Épisodes

  • Confronting Imposter Syndrome in Dog Training

    Confronting Imposter Syndrome in Dog Training
    Feb 5 2025

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

    Turning Frustration Into Opportunity and a 7-Figure Business with Paul Tinker
    Jan 29 2025
    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 h et 12 min
  • Sceptical About Business Coaches? – Are You Right to Be?

    Sceptical About Business Coaches? – Are You Right to Be?
    Jan 22 2025

    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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    1 h et 6 min
  • Closing the Deal - Actually Making That Sale

    Closing the Deal - Actually Making That Sale
    Jan 15 2025

    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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    39 min
  • Stop Scatter-Gunning - Instead, Focus On One Thing At a Time and Do That Really Well

    Stop Scatter-Gunning - Instead, Focus On One Thing At a Time and Do That Really Well
    Jan 8 2025

    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 min
  • Become a Pet Business Disruptor to Grow Fast with Clayton Payne

    Become a Pet Business Disruptor to Grow Fast with Clayton Payne
    Jan 1 2025
    DESCRIPTION In this episode, Jo & Vicky are joined by Clayton Payne, a pet and animal industry expert, podcaster and serial pet industry entrepreneur who is currently the C.O.O. at the Bug Factory. It is an insect company that develops industrial breeding systems for insects that are used in animal foods and feeds. Clayton has worked in the pet and pet food industries all of his life. He has created, grown and sold multiple businesses in the sector. So, the information he shares here is invaluable and has been adapted to be especially relevant for owners of dog training businesses. KEY TAKEAWAYS Think outside the box. Get creative. If you keep doing things the same way you will get left behind. Trends change. Twenty years ago, dogs mostly ate canned food, now high meat content dried foods and raw meat are in high demand. The dog training industry is changing too. The way people live has changed, so the way dogs live and the problems they need help with have changed too. Adapting your training to a specific breed or personality type is a good way to specialise. The fact that you deeply understand that type of dog and have adapted how you teach to suit its needs is a huge selling point. Sell why you are so good. Appealing to people emotionally, using logic and creating urgency enables you to sell more. Don´t get frozen by fear. Get on with things and learn from your mistakes. Get customer feedback, so you are clear on why your product or service sells. Try new products or services out with people you trust to get feedback. Several ways to do this are discussed in the episode. As a service provider you can still create urgency by limiting demand. If there are products you love why not sell them? It´s a win-win. Many manufacturers are interested in working with dog trainers to sell their products. Often, they will offer special deals and discount codes. BEST MOMENTS “If you keep doing things in the same way, you're going to get left behind.” “From a young age, I was thinking - I'm going to have to innovate. I'm going to have to do things differently.” “Look and think – Who´s buying this? And why are they paying money for it?” “You have to change your mentality from a mentality of, what do I like, to what makes my customer part with their money combined with what I like, because you're not selling to yourself .” “If you have a product or service, try and niche it. ” “People struggle with criticism because they don't see it as a chance for learning.” ABOUT THE GUEST https://www.linkedin.com/in/clayton-payne-a6772244/ https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pet-business-disruptors/id1759599442 Mealworm kits - https://bugfactory-mealworm.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/ 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 h et 10 min
  • Your Dog Business Questions Answered – Q&A Session

    Your Dog Business Questions Answered – Q&A Session
    Dec 25 2024

    For today's episode of Let's Talk Dog Business, Vicky & Jo do something a little bit different. They answer some of the questions that you've submitted to them via the Facebook group.

    They cover how to increase your perceived value, getting clients to do what is asked of them, working out how much to charge and how to create your client avatar.

    KEY TAKEAWAYS

    • Offering something that other trainers in the area do not offer or providing 100% of what potential customers need helps to increase your perceived value.

    • Focus on attracting the right clients, don´t waste energy chasing people you are not a good fit for.

    • When clients book and pay for blocks of lessons, be clear about the date by which the sessions need to be completed.

    • There are several ways to work out how much you should be charging. During the episode, Jo & Vicky explain each one and highlight the best way to do it.

    • When working out what to charge, don´t just go with an hourly rate, especially not a low one. If you simply do that you are not factoring in what it costs to provide the service e.g. insurance and rent.

    • What you charge needs to reflect your expertise, you are sharing experience and knowledge that few people have.

    • You need to do more than earn enough to cover your bills. People will spend what they are happy to pay, if you are happy too, it is a win-win.

    • Factor in where your potential clients live when choosing which platforms to use.

    BEST MOMENTS

    “The perceived value of your client isn't necessarily your own perceived value,”

    “If we're leaving it to the client and they're not doing it well, our job is to lead and guide them to make sure that the journey for them is absolutely amazing.”

    “Everything should be really clear and simple for the customer.”

    “You are responsible for that dog. You are there to care for it.”

    “Without you, that person couldn't go on holiday, or they couldn't do what they're doing.”

    “Everything should be really clear and simple for the customer.”

    “If someone's happy to pay you £1000 for 5 training sessions and you're happy to receive it. It's a win-win.”

    “Do you need to start using different words and phrases because of the age of your audience?”



    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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    27 min
  • Changing the Public´s Perception of Muzzled Dogs with Clara of The Muzzle Movement

    Changing the Public´s Perception of Muzzled Dogs with Clara of The Muzzle Movement
    Dec 18 2024
    DESCRIPTION In this episode, Jo & Vicky are joined by Clara who worked for many years as a senior trainer and behaviour advisor at Dog´s Trust. In 2022, she founded The Muzzle Movement as a way to advocate for muzzled dogs and their guardians. Something she felt compelled to do when she adopted Tolly, who needed to be muzzled. The experience they had while out and about compelled Carla to change the public´s perception of muzzled dogs. It also inspired her to shake up the muzzle space by developing a new type of muzzle. One that provides far more freedom of movement, while still being effective, comfortable and hardwearing. In under 2 years, 20,000 have been shipped worldwide. Carla shares her story, including raising £46,000 on Kickstarter. KEY TAKEAWAYS Carla hired someone on Upwork to create the CAD plan for her. The first muzzle was 3d printed. Being able to feed and drink water while wearing a muzzle is a big benefit. A dog wearing a black or brown muzzle looks scarier to most people than one that is wearing a blue or brightly coloured one. Hire help as soon as you can. Your business will grow faster, and you will avoid burnout. When Clara hired a team her turnover hit £1.2 million in 12 months. Hire people who share your core values and passion for what you are doing. This is particularly important during the startup stage. Be clear about your purpose. Without that clarity, you will not have the drive to get through the tough times. Offer true solutions for actual problems, not something only you perceive to be an issue. Stick to your values. Carla shares why they are doing this and why they turned down £2 million worth of orders. Hire a mentor as soon as possible. It will accelerate your growth. Regularly review what you are doing and improve. As an industry we need to pull together and stop criticising each other. There is way too much negativity in the dog industry. BEST MOMENTS “I wanted to be able to feed my dog through the muzzle really easily.” “I should have hired people sooner.” “A business needs to make money to be able to continue being a business and be able to support more people in the future.” “Your business decisions should be made off the back of those values.” “We'll take that loss of £2 million orders that we could have had next year if it means that over time, the right things are happening anyway.” “It impacted my business because I was surrounded by negativity the whole time.” “I don't think they're fearful of what their potential clients would say, they're scared about the peer group.” “Reach out to people and say that's amazing … it really helps the other person.” ABOUT THE GUEST https://www.themuzzlemovement.com Socials - @themuzzlemovement 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.
    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 10 min