Leanne Macdonald shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Leanne, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity is extremely important because the trait of being honest and having steady principles cannot be taught or learned. When we operate from a place of integrity, we will always find ourselves striving for better. I believe this life is about taking care of ourselves and others the best we can, and we cannot do that without a sense of integrity.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Leanne Macdonald and I own and operate a small and intimate pet grooming shop called Roch and Gertrude Pet Spa, named for the patron saints of dogs and cats! We endeavor to serve and protect our beautiful furry companions in the heart of Pasadena, CA. We pride ourselves on catering to each pet as an individual, always searching for ways to make their experience at the grooming salon less stressful. We also specialize in skin and coat repair, offering unique treatments such as mud baths, honey scrubs, and oil soaks. We are currently working on and excited to introduce a line of t-shirts and stickers that have been comedically inspired by our own clientele!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
The two people who taught me most about work were my father and my stepfather. My father was a workaholic, at the office from sun-up to sun-down. From him I knew that sacrificing was a natural part of existence, and that “serious” life sometimes meant that you may miss fun things. My dad always took pride in his work, and from him I also learned how important it is to have genuine respect and appreciation for each of your employees. My stepfather was an extremely hard-working man. From my stepfather I learned that diligence with tasks is imperative, and being thorough with anything you do is paramount. Although this is something I still struggle with, I should have learned “measure twice, cut once” from him as well because he was so meticulous about researching, thinking, and planning for any project he undertook. I feel extremely grateful to have been so significantly influenced in such positive ways by these two people.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would encourage my younger self to not be intimidated by lack of knowledge or experience; just get out there and do what interests you and what makes you happy. Most people go through their younger decades focused on what others what for them, and the main point of life is to discover what YOU want for YOU. It is so easy to believe that everyone needs to fall into a certain set of standards, whether it be what kind of car you drive, how you present yourself, or what your job is. The truth is that of course none of that matters; what matters most is your own happiness, and everything else organically falls into line after that.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie the grooming industry tells itself or has told itself historically is that we don’t need to be regulated. Our industry has zero regulations, and has always been that way. Over the last decade or so, there has been more of a push for regulation, and I think it would be beneficial to set standards as well as safety considerations for the grooming industry.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
There must be more than one thing we are each born to do! That being said, I do feel that pet grooming is something I was born to do. I have always had an affinity for cats and dogs, and when I learned to groom I finally felt like I found a skill came naturally to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rochandgertrude.com
- Instagram: @randgpetspa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randgpetspa
