, BuzzFeed, Good Housekeeping, The Pioneer Woman, AKC Family Dog Magazine and dozens of blogs and podcasts I’ve impacted the lives of millions of women and their dogs!

I’m really excited about my newest accomplishment, earning a certification as a Canine Enrichment Specialist. I’m sharing my expertise in enriching dogs’ lives through a new online course for pet parents. The Mental Enrichment Activity Pack features 10 games and activities that strengthen your dog’s memory, vocabulary and problem solving skills through interactive brain games.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

In my role as a content creator within the pet industry, I prioritize a high level of integrity. I firmly believe that when pet parents rely on my recommendations for dog products or programs, I need to personally test and share my honest experiences. Whenever possible, I go the extra mile by conducting interviews with the product creators or pet health experts to make sure that the items I endorse on my website and social media platforms are safe and reliable.

This commitment to building trust has been fundamental in shaping my reputation, and I wouldn’t do anything that risked it.

Furthermore, I’ve developed a strong reputation for supporting women in business. I genuinely believe that there is an abundance of resources (money, customers, praise, etc.) available to everyone. By actively uplifting other business owners who offer exceptional products and ideas, I not only contribute to their success but I also benefit in the long-term. People associate me with making great recommendations, and hopefully, we’re all helping to make pet parents more informed consumers.

Do you have multiple revenue streams – if so, can you talk to us about those streams and how your developed them?

Absolutely! I strongly believe in diversifying my income sources. Over the past few years, I have strategically shifted away from relying solely on influencer posts as my primary source of revenue. At the moment, my online education programs have become the cornerstone of my income streams. This ability to adapt and explore various avenues has been instrumental in my success.

In addition to influencer posts and educational programs, I actively engage in affiliate marketing, collaborate with an ad network, and conduct guest expert workshops for industry-specific organizations. These additional revenue streams contribute to the overall growth and stability of my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wearwagrepeat.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/tmistick
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/wwrlabs
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/torimistick
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY9njyZ3qv3jSOvIv4Il2tQ
• Other: Apple Podcats: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wear-wag-repeat-podcast/id1291733810?mt=2