To mark the official launch of my search for the world’s greatest dog trainer - I am doing something really big.

I am giving away a marketing strategy that is sure to change the entire dynamic of your pet care business. It is an idea so innovative it has the potential to launch a business into the mass media spotlight.

Normally, I wouldn’t give away a marketing strategy like this unless it was to a coaching client. Ideas like the one I am going to be sharing with you (I’ll tell you how you can get the information a little later) are business revolutionizing.

You would normally have to sign up for one of my personal coaching programs. You see, while I always strive to provide high level, valuable marketing advise at no charge every day on the blog and in my newsletters - I have to hold back some of the ideas for my coaching clients.

Maybe not for the reasons you think though.

Some of the ideas, like the one I am going to “bribe” you with to help kickoff the World’s Greatest Dog Trainer Search, are cooked up in my little brain - no one else is doing them. They sure as heck aren’t in your everyday mainstream dog care business.

When working with innovative and creative ideas - the universe likes speed.

It is almost always crucial to be first to market in your territory with the idea. The strategies with the most long term potential work best if a limited number of pet care businesses are utilizing the strategy.

We talk about being first to market often. It is the difference between being the definitive leader in your community and a “me too” shop. Getting a head start means you are the one the community leadership recognizes, media contacts and the industry gets to know.

This is going to sound strange coming from a marketer who pounds quality into your heads, but speed to market is more important than quality of product or service.

If you don’t believe me - let me just give you two names: Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Gates inferior product has dominated an industry for one major reason…it was first.

As Jobs toiled away, perfecting his operating system - Gates launched. With all of the delays and bugs we have come to expect from Windows…and he has barely had to look over his shoulder since.

Scarcity and speed are two of the most critical factors to marketing success….and for those reasons, I do not publicly give away ideas like the one I am going to share with a select few of you who participate in my search for the World’s Greatest Dog Trainer.

How do you know you will want to use the idea once you see it? You don’t.

You have no idea if you will even grasp how enormous the impact of this idea could have on your business. You might see it and think it would be too hard. Maybe you don’t have the resources…since this is search for the World’s Greatest Dog Trainer, the strategy is for….tadum….Dog Trainers.

You might decide that you don’t even offer dog training services so this isn’t for you. You might be a trainer and decide maybe you aren’t good enough to pull it off. There are dozens of excuses, I mean reasons, why someone might not take initiative when they hear a new, innovative, earth shattering, ground breaking idea.

I am so humble!

Seriously, it is not going to be for everyone. And that is a good thing! Why would you want a strategy that just anyone is willing and able to do. It is for those rare individuals who do what others are not willing to do…the ones who work an extra hour, or fight just a little longer who triumph.

The fact is this strategy can be used by just about any one. There is a way in which anyone who runs a pet care business could incorporate this strategy. It is all a matter of who is willing to see the vision and take the necessary action.

For those of you who do - it will literally transform your business. For those of you who aren’t willing to take the action - there is really no harm because I am not asking for you to pay anything.

It is really quite simple - anyone who is a subscriber to my free newsletter (if you aren’t already - just give me your name and e-mail address using the “Newsletter” box at the top right of your window) and who comments below with a nomination for The World’s Greatest Dog Trainer will receive the strategy.

Simple.

Tell me who you are nominating - you can nominate yourself…and why. The better the nomination information the more likely the trainer will get consideration from us.

*Use the same e-mail address in your blog comment that you used to register for the free newsletter so that we can confirm your subscription. To avoid any threat of being called a spammer we absolutely need your “official” permission to e-mail you - hence, you must be a newsletter subscriber for us to send you an e-mail.

Nothing to it. If you don’t like the strategy - don’t use it. If you do like it - remember me when Matt Lauer asks you how you did it!

If you have been reading my blog for a while you know about my now 8 1/2 month old Blue Heeler puppy Lucy. She was a shelter adoption and my fourth rescue dog. (You can click here to see “adorable” pictures of Lucy on the “My Babies” page).

She was and remains my greatest challenge and therefore, my greatest opportunity! Since the day I adopted her she exhibited severe aggression. How a grown person could ever be afraid of an adorable little 4 pound puppy - I couldn’t have told you…until Lucy!

You might also know that I am deeply involved in personal empowerment. As a matter of fact, my primary business is as a life coach - which is why you read so much about leadership skills here at the Dog Business Daily blog.

Lucy showing up in my life was not an accident. She provided an amazing opportunity for me to practice staying in the present moment. Her addition to my life helped me grow so profoundly in the 7 1/2 months we have been together.

The growth has had ripple effects into every part of my life. I will only bore you with one story… how she has brought me to new heights in my marketing strategies.

Stay open to the possibilities in what you perceive as “problems” and this universe will take the seeming worst circumstance and turn it into a beautiful blessing.

I am about to embark on a mission to find the Worlds Greatest Dog Trainer and in the process, demonstrate some amazing interactive marketing strategies that you can use to profit your dog care business. STAY TUNED!

For those of you who don’t know about Lucy - let me take this opportunity to introduce you to my little angel and begin the story of my search for The World’s Greatest Dog Trainer.

Even if you don’t know about Lucy, you should understand from reading my blog that I have a passion for dogs. I believe they have been created to help raise the consciousness of the world.

I adopted Lucy - some would say on a whim, I call it inspiration. I visit my local Humane Society often to hug and love the dogs at the shelter. I always want to bring at least one dog home with me but usually leave with empty arms.

On my visit on November 15, 2007 I knew I was going to get a puppy. When I met Lucy, it was done! The Lee County Humane Society has a great adoption process that to my dismay would require me to return late the next afternoon for their first available adoption time slot.

I witnessed Lucy’s aggression for the first time before the adoption. Immediately filled with doubt and fear, I asked if she had been separated from her pack because of behavior issues. I was assured she had not been separated.

I later found out the entire litter exhibited aggression - Lucy was the most severe.

An 8 month long story short - Lucy’s aggression issues led me to two of the worlds best trainers found right here in my community. First, Chris Adams of Oak Bowery Kennels, Opelika, AL and Maria McCausland, D.V.M., one of my vets at Parkway Animal Hospital in Auburn, AL.
Between Chris and Maria I have developed the skills to control Lucy’s aggressive tendencies to keep her, my other three dogs, myself and others safe.

While going through these first 8 months I experienced a great deal of doubt and fear.

The first few months I was being attacked by Lucy almost daily. I doubted whether I was the right person to handle this type of dog. Part of her aggression issues are simply her breed. A Blue Heeler is in charge of herding cattle - she has to be tough.

She is bred to control her environment and if her human pack leader is not strong enough - she would control me too.

Open to the experience and opportunity for me to learn and grow I allowed the right teachers to come into my life. You know the saying, when the student is ready. I had been going to Parkway Animal Hospital for almost 9 years and hadn’t had the pleasure of working with Maria.

Maria was the vet on duty that November day when I left the humane society and drove straight to the clinic. The journey had begun.

I ultimately have gained the pack leader position and in the process an inspiration for an amazing marketing strategy.

Bookmark this site - you don’t want to miss the amazing integrative marketing lesson we will unfold over the next few months.