As 2025 starts winding down, I’m sharing my personal 60-day plan for closing out the year strong. After an incredible DogCo Summit, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to finish well, to be intentional, to re-center, and to set a solid foundation for the new year.

In this episode, I walk through the exact three areas I’m focused on to wrap up the year with clarity and momentum, and the three things I’m putting in place to set up 2026 for success. Whether you’re running a growing pet care business or managing your own entrepreneurial goals, these strategies can help you finish strong and start the new year ahead of the curve.

✨ Key Takeaways
• How to refocus your energy after a major event or season of growth
• The three key areas to finish 2025 strong
• Why presence and gratitude are the real productivity hacks
• How to set systems, data, and people up for success next year
• The importance of taking intentional rest to reset your creativity

⏰ Timestamps
0:00 Welcome back to DogCo Secrets
0:45 Reflections on the DogCo Summit
2:30 Why refocusing matters after big wins
4:05 My 60-day focus to finish strong
6:10 The power of being present with clients and commitments
8:25 The importance of structure and data before growth
10:40 Taking time off intentionally to recharge
12:55 Setting the foundation for next year
15:00 Building proactive systems and empowering your team
17:00 Why people and relationships remain DogCo’s core
18:30 Setting clear goals for 2026
20:00 Why slowing down is sometimes the best growth strategy

💬 Final Thoughts
This time of year can feel like a whirlwind, but the last 60 days are where your next year begins. Take the time to reflect, rebuild, and rest so you can start strong in 2026.

🐾 Ready to elevate your business in 2026?
Join the DogCo Mastermind and get access to exclusive trainings, support, and strategy sessions at dogcolaunch.com/mastermind

🎧 Also available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

— M

In this Hot Tip Friday episode, I tackle one of the most common and most misunderstood questions I get from growing pet care business owners: “Should I expand my service area?”

If you have been feeling the pull to grow into a new market or add another location, this episode is for you. I share my own experience of opening and later closing a second territory, and the lessons I learned about the real costs of expansion, including the hidden risks to your focus, team performance, and profit margin.

✨ What You’ll Learn

• The biggest risks of expanding too early

• When expansion makes strategic sense

• How to weigh operational complexity against opportunity

• The financial prep you must do before adding a new area

• Why more is not always better when it comes to growth

If you are considering an expansion, press play before you make the leap. Sometimes, the best next move for your business is not going wider, but going deeper.

- M

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with my client and friend Abby Strong, the owner of Auntie Abby’s Professional Pet Sitting Service in Des Moines, Iowa. Over the past six years, Abby has transformed her business from a solo operation into a thriving, multi-employee pet care company serving hundreds of clients, and she’s done it with incredible intentionality, heart, and leadership, and is scaling rapidly to the 7 Figure mark in her pet care business.

We talk about what it really takes to scale while staying true to your values, the fear and freedom of letting go of old business models, and how to navigate massive change without losing your “why.” Abby shares the pivotal decisions that propelled her forward, from ending overnight services to transitioning her team from contractors to employees, and what that journey has taught her about courage, burnout, leadership, and trust.

✨ Key Takeaways

• How embracing discomfort can spark powerful business transformation

• Why narrowing your focus can actually accelerate growth

• What shifting from contractors to employees taught Abby about leadership

• How to protect yourself and your team from burnout in a high-demand industry

• The importance of community and connection for long-term success

💡 Whether you’re an early-stage pet care business or scaling past six figures, Abby’s story offers wisdom, warmth, and inspiration for the road ahead.

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you tune in.

-M