Have you found that there is a big difference between text book learning and contingency based learning?
I understood that having a baby meant I was not going to have much free time… This of course makes sense and I can logically understand that. But that is a very different thing then actually learning that same lesson by actually having a baby lol
Up until this point in my life – I could manage everything pretty well and still make time for self care, however I now discovered that everything that has worked in the past no longer worked! – Wifey & I had 12 days off together in December last year & when we did we learned that our emotional & physical cups were completely drained
Consequently, It was clear that some BIG changes would be required in 2021. I had no idea what these changes were going to be though and therefore I needed to ask for help! So I reached out to Veronica Boutelle from Dog Biz and literally said ‘Veronica HELP!’
BTW If you don’t know Veronica and the great work her and the team are doing at Dog Biz … you can listen to a previous ATA podcast episode with her here ⬇️
Luckily Veronica heeded my call and has (over the last three months) helped guide three BIG changes for me & ATA! In sharing these ideas with the ATA membership I realised they might also be beneficial to share with everyone else so here they are >>>
1) Say NO more!
One thing I have asked Veronica to help with is more effectively managing my input with my output! … OR … in other words my available resources with the amount I try to accomplish!
As R+ trainers, I’m curious if others are challenged here? I.e. taking on more than you have time to accomplish
AND… acknowledging that every time we say YES to something we indirectly say NO to something else!
ONE piece of advice Veronica gave – me when we spoke in December – was that until we implement a couple of her suggestions (which I am implementing over Jan/Feb/March) … that she strongly encourages me to say NO to pretty much ALL of the things lol
Consequently, I have said NO to numerous opportunities over the last few months! This process has been mixed with different feelings! Firstly, FOMO (fear of missing out), secondly – the possibility of letting others down & finally the relief that in saying NO to these opportunities I am saying YES to ATA’s main priorities and saying YES to fatherhood, being a good husband, friend, son, brother and local community member!
I was curious to hear from others who might have gone through something similar at some point? What has your experience been?
How do you find the experience of specifically & intentionally saying NO to opportunities?
Grateful for & appreciative of any/all input!
2) Hire help!
This was a big one – as I #failforward learning about & taking action on steps to help ATA – best continue to achieve it’s ‘WHY’ ⬇️
☆ WHY ATA exists = Improve the lives of animals and their human companions through ethical animal training and behavior management principles (with the main focus being on Applied Behavior Analysis).
We therefore created a new position to hire a personal assistant from within our local community on the Kapiti Coast – in Wellington New Zealand!
This task involved me embracing my growth mindset, speaking with various business mentors, my lawyer, my accountant & recruitment agencies! I’m excited that this month Fibi-dog gave her super official ‘lapsit-of approval ‘ ✅ to ATA’s new team member/Jedi Master Extraordinaire Rose Horne!!! **(Fibi-dog definitely does not bestow this special honour upon many)
**This lapsit commemorates Rose’s first day @ ATA HQ & we wanted to celebrate this Momentous approximation with you all! ?
3) Get scheduling yo!
On our third catch – Veronica & I came up with an approximation towards creating a master schedule for my life! lol
Veronica asked me to plan my weeks out in advance! (Something I have never done before!) And then to collect notes about what I learn! Then her & I will connect again Mid March to plan the subsequent approximation.
This is all towards working smarter – not harder! & putting new behaviours in place, in an attempt to avoid burnout (again) & ensure ATA endures FOREVER muhahahaha ?
Has anyone done anything like this before?
Note: You will see some blue rectangles on the calendar. These are where I have blocked out peoples names.
Seriously – we are going to show ‘burn-out’ the door!!! I can see light at the end of the tunnel with regards to how everything Veronica is suggesting is going to work! This ⬅️ feels so so amazingly good! ?
This sounds like it’s been an incredible challenge and a HUGE learning process for you. My name’s Nina, I live in the U.S. am 61 yrs old and am in the beginning of a major career change to BEING A PRO Dog Trainer- I found your blog/ website from a recommendation for great Training Podcasts from a pro Dog Trainer in the blog “K9 of Mine” (and congrats to you on ‘making the cut’ of her top 7 podcasts btw!- she has some very high standards!!) And I was seriously moved by your candid and heartwarming- but-keep-it-real story of the changes happening due to the advent of PARENTHOOD, and congratulations – again- on this, btw.! I think making changes that challenge you because you HAVE to change your thinking about something (hmm…does this sound familiar..to us trainers/ educators of pet parents??) around the things that you used to RELY UPON in terms of managing your life. For you, it means that you have to cut back your usually high energy and thriving commitment to educating others (and saying ‘not yet’ to opportunities you would have under otoher circumstances totally wanted to do) Uuugh. For me, that challenge is the intensive commitment and focus that starting and running a small business for the first time (almost) ever, and that means totally turning what life had been for me on its’ head..and being confident that it will WORK out! Of course with the greatest risks, and great responsibility, come a huge potential to grow & learn…Though I’d prefer to do both of those with the additional possibility of SUCCEEDing! You were very very wise to reach out to someone who is an expert in the business of running (our particular type of) businesses- and frankly, quite lucky that she was available to work with.. I wish you continued success in ‘pulling back’ ( and reaping the benefit of that ongoing ‘sacrifice’ and totally continued wonderful things in balancing being a Dad/ Husband/ family(of origin) member and passionate animal-people trainer/ educator- and well, whatever else comes with the FULL PICTURE package (as I wish for myself but on a much smaller scale) Good luck.!!I’ll be following this blog regularly from now on. And eager to listen to the podcast too! “good-dye” now…