We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kimberly Maevers. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kimberly below.
Kimberly, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I was blessed to have a friend and mentor for over 30 years that just happened to be a management and leadership development consultant. When we met in 1985, I was just starting my professional career as a young woman in a male dominated field of civil engineering, land development and construction. So, having another father-figure (I worked for my dad) to mentor me to become a strong, confident young professional was my very good fortune. As my personal life and career evolved, I never stopped leaning on my friend and mentor for sage advice and guidance. Even after moving 1200 miles away, we still managed to connect on the phone, via snail mail, email and texts and we never quit helping each other.
In the fall of 2009, I was facing a significant life change with a divorce, as well as a move back to California. I knew my prospects of employment in my field of homebuilding were bleak due to the economy. So, my friend and mentor suggested we sit down and discuss my options…he told me to write down the Top 3 things I was most passionate about and we would discuss them over lunch, so I did.
During our lunch I pulled out my notebook and shared with him my Top 3 list…the first of which was Underwater Photography to wit he replied, “You realize you live in a land-locked state of Colorado, right?” So, we scratched that off the list. Next on the list was “Habitat for Humanity”…as a homebuilder and an active Board member for Habitat I could not think of a more worthy organization to spend time with. My friends’ reply was…”volunteerism doesn’t pay the rent” knowing I needed to work and earn a living to support myself. So, we scratched that off the list. Then came number 3…”Animals” and my friend took his big red pen and circled that word “Animals” and then remarked that I didn’t have time to go get a Veterinary degree so find a way to break into Pet-Care without having to earn a degree, first. He suggested I visit my pets’ veterinarian and ask her advice. And that is how I got pointed in the direction of becoming a professional pet sitter with an emphasis on special needs pets. My veterinarian told me that if she knew of a professional pet care provider that she could refer her special needs pet clients to, that she would be their biggest source of referral business…she gave me great advice and encouragement as I started crafting a business plan. That is how my company, Fun Fur U – In Home Pet Care, was born!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m a critter-loving capitalist and three-time Certified Professional Pet Sitter with an emphasis on caring for special-needs pets. I started my company in 2010 and have developed the brand with a motto of “Peace-of-mind pet care you can trust!” My team consists of three part-time employees and myself.
We’ve developed a YouTube channel in addition to our FB and Instagram accounts to share our knowledge and experience in an effort to educate and inspire pet owners with tips and tricks on how to better care for their pets. We know we can be a positive voice for pet obesity prevention, protocols for medication administration, litter box hacks, dog and cat food / treat recipes and as well as some unsolicited product endorsements every now and then. It’s an easy way for us to share our pet-care experiences and the lessons we’ve learned along the way.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I was fortunate to be raised by two really great, inspiring, parents who always believed in me. They never quit on me, and they encouraged me to surround myself with other great people. They encouraged me to learn from my mistakes, but to not make them twice. They taught me the value of respect and doing things with integrity. I learned so much from my parents and their work-ethic and I’ve tried hard to pass that on to my family, friends and colleagues as I continue on this journey.
Three pieces of advice I would offer to someone just starting their journey would be:
1) Find a mentor, or two that you trust entirely and use them to listen and learn from. Do not be afraid of constructive feedback, in fact, demand it from those you trust.
2) Never stop learning. Find outlets where you can access advice, education and inspiration. Be open to pivoting away from the way you do something to a better, more efficient way of doing it.
3) As cliche as this sounds, be the BEST and set yourself apart from the rest. No matter what business you’re in, be true to YOU, and be the best!
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
The pet-sitting business is tough. We work very long hours, we work weekends, and holidays while our clients are travelling for work or pleasure. I wake up at night thinking about other people’s pets, so it’s a physically and emotionally demanding business. But it is what I am truly passionate about!
The greatest challenge I face is the rising cost of doing business (licenses, insurance, bond, gasoline, etc.) and the very tiny profit margin. I am seeking ways to generate multiple streams of income that are less labor intensive and give my business a cushion / safety net. The covid pandemic taught me that this business is very negatively impacted when people aren’t able to travel for business or pleasure and that having multiple streams of income is a necessity in order to survive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.FunFurU.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fun_fur_u
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FunFurU
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@funfuruinhomepetcare
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fun-fur-u-in-home-pet-care-lancaster
Image Credits
All photo rights are property of Fun Fur U.
