As any pet owner knows, the hardest part about a summer vacation is that your furry friend isn’t always welcome to go along with you. Let’s face it, sometimes you just want to get away from it all without having to settle for one of a select few pet-friendly travel spots.
DogVacay is perhaps one of the best kennel alternatives on the market. It gives pet owners the peace of mind to enjoy their vacation without worrying about their doggies. The site works by letting pet owners find hosts in the neighborhood who can doggy-sit in their own home while also giving the pet all the food, exercise and TLC needed. In addition to this doggy-sitting service, DogVacay provides doggy daycare, dog walking and training services.
The experience is designed to be as stress-free for both the parents and the furry child. So you can relax. It’s not just anyone who’ll be looking after your pet. All hosts are thoroughly vetted and the site even encourages people to meet with potential hosts beforehand. Think of it as a play date.
There are also other perks to sweeten the deal including daily photo updates of your pet — just so you can see how much fun he’s having. And for those who are particularly worried about leaving their doggy behind, every pet hosted is covered by the DogVacay pet insurance. There is also 24/7 emergency support should you need it.
When it comes to your pet, you’re probably not looking to save a few bucks. But it might make you feel good to know that for considerably less than what you’d pay for a kennel, your pet will have a tail-waggingly good time and a shot at a real summer vacation while you’re away on one of your own.
Would you use DogVacay? What do you do with your furry friends when you travel? Share your tips in the comments below.
(h/t Cnet)
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.