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“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

– Chinese Proverb

Christmas morning 2002 – my first client:

I never set out to create a pet service and certainly not to create one of the largest pet services in New York City, as Downtown Pets has become. Back on Christmas morning 2002 when I visited Downtown Pets’ first ever client, I could think no farther than finding a way to pay my bills. I woke up at 6 am on a cold winter morning in New York City and walked over to feed and play with a cat. I was pretty depressed as I walked over to feed that cat, unemployed, lost in life and working on Christmas morning for $10 just seemed to depress me even more. My self-esteem was at an all-time low. I was a person filled with big ideas and passion but had yet to find something in life where I could direct all that energy.

My mood quickly changed though upon opening the door to find a fluffy little cat staring at me down a long hallway. The cat seemed a little apprehensive at the sight of a stranger entering her home but she also seemed happy to have

someone visiting her. We quickly became great friends and being able to provide this animal comfort while its owner was away seemed very worthwhile to me. I’ve always considered myself a protector of animals and the joy I brought this little cat made all my other problems sort of disappear. It seemed like I had

finally found something I could believe in: caring for animals. Visiting that cat and working with animals in general was honest, organic work and something I could feel proud of.

“Movies are made before the first day of shooting.” - unknown

The beginning of Downtown Pets might have started with those leisurely cat visits on Christmas day but it would soon spiral into a fast-paced, medium-sized business. My rise from a single client to financial freedom might have happened quickly but I paid dearly for not planning ahead. I took on clients anywhere at anytime and it was routine for me to work 100-hour workweeks. Sometimes it got so tough that I would cry at night when I’d get home. There were times where all I did was work and sleep and I didn’t actually have time in my day to do anything else. In the end it all worked out but I’d never do it that way again. Not planning ahead before I started my company wasted my time, wasted my clients and employees time, lost me money, brought me problems I easily could have avoided and in some ways could have led to the downfall of my business. 

I want to try and help you avoid as much of the stress in starting your company as possible. So to begin let’s start creating a framework for your company that can fit your lifestyle both in the present and as your company grows. The aim is for you to create a company that will not only provide you with financial freedom but also personal freedom.  I mean, isn’t one of the main reasons in owning your own company to have personal freedom? It sure was for me but if you don’t plan-

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