Meet Treasure Crocker

 

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

Hi Treasure, so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?

I believe I was born an empath. Not to dive deep into astrology but I’m a Cancer sun with a Pisces moon and for those that don’t understand what that means, haha let’s just say…I feel…everything! Not only do I feel my emotions but I also can connect and be in tune with others’ emotions. As I’ve learned that about myself, especially as an adult, I’m able to be empathetic towards others without being fully consumed with the energy that they are exuding, which was much harder to do when I was younger. I would allow myself to be affected by what the next person was feeling or experiencing and over time, my mind and body would become so drained. Having the ability to connect to others was something I enjoyed doing but I had to learn how to walk away from a situation with only my emotions. What started to help me was going through my own life experiences and seeing how those around me who were less empathetic than myself, tried their best to connect with me. It wasn’t that they didn’t care necessarily, it was more so that they had boundaries which was a skill I had yet to develop and it’s still a work in progress. Recognizing that everyone experiences the ebb and flow of life and it’s not my job to “save” them but rather if I have the capacity to do so, lend a listening ear, help if I can, give a shoulder to cry on, give advice, etc. and allow them to make their own decision, is how I’ve been able to develop my empathy. Giving someone grace and understanding, when appropriate, is by far one of the greatest acts a person can do because you never know what the next person may be experiencing.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Hi! I’m Treasure Crocker, Founder and CEO of Pawstries, an all-natural and gluten-free pet treat company dedicated to providing healthy and delicious snacks to furry friends! I’m a former veterinary technician turned entrepreneur and I started Pawstries in November of 2018 after my eldest dog Chase, suffered from an allergic reaction to store-bought treats. My dogs are father and son and both have a gluten and chicken sensitivity, so at Pawstries, all of our treats are gluten-free and we offer venison and bison as an alternative protein option for dogs. I’ve been a lover of animals since I was a little girl and one of the things I enjoy most about what I do is producing a healthy and delicious treat that pets love and pet parents can trust. Our dog treats are also human-grade and when we have vendor events, we often encourage customers to try a treat and the look on their faces when they realize they can share a treat with their dog is honestly priceless. As a health-conscious dog mom, like so many other pet parents, we want to feed our fur babies products that are going to help keep them happy, healthy, and a part of our families for the foreseeable future, which is why our motto is “If we as humans have the right to healthy and delicious snacks, our pets deserve the same.”

In September of 2023, I had the opportunity to expand Pawstries from Michigan to Georgia and since being here, I’ve formed some wonderful connections with fellow entrepreneurs and business professionals in the pet industry. I am happy to announce that a business colleague and I are opening a grooming salon and pet bakery here in Atlanta in the fall of 2024! The opening of the new space also means that we at Pawtries will have a new brand identity (logo, colors, packaging, etc.) to be more cohesive with the growth and expansion of our company and we are looking to unveil the progress as time continues! Rest assured that while we are making these changes, the most important information to know is that our furry friends will still be able to enjoy the treats they know and love, with some new extra flavors and goodies to go along with it!

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?

Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with ups and downs haha and anyone on this journey can attest to that. I think what’s been most impactful for me is having resilience, adaptability, and being creative. There are going to be moments of setbacks, failures, changes in market trends, customer needs, etc. and you have to develop the skill of pivoting in these moments to keep moving forward. Having creativity allows for unique business ideas and ways to constantly evolve your product or service to stay relevant in the market. My advice for folks who are early in their journey is to join a business cohort or find/assemble a community of like-minded individuals who understand the nature of the path you’ve chosen to take and everyone involved is willing to help each other achieve their goals. I found that when I joined a community of people who shared similar experiences and stories that I had, it made me feel less alone and more motivated to continue on the path of entrepreneurship.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am always looking for folks to partner or collaborate with, especially in the pet industry! I enjoy learning about people and their pets if they have them, hearing their stories, and from that information seeing how we can come together to be a benefit to each other if possible. Whether that’s sharing resources, partnering on a project, or just making a connection that can turn into a friendship. I’m very big on community because without the communities that I’ve joined, started, helped, and continue to nurture, not only would Pawstries not be where it is today, but I don’t think I would be the person that I am without community. If anyone is looking to connect with me I’m open to all connections, not just in the pet industry, please feel free to reach out to me by email at treasure@pawstries.com. I would love to connect!

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