h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I won't say hard worker because I am still slacking off a bit on the office work, but I've been working really hard out and about with the and .

I've smashed my taking targets - although as I can't put my hand on my business plan (there's a having a snooze in the way) I'm not sure if I'm a year late or a year early, but I think it's more likely a year early.

Looking into ways to expand the business, maybe into doggie daycare, maybe into other directions, but looking at what help I really need, I think it's drivers. I did try an assistant, but it didn't work out. In the end I just got so fed up with her demands and complaints I couldn't work with her. Now I'm out of the house such long hours again I wonder if I made a mistake, but there's no doubt I didn't like not knowing how the dogs were doing. So, having someone to collect and drop off dogs seems another idea, just got to work out how I can make that pay. I'd need to double the amount of dogs I walk to be able to afford to pay a decent wage to someone, *but* I think I would be less tired because it's the *driving* that makes me tired, not the walking.

I've also been approached by a TV company who want a kind of 'dog welfare advisor' for a pilot they want to make, so maybe if that works out it's something else to think about. I have read that most people start really making money when they specialise, so at some point I will have to decide what I want to do, and just do that.

Talking of assistants, everyone I've spoken to who has taken on a dog walking assistant has said they have trouble with their staff - and a few other people not related to the dog industry have said the same thing, so possibly next time I will do two things: Lower my expectations. Document those expectations so we all know where we are!

On the other hand, the two cat sitters I've taken on have been no trouble at all! Well, only a little bit.

Star of TV I just trying to imagine what catagory you fall into? The Barbara Woodhouse tweeds etc, though not as dead very obviously, or the Victoria Stillwell eye candy

I'm sure a bit of airtime, equals free advertising, will bring a flood of work and, as a bonus, potential employees.

how about a part time admin/manager to do all the paper work and co-ordinate your appointments, freeing you up to do the walking and visit clients in the most efficient route during the day??

The pilot is not for broadcast, sadly, I think it's for showing to TV channels to try to sell the idea.

http://diary-of-a-dog-walker.blogspot.com/2010/09/single-dog-owning-men-required.html

Not my idea of good telly! I heard about it when they started posting on message boards to find people to be on it, and didn't fancy it so was very surprised they contacted me anyway to do behind the scenes.

I thought about taking someone on as admin but I think I would prefer to do that myself, I just need to stop faffing about on the internet and get on with it (oh for the days when faffing about on the internet was my job!). I just need some weekends when I don't have much outside work and teenacher is not here to be able to break into it again.

I was just thinking why I am wasting time driving about when I could be doing stuff with dogs - some walks I spend an hour walking the dogs, and nearly 2 hours on the pickups and dropoffs! I'm now skilled at what I do, so better to pay someone else to do the 'unskilled' bits. Going to have a think about how it could work, but maybe not until after I come back from India as changing van insurance costs me £25 each time with this company.

Was reading some interesting (well I thought so), stuff last night about bisuness setups and such like...

Totally differnt work to yours mind, but maybe the premise is still the same;

Focus on your strong points.... you seem to like and prefer the actual* work with the dogs, walking them sitting them etc; Employ people for doing the bits you don't like, or which you find more difficult... so, maybe if you could use an external person for handling paperwork and the admin side, or wouldn't that really make much a differnce? Pity it didn't work out with the person you took on

I'll do your paperwork! Working from home would be awesome

It's the spreadsheet stuff - receipts into accounts, new client details. By the time I packed it into an envelope and sent it off ... You are welcome down here though.

Hmmm, would the wages cover my travel expenses for a weekly commute?

Brought tears to my eyes, that did. Heh.

No.