Go Mobile and Succeed

Life With Facebook

Life With Facebook 

If you’re like me, you’re spending a lot of time on Facebook. I’ve been wondering, “Is this a good thing or a bad thing?” I can recall when it first began to creep into my life. I know it was around Atlanta 2010 when I met my new friend Elizabeth Oram, a gal from petgroomer.com. We were both interested in grooming cats and struck up an immediate friendship. We began skypeing on Sunday morning in our pajamas as we studied for cat grooming exams. It was the first time I really got to meet the ladies from CATS – The Cape and Tiara Society, the gang from the Groomers Lounge. The Internet seemed basic but then…. the universe exploded and along came Facebook.

Facebook:

The Social Aspect: Where else but Facebook can you find so many intelligent and interesting people and then have the opportunity to meet them in person traveling to the grooming conventions? You CAN build relationships on the Internet. That’s what I do. Or you can lurk. Lurk is defined as: “To read but not contribute to the discussion in a newsgroup, chat room, or other online forum.” You can be as outgoing or as shy as you like and build your own community.

The Educational Aspect: Since I am the Moderator on Go Mobile And Groom and read other related groups I find that that people in these groups are into learning about grooming. Every topic is a discussion. The threads are long. The questions and answers fly and the learning is fast and furious. It’s like having access to hundreds of minds when you ask about anything. The topics are so varied. Everyone is knowledgeable.

The Down Side:  Some people believe Facebook is a time-eater but I look on the bright side. When I am on Facebook talking with groomers about grooming, I consider that a good use of my time. I am working. I may be posting. I may be lurking but I feel I am using my time wisely because I am furthering my education within a social setting. Sounds good to me!

Many people who couldn’t understand what Facebook is all about have now become fans. Yes, you can love it. Sometimes, you can hate it, but it’s fun. While you are learning about grooming you can also be a little bit nosey… you can get to know people in a whole new light. That’s the hook! Facebook gives you the opportunity to meet others from all over the world with the same interests as you do as you connect with people from every walk of life wherever you go.

 

 

Rising To The Top

Rising To The Top

Spending a few days at the beach with my reunited family has given me the time to think. I often look back at my career in the grooming industry with disbelief. When I started my mobile business in 2006 I had no idea where my new career path would take me. I simply woke up five days a week, as we all do, and went to work.

I was unaware that many challenges lay in store for me as I’d spent the first fifty years of my life living in a warm, safe cocoon. My world revolved around my family with everything else a distant second place. I’d never been tossed out into the business world. I started at the bottom of the ladder in my profession, slowly climbing up a rung at a time, on my own. I didn’t grow up in a grooming family. I had no contacts within the grooming industry. I had to plant my own seeds and water them everyday if I wanted to make it to the top of the ladder.

I do feel good when I look back at all the success I’ve had but my goal was not about accolades or awards. I’ll quote myself by saying, “It’s not about where you go and who you know.” This is the truth. I’m not a competitive person at all. Yes, winning feels good but I don’t have to win. I would never want to win if it meant harming others. If I did that, winning would mean nothing to me and in winning, I would feel like a failure.

Grooming has taught me many life lessons, not just about bathing and trimming dogs and cats. There are challenges at every road you take, at every door you open, at every new encounter. The world goes around everyday including the good and bad, unfortunately you can’t have one without the other. I am wired to see the good in people and I am glad. I have no hidden motives or agenda in what I say or do, only to make friends, have fun, and help others. I am an open book. My greatest success is not about looking at a plaque on the wall or a trophy on my mantle. My greatest satisfaction comes from learning something new, enjoying what I do everyday, having someone tell me they love my blog or that I’ve inspired them to go mobile and succeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Grooming Industry – Options and Possibilities

The Grooming Industry – Options and Possibilities

Being a pet stylist and being involved in the grooming industry has created many blessings in my life. When I attempt to think of any drawbacks, I can’t think of one. All that comes to mind is the popular phrase “It’s all good.”

Having a skill that I can take with me wherever I go is a comforting feeling in today’s economy. My job will never be outsourced to a foreign country. A computer can never replace me. Another groomer will never be me. I know that I can go just about anywhere and find employment or create my own job. In fact, groomers with good skills are heavily in demand all year round, especially at the holidays.

Our job has so many options. We can own a shop, work in a shop, have a mobile van or trailer, have a home shop, or be a housecall groomer. We can work part time or full time. We can groom three pets a day or ten. We can groom exclusively cats or dogs or both. We can specialize in small dogs or big dogs or certain breeds. We can have employees or we can work for ourselves and be a one-groomer show. We can groom pets with just a kitchen sink, a table, a comb, a brush, shears, blades, a clipper, a bottle of shampoo and a hair dryer. When you think about it, it’s so simple. You can start a business on a very small investment if you do your research. Everything you need you can carry in a tote bag or a cart.

Once you’re a groomer and have the skills, you can take your career in so many different directions. Two lifelong cat groomers opened cats-only grooming schools, something desperately needed in our industry, opening even more doors for newcomers or those wanting a new challenge. Many fall in love with competition grooming. For those who become hooked on creative grooming a full-coated white standard poodle will join their family. My love of grooming transformed my life 360 degrees. I morphed from a Mom of three who had a home-based sewing business into a writer, blogger, speaker and motivator because, besides grooming, I love to think about grooming and helping others to succeed. You can take it as far as you like with the sky being the limit.

Dogs and cats will always get dirty. Their hair will get tangled and grow back once it’s trimmed. Their nails will grow; their ears will always need to be cleaned just like ours do. In every town, in every city there will always be a demand for our profession. Talented pet stylists have the power to create their own opportunities if they are motivated to go out and make it happen. Working with pets and being in the pet industry is one of the most rewarding and satisfying experiences of my life. I wouldn’t have it any other way.