Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dee Hoult, founder and CEO of Applause Your Paws, located in Miami, FL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I'm in the business of improving the quality of people's lives through dog training! My company offers four core dog training services that can meet our clients' lifestyles, budgets, and dog training goals. We're a very human-centered company. Getting to work with the dogs is icing on the cake! Our customers are pet parents who understand the value of a good education. We often joke that our company is a private school for dogs, an elite academy where pet parents send their dogs (or come train with us!) to ensure the best education.

We pride ourselves on transparency during the training process with our clients and always ensure that dogs are joyful and enjoying the training process as much as possible. It's not just about getting results for us. It's about doing right by the human and animal and getting the result. We'll never rush a training program at the expense of a dog just to get a certain result. Training takes as long as it takes, sometimes.

Tell us about yourself

I've been training dogs since I was a little girl. My first appearance in the Austin American Statesmen with one of my dogs was in 1987. I was five years old, having just won a pet tricks contest with my border collie mix, Babe. It wasn't until after I started my MBA at the University of Miami that I realized building a dog training business could be a game-changer for my community while allowing me to stay and work inside of my passion - education!

A lot of dog trainers get into the industry because they love dogs. I've always been unique in that I love people, helping people, and working with and teaching people. Dog training has been an amazing vehicle to do that. Even though my company is pretty self-sufficient these days, with awesome managers in place and a steady flow of business thanks to our amazing reviews and reputation, I'm still motivated to do more, continuing to work on my business because I see first-hand the positive impact our services have on our community. There's a much bigger picture to dog training than many people realize. It's about people and creating happiness for families.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment has been having a successful business that can run itself, creating a steady income for my family so that I don't have to work, and focusing my energy on the things I choose to do. I succeeded in putting myself out of job when my son was born in 2017 and can now focus on raising my son, homeschooling, and growing my nonprofit business Magic City K9.

Magic City K9 is a 501c3 Prison Dog Training program. Again, it's about the people — in this case, the incarcerated men. Being able to focus all of my "work" energy on this population of at-risk individuals (humans!) is really at the core of my life purpose. I love that Applause Your Paws' success has allowed my next passion project to flourish. It's hard to pick just one "biggest accomplishment" because I'm also very proud of all the jobs I've created through my business and the great culture my managers have created for their employees. My biggest accomplishment is owning my own time every single day, so I can focus on whatever it is that's most important to me at that moment.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

I struggle still with guilt in being successful. Talk about first-world problems, right!? I think it's because I truly wish everyone could have what I have. Yet, most are not willing to put in the hours, hard work, stress, sacrifice, and a lot of people honestly don't have the right mental resilience to handle the pressure of being a business owner. It's a huge weight, and I'm not shy to tell people there are a lot of moments of grief involved in owning a business that your employees, friends, and family simply just won't understand because it's simply not their experience.

The weight of responsibility, always worrying about employees because you genuinely care even when people think you don't, can be heavy and sometimes exhausting. It's hard feeling judged for being successful, and it's hard staying humble, always reminding yourself that not everyone you meet is in the same, secure headspace.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Be ready to do whatever it takes. And I mean that in every sense of the word 'whatever.'
  2. Surround yourself with fellow entrepreneurs because they will be the only ones who can truly understand your journey
  3. Accept that you will lose some friends because you will quickly outgrow them. The good news is when you make it to the top, the real friends become transparent, and the new friends you'll have added to your circle are the real tribe.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

If you've read any Ekhart Tole, now is a good time to start. If you're going to be in business for yourself, you'd better learn to check your ego at the door; otherwise, it's going to be a much harder journey than it needs to be!

The E-Myth by Gerber
A New Earth by Tolle
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Manson

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.dogboardingandtrainingmiami.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ApplauseYourPaws/
https://www.facebook.com/MagicCityK9/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/applauseyourpaws/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miamiexpertdogtrainer/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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