From Passion to Purpose: Pets, entrepreneurship and Healing with Toni Shelaske
A little note before we get started...Right around the time I released the first half of my conversation with Toni Shelaske, life got very full, very quickly. I found myself in a season of change and, honestly, a little bit of overload. Something had to give for a while, and unfortunately, the podcast was one of those things.I know there has been a longer pause than I intended between these two episodes, and I am so grateful for your patience. And more than anything, I am really grateful to be back.This conversation with Toni was too good not to come back to. In this second half, we shift the conversation a little more toward Toni herself, her journey, the unexpected turns that shaped her life, the businesses she built, the things she has learned along the way, and what it means to keep evolving when you know it's time for something new.It started with a dog named Princess, whom Toni found on the side of the road when she was just 15 years old. Years later, caring for an aging Princess introduced Toni to pet sitting, which eventually became her first business. From there came another unexpected discovery: raw pet food. One decision led to another, and what began with one little dog ultimately grew into a career, multiple successful pet stores, a podcast, and a mission to help people care for their animals differently.But this conversation isn't only about pets.We talk about entrepreneurship, trusting yourself, building something from the ground up, creating genuine relationships with the people you serve, the importance of community, and what happens when something you've built successfully no longer feels like where you're meant to stay.Toni also shares what it was like to eventually let go of part of the business she had spent years building and why creating something new became important to her.And maybe my favorite part of our conversation is the reminder that you don't have to know exactly where something will lead before you begin.Sometimes you just have to take the first step.If there's something you've been thinking about doing, creating, changing, or pursuing, this conversation might be the little nudge you've been waiting for.Because time is going to pass either way.So...what could happen if you actually gave yourself permission to try?Thank you for being here, for listening, and for continuing to grow and heal alongside me.Okay...let's get back into it.Check out Toni!Toni Unleashedhttps://www.toniunleashed.com/collections/all?srsltid=AfmBOoqJzm4Zk7rLv6aW2g85qBQd8QVd4yBFKD4SkiM_lV7GZiEZUBCFChapters00:00 Introduction to Toni Shelaske's journey02:06 How a puppy sparked a passion for pet health04:03 Transition from pet sitting to owning multiple stores05:58 The shift to raw pet food and its health benefits08:01 Building a community-focused pet store empire09:50 The importance of listening and intuition in business12:05 Balancing creation and business management14:04 The role of connection and community in success15:56 Overcoming challenges and letting go of business18:00 The power of continuous learning and self-belief20:10 Launching the Tony Unleashed podcast and products21:59 Supporting other retailers and community involvement24:02 The importance of local businesses and personal connections25:59 Encouragement for aspiring entrepreneurs27:57 The impact of childhood and family on success29:58 Learning from struggles and trauma31:56 The value of self-confidence and voting for oneself34:00 The importance of resilience and adaptability36:00 Final thoughts and encouragement to take action#HealThis #HealThisPodcast #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #WomenEntrepreneurs #PurposeDrivenBusiness #PersonalGrowth #Transformation #TrustYourself #TakeTheLeap #LifeTransitions #Reinvention #FollowYourIntuition #CommunityConnection #PetWellness #HolisticPetCare #NaturalPetCare #PetHealth #PodcastInterview #PodcastCommunity
