I'm actually jealous of my employees sometimes. I think back to the days when I used to work alone with a kind of nostalgic pining - all I can think about is how great it was to walk dogs all day and not have to worry about managing a team with all of the associated stress. But I forget about the difficulties I faced dealing with customers, getting paid, working out my schedule, losing clients at short notice etc. And I see my employees enjoying their time with the dogs, without any of those worries. Got a problem? The boss will deal with it. No need to interact with difficult clients, no need to find new clients, no need to grapple with the accounts, just get out of bed in the morning, go to work, walk dogs and then go home. I find that I need to educate my employees as to what goes on behind the scenes and how much I have to deal with. Otherwise they get to thinking that they could be working for themselves and earning a lot more and it wouldn't take any more effort! 

Hey my friend, I don't think employees or clients will ever fully understand what we go through, "most" of them are more concerned if we understand their side of the equation. I think this is true of almost all service business' (most people don't think of the person who trained their house cleaner, they just think their house cleaner is great and love them.) But I think we take it more personally in the pet industry because it's such a human experience, working with an owner, their pet and in their homes.

It's part of the reason why I harp so much to do this job because you love animals, want to make good money and enjoy your free time. Those of us, at least those running a pet service, who still do this to feel loved are probably going to always be left wanting more. I think it's easier for us to accept the strange dynamic of our business' and celebrate the good parts (freedom to do what we want, good income, working with animals) than it is to ever get people to understand the rigors of our daily lives...I don't think we'll ever figure that one out...

Best, Josh

Yep you're right, I've come to accept that I'm never going to have a 100% smooth relationship with a lot of my clients, or even my employees...many of them have no idea what it's like to have to manage an operation like this and they never will. But I don't hold that against them, because I'm exactly the same. Do I care what goes on behind the scenes to provide my internet connection? Of course not, I pays my money and I wants my internetz!

I hear you brother, well all the same we definitely need to vent with one another with the things we go through. I've got a video coming out today or tomorrow I think you'll enjoy, gives some ideas to combat just this, thanks!