We had the good fortune of connecting with Shar Romines and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shar, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
My work life balance has changed a lot over the years. When I worked in a full time office job, I would say my work- life was pretty balanced. I didn’t take work home, and I was able to “leave work at the office”. When I quit that job and opened my own business that all changed. Suddenly my whole life revolved around work. Trying to get new clients meant answering calls and texts at all hours. Stressing and thinking about my company was a 24/7 occurrence. I did 100% of the work, from accounting to marketing to the actual physical service my company provides, and it was 7 days a week (even holidays!) without breaks for the first 2 years. At that point, I realized that I had to make a change to improve my situation. After all, I had quit my job to do something that made me happy, right? So why wasn’t I happy? I hired a few part time employees, got a client portal software, and set official office hours. These few changes made a massive difference in my work life balance. Suddenly, I was able to enjoy an uninterrupted evening with my husband. I was able to “leave work at the office” again. Setting those office hours meant setting boundaries for myself. I still have the occasion where I feel the need to look at my email or check our client portal, but then I stop myself and ask if it can wait until my office hours the next day. Most of the time it can. And that means having a personal life again. That balance is so important ultimately for my happiness.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I own Sea Spot Walk, LLC. We are a dog walking and pet services company based in Huntington Beach, CA. We have been in business for almost six years now, and I am proud to say that we have survived the COVID-19 pandemic. We specialize in one on one walks with your dog and limited size pack walks (only 3 dogs at one time). This enables us to give your dog dedicated attention and care, and allows us to really create a bond with your dog. We also offer cat sitting services and obedience training. Our obedience training sessions are done one on one in our client’s homes, so that we can teach the humans how to train their own dogs which helps to strengthen their bond. Our biggest goal at Sea Spot Walk is to care for our animal clients in a way that gives their humans security in knowing that their furry family members are well loved, safe, and happy. Opening this business and getting this far has most assuredly not been easy. It’s taken a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to overcome the many challenges of running a business. I’ve succeeded with the support of my husband and wisdom from several business mentors.  I think the biggest lesson I have learned so far is that when I am struggling to make something work, reaching out to someone for help will make my life easier and make me happier. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely recommend a few favorite restaurants in the area. The Corner HB being one for great food and Matter of Craft being one for fun drinks and craft beer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My success is directly thanks to my husband, David, for all of his support, love and encouragement. I am also deeply grateful for the mentorship and wisdom from Vaughn Sigmon from Results Driven Leadership.

Website: www.seaspotwalk.com
Instagram: @seaspotwalk
Facebook: facebook.com/seaspotwalk

Image Credits
Sea Spot Walk, LLC.

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