Kinda

Our grandson, Collin, is starting a dog training business. During high school he worked at a business that was a kennel and also offered dog training, so he picked up some tips there. However, he has learned the most from working with his two standard poodles.

I was wondering how he was going to get his first customers when he did not have any business cards, a website, or any marketing materials. He trained a couple of dogs that belong to friends, and then word of mouth got him three more clients.

One day he took Davis, one of their poodles, to Tractor Supply where they provide a dog washing facility. People were coming in to bathe their dogs while Collin was wandering up and down the store isles acting like he was shopping. As he meandered through the store, he had Davis do some commands. Mind you, Davis was not on a leash, and he never left Collin’s side.

Collin says to Davis, “Middle,” and Davis immediately turns and backs into a sitting position between Collin’s spread legs. People all around Davis and Collin followed him around watching Davis’s unbelievable good behavior in a store full of people. In the meantime, Collin picked up more customers during the visit to Tractor Supply. I think he should visit the pet store next time.

Collin told me that one lady asked him if he was training dogs, and Collin responded, “I kinda train them.”

That was a good opportunity for me to share a lesson with Collin. I told him that he should never present himself to others in a negative manner. He should tell people positive things about his abilities. A better response to the lady would have been, “Of course. Would you like me to give you some references?”

“A good rule to follow is this: never tell people what you cannot do, tell people what you can do,” I said to him. “If you respond with the ‘kinda’ word you are not giving the lady any confidence in your ability to train her dog,” I added.

Have you ever heard a speaker get to the podium and say something like this: “Well, I am not a good speaker, so I don’t know why they asked me to speak today.” Or a preacher gets up to the pulpit and says, “I don’t understand much about the second coming of Christ or about tribulation, but today I am beginning a series of sermons on Revelation!” That does not encourage people to come back to hear what he has to say about Revelation. As to the speaker who tells us that he is not a good speaker, I say, “Click!” I turn him off and my mind wanders to more important matters.  

My dad, Pete, always said to me while I was growing up, “Anything worth doing is worth doing right.” Maybe that’s why I am a number one maximizer on the Gallup StrengthFinder assessment. I like to make good things better.

Titus 2:7 states: “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity.” I think that would be a good verse for any business to follow. Not a bad model for our lives, too!