5 Things I Believe Now That I Didn’t 5 Years Ago
In this episode, I’m reflecting on five beliefs that have fundamentally changed for me over the last five years as a business owner. When I look back at who I was coming out of the pandemic, I see someone who was working hard, growing quickly, and learning constantly, but I also see someone who held very different assumptions about leadership, feedback, success, time, and personal growth.
This conversation is less about tactics and more about perspective. The beliefs we carry shape the decisions we make, the risks we take, the opportunities we see, and ultimately the results we create.
I talk about why I no longer believe business success is primarily driven by luck, how my relationship with feedback has completely changed, why I’ve come to view myself through the lens of inputs and outputs, and the mindset shift that has helped me stop labeling myself as “bad” at certain parts of business.
If you’ve been in business for a while, I think you’ll recognize some of your own evolution in this conversation. And if you’re earlier in the journey, hopefully some of these lessons help shorten the learning curve.
Key Takeaways
• Data creates clarity when circumstances feel uncertain
• Business outcomes are influenced more by decisions than luck
• Feedback is one of the most valuable gifts a leader can provide
• Proactive coaching outperforms reactive correction
• Inputs drive outputs, both in business and in life
• Personal performance can be improved through intentional inputs
• Time is often a business owner’s highest-leverage resource
• Resource allocation matters more than resource accumulation
• Most skill gaps are practice gaps, not talent gaps
• Growth often begins with changing the stories we tell ourselves
Cheering You On,
M
Join Me at the DogCo Business Summit
if you’re serious about growing your pet care business alongside other ambitious operators, I’d love to have you at the DogCo Business Summit
October 2nd–4th, 2026
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Steve will be speaking live, and we’ll be working through these exact challenges, leadership, communication, and building stronger teams.
Learn more and grab your spot at: https://dogcosummit.com
Want a Real-World Example of What’s Possible?
If you want to see how clarity, leadership, and intentional systems can transform a pet care business, I’ve put together a case study showing how one company grew monthly revenue from $19,000 to over $73,000 in a single year. It breaks down the decisions, structure, and leadership shifts behind that growth, not just the outcome.
You can access the case study at dogcolaunch.com/case-study and see how DogCo Launch supports pet care owners who are ready to grow sustainably.
To learn more about how DogCo Launch helps pet care companies grow and scale, visit dogcolaunch.com.
Michelle Kline is the founder of DogCo Launch, and the host of the DogCo Secrets Podcast. Michelle spends her time helping pet care companies in the industry grow and scale their teams, increase their revenue, and increase personal profits - all while protecting their time. Learn more about Michelle here.
