Its a Dog Eat Dog World. . . .

So as you all know by now, I have been given a tremendous opportunity to spend the rest of my life doing what I was truly meant to be doing. . . . .caring for dogs and their owners. . .
It was an absolute blessing for me when I found the job ad on Craigslist last May seeking a RETAIL MANAGER for a Luxury Dog Daycare and Boarding Facility in the West Loop. I literally thought it was the best thing ever, and in so many ways, it was.
I had been a high level manager for many large retailers in the years prior, (in one case fully opening a brand new 130,000 SF store from the ground up and subsequently taking it down two years later after a decision to close the location. . .in the one just prior to Pooch, hit with a surprise bankruptcy and liquidation, my second liquidation in 5 years, mind you. . . ) and was starting to realize that retail might not be the best place to spend the remainder of 2008 and beyond. . . .(which has proven to be more than true).
So I thought about dog walking or dog daycare supervisor position. . .but had no experience in those settings and could not get hired as a dog handler or walker. (not to mention the pay was not the greatest and my brand new husband was not too keen on me making $9 an hour at the time.)
But then I found Robin, or Robin found me. . .and it was wonderful.
I was so excited about the idea of getting to have a shot at the GM position for the new Pooch, that I took a $20,000 pay cut. Yes, a $20,000 pay cut, and my husband said okay, because he knew I would be happy.
I was hired right away after one interview with Robin and her husband and couldn't WAIT to get back from my honeymoon to start training at Lincoln Park. I worked with Jesse who had recently been promoted, and he showed me the ropes, as did Angela, Kim, Jen, etc. Everyone was very friendly and even though I was cleaning dog kennels and running a daycare, it was the BEST job ever. Hands down.
When the West Loop location opened in early July, I traded in all my dress clothes for sweatpants, was driving one mile from home to work, and could not have been happier. Best of all, for the first time in all of the years that I worked in the customer service arena, I found that I ACTUALLY CARED THAT THE CUSTOMERS WERE GETTING THE SERVICE THEY DESERVED. After all the years in retail, I had fully become the manager who was solely focused on operational tasks and found the customer's to actually be more of a nuisance than anything. Isn't that crazy? I think it happens to a lot of retail people eventually. So here I find myself in a job where not only do I ADORE the product (dogs), but I GENUINELY CARE FOR THE CLIENTS as well. And so here is why I say it was the best job ever, because every day I loved going to work, everyday I loved seeing my clients come in, everyday I got to play with dogs, and meet new clients and make them feel comfortable about signing up for daycare and boarding. . . .and mostly, I was reminded of the importance of CLIENT SERVICE, and was truly interested in providing exactly that. The BEST possible client service I could provide. (As well as the BEST possible care I could provide for the dogs.) That is what began to matter again, and that is what I take with me as I venture out on my own into the world of business ownership, ITS ALL ABOUT THE CLIENT.
So here we are January 2009, I worked myself to the bone through Thanksgiving and Christmas , gave 150% of myself to the job and to my clients, to my boss and to my staff, earned less than I've made in years, got laid off with ZERO notice, and still can tell you it was all worth it.
It took me about an hour, after getting laid off (a devastating hour, to say the least) and posting an update to my facebook status that I had "Lost the Best Job Ever," to realize that it was all worth it. In reality, I had lost nothing, only gained. Gained experience, gained people's trust, gained friends and clients for life.
And because I had taken the time to really get know these clients as people, really learn about them and their dogs, and their lives, really develop relationships beyond just being the person who takes the dogs in and out from daycare, and makes boarding appointments, I have these wonderful people who support me and are willing to trust me with their most prized possessions.

ALL of THIS because I genuinely cared for my clients, for their peace of mind, and for the well being of their dogs. That, my friends, is what comes naturally, what takes zero effort, and what will carry me through this new adventure. . . .now off we go. . .paw in paw. . .:)

Thank you all again for your love and support, and for being the best friends and clients I could have ever asked for. I am truly looking forward to a wonderful year with all of you and your dogs! It will be awesome, this I promise.

Tracey