I recently purchased a copy of Six-Figure Pet Sitting by Kristin Morrison. It took me a week or two to actually take the time to sit down and read it, but once I picked it up, I could not put it down.
In Chapter 5, Kristin discusses the concept of Inner Value, or the lack thereof. Although this book specifically covers pet sitting, what she has to say about inner value is pretty universal and worth pondering, whatever your occupation.
The following is an except from Six-Figure Pet Sitting:
“Do You Lack Inner Value?
A symptom of the lack of inner value is often under-earning. This lack of inner value can be made to look productive through marketing and activities to increase your business, but often there is little or no follow through to ‘close the deal’. Remember the sabotaging techniques you previously wrote about? A lack of inner value can also sabotage all of your efforts and often will feel as though you, once again, have your foot on the gas and the brake at the same time.
Having a lack of inner value that sabotages your business and financial success is often expressed through:
- Not raising client rates for two or more years.
- Being afraid to say no to a client request.
- Working too hard and not having a lot to show for it.
- Not holding clients to terms outlined in the contract.
- Not having clients sign a contract.
- Giving discounts without clients asking for them.
- Not keeping orderly and accurate business records.
- Being afraid to hire people and/or saying no to new business.
- Returning client calls too late: 24-48 hours later.
- Marketing a lot but feeling too tired to call new clients back.
- Not spending enough time doing revenue-producing activities.
List all the ways you notice that YOU lack inner value and sabotage your business and profit…”
She then goes on to have you list positive actions you can take to stop sabotaging yourself and provides a series of “action steps” that seriously encourages follow-through.
If you are a house and pet sitter, or are considering becoming one, please buy this book. This is just one of the excerpts that resounded with me. Thank you, Kristin ~ I SO needed to read this guide right before launching Phase II of Caretaking Couple! Here’s to Inner Value,
Valynne
PS You can find even more tools and resources (including business coaching, teleclasses, forms and a blog) at Six-Figure Pet Sitting Academy.
What a great lesson on inner value, thanks for sharing! I look forward to reading the book.
Rachel, I have a feeling we will be brainstorming up a…storm when you do read it!
That is a wonderful excerpt, with a lot of meaning. I think I am going to have to get the book. Thank you for enlightening me. 🙂
It is definitely worth the investment and then some, Natasha. Thanks for the comment…I am going to go visit you now : )
Great post and review of Kristin’s book on Six Figure Pet Sitting. I have been thinking about expanding our local service of free home dog food delivery and offer pet sitting or team up with local pet sitters as a way to help our local community. I am going to add this book to my must buy list. Thanks for your review and great blog as well.
Thank you,
Harry
Pawrific ” A Pet’s Delight”
Harry, Thank you for your comments. Let me know if you would like to brainstorm ideas ~ I am having many an interesting conversation with local animal lovers. What a great community this is. You can e-mail me at Valynne@CaretakingCouple or call 503-208-3587.
Hey Harry
If you do decide to expand your dog food delivery service to include pet sitting (usually it’s the other way around – LOL – people are pet sitters/dog walkers first then add on pet food/products to their business)….. take it from me: do as per your second suggestion – team up with them instead. Form strategic and profitable alliances.
I’m a full time pet sitter and house sitter – I actually do not want to add pet products and deliver to my service offerings because I’m busy enough. Instead, I team-ed up with someone who already does this 🙂 They get exposed to my clients and vice versa – they’ve given me referrals. It’s been a good “deal” 🙂
Thank you for this feedback, Vanessa. Here’s to cross-promotion!