SWOT Analysis Part 5 of 5: Recognizing Threats.

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SWOT Analysis
Part 5 of 5: Recognizing Threats.

Not something we want to talk about, but something that needs to be addresses: Threats within our company. Whether it’s a grooming business, a daycare, or a professional breeding business, there are certain threats that could become reality if our Weaknesses are not addressed.

Part 5 of this amazing continued series of articles dedicated to explaining and helping you implement the SWOT Analysis in your business or kennel. Another great article, done by Chuck Holt, with New Now Services, and this one focuses on the T of the acronym: Threats.

(Continued below…)

Written By: Chuck Holt

Use the blank paper to actually write down your Threats, and then keep this copy of The Dog Journal handy for the last part of this. Get creative, think long and hard, and get anyone involved in your business to gather around and help you. By the time this series of articles is complete, hopefully you can emerge with a clearer picture of where you are going, and what it will take to get you there. In the meantime, if this looks like something you should do, but are stuck on the details, reach out to Chuck and schedule a session with him!

In the world of dog breeding, it’s easy to get caught up in the immediate tasks at hand and forget about the big picture. There is always something to do, today! That is why many breeders find themselves living in the moment, without much thought for tomorrow’s challenges. But before we rush to judgment, it’s worth considering that many of us fall into this trap without even realizing it. Our busy schedules leave little time for forward planning, leaving us stuck in the ‘tyranny of the moment’ . Just take a glance at your to-do list – chances are, it’s filled with tasks that demanded your immediate attention.

Rare is the person who plans today for tomorrow. Instead of not planning on anything bad happening, they plan so that nothing bad will happen. In other words, they look at what could go wrong and develop a plan today to prevent negative outcomes. This requires us to have delayed gratification. We need to be willing to have short term pain for long term gain.

To fully harness the benefits of our SWOT analysis, it’s crucial to embrace a forwardthinking mindset. We cannot run our kennels just thinking about what needs to be done today. If you’ve been following our journey thus far, you’ve likely compiled a comprehensive list of your kennel’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities across various facets such as facilities, staff, marketing, systems, breeding stock, and customer relations. You’ve likely identified standout strengths and contemplated how to leverage them for future growth. How has this process gone for you? Are you encouraged? What steps have you made so far? As a review, fill in the chart below:

Now that you’ve thoroughly examined your kennel’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities, it’s time to turn your attention to identifying potential threats. Take a hard look into each weakness and envision the ramifications of neglecting them. Consider the cascading effects on your operations, customer satisfaction, reputation, and overall sustainability. By scrutinizing these vulnerabilities, you’ll be able to proactively address risks and strengthen your kennel against future challenges.

Using the weaknesses from a breeder that we shared previously, here is what a chart might look like.

As you can see, the consequences of neglecting weaknesses within your kennel operation are profound. None of us desire to witness the negative outcomes outlined above yet, regrettably, many breeders inadvertently find themselves facing these very challenges. It’s disheartening to witness fellow breeders grappling with frustration and feeling overwhelmed. Recognizing the initial indicators of trouble, it’s crucial to create a plan to address these issues now. Through proactive measures and strategic planning, we can steer our kennel businesses toward a path of sustainable growth and success.

If you choose not to address your weaknesses, you’re effectively paving the way for the undesirable outcomes outlined in your list of potential threats. Reflect on whether you truly desire these scenarios. To prevent them, the initial step is recognizing your threats. Subsequently, leverage your strengths and available resources to craft a proactive game plan. There’s no room for excuses—initiate action today. What immediate steps can you take to tackle threats within your kennel program and safeguard the future?

In our last article on utilizing a SWOT analysis with your kennel program, we’ll integrate these insights and guide you through the process of establishing SMART goals. Crafting goals that capitalize on your strengths to cultivate new opportunities, while simultaneously mitigating weaknesses, is essential. By strategically setting these objectives, you’ll not only navigate the challenges of today’s sluggish puppy market but also unlock unprecedented growth and success for you, the puppies, and the potential puppy owners for years to come.

For more information on having New Now Services provide business coaching for your kennel program, contact Chuck at 610-223-2008 or at [email protected]

Bio: Chuck Holt is the president of New Now Services which exists to help plain community business and breeders become successful in today’s ever changing world. He is also the founder of the Responsible Dog Breeder Network. Chuck has been a consultant and coach for over 20 years and for the past 5 years brings that to the community by providing business coaching for breeders and businesses, photo and listing services, Responsible Dog Breeder Network, and pawTree Dog food. Chuck is married to Claudia and has had 24 foster kids and raised 5 adopted kids, three with special needs. He and his family love to camp and enjoy raising King Charles Cavaliers.

Read Part One & Two Now!

New Now Services: Assessing Strengths

In the last issue, Part 1 of this article revolved around explaining what a SWOT Analysis is, and in this issue, Chuck Holt continues his workshop style article by focusing on the first letter of the acronym, S is for Strengths. Use the blank paper to
actually write down your Strengths,
and then keep this copy of The Dog
Journal handy for the next parts of
this. Get creative, thing long and
hard, and get anyone involved in
your business to gather around and
help you.

New Now Services: SWOT Analysis

Ever heard of the SWOT Analysis? Well, it’s a super valuable tool that can help any business grow and thrive, and Chuck Holt, with New Now Services, is taking the time to contribute a continued series of “workshop” articles, designed to help you implement this tool into your dog breeding business.

New Now Services