The Three "P's"

I had a conversation a couple of weeks ago with an oral surgeon. He was asking my thoughts on social media marketing for his industry.
"What do you think?" I asked.
"I don't really see the value in it other than as a necessary evil," he said.

I was a bit perplexed by his response. Don't see the value? A necessary evil? I guess I don't "get" that he doesn't understand the value of social media. Quite frankly, it's like training a dog. Some people view dog training as a necessary evil and some people view dog training as the key to a long-lasting and happy life.

The keys to social media, as with dog training, are patience, persistence, and positivism. Yes, I know "positivism" technically is not a word; however, it fits with my "three P's to success" mentality. It is a simple and straight-forward approach to achieving success in life - K.I.S.S. - if you will. Keep It Simple, Sweetie. Figure out what you want to do, write down your plan (I suggest a business and a marketing plan), and start working to achieve that goal.

Social media in the form of Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest should be a key component of your plan. But don't set yourself up for failure and disappointment by expecting too much too soon. It takes time to see results from social media. And when I say it takes time, I mean you should anticipate at least a year before you really start seeing and measuring results. Patience, persistence, and positivism are essential to your success with social media.

Dave the Dog Guy Helps Dogs with People Problems

Dave “The Dog Guy”  Helps Dogs with People Issues

Move over, Cesar Milan. There’s a new dog trainer in town and his name is David Fitzpatrick. And Dave doesn’t just train dogs. He trains their human companions, too.

From his humble beginnings as the son of a Guinness pub manager in Dublin, Ireland, to his almost 5,000 mile trek to Texas, David Fitzpatrick has come a long way in pursuit of his passion of working with abandoned, abused, and neglected animals. And, according to Dave, he doesn’t work with people who have dog issues. He works with dogs that have people issues. “I believe the biggest problem between canines and their owners is communication – or lack thereof,” said Dave. “My goal is to bridge that communication gap and help owners learn how to understand the reasons behind their dog’s behavior.”

Dave’s love of animals can be traced back to his childhood when he spent summers with his family in a small farming village just outside of Dublin. “My family and I would travel to Wexford in the summer and help out on the farm doing everything from rounding up the sheep to milking the cows.” Peggy, the family’s Basset Hound, ruled the roost and did her best to keep Dave and his seven siblings in line.

In addition to his work with animals on the farm in Wexford, Dave volunteered at Ireland’s national aquarium. He did everything from feeding the seals to cleaning the shark tank. “I have respect and love for all animals,” said Dave.

In the five years Dave has lived in the United States, he has studied and obtained his certification as a professional dog trainer and established his business as Celtic Canine Trainer (http://www.celtic-k9.com/). “I am proud to be Irish and proud to be living in the United States, a country that has afforded me the opportunity to pursue my dream.”

 Dave the Dog Guy as he is affectionately known in the Dallas/Ft. Worth animal rescue community, volunteers his time and services with several rescue groups including DFW Rescue Me and DFW Pup Patrol. He works with foster dogs and their families as well as dogs adopted from the rescue groups. “My goal is to help dogs and their families live long and happy lives together.”