Episode 462: 7 Things AI Can Do for Your Small Business This Week (That You Haven’t Thought Of)

You've heard of ChatGPT. But do you actually know which AI model is right for your business — and why using just one might be slowing you down instead of speeding you up? Timestamps: [0:00] — The steak and spoon analogy: why most business owners are using AI wrong [3:00] — ChatGPT: the Kleenex of AI, what it's good for, and the hallucination problem [9:00] — Claude: why it feels like talking to an emotionally intelligent adult [13:00] — Gemini: the best tool if you live in Google Workspace [16:00] — Perplexity: the AI search engine your competitors don't know about yet [19:00] — Grok: what makes it different and what to watch out for In This Episode You'll Discover Why ChatGPT is the most famous AI tool and not always the best one for your daily business workflow How Claude thinks differently from every other model — and why that changes the way you should talk to it The one place Gemini beats everything else if you run your business inside Google Why Perplexity might be the most important tool for your business visibility that you've never heard of The truth about AI knowledge cutoffs — and which models actually have access to current information About this Episode: Not all AI tools work the same way — and using the wrong one for the wrong job is why so many business owners feel like AI isn't working for them. In this episode, Bella breaks down the major models from her own real-world experience in March 2026: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, and Grok. What each one does well. Where each one falls short. And how to stop using one spoon for everything. Resources and Links Mentioned: Each item below should be a clickable link on the BOLD word or phrase. Do not write out the URL on the page. Magai — All the major AI models in one place, 30% off for 3 months The Jumpers Mastermind — Where Bella works with business owners on AI, hiring, marketing, and more Free 20-Minute Call with Bella — One problem, 20 minutes, totally free How to Switch from ChatGPT to Claude Without Losing Your Brain — Bella's blog post Watch Bella's ChatGPT Agent Mode Reel on Instagram CONNECT WITH BELLA The Jumpers Mastermind Free 20-Minute Call with Bella Subscribe to Bella in Your Business Bella's Website Find Bella on Instagram and Facebook — search Bella Vasta FAQ SECTION: What is the difference between ChatGPT and Claude? ChatGPT is the most widely known AI and excels at a wide range of tasks, agent automation, and image generation. Claude tends to be more precise, asks better clarifying questions, and produces fewer errors — making it better for writing, deep analysis, and coding. Most serious business owners end up using both for different jobs. Which AI model is best for small business owners? There is no single best model — the right answer depends on the task. ChatGPT is the easiest starting point. Claude is best for deep work, writing, and analysis. Gemini is best if your business runs on Google Workspace. Perplexity is best for research and checking how your business appears in AI search. Grok has real-time access to X/Twitter content. Use different tools for different jobs. What is Perplexity AI used for? Perplexity is a search engine powered by AI. Instead of giving you a list of links like Google, it reads the web and gives you a direct answer with cited sources you can verify. It is especially useful for research, fact-checking, understanding what questions your customers are asking, and seeing how your business appears in AI search results. Do I need to pay for AI tools to get good results? Free versions of AI tools are typically six months to over a year behind the paid versions in capability. If you tried AI on a free plan and it felt limited, that's likely why. Paid plans are $20 per month or less for most tools. Magai lets you access most of the major models for the price of one subscription — it's where Bella recommends starting.

How do you switch Ai platforms? With the recent events of AWS centers being bombed, the Department of War threatening to label Caude as a "supply chain risk" and Open Ai stepping in and "saving the day" there is a lot that you need to consider with your Ai strategy. In this episode, I’m stripping away the politics and the drama to give you the facts you need to protect your workflows. I’ll show you why you are the operating system, and why being "AI literate" is the only way to thrive when the tech landscape starts shifting under your feet. In This Episode You'll Discover Why Anthropic refused military access to Claude and the two specific lines they won't cross. How Sam Altman signed a military deal hours after Anthropic was blacklisted. The first time a U.S. tech data center was knocked offline by military action. A high-level breakdown of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and the autonomous agent Manus. My 3-step process to export your custom GPTs and replicate them across any platform in 15 minutes. Takeaways AI is transforming the business landscape and requires attention. Military involvement in AI raises ethical concerns and operational risks. Data center outages can significantly impact business operations. Understanding multiple AI platforms is crucial for business resilience. AI literacy is more important than loyalty to a single platform. Switching AI platforms is easier than perceived; it's about mindset. Your expertise is the core of your operations, not the AI tool. Practical steps can simplify the transition between AI platforms. Staying curious and flexible is key to thriving in uncertainty. The future belongs to those who can think critically with AI. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to the Current AI Landscape 06:08 – The Impact of Global Events on AI Infrastructure 14:59 – The Importance of AI Literacy 21:01 – Practical Steps for Transitioning Between AI Platforms Notable Quotes "AI literacy beats AI loyalty every single time." "You are the operating system. The AI is just an app." "The future belongs to the people who learned how to think with AI, no matter which tool they're holding." Resources and Links Blog Post: This post includes the exact prompts, step-by-step screenshots, and markdown instructions mentioned in the episode. Jumpconsulting.net/magai: Use this link for 30% off your first three months. Mastermind Intensives   Transcript Hey, so I need to talk to you this episode and it's gonna be a little bit different from what we normally do. And I want you all to really listen. I understand that a lot of you are probably doing laundry, driving around, walking dogs, like getting the kid from school, but like I want you to listen up because I'm gonna throw a lot at you today. It's gonna feel a little bit doom and gloomy, but it's not intended that way. It's actually intended to be very empowering. So stick with me all through this episode and I promise to give you a direction. The world is shifting right now. And if you're a business owner who uses AI, which if you're listening to this show, you probably are, then what is happening is gonna be directly affecting you. And I'm not gonna be dramatic, okay? I'm gonna literally tell you the facts and then I'm gonna distill it, strain it down to exactly how this is gonna help your business, okay? So let's just... paint the picture right now, the state of the world. So let me like that. We'll set the stage here. Okay. And I'm going to also keep it at high level. I'm not going to get into politics. I'm going to give you the facts that matter for your business. And if you're listening to this in the future, I am recording this in March of 2026. I am so interested in what my future self thinks about this episode and how things are going to develop over time because it is the most exciting and wild time to ever have a business.

Hard truth: You need to level up your Ai Skills and this weeks epiosde is going to show you 7 ways you can do that. No tech. No crazy 30 steps. Things you can do in your small business today. Most pet business owners are either ignoring AI or just using it for basic tasks, but I’m here to up-level your thinking and show you how to shift your mindset to achieve your goals faster. In this episode, I’m breaking down seven practical, straightforward ways you can use AI right now to save time, increase trust with your clients, and stop the "content slop" madness for good. In This Episode You'll Discover Boost your local ranking by replying with pet names and service-specific keywords. Use AI to find exactly where your site fails to answer client questions. Build instant trust by answering questions before they are ever asked. Stop hiring "warm bodies" with personality-driven ads that attract top talent. Turn one client email or blog into ten high-quality social posts. Use your "Sent" folder to build a document that ends repetitive emotional labor. Let AI analyze your competitors to find their weaknesses and your competitive edge. Timestamps 08:18 – Use AI to find the "missing answers" on your site that are costing you sales. 11:36 – Create a "What to Expect" guide that closes deals before you even speak. 14:45 – Stop running ads; start writing talent magnets that filter out the fluff. 18:13 – How to turn one high-value insight into 10 strategic, high-quality posts. 23:30 – Turn repetitive emails into a permanent FAQ to reclaim your emotional labor. 26:15 – Use AI to spot your competitors' weaknesses and exploit your strengths. Notable Quotes "Every negative review, you're actually not responding to them, you're responding to everyone who's ever gonna see it for years to come." "I can tell you how successful or unsuccessful you're gonna be based off of where you're spending your time." "It's not AI [that will ruin the world], it's the people that understand how to use AI the right way." Resources and Links Get organized and stop the resume chaos. Click here to try my favorite applicant tracking system: Breezy HR (ATS): bellavasta.com/breezy If you want to know what your competitors are really saying, you need my phone sales script exercise Want the exact prompts for every strategy I shared today? Join our community and let’s make your business fly: Jump Consulting Mastermind: (Use code BELLA25 for $25 off!) Have a specific question or need a partner hookup? Shoot me a message directly: [email protected] Transcript Welcome back to another episode of Bella in Your Business. Today we're going to talk about seven things that AI can do for your pet business this week that you probably didn't think of. Now guys, I think this is really, really important because I've been seeing people use it, but like use it at a very kindergarten level, not in elementary, middle school, high school, or dare I say collegiate level. Okay. And I'm here to up level your thinking of what is actually possible. And hopefully by the end of this episode, you're going to have a lot of different ideas and I'm going to change your mindset slightly. That's always my goal in everything that I do is to shift your mindset, to think bigger, think more strategic and achieve your goals faster. So most pet businesses are like, they're either ignoring AI, complaining about AI and I'm not even gonna go into that and I give that any life, okay? But I wanna talk to you who you feel like you're using it every day. Maybe you have it on your phone, you have it downloaded, you talk to it all the time, you feel like you're getting a lot from it. Harvard actually just came out with a study that people are actually more busy because of AI, because they're not, especially a chat GPT, which is one of the reasons why I kind of broke up with them. It's always like, well,

Are you still climbing ladders to clean gutters at 6 p.m. because your "reliable" hire ghosted you? Or maybe you’re the dog walker getting called in for a shift because someone bailed an hour before it started. I know you’re exhausted, and I know you feel like you’ve tried everything even praying about it or putting it out into the universe. But the truth is, you’re likely hiring on a hope and a prayer because you’re desperate for help, not work. In this episode, I’m pulling you off the hamster wheel. We’re moving from chaos to a proven system: the 10-Step Jump Hiring Method. I’m breaking down how to stop hiring "anyone with a pulse" and start building a team that actually values the opportunity. We’ll talk about why your gut feeling is lying to you, how to write job ads that read like love letters, and why investing in your people from day one changes everything. Stop guessing. Start building. In This Episode You'll Discover How to stop looking for "hard workers" and start defining your dream team member. Why your boring job ads are attracting people who don't care and how to write ads that hit emotional buttons. Using "anti-questions" to make the wrong people self-select out before they waste your time. Why hiring off a "gut feeling" is like getting married on the first date (and how to fix it). The simple math equation to know exactly when you can afford to hire without the late-night anxiety. A simple trick to ensure you talk only 20% of the time during interviews. How to make a new hire feel like a human, not a cog in a machine, from day one. Timestamps 02:29 – The reality of ghosting and why "hiring on a prayer" fails. 04:54 – Why hiring based on a "gut feeling" is like getting married on the first date. 07:17 – The math of hiring: How to know if you can actually afford to grow. 09:38 – Phase One: Defining your ideal candidate avatar beyond just a "pulse". 12:01 – Using knockout questions to make the wrong people self-select out. 14:24 – Building a phased process and using an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). 18:49 – The "Drink Test": How to master the 80/20 rule in interviews. Notable Quotes: "Your hiring process should make people work for the opportunity to work for you." "When you hire based off of a gut feeling, you're hiring someone you liked, not someone who's competent." "Hiring is not a panic decision. It's a math equation." Resources and Links Get organized and stop the resume chaos. Click here to try my favorite applicant tracking system: Breezy HR (ATS): bellavasta.com/breezy Want to stop losing your best people? Grab the book that changed how I look at retention: Never Lose an Employee by Joey Coleman Take the guesswork out of personality and honesty. Use these assessments to vet your next hire: Assessments: Orion Test or Predictive Index Ready for a personalized audit of your system? Book a session and let’s fix your business together: Strategy Call with Bella: bellavasta.com Have a specific question or need a partner hookup? Shoot me a message directly: [email protected] Transcript Welcome everybody to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta. Today, we're going to talk about something that almost every single one of you are affected by. And that's how we feel about our hiring method. Are you the one that's still climbing ladders to clean gutters at 6 p.m. because your reliable employee ghosted you? Are you the one answering emergency HVAC calls at midnight because you can't trust anyone else with your clients? Are you the dog walker that's getting called in because someone decided to call out an hour before their shift? If you're stuck on that hamster wheel, alright, spinning and spinning and spinning, working in your business instead of on your business, we're gonna fix that today. We're gonna talk about it because you're not alone. You're actually very similar to a lot of other people the...

Are you actually running your business, or is it running you? This episode is for the person who feels like they have to be the brain for everyone they hire. If you've ever felt like it’s just easier to do it yourself, or if you’re treating AI like a magic eight ball instead of a teammate, we need to talk. I’m showing you exactly how to climb the ladder from Level 1 to Level 6 so you can finally stop being the bottleneck. In This Episode You'll Discover Why paying $30/hour for a "button pusher" who can't think for themselves is a waste of your money. Why free AI tools keep you stuck in Level 1 while paid versions act as a strategic brain for your business. How to stop letting data kill your creativity by delegating the heavy lifting to Level 3 systems. The secret to cloning your brand voice and SOPs so you aren't the constant bottleneck. How to move toward Level 6 agents that handle client onboarding and dinner orders while you're at swim school. Timestamps 03:45– Why AI is now as mandatory for business as a cell phone. 05:20– Level 1: Stop micromanaging the "follow the recipe" tasks. 09:19– Level 2: Research and report. Let AI build your spreadsheets. 11:40– Level 3: Moving from options to recommendations. 18:45– Level 4: "Decide and inform." Trusting your custom GPTs. 25:35– Level 5: Full agency. Systems that run without your permission. 29:20– Level 6: Owning the outcome. The holy grail of business freedom Notable Quotes: "If they are not using AI as a tool, then you are severely misled." "I don’t want you treating AI like a magic eight ball where you shake it and start over every time." "Analytics is like where you go to die... it kills your creativity and overwhelms you." "You’re no longer in every decision. AI is making choices with your guardrails. This is how you get your real freedom back." Resources and Links: Marketing with Bella The Mastermind: Join us for month-to-month coaching at  Custom GPT Class: Buy the $70 class and learn to build your own assistant. Book a Chat: Let’s talk in real life.  Transcript Welcome everybody to another episode of Bella in your business. My name is Bella Vasta. Today I'm really going to try to keep this shorter episode just because we've been getting to be so long because I've been so excited. But I have to admit this episode is another going to fire episode. I mean they all are right. Last week I want to give a big shout out. I had one of my gals say about episode 459 where I talked about social media and what was working and what you need to stop doing in 2026. She said, I freaking love this. This episode has some serious gold in it. I'll be joining the group chat finally today. I think my favorite thing is I don't have to think about being perfect and you can just be yourself and real in marketing. Another person said, and I'm telling you guys this because if you have not listened to that episode, I'm telling you, it's going to change your 2026. Please do it. Another one she literally started off, said, hashtags are stupid. They're old school and they should have went away when payphones went away. I will agree. Well, I mean, they weren't around when payphones were there, but you get the drift, right? I will agree with you there. Biggest takeaway is that everything is content and that posting to blogs, posting info like blogs is kind of a waste of time because people don't pay attention to it . and also agree that today's vibe is a real and is being real and it speaks to an individual person. says, Nicole left me a longer message. I'm not gonna read the whole entire thing to you, but guys, you have to go check out episode 459 if you haven't already. She says, I definitely am someone who struggles with social media mostly because she works two jobs, right? And she was really inspired to hear that I was talking about. It's that and what she's also noticing is that making a bori...

What is it going to take to finally get your social media reach and engagement back? This episode answers that exact question by revealing why your current strategy might be failing and what specific shifts you must make to thrive in the 2026 landscape. I am coming at you with news that might be hard to hear: if you are still doing social media like it is 2023, you are doing it wrong. You are wasting time and money on tactics that the algorithms no longer understand. In 2026, the landscape has shifted drastically because of AI, and if you are not evolving, you are invisible. I am breaking down exactly what is OUT. People want authenticity. They want to see your face, not just your logo. It is time to build momentum with authentic consistency so your clients can finally feel a real connection with you. In This Episode You'll Discover Why educational tip lists and infographics are no longer capturing attention. The truth about hashtags and why Instagram has limited you to just five. How to use "edutainment" to teach your audience while keeping them engaged. The power of keywords and social SEO over traditional discovery methods. Why unpolished, "FaceTime style" reels are winning in 2026. My "just press post" mindset to overcome perfectionism and build momentum. Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome and why 2023 social media tactics are dead. 03:42 – What is OUT: Boring educational posts and hashtag overload. 06:37 – Stop using over-polished graphics and "bait and switch" content. 12:24 – What is IN: Edutainment and leveraging Social SEO keywords. 18:00 – Why casual carousels and FaceTime style reels perform better. 22:22 – Adopting the "just press post" mindset and signature series. 24:47 – Your 2026 action plan for authentic consistency. Notable Quotes "If you're still doing social media like it's 2023, you're drastically doing it wrong." "Hashtags are out, SEO is in. Hashtags alone do nothing now for reach." "The more unpolished you are, the better. You will be rewarded for it." "Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. The new game is momentum." Resources and Links Jump Consulting Calendar: Get a verbal audit of your social media at JumpConsulting.net/20. Email Me: Send your feedback or questions to [email protected]. YouTube: Watch video versions of these episodes at my YouTube channel. Jump Mastermind: Learn about our strategy and AI systems inside the mastermind. Transcript Welcome back to another episode of Bella in your business. Happy New Year. It is January 6th, 2026 at the drop of this episode. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and got to do everything that you wanted to or it was a big awakening and you realized some things need to change. And with some of that change might come your social media because I've got news for you today that's going to be a little hard to hear. If you're still doing social media like it's 2023, you're drastically doing it wrong. You are wasting your time and you are wasting money if you are paying someone who is doing your social media the same exact way that you were doing it in 2023. That also goes for all my previous better marketing with Bella clients where we were serving 40 companies a month and we were giving you lots of graphics. Today I'm gonna give you actual statistics straight from the head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri. I am going to tell you what you need to stop doing and what you need to start doing. Things are changing. AI has literally changed the landscape of so many things drastically in 2025 and we're now in 2026. It's imperative that you understand the differences. How many of you have been focusing on Instagram or posting on Facebook and doing all the things that you've been told to do and your reach is like crickets? Your engagement's probably down. You're wondering why the algorithm hates your business. You're using all this AI stuff thinking finally I know what to post and now your volum...

What did AI actually do for the pet industry in 2025 and what’s the real risk if you don’t adapt going into 2026? This episode is a passionate, real-talk reflection on how AI revolutionized the pet industry in 2025 and why pet business owners can't afford to ignore it in 2026. I share real examples from inside the mastermind, my personal experiences, and exactly how AI helped us become faster, smarter, and more aligned across every area of our businesses and lives. From hiring to headshots, route planning to recruiting, I break down how AI isn’t just a tool, it’s a way of thinking. If you’re still treating it like a copy machine, you’re already behind. In This Episode, You’ll Discover: The mindset shift from “Is AI safe?” to “How do I use AI authentically?” Why AI is not just about automating tasks, it’s about creating freedom How I used AI to write training, create SOPs, and plan goals for my mastermind members The difference between using AI as a thought partner vs. outsourcing your brain Why even your pet sitters and dog walkers need to know AI basics What “wrapped” reports and Elf on the Shelf have to do with your next level of growth My warnings (and tough love) for those still stuck in 2023 thinking Timestamps: 00:00 — Why ignoring AI in 2026 will cost you everything02:21 — Using AI to analyze dating data (and why it matters for your business)05:00 — 30+ ways we used AI in the mastermind this year07:12 — Rewiring your brain with AI-powered goal setting13:00 — Thought partner vs. outsourced brain: which one are you?23:30 — Why even your dog walkers need to understand AI28:15 — The AI tech stack I swear by (and how to access it all for $20) Notable Quotes: “If you refuse to use AI in 2026, you’re going to look like the sitter still using pen and paper.” “Most of you aren't using AI wrong—you're just not using it deep enough.” “Stop acting like ChatGPT is the entire universe. That’s like insisting skinny jeans are still in when the world’s moved to wide leg.” “The winners in 2026 are the ones who use AI as a co-strategist—not just a copy machine.” Resources & Links: Try Magai AI Hub: Get access to ALL the major AI models in one place (and 30% off your first 3 months) Book a 20-minute strategy call with me. Need website copy help? Get in before the rates go up. Follow me on Facebook for real-time AI examples Transcript: Welcome to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and this may be one of the last episodes of 2025. As such, we’re going to talk a lot today about just how far we’ve come and what is actually possible. I hope that this episode excites you, delights you, and lets your brain start thinking about all the things that are possible this year because of AI. I’m not exaggerating. There has never been a better time to own a business than right now. The things that we have access to and the things that we are able to do without having to go out and try to hire somebody are impeccable. If you ignore AI in 2026, and this is my warning as we look forward, you’re going to look like the sitter who’s using pen and paper, not online scheduling. At the start of this year, back in January 2025, I was trying to convince people that AI was not a fad and that it was actually here to stay. By the end of the year, now, most of you are no longer asking if it’s safe to use. You’re asking how to use it and still be authentic. That’s what I’ve been here for every step of the way, pacing alongside you. At the same time, I have a lot happening behind the scenes where we are far ahead. I want to keep being your filter. I want to show you exactly what you need to know for your specific pet business so you don’t get overwhelmed or distracted by shiny objects. AI is a spectrum. You can show up at a mediocre surface level, or you can go deep. The breadth of what you can do with it is enormous.

What if I told you the best clients are already looking for you, but your message is accidentally pushing them away? In this episode, I dive deep into the psychology of pet owners, showing you how to build a 'Customer Avatar' so accurate, they feel like you're reading their mind. Discover the simple, emotional language, and your 'transformational messaging' that instantly turns curious leads into lifetime clients. Plus, the AI tool that makes this all effortless In This Episode, You’ll Discover: Your marketing may be costing you clients. Focus on customer pain points, not just credentials. Create detailed customer avatars for effective targeting. Transformational messaging is key to connecting with clients. Emotional connection drives trust and loyalty. Your homepage should address client worries first. Use AI to streamline your marketing efforts. Generic marketing fails to resonate with potential clients. Understand your ideal client's fears and desires. Marketing should reflect the transformation clients seek. Timestamps: 00:00 The Cost of Ineffective Marketing02:39 Understanding Customer Pain Points05:45 Creating Effective Customer Avatars08:31 The Importance of Deep Understanding11:44 Transformational Messaging in Marketing14:27 The Power of Emotional Connection17:05 Crafting Compelling Content20:01 Navigating Change in Marketing Strategies22:44 The Role of AI in Marketing25:37 Final Thoughts on Effective Marketing Notable Quotes: "If you talk to everyone, you talk to no one.""Your marketing will basically write itself.""Stop talking about yourself." Resources & Links: Join the Mastermind – Get instant access to Bella’s custom avatar-building bot and start speaking your client’s language Marketing With Bella – Done-for-you marketing that actually converts If this episode lit a fire in you, reach out to [email protected] Follow on Instagram – Watch how real pet businesses are implementing this in real time Watch all our Podcasts on YouTube Previous podcast episode: ? Transcript: Welcome everybody to another episode of Bella In Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta, and today I'm here to talk about something that is costing you clients every single day, potentially. I see this online and I finally had to do a podcast on it, and you probably don't even realize you're doing it. I'm talking about your marketing—specifically your website, your social media, your emails, all your intake forms, everything. Let me take a guess at what they probably sound like. Does this sound like you? “We have been in business for 10 years, we're insured and bonded, we love animals, we go above and beyond, we give you peace of mind, we're experienced and professional.” Yawn. Blah blah blah. Everyone can say that. It’s not unique and it's not something that's going to make people stop their scroll and get their eyeballs on your content. And if you're spending time or money creating and publishing this content, then you want it to get traction. The truth is they only care about their problems. They don't care how great you are until you get their attention. It's their fears and sleepless nights worrying about how their pet is at home while they're away. And if your marketing isn't speaking directly to those pain points, then you're invisible. And I don’t want you to be invisible. You work too hard and you're too amazing to be invisible. You're just another pet sitter in a sea of pet sitters. That’s why they don’t understand the difference between you and Rover. You end up competing on price because you haven't given them any real reason to choose you. You haven’t made them feel anything. You should be making people feel something online. In this episode, I'm going to show you how to transform your marketing by creating deeper customer avatars and speaking directly to the people you want to serve more. We're going to narrow that down. I know this sounds crazy, and yes,

Want the secret to leverage the holidays so everyone knows about you? In this episode, I’m breaking down how holiday pet events can be one of the most powerful and fun ways to boost your visibility, build relationships, and become the pet business people think of first. With these strategies, you'll master pet business marketing like a pro. We’ll talk about why exposure is more valuable than quick sales, how to turn local events into long-term growth, and how to create content from these moments that keeps working for you well into the new year. I want this episode to fire you up, not stress you out, because this strategy is something you can absolutely do, no matter your budget or bandwidth. In This Episode, You’ll Discover: AI is being underutilized by many business owners. Mindset is crucial for success in hosting events. Success is not just about gaining clients from events. Building relationships is key to business growth. Holiday events are a unique opportunity for exposure. Community engagement can lead to long-term referrals. Content creation at events is essential for visibility. Networking with other businesses can yield significant benefits. The ROI of community events can be substantial. Consistency in community presence builds brand trust. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and AI Awareness 02:51 Holiday Pet Events: Building Community and Trust 06:02 Mindset for Success in Events 08:53 The Power of Exposure Marketing 12:05 Strategies for Attending and Hosting Events 15:01 Creating Engaging Content at Events 17:55 Long-Term Benefits of Community Engagement Notable Quotes: "You need to be in my community." "You don't need a huge budget." "It's about relationship building." "Holiday events are shareable." Watch all our Podcasts on YouTube ? Resources & Links: Join the Mastermind for ongoing AI tools, strategies & coaching: jumpconsulting.net/mastermind Need help finding events? Check your local Facebook Events, Nextdoor, or city community calendars Amazon Santa Suits & Backdrops: Just search “Santa costume” or “Christmas photo backdrop” Hosting in a local business? Ask your local pet boutique, groomer, or brewery with a dog-friendly patio! Transcript: And we're back with another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta and we've been doing this like on and off week. How do you guys like it? Our statistics show us that you really like it because actually on the off week, when we're promoting a certain kind of topic like AI and giving you three episodes to binge on, y'all are binging. So I hope that this is working out. I would always love your feedback because I do this for you. I don’t do this for me. So go ahead and just shoot me an email, [email protected]. Well, let's go. It is November. We're in the final couple of months of this year of 2025, and it is amazing. At the beginning of this year, I was trying to get people to actually pay attention to AI, and now I would say that a lot of people are using ChatGPT, but they’re using it as if it's a cell phone that they’re only using for calls. They’re not actually using it for all the things that a cell phone can do. And that's my analogy. I know this because I talk to people all day long. They’re like, “You know so much,” and I'm like, “I don't even understand that,” because I just kind of feel like everyone knows what I know. So right after I'm done with this episode, I'm actually jumping into the mastermind where I'm going to do the AI Lab. Every single month we have a call on Zoom where I teach new AI stuff, answer questions, or we play. It's actually really organic and fun, and we’ve been going over the time limit sometimes because it is so much fun. So I just want to encourage you, if you're using AI, are you using it to the fullest of your capabilities? Right now is the cheapest it's ever going to be. It is going to start increasing. In fact,

? Do you feel like you're constantly re-explaining the same things to new hires and still crossing your fingers they don’t mess it up? If you're nodding, you're not alone and it's not your fault. Most pet business owners were never taught how to train people, and now you're stuck in a cycle of “watch me and hope for the best.” But hope is not a hiring strategy and it’s definitely not a training plan. In this episode of Bella in Your Business, I’m breaking down exactly how to build a pet business staff training program that actually works, without you having to micromanage every detail or babysit your team. You’ll learn how to create a 2-day training program that’s rooted in psychology, supports every type of learner, and makes your business run like the legit brand it’s meant to be. And spoiler alert: good training isn’t about hand-holding, it’s about creating clarity, confidence, and culture. In This Episode, You’ll Discover: The truth about how people learn Shadowing isn't a strategy Build a 2-Day powerhouse training The psychology of a good training program How to use your training process as a marketing and hiring advantage Timestamps [00:45] – The harsh truth about shadowing and why “hope” isn’t a strategy [02:20] – The 5 learning styles your team may be missing in training [07:10] – Why shadowing alone causes confusion, ghosting, and stress [09:40] – How to build a two-day training system that actually works [14:20] – The emotional psychology behind confident, loyal staff Notable Quotes “Shadowing isn’t training. It’s saying, ‘figure it out’ without actually saying it.” “You’re not just training a body. You’re training a brain and a belief.” “Clarity is kindness for your staff, for your clients, and for you.” Resources & Links Pet Care Team Training – (Bella’s co-owned platform for quick, effective pet sitter certifications) Book a Coaching Call – 20-minute no-pressure strategy session with Bella Join the Mastermind – Where hiring and training support gets real Bella’s 10-Step Hiring & Training Process – Everything you need to build your dream team Watch all our Podcasts on YouTube   ? Transcript Welcome everybody to another episode of Bella in Your Business. My name is Bella Vasta. Today we're gonna talk about something that literally keeps so many of you up at night wondering, how am I gonna get through this? And it's all about how to train staff for a pet sitting business. And I'm just gonna say it, this episode might sting a little, but I say all of this with my mama-bear love for you. If your pet business staff training is basically just “shadow me and we'll see how you do” or “just go off with one another sitter and see what they do,” then you're living on a hope and a prayer and you know what I always say, hope ain't a strategy. Okay, so let's be real for a second. I know what you're thinking: “Bella, I don't have time to build all this out,” or maybe it's like, “If I invest the energy into all of this, they just leave.” And when I hire someone, just like hope that they're gonna stay with me. Okay, but here's the thing you don't have time not to do this. And let me just tell you this too: we're in 2025 at this recording, soon to be 2026. It has never been a better time to devise an entire training program for your company because you can do it in a day using AI the right way, all right? Right now, you're probably spending more time fixing mistakes, re-explaining things, getting stressed over whether your staff is going to mess up a client's dog. And that's not sustainable. It's not scalable. And it's definitely not the business you've been dreaming of. You're probably in this stage right now where you're like, “I got into this business because I love pets.” And now you've realized that you need to be a trainer of people. Wait—what? Yeah, that's the harsh truth. But today I'm gonna help support you,