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I blow out a breath, feeling a tightness in my chest. He’s right. I need to be proactive. “Just be me.”
“Exactly. You don’t need to be anything but yourself. And you’re allowed to hang out with hockey players. They’re the most laid-back sports professionals out there; at least that’s how I feel. Your true followers adore you, so if you started a segment where you answered their questions and allowed for interaction, I think you’ll have less of the other noise. Don’t feed into it. I know you already have some sponsors who send you products, but with the way you’re growing, I bet there’s going to be even more interest.”
“I had to turn away a few people this week because I can’t take on more clients,” I admit. “I think I’m going to have to look at hiring someone to help me. But that means I’ll need to find time to interview and train people. And then I’d be managing them, and I’ll still have my daily check-ins with clients. It’s a lot to think about.” Adding to my already full plate will take away from my new social life, and I don’t want that, either. It’s a tough balance.
“I know this seems daunting, but when growth happens this quickly, it forces us into action. If you hire even one person to start part-time, then you won’t be running everything on your own.”
“I’ll talk to Kat. She might know someone who needs a part-time cat-sitting gig.”
“That would be a great start. And we can make a few of those videos tonight if you want. See if they can give you back some of the warm fuzzies you get from your followers.”
Over the next few weeks, I start posting regular Q&A videos. At first the nasty commenters show up, but over time they dwindle. Apparently the gossip over my affiliation with Parker and the rest of the NHL team is no longer exciting enough to hold people’s attention.
And Kat, being the awesome friend she is, helps me through the first few weeks by taking part in the Q&A videos so I don’t have to do it on my own. What begins as a way to support each other turns into a weekly segment for Kat’s Cat Café, where we showcase one of the cats up for adoption.
I’m lucky to have a friend like her, who stood by me even when I was being self-absorbed. Our weekly segments not only shine a bright light on her café, but also give us a chance to spend more time together. And smooth out some of the rough edges that have come with me trying to balance a new relationship, our friendship, and my growing business.
Since Kat has appeared in the Q&A sessions, more than half the cats up for adoption at the café have new homes—a lot of them to NHL players—and she’s been offered her own sponsorship opportunities. I also start interviewing for a part-time helper, because Miles is right, I can’t do it on my own anymore.
Pet product companies have been sending me everything from cat brushes to toys to treats. I barely have time to keep up with my daily routines and home visits, let alone make sure the samples are produced ethically. It’s only after that that I’ll make videos of the cats enjoying them. And now I have one of the bigger pet product companies offering me brand sponsorships. It’s amazing, if somewhat overwhelming.
On the upside, I’ve been able to stop buying food and toys almost entirely because so many sponsorships are coming my way. I’m very conscious that my followers are big on the fact that I engage with them on a regular basis, so I make sure the videos aren’t about shoving new products down people’s throats. And it seems to be drowning out the noise.
A few weeks after Miles’s mom moves into the home, we bring Prince Francis for a visit. I put him in his carrier, even though he would happily ride on my shoulders and isn’t likely to try to run away. But it’s the home’s rule, and I don’t want to take any risks.
I haven’t seen Tabitha since we moved her into the home, but it’s clear it’s been a positive environment for her. She looks good, like she’s being well taken care of. Her gaze moves from me to Miles, her eyes lighting up when she sees the cage in his hand.
She glances to the right, where a whiteboard has the daily activities written on it, along with a special message in a different-colored dry erase marker:
Miles (oldest son) and Kitty (girlfriend) are coming to visit and bringing Prince Francis.
“Prince Francis! How is my sweet boy? Come in.” She steps back and motions us inside.
I give Miles’s hand a squeeze and let it go so we can walk down the short, narrow hall. Tabitha reads the whiteboard one more time before she follows us.
