For a couple of weeks this month, I have been dog-sitting my son’s Vizsla while he & his partner are on holiday. As an active dog full of energy, I committed to walking him for at least 60 minutes a day.

Yesterday morning, as I was being tugged toward yet another fascinating shrub, watching this enthusiastic dog zigzag across the park, it struck me – this perfectly captures how many business owners feel about their relationship with their businesses. This insight came from a remarkable conversation I recently had with a client that transformed my view about the benefits of engaging with a business coach.

At the end of a coaching conversation, my client shared this powerful analogy:

“Picture two scenarios,” they said. “In the first, a dog owner is pulled frantically across the park, chasing their pet from bush to bush, increasingly frustrated and exhausted. In the second, the owner and dog walk together in harmony, each step purposeful and controlled. The difference? Training.”

Their eyes lit up as they continued: “That’s exactly what happens in business. As businesses grow and succeed, they often begin to pull their owners in countless directions. Before long, the owners find themselves racing to keep up with their creation’s demands, rather than steering it toward their vision.”

This observation struck me as profound. Just as an untrained dog can turn a peaceful walk into a stressful ordeal, a poorly managed business can transform the dream of business ownership into a nightmare of reactionary decision-making and constant firefighting.

The solution?  Just as a dog trainer helps an owner establish healthy boundaries and control with their dog, a business coach will guide business owners in:

• Reclaiming the strategic direction of the business
• Establishing systems that serve the goals of the business
• Creating boundaries designed to protect their health and wellbeing
• Building a business that enhances rather than consumes their life

As I come to end of my dog-sitting duties, I noticed something interesting: with consistent guidance and the right approach, even the most energetic dog begins to walk more purposefully. The same holds true for a business. With proper guidance, a business owner can transform their business from an overenthusiastic puppy pulling them in every direction into a well-trained partner moving purposefully towards their aspirations in life and business.