Page 120 - Marky Stein - Fearless Career Change_ The Fast Track to Success in a New Field (2004)

Fearless Career Change

4. “Dog sitting” for a friend
5. Stopping to pet a dog while jogging

“I think I like dogs better than people,” she joked. “They’re com-
pletely without guile, totally authentic. Dogs are better than the
best antidepressant in the world.” Odd that none of her happiest
moments included people, and two out of five included dogs.
“What would you think about a career with animals?” She
thought for a while. “Like what?” “Well, there are several,” I
replied. “Veterinarian, veterinary assistant, dog groomer, dog walker,
opening a trendy doggie day spa or doggie day-care center, work-
ing with a volunteer group for the welfare of animals, being a dog
trainer.” As soon as I mentioned dog trainer, she became very ani-
mated. “That’s something I’d like to look into,” she said.
She researched the title on the O*NET. It was clear that Han
was not going to make anywhere near $350,000 annually for being
a dog trainer. In fact, the top ninetieth percentile of trainers in the
United States made about $45,000 a year, according to this
resource. Was she ready to take that kind of pay cut?
She was. Remembering how much she adored her childhood
fox terrier and recalling how she was always the first to offer to
babysit others’ pets, she realized that the love she extended to ani-
mals and received in return was worth thousands, even tens of
thousands, more than the emptiness and blandness of her experi-
ence of practicing law.
Han said something to me that I often hear when people find
their authentic calling. “I would not only be a dog trainer for free,
I’d even pay someone else just to be allowed to do it!” The feeling
of inner wealth when doing the work that you love is often more
than enough to trade for a high-paying job that doesn’t strike a
chord with who you really are. Han trained at a 12-week program
that cost $1,900 dollars. From day 1 she reported feeling “happier
than I can remember.” Later, she did an informal, unpaid intern-
ship with a more experienced trainer. They led canine obedience
classes together. Though Han was not paid, she was free to accept
business from any of the dog owner students in the class who
wanted private training.
This was one of the fundamental ways that she built her private
business in animal obedience. I’ll point out other techniques that
Han used to become a successful entrepreneur in Chapter 8. A year

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