Are you feeling the isolation that often comes with running a business?
Consistency and discipline got us to 400 episodes, and today’s episode is a must-listen for all pet business owners feeling the weight of isolation and stress.
In this episode of the Bella In Your Business podcast, I dive deep into the POWER OF CONNECTION. Running a pet care business can be incredibly rewarding but also lonely. Pets can’t respond emotionally, and it’s tough to share certain struggles with your team. This isolation can lead to mental health challenges, something many entrepreneurs experience, even if we don’t talk about it enough.
I open up about the impact of high cortisol levels caused by chronic stress and how it affects everything from your weight to your sleep and even your concentration. My journey with a naturopath has been eye-opening, revealing how critical it is to manage these stressors for overall well-being.
But here’s the game-changer—COMMUNITY. I can’t stress enough the importance of surrounding yourself with a supportive network. From emotional upliftment to practical business advice, a solid community can transform isolation into inspiration.
Tune in as I share personal insights, scientific data, and actionable steps to help you combat the loneliness and stress of running your pet business. Learn how being part of a community can elevate you both personally and professionally.
Don’t miss out on this episode—it could be the leadership shift and support you’ve been searching for!
Timestamps:
[00:46] Importance of Community
[02:31] Mental Health and Cortisol Levels
[08:11] Symptoms
[12:01] Overcoming Isolation in Business
[17:46] Business Community Benefits
[21:31] Shared Experiences and Support
[24:01] Personal Benefits and Accountability
[27:51] Finding the Right Community
Notable Quotes:
“Consistency and discipline will get you everywhere in life.”
“Isolation doesn’t just impact your business, it impacts you and your mental health.”
“High cortisol levels associated with chronic stress can manifest in various physical and emotional symptoms.”
Resources & Links:
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Transcript:
Welcome back to another episode of Jump Consulting. Oh, my gosh. I can’t believe this is episode 401. Literally, guys, you just never know. Like, consistency and discipline, like, will get you everywhere in life. I haven’t always been perfect. We have missed a couple of Thursdays, especially at the beginning when we are starting to get really, really going with this podcast. But I literally feel out of body. I can’t believe this is episode 401. However, I do want to talk to you about something that I don’t… I haven’t really gone that far into before. I’ve talked about, you know, how important it is to have community, and this is not a pitch for the mastermind. Like, I literally want you to start thinking about who’s in your life, who’s surrounding you, who’s lifting you up, because that has been so pivotal in my own life the past six months that I cannot even tell you. If I did not have different communities in my life, I do not know what… where I would be in certain areas of my life. And I really wanted to bring that to you this week. So, um, you know, there’s an isolation that happens when we run a business, and loneliness and stress is a real thing. I mean, literally, let’s get real. Like, owning and operating a pet care business can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be incredibly lonely. The pets don’t talk back to us, and we can’t necessarily talk to our office managers or our pet sitters like we could a comrade or a friend or a confidant, right? And so every day, we’re pouring our heart and souls into caring for those, for babies, for our staff. But when the hustle winds die down and you find yourself alone with the thoughts, the isolation kicks in.
The weight of running our business, maintaining client relationships, ensuring the well-being of the pets, it can feel like an insurmountable mountain. And isolation doesn’t just impact your business, it impacts you and your mental health. And I want to really talk about something that I haven’t really talked about before. When I’ve said about mental health before, when you’re operating in a silo, it’s easy to spiral into feelings of overwhelm and depression. And what I really want to kind of talk about is cortisol levels. And I want you to understand what it is and how to understand it and how to, like, you know, ask your doctor about it. What changed my life was when I brought a naturopath into things. And you can disagree with me, and that’s okay. Like, regular doctors just kind of throw, like, meds at something to, like, you know, like, cover the problem, right? And it’s kind of like a band-aid, but they don’t ever actually address the actual problem, which is where my naturopath came in a couple years ago and really started, like, looking at my blood, and I realized my cortisol levels were through the roof, and that that constant stress wreaked havoc on my mental and physical health. High cortisol levels associated with chronic stress can manifest in various physical and emotional symptoms. And I did a lot of research on this podcast so that I could just, like, kind of, you know, open your thought process to this and say, hmm, this is interesting. Um, well, the definite way to determine if you have high cortisol is through blood testing, right. There’s several signs that you can think about. Um, now, of course, you gotta get tested, um, because what I’m about to tell you could also be associated with other things, but commonly, this is also cortisol. So, like, weight gain, notably around the abdomen, face, and upper back. And if you’re perimenopausal, like I am, um, that also could be that. Fatigue, persistent tiredness, and a feeling of exhaustion even after a full night’s sleep. Have you ever, like, gotten up in the morning like, yay, I got a lot of sleep, but you feel exhausted. Sleep issues. You have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing a good quality of sleep. One thing about high cortisol is, like, you’re waking up between, like, one and three in the morning. High blood pressure, elevated blood pressure, blah, blah, blah. Blood pressure can be a result of high sustained cortisol levels. Muscle weakness, generally like, muscle weakness or feeling less physically strong. You don’t feel strong. Uh, frequent infections. Cortisol can suppress the immune system, so you could be really susceptible to colds, flus, and other infections. Does it feel like you’re just constantly getting sick? Headaches. Do you get a lot of headaches, frequent or chronic headaches without a clear cause? I woke up this morning with a headache, but I know it was because I slept wrong, and I’ve got, like, you know, a pinched nerve in the back of my neck. But it’s really important to just, like, listen to your body and, like, think about, like, do I just feel ugh or, like, what feels ugh and what’s causing it? Another thing is digestive problems, like bloating, indigestion, IBS, increased thirst or urination, feeling unusually thirsty and having to urinate more than often. And skin changes like acne or thin, frail skin or slow, slow wound healing. That’s all physical. Then we got into the emotional. I hope I’m not depressing you right now, but like, seriously, think about this. Have you looked into your cortisol levels? Emotional and behavioral symptoms? Anxiety and depression? Feeling nervous, stressed, or more than you know, down more than often? Mood swings, memory, and concentration, like that? Brain fog, like you can’t remember anything. You know, maybe you’re taking pictures of everything or doing voice notes all the time. Or setting reminders for everything because you feel like you cannot be left alone to your own devices. Decreased libido and changes in appetite. All of those are symptoms.
And so, like, do you lay awake at night staring at the ceiling, shackled by the never-ending to-do list running through your mind? Studies actually show that business owners are statistically more prone to mental health challenges due to these reasons. A survey by the Guardian Life Small Business Research Institute revealed that 30% of small business owners have experienced symptoms of depression. You are not alone. You are not… I’m repeating this so many times. You are not alone. But the good news is there is a way out. I’ll tell you that. The value of community is the way that a lot of people really do combat this. I have seen so many people get involved with communities, whether they’re working out and they’re like, oh my gosh, you feel like, me too. Or maybe it’s a business community, and they’re like, wow, I thought I was the only one. Or maybe it’s a mom’s group, and they’re like, oh my gosh, there’s other people that feel exactly like me. When you get that support system and you can find and engage with the community, you’re building a solid support system. It isn’t just about networking or superficial engagements. This is about emotional sustenance. A community that provides space where you can express your fears without judgment, share your victories, and know that other people truly understand.
Studies and statistics suggest that business owners involved in a business community are actually better positioned for success. Here’s some key benefits backed by data. One is enhanced networking opportunities. So being a part of a business allows the community owners to network efficiently, share insights, and obtain referrals. A study by ResearchGate companies that made networking a major part of their strategy is likely to grow their business by 45% faster than businesses that don’t. That totally makes sense to me because that’s all I did when I first started my company, I was business networking locally. But this also could just be business networking on a business-to-business, personal standpoint, you know, okay, like, what software do you use, what payroll company do you use, what background check company do you use and why? And which one should we stay away from? Also, you know, having community gives you that access to resources and knowledge. According to the Small Business Administration, 70% of mentored businesses survived for five years or more, which is what a lot of people, just like, they fail their business, which is double the rate of non-mentored businesses. There’s also support and collaboration. Collaboration among community members translates into increased creativity, problem-solving, and service offerings. The Journal of Business Research mentions that small business clusters can drive innovation and substantial commercial success. So let me explain to you, like, this is why I say Jumpers do it differently because you’d be so surprised in our community how many people you know, like, they were one of the first to do shocking virtual consultations and how that, like, helped save them money and they were able to take that money and allocate it towards different things in their business. That’s just like one example. And that might feel shocking to the general pet business population, but it actually works. There’s different ways of doing things than what, you know, the industry’s been doing for the past 25 years. The other thing about the key to success is having a community because you get these shared experiences.
How often have you wished that you could just sit down and talk with someone who gets it, that understands that the life of a pet care professional goes beyond just cute animal videos? It’s the early mornings, late night sheer dedication. By connecting with others who share these experiences, you’re no longer isolated on an island, but a vital piece of a thriving community. And so the other thing that, you know, just really helps is personal benefits of being in a community. Engaging in a community isn’t just for emotional uplifting. It has practical, tangible benefits in your business. You guys don’t know this, but I actually started a new community that’s been like, popping off. It’s kind of top secret, but it’s for a segment of pet business owners recently, and it has been amazing seeing them go from isolated and feeling like they’re all alone and nobody else understands them to coming in this community and feeling like they are literally like, oh my gosh, it’s kind of like ugly duckling, right? Like, oh my gosh, I’m not an ugly duckling. There’s so many other ducklings that are just like me. And watching them gain their confidence in what they’re doing and kind of come out of their shell and be that boss in charge and. And just grow has been incredible. And it’s been because they found a community where before they were isolated and separated. And so the other thing about community is that you get this accountability, which is why all of these elements I’m talking about, we have in the mastermind, you know, we have accountability partners. We have once-a-month, like, meetings where everyone just gets together and talks. These elements make a community. They make the community like, they get people bonded together.
And so a subordinate community holds you accountable. They motivate you to stay on track with your business objectives, and they inspire you to push beyond your perceived limitations. Now, the local, how do you find these groups, right? You can find them locally. A lot of local towns. They have business communities either in your church or your community or your. Maybe it’s your local networking groups. You can find them that way. And that’s a local community. You can find online communities. There’s so many pet-sitting groups out there. And I would just caution you, figure out who’s leading them, how are they leading them, and, you know, is it just a free-for-all where everyone with an opinion gets to talk? Because that could also severely impact you in negative ways. And then there’s professional associations, as we know, NAPS, PSI, there’s some others out there. Are they worth the bang for the buck? You ask different people, you’re going to get different answers. And being a part of a community isn’t just about business. It’s about your personal growth and well-being. So going back to the beginning of the episode, and we’re talking about cortisol or your mental health, that can really help your mental health be being part of a community, and I want you to think about, is that something that’s missing? Do I need to get actively involved? Maybe you’re part of a community, but you just kind of, like, are on the wayside and you don’t do much, or you’re just kind of a, you know, a wallflower.
Is there a regeneration? How do I say this? Like, can you get re-energized to get back into the community and become a part of it? You know, there’s no shame in that game. There’s no, oh, I’m sorry. I’ve been busy. Oh, I’m sorry, I haven’t. No, just jump back in. Okay. Most organizers will understand that people have ebbs and flows, but I want to encourage you that if you’re already part of a community, get back involved because it is going to drastically help you if you allow yourself to. And if you. And it will help reduce your stress, it will help encourage and motivate you. And if you’re lacking a community or the community that you’re a part of, you’re just not digging. I really do encourage you to check out the mastermind. Send me an email [email protected]. I’ll give you a discount. Just mention this episode. I would much rather you join a community and try to have a fighting chance in your life. Know that you’re not alone.
Have that support, have that guidance, have that inspiration about specifically what you are doing on a daily basis, day in and day out, running the pet sitting companies, and dog walking companies, than just staying isolated. Isolation will be the death of you. Isolation will kill your mental well-being and your physical well-being. I know because I know this personally. After I went through NICU with my daughter, I literally had no friends. Why? Because in order to survive that area of my life, I needed to cut off everything to conserve energy for myself. But after I came through that horrifying and wonderful experience in my life, after I came through surviving that, and some of you are in survival mode right now, once I got out of survival mode where I was trying to come out of it, I had to intentionally build my friendship circle.
I had to intentionally build my business circle. I had to build that stuff back up. I had to find community again. And I cannot tell you how invigorating, inspiring, and just heartwarming. I could cry. It made a difference in my life. And that’s why I wanted to bring this episode to you today. I want you to figure out what kind of business community you’re in right now. And if you’re not, my arms are really wide open to accept you. The mastermind is a month-to-month commitment. That’s it. Month to month. So you don’t have to sign up for a year or anything like that. If you don’t like it, you can leave. I’ll tell you, though, nobody ever leaves after a month or two because it’s just that good. The people in there are open arms. They’re warm, they’re supportive, they cheer each other on. This is where you can get as much or as little coaching from me as you want. This is where you can get accountability partners, HR access, and access to a very organized library of just about every single topic you ever need. With a history of six years’ worth of content building on those topics. All you got to do is head over to jumpconsulting.net/mastermind and email me [email protected]. I’d be happy to get you in there. I want to know what community are you a part of? What has really helped save your life? I would love to hear your comments.
Please comment anywhere you are listening to this and let’s hear it. This has been another episode of Bella in your business. Thank you so much for joining me on this 400 plus episodes and I hope to see you in the next one. I have some really fun things planned for you. The next one’s going to be all about when is it time to raise prices? Yeah, we’re going to keep these episodes fresh and exciting and interesting for you, so I can’t wait to hear you in the next episode. You take care and remember when life gets you down to always keep jumping. Bye now.