Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicki Alexander.
Hi Nicki, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
On August 16th 2023, my entire world was shattered or so I thought at the time, when I was let go from a pet resort that I was employed with for over 15 years. Most of those years were spent in the dog training department which I had poured my heart and soul into. I put in countless hours, including late nights and weekends for many years doing what I love. So you can imagine being let go was a complete shock and I was devastated. During this time, I was also in the process of building my house on 3.5 acres I had purchased the year before, so being unemployed was extremely scary at this time. What if I lost it all? How would I pay my bills? I cannot begin to express all of the “what ifs” floating in head at that time. I was beyond stressed. After a few days, I was forced to dry my tears, thanks to Momma Linda, and get to work. We made some adjustments to my home so I could live and work in the same space. On September 12th, 2023, my small dog training business, Zen Paws Farm LLC, opened its doors and continues to grow in Saint Jacob, IL.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This journey has been anything but a smooth one, but it has been worth it! Owning a small business has its perks, but also has its struggles. It has been challenging working and living in the same space, but I keep telling myself this won’t be forever, and it won’t.
Besides that challenge, we have survived a field fire which forced me to close down and move out for two weeks due to smoke damage. We also survived the storms in March, which demolished my fencing and backyard training/play space and had several trees that had to be removed. There was a lot of cleanup, but the farm survived!
And last, to be fully transparent, I think every business owner struggles financially. It’s a lot! From taxes to overhead costs, it can be mentally draining. There are times when I feel like throwing in the towel, but I don’t, because I’m building my dream. Rome wasn’t built in a day right?
Bottom line, owning a business is not for the weak. We have endured a lot of struggles and heartache in less than 2 years, but we continue to rise, because failure is not an option!
We’ve been impressed with Zen Paws Farm LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Zen Paws Farm LLC is a dog training business. We specialize in obedience training of all levels, behavior modification including anxiety and reactivity, and much more. Our programs include Daily Train-N-Camp, Overnight Train-N-Camp, private lessons, in home lessons and group classes.
Our most popular program is the Daily Train-N-Camp. This program allows you to drop off and pick up daily for training and socialization, much like taking a child to school. During this program, we conduct weekly one on one lessons with the owners where all family members are welcome. These lessons allow us to show you what we have been working on and teach you how to reinforce in the home environment. I try to make training fun for the whole family and not feel like work.
Zen Paws Farm LLC strives to provide quality, affordable training in a comfortable atmosphere. From the initial meet and greet, you and your dog become apart of the farm family. We are here to provide help and guidance for the life of the dog. Many of my clients refer to me as “Aunt Nicki”, which absolutely warms my heart. I personally get to know each dog and their family, you are not just a number, you are family!
How do you think about luck?
I personally feel it’s not luck of any kind. Life has thrown me several curve balls to make sure I can handle being a business owner. So it’s not luck, it takes hard work and determination to make your dreams a reality.
Now I will say that my previous place of employment did me a favor by letting me go. They gave me the push I needed to start my own business. It was a blessing in disguise.
Pricing:
- Pricing varies as each individual dog is different. We can customize a program to fit your dog budget and your dog’s needs.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zenpawsfarm?igsh=Y2g1MHpodmh5Mng%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BurnTTPuz/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: Zen Paws Farm LLC
