The Reason You Should Not Use Q-tips to Clean Your Ears and Why This Can Help Your Pet Business

I seem to have heard most of my adult life that you should never use Q-tips to clean your ears

I’ve always found this was odd since I thought the whole purpose of a Q-tip was to clean your ears.

In any case, while I feel it’s hygienic to use a Q-tip to clean my ear, the first reason I choose to use one each morning is to dry the water in my ears.

What I’ve read on this topic continues to suggest one should never use a Q-tip to clean or dry your ears.

Yet, using a Q-tip in a deliberate and responsible manner for much of my adult life seems to be working for me.

Despite the contradictory advice.

So how does this relate to your pet sitting business?

I’m glad you asked!

Many of us spend (at least) part of our time in Facebook groups or other places online where we ask for advice and give advice.

One of things I love most about our industry is that no two pet business owners will run the day- to-day operation quite the same way.

And that’s wonderful. In fact, it’s preferred.

You should absolutely run your business in the exact manner that seems to work perfectly for you.

You want to work only Mondays, Thursdays and Saturday mornings? Go for it.

If your goals and lifestyle line up with that choice, I’m all for it.

You want to use a Q-tip to clean and dry your ears? Join the club!

Do what works for you.

Here are some of the “this is the only way to do it” things I’ve heard:

*Never list yourself on sites like Rover, DogVacay, or Care.com. (Although I know some very successful colleagues of ours that are listed on these sites and are professional and successful beyond belief).

*Never use ICs.

*Don’t list yourself on directory sites because they are of no value.

*Joining an association is a waste of money.

Clearly, none of these statements (and hundreds more like them) can hold true for every pet business owner.

Running a business is never about absolutes. There is no such thing as “never do it this way” or “this never works.”

It may not work for everyone, but things can certainly work for you.

The point is you need to determine what will work best for your business, for your goals, and for your work strategy every step of the way.

Sure, it may be helpful to get some sound advice from your colleagues who have been where you currently are.

Sure, it may be very helpful to compare notes and see what others do in a certain situation.

But at some point, you must weigh all the options against all the facts and make a decision.

YOUR decision.

No one else is helping you pay your bills or make ends meet.

This is a tough job, a tough business and a tough industry. You already know that. There are many moving parts and pieces to the puzzle. There is tremendous completion and it’s only going to increase.

You need to be the best person you can be. You need to be the best business owner you can be.

Nobody knows everything on day one or year one or even year ten. We are all always learning. Keep doing the best you can and surround yourself with the best you can.

If you do not like the vibe, the energy, the support, or the advice you are currently receiving, look elsewhere.

Like attracts like.

Napoleon Hill said it best in his classic works “Think and Grow Rich” and “Laws of Success.”

Here is but a brief snippet of his wisdom that has helped me focus when times are dark:

The bottom line is this:

Everything you read, watch, and hear must be kept in perspective. Understand that we all come to the table with our own experiences, our own judgements, and our own preferences.

That next step, next action or next decision you make may alter the direction of your entire life and business for the better.

Don’t miss out on all the opportunity available to you right now.

Listen to your heart, to your gut, and your intuition and continue to do incredible things.

So… tell us in the comments below:

What is potentially next for you? What’s on your plate that you are deciding how to best approach?