The Dog Walker

The other day I was taking a walk and encountered a woman walking four dogs. We got to talking and she told me a bit of her story.

You see, she walks dogs for a living. Several of them in fact. It’s her business now.

But dog walking wasn’t always what she did. She had a 20+ year in the corporate world and rose through the ranks of her organization to senior management. But she wasn’t happy. She did not feel fulfilled with her career choice. It was good money, good benefits, nice people. But she wasn’t doing what she loved.

So she quit.
And she opened up a business grooming and walking dog.
Her clients are hard working pet owners who don’t have the freedom to come home in the middle of every day to walk their dog. And who are willing to pay her to walk them, and bathe them.

Is she happy now?
I wish I’d taken a picture of the big smile on her face when we met and she described what her work days are like now. This is one happy woman.

What did it take for her to make such a significant change?

I asked her that very question, and here’s what I heard her say:

“A vision. A strong desire for something different- my compelling why. A ton of self-belief. And a smattering of bravery”.

Well articulated, don’t you think?