Welcome to 2023!

Whether or not you made resolutions, I hope you at least set some goals. Every year one of my goals is always to gain more knowledge. I budget for education either in the form of budgeting or money or both. It’s been said that a failure to plan is a plan to fail so without fail I add dollars and commitment of time on my calendar to a conference or a class or webinars that will propel my business and my own personal growth forward.

The registration form for the NAPPS Conference and the speaker lineup has been out for some time and prices will go up on January 15th so my advice is decide TODAY to make the investment in yourself and your business. To those that excuse themselves from not attending by saying they’re solo pet sitters, I get it, I too was a solo pet sitter for the first 5 years of my business but from the time I learned about the NAPPS Conference when I very first became a member some 16 years ago, I have made it a priority to get to Conference. If I hadn’t been in the audience some 14 years ago I would likely be out of business by now, not because I didn’t have enough business but because I had too much and without learning from my mentors and colleagues about a successful work/life balance I would have gone through major burnout and quit the industry. I understand that going away is investment of both time and money but I also understand that without that investment you’ll likely be in the same place next year and the following year and beyond which is great if that’s where your comfortable but personally I want to grow as a person and a business owner and I want to see this industry flourish with exceptional business owners at the helm. I want you to see success!

I’m not going to say that every speaker, every year has been my cup of tea but I’m smart enough to realize that each speaker has expertise and some sort of knowledge to impart on each of us and you can’t receive that message if you aren’t there. No amount of second hand accounts will take the place of the mood, the excitement, and the atmosphere that you find yourself immersed in when you get to conference. There’s been no in-person NAPPS Conference since one was held in Atlanta five years ago now, I cant believe its been 5 years since I’ve gotten to see my friends and colleagues in person. Nothing can match the feeling of being able to meet in person, nothing can match the conversations that are held while sharing meals or a cocktail together. Nothing! I can’t even begin to tell you how much knowledge I gain from my own colleagues through late night discussions and round tables during a break. Our experiences are what form our businesses and if you’re eager to learn the NAPPS Conference is the place to gain a lifetime of experience condensed into a short weekend. 

If you’re truly serious about moving ahead either in business or personally I challenge you to find a way to get to New Orleans in March. It’s a fun city with great food and will offer a nice break but more importantly it’s the investment in your business and yourself that will offer you the opportunity to learn, revive and refresh. It’s truly a no-brainer. Register today. I’ll see you in New Orleans!

Yvette Gonzales
As You Wish, LLC
Daphne, AL