We had the good fortune of connecting with Alisha Martin and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Alisha, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
About risk: If you never try, then you’ll never know! Before starting Alisha’s Leashes, I had been working for the same corporation for 14 years. I was good at my job, had worked my way up in the company, and was making enough money to live the lifestyle that I was accustomed to. I knew exactly what I was doing day in and day out. Some might call that “security”, but inwardly I was bored, restless, and uninspired. I kept having this nagging thought: “what else is out there for me? There has to be more!” So one day, without warning, I put in my 2-weeks-notice. I had no real savings, no fall back plan, and no other jobs waiting in the wings. All that I knew was that kicking myself to the curb was the ONLY way that I was ever going to make a real change in my own life! It was, by far, the scariest thing I have ever done and I had no idea what was in store for me at the time, but taking that risk quite literally propelled my life in the direction it needed to go to to get me to where I am today.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What I do: I am the owner and operator of Alisha’s Leashes dog care company in Boulder, Colorado. My business specializes in off-leash doggie adventure days in which I lead groups of dogs on off-leash, multi-hour hikes in and around the front range. What sets me apart: I pride myself on giving my dogs a fully immersive social experience! Not only are they are being exercised in beautiful natural environments and coming home to their families tired and happy at the end of the day, they are ALSO learning important off-leash commands such as “stay”, “leave it” and “with me” and honing in on proper socialization with one another. The lessons that they learn out on the trail with me are giving them valuable skills they need to lead happy and healthy lives with their families. It’s a win-win for everybody!
How I began: I have been in the dog-walking business since 2016 where I built my clientele from the ground up. I had no experience marketing myself so I just started doing any and everything I could think of to get my name out there including hanging out at dog parks and talking to dog owners, hanging fliers at coffee shops, and walking door to door with my business card. Boulder is such a dog-friendly community, starved for friendly and reliable dog care professionals! While it took some time and effort to build up a solid client base, the momentum really built up over that first year and now 98% of my clients are referral based.
Lessons:
-Enjoy what you do! I have never loved a job the way I’ve loved this and it has really elevated the quality of my life.
-Burn out is REAL! Work hard, but do not forget to set aside time for yourself. Even if you love your work, it is important to find a healthy work/life balance so that you don’t burn out.
-Don’t be afraid to try! If you never try, then you never know what could be.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A perfect day in Boulder: Drive up Flagstaff Mountain to the lookout area and watch the sunrise. Then take yourself to The Village Coffee Shop for an authentic diner experience (order the blueberry pancakes…they are TO DIE FOR!), drive up Canyon Blvd and stop at Boulder Falls for a quick photo opp, then head just a little further up Canyon to the town of Nederland. Hike either Caribou Hill or West Magnolia trail system (Observatory Trail is easy and has amazing views). Take yourself out to lunch at Crosscut Pizza in Nederland (the pizza is amazing and the patio is dog-friendly), then head back down into Boulder in time for happy hour and sunset on the patio at Avery Brewing Co. After taking a short but efficient cat-nap, spend the rest of the evening on Pearl Street! Grab a tiki drink at Jungle, a bowl of dim sum at Zo Ma Ma, go check out the really awesome library/coffee shop Trident, and then head down to the Caribou Room for some good live music to end your night right!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
All of the wonderful family and friends in my corner that have been my cheerleaders, specifically my mom and my dad who have always believed in me and encouraged me to follow my dreams
Website: https://alishasleashes.wixsite.com/boulder
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alishas_leashes/