DogCo Secrets

Michelle Kline
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  • Entrepreneurship

Ready to scale your pet care business? Practical advice you can implement easily and quickly to 10x the growth of your business, musings on the current state of the pet care industry, and all the tips and tricks I've learned from coaching over 200 companies in the last two years.

  1. 3 days ago

    How Top Performers Organize Their Time | Ep. 123

    Most business owners know that time is valuable. The challenge is that knowing time matters and actually managing it well are two very different things. In this episode, I break down three patterns I consistently see among high-performing business owners, leaders, and operators when it comes to how they structure, protect, and invest their time.   This conversation was inspired by a realization I’ve been working through in my own business: as your role evolves, your relationship with time has to evolve too. The systems, habits, and priorities that got you to one stage of growth often aren’t the same ones that will get you to the next. We talk about why structure matters, how top performers move from reactive to proactive leadership, and why learning to defend your calendar may be one of the most important skills an entrepreneur can develop. I also share some of my own challenges around time management, time blocking, leadership transitions, and creating enough margin for strategic thinking and creativity. If you’ve ever felt like your days are running you instead of the other way around, this episode will help you think differently about where your time goes and whether it’s supporting the future you’re trying to build. Because ultimately, the goal isn’t to become busier. It’s to become more intentional. ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Why time is a business owner’s most valuable resource 0:38 – The leadership shift that changed how I think about time 1:31 – Learning from top performers and high-level operators 3:01 – Habit #1: Create structure around your time 4:35 – My own leadership and identity shift this year 5:25 – The benefits and pitfalls of time blocking 6:49 – Habit #2: Be proactive instead of reactive 8:02 – Why pet care businesses struggle with time management 9:13 – Habit #3: Play defense with your schedule 10:00 – Applying the 80/20 Principle to your calendar 🧠 Key Takeaways • Time is often a more valuable business resource than cash flow • High performers build structure around their calendars • Leadership changes require changes in how time is allocated • Time blocking works best when paired with intentional margin • Proactive planning creates more leverage than constant reaction • Business growth requires protecting strategic thinking time • The 80/20 Principle applies directly to your schedule • High performers identify and prioritize high-return activities • Clear boundaries make better decision-making possible • Intentional time management creates sustainable growth 🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit If you’re serious about becoming a stronger leader, building better systems, and growing your pet care business with intention, I’d love to have you join us at the DogCo Business Summit - October 2nd–4th 📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In-person and digital tickets available 👉 dogcosummit.com -M

    11 min

  2. 6 days ago

    Firing with Kindness | Ep. 122

    Firing someone is one of the hardest responsibilities that comes with leadership. In this episode, I tackle a topic most business owners would rather avoid and share my approach to handling employee terminations with as much clarity, dignity, and kindness as possible.   While I never take the decision to let someone go lightly, I do believe that protecting your business, your team, and your culture requires making difficult decisions. The challenge isn’t just knowing when it’s time to part ways. It’s knowing how to do it well. I walk through five principles that have guided me when navigating these conversations, including why it’s important to be direct, why focusing on the decision matters more than debating the reasons, how to create clear expectations during an employee’s exit, and why emotional neutrality can actually be one of the kindest things you bring into the conversation. I also share my perspective on severance, protecting relationships where possible, and helping people transition with dignity even when the outcome is difficult. This is not a fun topic, but it is an important one. If you’re leading a team, these conversations are part of the responsibility that comes with leadership, and my hope is that this episode gives you a framework for navigating them thoughtfully. 🧠 Key Takeaways • Hiring slowly and firing decisively protects both people and businesses • Unaddressed people problems rarely improve on their own • Termination conversations should be clear, direct, and brief • Focus on the decision rather than debating the reasons • Clear expectations help employees exit successfully • Emotional neutrality is often more helpful than emotional expression • Respect and dignity should remain priorities even during difficult conversations • Severance can create a healthier transition for everyone involved • Leadership requires making difficult decisions when necessary • Kindness and clarity can coexist 🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit If you’re serious about becoming a stronger leader, building a healthier team, and growing a more resilient pet care business, I’d love to have you join us at the DogCo Business Summit. October 2nd–4th 📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In-person and digital tickets available 👉 dogcosummit.com -M

    10 min

  3. 8 Jun

    Designing Software for the Pet Care Industry with Jordy McNamara | Ep. 121

    What happens when a pet care business owner decides the industry doesn’t need another scheduling tool, it needs better growth tools? In this episode, I sit down with Jordy McNamara, founder of Critter, to talk about where pet care technology is headed, why marketing remains one of the biggest untapped opportunities in our industry, and how business owners can use automation without sacrificing the relationships that make this work so meaningful. Jordy brings a unique perspective. He entered the pet care industry through technology, started a pet care company to better understand the challenges operators face, and ultimately built Critter after seeing a gap between operational software and true business growth tools. 🐾 Learn More About Critter. Jordy and the Critter team will be joining us as the Premium Sponsor of the DogCo Business Summit. If you’d like to learn more about Critter, schedule a demo, or connect directly with Jordy: 🌐 critter.pet - 📧 jordy@critter.pet We discuss everything from CRM systems and marketing automation to AI, client retention, referral programs, and the evolving role technology will play as pet care businesses continue to grow and mature. One of my favorite parts of this conversation is the shared belief that technology should strengthen relationships, not replace them. As our industry grows, finding that balance may be one of the most important challenges we face. If you’re curious about the future of pet care, marketing, automation, and scaling a service-based business, I think you’ll enjoy this one. ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Introducing Jordy McNamara and Critter 1:21 – How technology led Jordy into pet care 5:57 – Why Critter shifted from scheduling to growth tools 8:21 – Relationship-driven marketing in pet care 12:01 – The state of technology in the pet care industry 15:00 – AI, automation, and the future of software 18:18 – Why growing businesses need better technology 20:21 – Can pet care become over-automated? 28:16 – The biggest marketing opportunities for pet care companies 33:36 – Critter joins the DogCo Business Summit 🚀 Join Us at the DogCo Business Summit If you’re serious about growing your pet care business, building stronger systems, and connecting with some of the most ambitious operators in the industry, I’d love to have you join us at the DogCo Business Summit. October 2nd–4th 📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In-person and digital tickets available 👉 dogcosummit.com 🧠 Key Takeaways • Technology should support relationships, not replace them • Pet care remains early in the technology adoption curve • Marketing and client engagement represent major growth opportunities • Good automation depends on good data • Referral systems remain one of the highest-leverage growth channels • Software should be viewed as a growth investment, not just an expense • AI will likely evolve differently inside pet care than in other industries • Business owners need better visibility into marketing ROI • Scaling businesses requires different tools than solo operators • The future belongs to companies that combine operational excellence with intentional growth My conversation with Jordy left me feeling optimistic about where our industry is headed. While technology continues to evolve rapidly, the businesses that will thrive are still the ones that build trust, create great experiences, and invest in meaningful relationships. If you’re curious about what the next chapter of pet care could look like, I think you’ll enjoy this discussion. -M

    37 min

  4. 5 Jun

    Your Team Isn't Quitting Over Pay. They're Quitting Over This. | Ep. 120

    Most business owners assume employee turnover comes down to compensation. If people leave, they must have found a better-paying opportunity somewhere else. In this episode, I challenge that assumption. Drawing on insights from Joey Coleman’s research on employee retention, as well as my own experience building and leading a pet care company, I explore why pay is often a much smaller factor in retention than we think. The good news? If compensation is only one piece of the puzzle, that means there are many other levers available to us as leaders. I break down four of the most common reasons great employees choose to move on, even when they genuinely like the work and knew exactly what the pay would be when they accepted the position. We talk about growth paths, workplace relationships, unresolved leadership friction, and what happens when a role no longer fits the realities of someone’s life. This episode is ultimately about creating an environment where people can see a future, feel connected, and understand what’s expected of them. Because retention isn’t just about getting people to stay longer. It’s about building a company that the right people genuinely want to be part of. 🧠 Key Takeaways • Pay is rarely the primary reason employees leave • Employees need a clear path for growth and development • Workplace relationships are a major driver of retention • Unresolved friction with leadership creates turnover risk • Clear expectations reduce stress and confusion • Flexibility can significantly improve retention outcomes • Great employees often leave when the role no longer fits their life • Strong communication systems support healthier teams • Retention is built intentionally, not accidentally • The best retention strategies start with understanding people 🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit If you’re serious about improving retention, building stronger leaders, and creating a pet care company people want to stay with, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit - October 2nd–4th 📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In-person and digital tickets available 👉 https://dogcosummit.com -M

    15 min

  5. 1 Jun

    5 Things I Believe Now that I Didn't 5 Years Ago | Ep. 119

    In this episode, I’m reflecting on five beliefs that have fundamentally changed for me over the last five years as a business owner.   When I look back at who I was coming out of the pandemic, I see someone who was working hard, growing quickly, and learning constantly, but I also see someone who held very different assumptions about leadership, feedback, success, time, and personal growth. This conversation is less about tactics and more about perspective. The beliefs we carry shape the decisions we make, the risks we take, the opportunities we see, and ultimately the results we create. I talk about why I no longer believe business success is primarily driven by luck, how my relationship with feedback has completely changed, why I’ve come to view myself through the lens of inputs and outputs, and the mindset shift that has helped me stop labeling myself as “bad” at certain parts of business. If you’ve been in business for a while, I think you’ll recognize some of your own evolution in this conversation. And if you’re earlier in the journey, hopefully some of these lessons help shorten the learning curve. And if you’re looking to accelerate your growth alongside other ambitious pet care business owners, I’d love to have you at the DogCo Business Summit this October. 👉 https://dogcosummit.com ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Looking back at who I was five years ago 1:35 – Belief #1: Success is not primarily luck 3:39 – How data changed the way I lead a business 5:55 – Belief #2: Feedback is a kindness, not a burden 7:01 – From reactive leadership to proactive coaching 8:17 – Belief #3: Thinking in inputs and outputs 10:12 – Belief #4: Time is more valuable than money 11:43 – Belief #5: I’m not bad at it, I’m just unpracticed 13:03 – Reflection and listener challenge 🧠 Key Takeaways • Data creates clarity when circumstances feel uncertain • Business outcomes are influenced more by decisions than luck • Feedback is one of the most valuable gifts a leader can provide • Proactive coaching outperforms reactive correction • Inputs drive outputs, both in business and in life • Personal performance can be improved through intentional inputs • Time is often a business owner’s highest-leverage resource • Resource allocation matters more than resource accumulation • Most skill gaps are practice gaps, not talent gaps • Growth often begins with changing the stories we tell ourselves 🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit If you’re serious about becoming a stronger leader, building a more resilient business, and learning from some of the best minds in the pet care industry, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit. October 2nd–4th in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In-person and digital tickets available here: https://dogcosummit.com -M

    13 min

  6. 29 May

    When a Good Manager Starts Underperforming | Ep. 118

    In this episode, I’m talking through one of the more difficult leadership situations that almost every growing business owner eventually faces - what to do when you have a genuinely good manager or team member whose performance starts slipping.   This is not a conversation about bad hires or obvious culture mismatches. This is about the harder and more nuanced situation where someone has already demonstrated that they can succeed in the role, but something has shifted, and now leadership has to decide how to respond. I walk through how to approach these conversations with both empathy and directness, why avoiding early intervention usually makes situations worse, and how leaders can unintentionally create bigger relational fractures by waiting too long to address problems. We also get into one of the most important leadership frameworks I’ve personally used for years: SBI, Situation, Behavior, Impact. Instead of making assumptions about intent or character, I explain why effective leaders stay focused on observable behaviors, the impact those behaviors have on the organization, and what needs to change moving forward. This episode is really about leadership maturity. How do you care about people deeply while still protecting standards, culture, accountability, and the health of the business? Because ultimately, avoiding hard conversations does not create kindness, it usually creates confusion, resentment, and larger problems later. 🧠 Key Takeaways • Good employees can still require course correction • Early intervention prevents deeper relational fractures • Directness and empathy are not opposites in leadership • Avoiding difficult conversations usually compounds problems • Leaders should address behaviors, not assume motives • SBI (Situation, Behavior, Impact) creates clearer communication • Feedback conversations should focus on clarity, not shame • Accountability strengthens healthy cultures when handled well • Team culture is shaped by what leadership tolerates • The ability to receive feedback is critical for long-term growth 🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit If you’re serious about becoming a stronger leader, building healthier systems, and scaling your pet care business with intentionality, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit. 📍 October 2nd–4th 📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 🎟️ In-person and digital tickets available 👉 https://dogcosummit.com -M

    13 min

  7. 25 May

    Repost: No One is Coming to Save You | Ep. 117

    In this episode, I’m getting very direct about three mindset patterns that I believe quietly keep business owners stuck: avoidance, learned helplessness, and the belief that working harder is always the answer. I recorded this conversation because I genuinely want to see people win this year, and sometimes the most important shifts are not tactical, they’re mental. The way we think about difficult conversations, control, responsibility, growth, and effort shapes the outcomes we create in our businesses far more than most people realize. We talk about why delaying hard decisions usually compounds problems, how limiting beliefs influence leadership behavior, and why sustainable growth often comes from slowing down long enough to build more strategically, not just pushing harder. This episode is honest, practical, and probably a little uncomfortable in spots, but it’s meant to encourage you toward the version of your business and leadership that you actually want to build. And if you’re serious about growing your pet care business alongside other ambitious operators, I’d love to have you at the DogCo Business Summit this October 2-4: www.dogcosummit.com ⏱️ Timestamps0:00 – Why I’m being more direct in this episode0:48 – Mindset #1: No one is coming to do the hard things for you1:47 – Avoidance compounds business problems over time2:34 – Mindset #2: If you believe it’s outside your control, it will be3:25 – Examples of limiting beliefs inside pet care businesses4:24 – What we CAN control during difficult external events4:40 – Mindset #3: Working harder is usually not the solution5:28 – Why slowing down strategically creates better growth6:08 – Final encouragement for business owners this year Key Takeaways• Avoidance tends to make business problems harder over time• Owners have more influence than they often believe they do• Mindsets shape leadership behaviors and business outcomes• Learned helplessness limits growth and adaptability• Hard work alone is rarely the true bottleneck• Strategic thinking creates more leverage than constant effort• Slowing down can improve clarity and decision-making• Sustainable growth requires intentional leadership shifts Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit -  If you’re serious about building a stronger, more scalable pet care business, I want you in the room at the DogCo Business Summit. October 2nd–4th in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Get your in-person and digital tickets: https://dogcosummit.com

    6 min

  8. 22 May

    The Role Your Business Actually Needs You to Play | Ep. 116

    In this episode, I’m talking about something I’ve been thinking about a lot this year, my identity as a business owner and the role my company actually needs me to play right now.   One of the biggest mistakes I see entrepreneurs make is assuming their role should stay static as the business grows. But different stages of business require different versions of leadership, and part of growth is learning how to reassess where your highest leverage actually is. Sometimes your business needs you to focus on marketing and growth. Sometimes it needs you to solve operational bottlenecks. Sometimes it needs you to build systems, cultivate leaders, or develop infrastructure that allows the company to scale beyond your direct involvement. I also talk about the difference between being a participant in the business versus becoming an architect of the business, and why that transition can feel uncomfortable for owners who genuinely enjoy the day-to-day work. This is a short episode, but an important one, especially if you feel stretched thin, stuck in the weeds, or uncertain about where your energy should actually be going as your company evolves. 🧠 Key Takeaways • Your role as an owner should evolve as the business grows • Different business stages require different leadership approaches • The highest leverage opportunities deserve the most owner attention • Bottlenecks reveal where leadership focus is needed most • Owners often avoid the hardest but most important problems • Businesses need architects, not just participants • System-building creates long-term scalability • Staffing and retention systems are growth infrastructure • Many owners stay in the field because it feels more immediately valuable • Sustainable growth requires reassessing your identity regularly 🚀 Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit If you’re serious about scaling your pet care business and becoming a stronger operator, leader, and strategist, I’d love to have you at the DogCo Business Summit this October. October 2nd–4th 📍 Winston-Salem, North Carolina In-person and digital tickets available 👉 https://dogcosummit.com

    6 min
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About

Ready to scale your pet care business? Practical advice you can implement easily and quickly to 10x the growth of your business, musings on the current state of the pet care industry, and all the tips and tricks I've learned from coaching over 200 companies in the last two years.

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle Kline
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    123
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Michelle Kline
  • Show Website
    DogCo Secrets

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