Meet Macie McCracken

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

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Macie with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I think I may have been born to work hard. I come from generations of hard workers. My grandparents on both sides did all the could to make life better for their children, and my parents did the same. Generations upon generations before them worked hard for their entire lives to secure the future of their bloodline. They worked and worked and worked.
I can’t help but believe in some type of generational muscle memory. It was in them and it’s in me now.
Maybe it’s the triumph of the human spirit, the beauty and good found in the toil of the sun.

I got my first “job” when I was 12 reffing soccer. I can still remember those long tournament weekends filled with nonstop playing and reffing. When I was 15 I got a job at a car wash as a cashier. That job taught me so much. The owner took me under her wing and let me join her as she completed her “owner duties” everyday. I got so much joy out of earning my own paycheck. I was never someone who wanted to sit and get payed for “nothing”.
I saved and saved all my money and moved to Germany when I was 18 to be an Au Pair. I worked for peanuts, but got to see a whole new world. I solo backpacked Europe after my job was complete. People always said, “you’re so brave, you’re incredible, you’re so inspirational”. I never believed any of those things.
I believed that I was rewarded for years of hard work, though.
When I came back home, I got a job in Downtown Dallas at my cousin’s pet supply store. I walked dogs up and down Main Street, met many wonderful humans and saw a whole other new world (downtown living). I admired the sense of community and the feeling in the air of possiblity. You never know what you may see in downtown!
Today, I own that pet supply store. It’s now a luxury pet spa and boutique, The Paw Spa. Somewhere between walking dogs in downtown Dallas at 18 and me today at 30, I learned the skill of pet grooming and worked and worked and worked. My strong work ethic, inherited from generations of humans with rough hands, smile lines and sun kissed skin made it possible. My need to secure my own future generations made it necessary. When my 6 year old comes to work with me and I tell her “this not my shop, it’s our shop,” I feel a sense of pride and I know she will inherit the same work ethic, if not because of that “generational muscle memory”, then because she saw her Mommy work hard every single day.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am the Owner of The Paw Spa, a luxury pet spa and boutique in downtown Dallas. The story is one that starts and ends in the same place; 1623 Main St. #106.
11 years ago I was asked by my cousins, who owned a pet supply store in the space, to be a dog walker for them. It was so fun and I learned so much about dogs. I eventually moved to Denton to pursue my Bachelor’s degree in Religion. During that time I was presented the opportunity to become a dog groomer, mostly because I had that dog experience in downtown.
Ever since then I have worked as a pet groomer. A couple of years ago I went through a divorce and I suddenly realized I had to do something to secure my future and that of my little girl. By this time my cousins had moved on and the space in downtown was available. I decided I had to make it my own.
At The Paw Spa we highly value our clients and their 4-legged best friends. They’re our family! My favorite part of the job is interacting with my clients and providing their pets with the best grooming experience possible. We are Dallas’ first 100% all natural salon. We care about the products we use and the environment we groom in. We try to keep the salon as quiet and calm as possible and give all of the pups and kittens lots of love.
We also offer classes to the public, teaching skills such as brushing and coat care.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Willingness to work hard, customer service, gratitude

The willingness to work hard cannot be underestimated. You must be willing to go above and beyond the bare minimum to experience growth.

Customer service is so underrated! You only have a business or have the ability to work at a company because you have clients! Treat them well, listen to their concerns and try your best to accommodate their needs.
Treat every single client like they’re the most important person in the world.

Gratitude will keep you going.
Every step forward, be gracious. I am personally thankful to my God and all of those who have supported and loved me throughout my journey. One day you will look back with a smile on your face and a thankful heart for getting through all the hard times.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was to be critical. They questioned choices, all while supporting my final decisions. They challenged my views and gave me a safe place where we could talk freely. My Mother always said, “I’m your best critic”. It wasn’t until recently that I truly understood what she meant and appreciated that she loved me enough and was invested in me enough to offer criticism when she didn’t agree with something or if she saw my life going down a path she didn’t think was best for me. That kind of care leads to the betterment of the self. She and my father helped me and continue to help me become better versions of myself time and time again.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pawspadallas.com
• Instagram: Pawspadallas
• Facebook: Pawspadallas

Image Credits

Dawn and Duke photography