Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Samantha Smith Neal Mynatt. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Samantha Smith 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 am the oldest of 8 children in a blended family My father was deployed frequently for the Navy. From a young age, I was given responsibility for my younger siblings in the household. This seems to have instilled in me a sense of responsibility and duty. Money was tight at home and at 14 I began working at Winn Dixie grocery. Due to family conflict, I left the family home and began living independently after my junior year of high school. I still managed to graduate in the top 10% of my class. After high school, I worked various jobs in the hospitality industry where I learned that hard work and attention to detail were a necessity for advancement and financial success. In my late 20’s I decided to pursue a career in which I was more interested, dog training! I have found that the lessons learned in previous positions, including attention to detail and problem solving translate to working with dogs as well as running a business. For instance, methodologies for training dogs are generally well known and would appear to apply across most canines. However, each dog has an individual personality, character traits, and intelligence level. This requires a competent trainer to evaluate each dog based on its unique traits and apply training techniques on an individual basis. It may appear that my strong work ethic arose from financial necessity. While this true, in part, it is my belief that I am driven not only from past financial distress, but from a desire to provide a valuable service for a reasonable cost in an ethical manner in a market begging for such a service.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
During our time as dog trainers, it was apparent there was a need for flexible in-home dog services. After COVID, people were going back to the office and simply didn’t have time for their pets as they had previously, especially those adopted during COVID. This led to shelters being overcrowded, a large stray population, a dramatic increase in euthanasia, and very frustrated owners. Recognizing a need for convenient in-home dog services, we founded Go Doggie Mobile. We began providing physical and mental enrichment services, grooming, play dates, and field trips. From the beginning our focus has been providing convenience to our clients. All of our services begin at our client’s front door! We are excited to announce that will soon be offering basic and advanced obedience training. This will not require the dog to be removed from the home to boarding facility for weeks at a time and allows the client to participate if they so choose. It also allows us to address problem behaviors in the home where the problems actually occur. Because of our in-home model our pricing will be, not only competitive, but generally substantially less than traditional board and trains.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
First develop a detailed plan and execute the plan while also being willing to alter the plan as circumstances dictate. Even very detailed, meticulous research will not uncover every problem or circumstance that may arise, especially when you are starting something new. Don’t view every bump in the road as a setback, but as an opportunity to learn and engage in problem solving. Second, consistency and persistence. Consistency in pricing and service creates loyal clients. Persistence is a necessity in order to grow. There are always tasks that you would rather not do, but your mindset must be that all of these tasks are not only necessary, but critical to success. Third, self-care!!!! To avoid burnout and inconsistency in the business, take time to recharge and refocus. Everyone needs to unplug, business owners especially.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
We 0ften feel overwhelmed when the volume of work seems too much. Take a deep breath. Review all of the items that need to be done, start with the most critical and/or the most difficult. Keep moving through the tasks, focus only on that task until its complete. Keep in mind, that if you aren’t resolving the problem, then you may be part of the problem. This applies both professionally and personally. If you’re feeling overwhelmed ask yourself “Do I need a break?” Take a step back and refocus on what’s most important. Start there!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://godoggiemobile.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/godoggiemobile?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godoggiemobile/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
