The first two things I have my Launch and Grow students do are: Number one, define your what. What results do you want to create with your dog walking business?

The second exercise I have them do is to define their why. Why do you want to create this business?

Know your What. Clarity equals Power.

Decide what you want and where you want to go because if you don’t know the results you want to create, no program, book, or coach will help you get there. I know this from personal experience.

When I started my business, I was teaching school. I was unhappy in my career. I decided to start a pet sitting business because I liked dogs. That was my what. I had no specific goals clear in my mind. I didn’t know what I wanted to create, and I was lost for many years early on in my pet sitting business.

What result do you want to create? Look at your business.

Are you doing this to be the only pet sitter in your business? If so, great, define it. This is what I want.

Or do you see a business where you have a team working for you that will help service your clients? What are your financial goals? How much do you want to make with this business? Get clear. Do you want to make $2,000.00 a month, $3,000.00 a month, $10,000.00 a month, $20,000.00 a month, $50,000.00 a month? How long do you want to take to build the business?

If you want to create a six-figure pet sitting business, how long will it take you to get there? Do you want to say within the next three years I want to be at six figures? Or, within the next 12 months, I want to be at six figures, which I’ve had many students do, by the way—by getting super clear about what you want your business to look like, all right?

Do you want to be a dog walking business? Do you want to be a pet sitting business? Do you like to offer house sitting services? Do you want to provide concierge services?

All of this is super specific because when you know what result you want to create, it’s just showing up and doing the work that will get you there. That’s step one, know your what.

Know your Why.

If you don’t have a compelling emotional reason for what you’re doing, if you don’t have a strong enough why, you’re going to get frustrated, you’re going to get bored, you’re going to get upset, and you may quit. That was me.

I had built this business just by default. I had all these clients. I didn’t have a plan. I was miserable. I was living in people’s houses 365 days a year. I hated it. I hated the business that was created before me, and I didn’t have a strong enough why.

Remember my why, that I liked dogs? No. When things get tough, and you get derailed, or you lose motivation if you are not connected with why you want to create this business, why you want to make financial freedom for yourself, why you want to service your pet-owning and pet-loving community, I’m telling you, you’re going to close up shop, and you’re going to quit.

So, get clear. I want you to write as many compelling reasons as you can. Just make sure you’re genuinely connected emotionally to what you want, to being crystal clear on why you want it.

So, in short, what do you want to create, and why do you want to create it? Those are the first two steps in starting your dog walking business, starting your pet sitting business, or starting any business.