Have you bought into the notion that it isn’t possible to train dogs for a living? We have good news for you: It isn’t true. You absolutely can make a living doing what you love. In fact, there are lots of trainers out there doing just that. Ready to join them?
All you’ll need, in addition to the will and desire, is a good transition plan. Your plan should have four parts:
- Numbers
Ick, math, we know. This isn’t the fun part, but it can be kept pretty simple. You just need to know how your income potential stacks up against your financial needs. Keep things simple and build in lots of wriggle room for error by estimating revenue conservatively and expenses liberally. Don’t panic if these simple numbers don’t look good at first glance—very often adjustments to how services are designed and offered can do the trick and get your equation coming out right. - Assess, Prioritize, Adjust
The next step is taking stock of your full situation in order to make a plan that sets you up for success. What schedule demands are you already laboring under (job, family, activities, etc.)? What can be adjusted and what will you have to work around? Most likely something will have to give, and you want to make that decision deliberately. Taking time to prioritize your schedule up front protects the things that matter most—like your health and time with your own dogs. - Line Up Support
Don’t go it alone. Transitions are hard, even when they’re exciting and you’re motivated to make them. Identify some areas you could use assistance with—child or dog care, perhaps, or help around the house, or with your business. Reach out to friends and family, and don’t be afraid to hire help, too. Any money you spend to get simple but time-consuming tasks off your plate is a smart investment. Your time is better spent seeing clients, teaching classes, and pushing your marketing forward. - Set Milestones & Market
Speaking of marketing, it is the key to getting you through your transition as quickly as possible. You’ll first set milestones—income or client number markers that show your progress through your plan—and then choose comfortable marketing projects designed to help you reach these steps along the way to your ultimate goal: Fulltime dog trainer.
It really is possible, and it’s simpler than you think. Come join us at ClickerExpo 2016 in Reno January 22-24, 2016, and find out how to start building your own plan to train dogs for a living. See you there!
