While reading it, I couldn’t help but think that it’s more interesting than the personal bios of many humans I know. As you read what Michelle wrote, notice the fun little details—something that’s sorely missing from so many human bios.
“Lexington (Lex) passed yesterday at 3:50 p.m. Eastern at our vet’s with my husband Shannon and myself at his side holding his paws. He was the most gentle, loving dog one could know and love. He had complications from a lung condition, pancreatitis and diabetes. He is survived by Lou Lou, the black and white husky in the photos attached.
“In 1998, I rescued Lex from a Cincinnati kill shelter when he was six months and he’s lived a fabulous, adventurous life travelling throughout Ohio, West Virginia and the Smoky Mountains (and other great places whitewater rivers run).
“His life’s work: children:
“He attended children’s birthday parties with me while I was living in Cincinnati and working on the weekends as a children’s entertainer. He was my ‘pirate’ sidekick teaching children manners at the dinner table because he knew how to ‘wait’ until others were served before eating. (He would even WAIT with a small White Castle hamburger placed on his paw. Now that’s a good dog.)
“He earned his ‘good canine citizen award’ in 1999. (This is like a Ph.D for dogs!)
“His favorite past-time–chewing/catching tennis balls, digging holes, and cooling off in a baby pool.
“Please have a moment of reflection today to celebrate this very special soul. And then hug a pet or person you love and remind everyone wanting a pet to adopt from shelters first. They are so appreciative of second chances.”
We can learn two things from this:
—Use details, details and more details.
—Writing about the relationship with our pets in our professional bios can teach readers more about us than a monotonous list of academic degrees and other trivia we think are important.
When Michelle was in The Publicity Hound Mentor Program, she heard me harp repeatedly about the importance of interesting bios. In my “Special Report #46: Tips for Rewriting Your Boring Bio,” I mention that bios are difficult for most people, even authors. Some authors write bios that lack the same passion that’s evident in the writing of their books.
Some of you might argue that details about your pets don’t belong in a professional profile or bio. What do you think? Would you consider including information about your pet in your bio? If so, tell us something about your pet that lets us know more about you. Or link to a bio at your website that has information about your pet.
All four of my dogs are in my bio, but I may be a special case. I’m a certified pet dog trainer! So my dogs are my work. When I had a Federal government job in leadership, I used a photograph with a dog in it for my bio. It was different and I stuck out (in a good way).
When I worked for the Federal gov’t, I was also a volunteer puppy raiser for a service dog organization and brought a dog-in-training to work everyday. I didn’t do any formal dog training at work, but the dog learned a lot, regardless.
So even before I made the leap to follow my passion and started my own company training dogs and their people, I still had dogs in my bio. It makes a person seem real, genuine, approachable, I think.
A mention of dogs and their relevance in professional websites or blogs is bound to bring in a bounty of replies. People love their pets in ways that defy description.
I confess. My Golden Retriever Shadow has his own page at my website, and you can see the link here:
http://www.nsjmktg.com/who_shadow.php
Here is Seattle, more people have pets than kids — and I proudly have both. When you consider that people want to do business with those they like, trust and respect, how kind one is to animals speaks volumes on the “like, trust, respect” meter.
I was touched by Michelle Tennant’s obituary about her beloved pet. When my prior Golden Retriever Amanda passed away five years ago, I wrote a story about her. It really helped me deal with my grief and honor her life. To follow is that story. It still makes me weep. The good news is the memories are sweet, and Shadow is a delight in every possible way.
For the love of a great dog named Amanda
My husband I moved to the Seattle area just about 15 years ago, and I didn’t know a soul. Fortunately, we adopted a golden retriever puppy a few months later. Amanda helped open doors to new friends and neighbors and wonderful places to play and explore. Some say the people in the Northwest are nice, but not friendly. I can say with fond authority that having a dog like Amanda makes all the difference in the world.
With her happy gait and friendly expression, people would come out of their homes to say hello to both of us as we took long walks in the neighborhood. When we visited local parks, traveled the ferries, or took road trips around the region, she seemed to smile and invite conversation. She could shake hands and do a “high five” with anyone wishing to make her acquaintance. At home, she was a loyal companion and playmate. She was always happy to see me when I returned home from work or errands. She often sat happily at my feet with her dark brown eyes holding my gaze and her right paw holding my hand.
She helped welcome our son Kyle to our home six years ago. She endured various home remodeling projects with good humor. The pitter patter of her paws brought joyful noise throughout our house.
Over the years, I watched Amanda grow from a ball of fluff to a mature and regal adult to a tired and weary senior citizen. As time passed, her quick and bouncy gait changed to a slow and deliberate saunter. Sometimes, she would have trouble walking up the stairs. Her hearing grew weak, her vision grew cloudy, and she seemed so very tired. Yet every now and then, her tail would wag, and she would look at me with those dark brown eyes so I could see the puppy inside.
Last Wednesday, I learned that Amanda had a tumor. The prognosis was grim. Rather than put her through the surgery and the follow up care at age 15, I made the difficult choice to lay her down. Through my tears, I tried hard to hold her gaze as I held her right paw with my hand. I then buried my face in her fur as she quietly slipped away.
I sat with Amanda for quite a while, remembering all the special moments I shared with her throughout her life. At six weeks old, she picked me for her new master, and I made a commitment to love her and care for her until the very end. She led a charmed life and brought smiles and joy to everyone she met, especially me. Aside from being stung by a bee once, I don’t think she ever had a bad day in her life. She introduced me to the people and places of the Puget Sound in a magical, joyful way. The years with Amanda passed quickly, the memories are sweet, and the end came all too soon. For the love of a great dog named Amanda, I am all the richer. She’ll always have a place in my heart.
Anyone who has an issue about a mention of my dogs – current or prior — being mentioned on my website is probably not my perfect client, and that is OK by me. There are plenty of the right clients out there for all of us.
I absolutely think info about pets belongs in our bio — and even in pictures on a website or profile.
Maybe I’m in the minority, but if I was trying to choose between two different service providers, with everything else being equal, I would always go with the one who had some personal info like pics of pets, etc. It tells me what kind of person I’m dealing with and adds a personal note that no amount of copy-writing can convey.
Wow, thanks for honoring my dog this way Joan. And yes, I have found personal tidbits make a bio more interesting. You know, it’s just like resumes. Interesting hobbies give the job interviewer something to chat about with the interviewee so you can connect and build a personal relationship. And as we all know, good PR happens when great relationships are built with the media. Seeing Lex’ ‘glamour shot’ here makes my heart melt. He was such a good boy and he will be missed.
Each time my work goes into an exhibition my bio always reads a the end “she is trying to become half the person her cat thinks she is.” ….I also included a sentence about my dad enjoying daily walks with his poodle Chris in my dad’s obituary.
I had the pleasure of knowing Lex over the last four and a half years since I began working with Michelle & Wasabi. Despite his size and the possibility that he might “have wolf in him,” Lex was a kind and gentle bear of a dog. I also am proud to lay claim to helping introduce Michelle and Shannon to Lex’s little sister, Lou Lou, who I discovered online as an adoptable pet from our local animal shelter. Though she was a bit of a handful at first (she’d been running with a wild crowd prior to her stay at the humane society), Lou (short of Louisville) evetually settled into her new family quite comfortably. I know she’ll miss Lex as much as Michelle will.
My husband and I share our home with three black cats. When we lost our handsome grey cat Fenech shortly after I had joined Wasabi, Michelle’s heartfelt sympathy was helpful. Sometimes it’s hard to convey how important a pet is in our lives to people who do not keep pets. I know that Michelle’s heart is breaking, and I know that I, along with every other person who has lost a furry loved one, know exactly how she feels.
I’ve always thought that people’s pets make them more interesting, though I think Lex and Michelle would each do all right on their own in that department. Together, they wrote an even more engaging story. Thanks for sharing, Michelle – and thanks for including this in your blog, Joan.
I usually mention my dogs either by their name & breed or my terrier mascots. Hey, they are members of my family! 😉
sophie – a westie who thinks she is the town mayor
elton – mini schnauzer a sweet “mama’s boy”
My pets are such an important part of my life that I couldn’t imagine leaving them out of any story about me, including any story about my business. One of the reasons that I have strived to run my own business (and I have run many over the years) is to make sure that I am always able to work for someone who is pet friendly and understands that my animals are every bit as much a part of my family as the humans are.
My website shows both of my dogs, who I refer to as our “office assistants.” Anyone who has had a great office assistant truly understands the importance of that position. They help ground me and remind me constantly of why I work and what is really important in life. As I sit here posting to your blog, they are both by my side keeping me company.
I have always showcased my animals in any business I have run, including my past real estate business. Regular clients were always asking about Peanut and were disappointed if she didn’t come along for some reason. My favorite title company even kept biscuits on hand for our closings. Anytime I had to drive somewhere to look at property, I tried to bring her along. I can’t begin to count the number of times she has been an icebreaker and conversation starter.
How people view and treat animals is much more revealing than what they say about themselves. Once you get them talking about their pets, you have your foot in the door, so to speak.
Every time I post a picture of Tofu, my cat, or the fox family that lives on our property, I create more fans. A few years ago, I’d say avoid it. Now, I say it makes you human and more accessible.
This made me smile, too.
I have a boxer named Boula. It is pronounced: BOOO-LAAA.
The innocence of dogs and kids never cease to amaze me. One day while walking Boula when she was a puppy….the kids in my neighborhood ran up to me and said: “hey, what is your dog’s name?”
and I replied — Boula.
There was a short silence and puzzled looks on their faces. Then moments later they asked me a question that still makes me laugh to this day.
“Is she AFRICAN?”
Yes, this is what the small children wanted to know. And they were as serious as paying bills.
I posted a picture of my Boula on a blog of mine some time ago. She’s wearing bikini’s.
Oh, quiet!
🙂
See it here: Dogs Gone Wild
I think this obiturary for Lex was extraordinary! Dogs are always teaching us about what truly matters in life. We just have to be open enough to see the amazing lessons.
I think including your dogs in your bio is an EXCELLENT idea. We truly let our hair down when we are with our dogs and relate to our dogs… they make us better humans. Relaying that in a bio is a slam dunk I think!
My life is better and my purpose has been revealed because I took my queue from my animals.
Barbara
Mom of Frankie, the Walk ‘N Roll Dog
http://www.joyfulpaws.com
Wouldn’t it depend on the type of profession you’re in? I think it’s PERFECT for all Internet Marketers. The more your prospect knows about you personally – within reason, of course – the better.
I have to admit, this bio is better than mine! I do have two dogs but I’ve never included them in any of my online bios.
A while back I included a photo of them in a newsletter to my subscribers and come to think of it I received a lot of feedback on that one.
I think that regardless of what line of business you’re in, including your pet(s) in your bio makes you more human to readers. I think my “loaner dog” (belongs to my sister’s family) might just earn a spot on my website the next time she comes to visit..or sooner!
This was a really great piece Joan and a great way to honor Michelle’s lovely Lex. Sooy Michelle… we know you’ll miss him very much.
People’s pets do say a lot about them…usually in a very positive way, so including them in professional profile (bio) is a plus… except maybe for really unusual pets like snakes which don’t always appeal to everyone.
Loved what Susan adds to her art exhibits… about living up to the expectations of her cat.
We are always surprised when we do not see a person’s pet posted, especially when they own pet-related sites… a vet we work with has just added this info to his site and it has made it much more friendly and adds a layer of trust (we believe).
In keeping with the saying “pets are people too’ and to add more fun to our site and to keep it a pets-only site, we have actually portrayed our entire team by pets… 🙂
What? Exclude pets from a bio? Never! I blog as the Cat Lady. Where would I be without my 29 cats?
Here’s how my bio (in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer) begins:
~~~Roberta Beach Jacobson is an American humorist and author. In 1974, she left suburban Chicago to explore Europe. For all of these years, she’s been wandering around, map in hand, scratching her head. Can someone out there please give her directions?
She makes her home in a mountainous village on a tiny Greek island. It’s the sort of remote spot where animals outnumber people, although some of the animals weren’t actually invited.~~~
OK, Hounds. I think it’s official. Let’s include our pets in our bios.
Our Captain Bootsie was and still is a part of our life forever. He still romps and entertains children and families in my childrens books and on my childrens educational website with his brothers and sister. You can take a peek at this link: http://www.cptbootsiesmagictimemachine.com/
I created a special page for him which took a lot of boxes of Kleenex to finish. To view this special dedication the link is:
http://www.cptbootsiesmagictimemachine.com/CaptainBootsieBearsSpecialEdition
I received a lot of emails regarding this dedication page and several pet site owners asked permission to put this dedication on their site.
My cuddly furry space explorers are a part of me and I of them and could never exclude them from my bio.
To me, including my furry family in my bio is really not for publicity but love and respect for them. They who give so much love and ask nothing in return, except for a lot of kisses and hugs!(it’s in their contract…love of hugs and kisses!)
[…] be a daunting task and Joan Stewart offers some great advice about how to do it right on her blog, The Publicity Hound. In your profile, you should also include links to your website and any other relevant documents […]