We recently had the chance to connect with Taylor Gonzalez and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Taylor, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity, hands down. Intelligence and energy are powerful, but without integrity, they can cause more harm than good. I’d rather work with someone who keeps their word and owns their mistakes than someone who’s brilliant but cuts corners. Trust builds everything, teams, partnerships, and long-term success.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Taylor Gonzalez, founder of Three Tails, a pet supply store based in Columbia, Illinois. We’re not just another pet store, we’re a destination for people who treat their pets like family. From curated nutrition and grooming to innovative wellness services like water therapy, dry needling, and chiropractic care, we bring heart and expertise into everything we do.
Three Tails started with a simple belief: pets deserve better. Better food, better care, better experiences. What began as a small, family-run business has grown into a full-fledged brand built on quality, community, and education.
Today, we’re focused on expanding our reach while staying true to our roots, building a community where pets and their people always come first.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was curious, creative, and stubborn in the best way. I questioned everything, followed my gut, and didn’t care much for rules that didn’t make sense. I loved building things that made a difference, fixing problems, and finding my own way, even if it looked different. Somewhere along the line, the world tried to box that in. But honestly, a big part of my journey has been getting back to that original version of myself, the one who trusted her instincts and wasn’t afraid to do things differently.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me patience, perspective, and grit. It stripped away the noise and forced me to face what really matters, who I am when things fall apart, not just when everything’s going well. It showed me that failure and struggle are the true foundation of success. You won’t get there without them, and you won’t appreciate the view if you don’t feel the hurt it takes to climb that far.
Being a business owner in today’s world means constant sacrifice. You question your instincts, you adapt nonstop but through all of that, I’ve grown. The struggle has shaped me into a better leader, more grounded, more resilient, and more committed to doing the hard things that matter.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That longevity and advertising don’t equal quality. Too many people assume that if a brand has been around forever or runs national commercials, it must be the best option for their pet. But in reality, some of the most heavily marketed products are built more for profit than for true pet wellness.
The industry often leans on brand recognition instead of transparency. Just because it’s familiar doesn’t mean it’s the right choice. At Three Tails, we spend a lot of time on education with our team then re-educating pet parents, helping them look beyond the packaging and hype to understand what their pets actually need to thrive. That shift in mindset is where real change starts.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope when people tell my story, they say I was someone who showed up with everything I had, for the people and pets I loved. That I was dependable, honest, and the kind of person you wanted in your corner.
I hope they remember the way I cared, not just about pets and their families, but about my own family and friends, the ones who shaped me and stood by me. That I lived with compassion, fought for what I believed in, and wasn’t afraid of the hard work, sacrifice, and struggle it took to build something meaningful.
Most of all, I hope people say I lit a path that made others believe they could chase their dreams and do it with purpose.
That my legacy wasn’t just a business or accomplishments, but the love and loyalty I poured into every corner of my life. I hope they say I left this place just a bit better than it was before, that I made a difference in their life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://threetailspets.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threetails9900/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-gonzalez-a5a991118/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Threetailsparlorpantry/
Image Credits
A Miles Photography
