Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:07 Good day, everybody. And welcome back. This is autism on shift. If you have been here before, you know, we get a little silly, but we talk about work and it's cool. If you've not guess what we get a little silly and we talk about work and it's cool.
Speaker 1 00:00:25 Hi everybody. Welcome today. We are talking to Steven. Hi Steven. Hi, how you doing? Good. How are you doing great. Stephen is a fellow podcaster. He runs the ballistic autistic podcast. I've had a chance to listen to a little bit of it, um, this week, and it's been a lot of fun. Uh, you should check him out, uh, ballistic, autistic. Um, can you tell us where they can find your podcasts?
Speaker 2 00:00:52 Pretty much everywhere. I hosted off of anchor, so they are generous enough to put it also everywhere else. So it can be Apple podcasts, Spotify, pretty much any major podcasting listening platform, which is awesome. I like that.
Speaker 1 00:01:08 Um, so we're going to talk about, uh, Steven's job. He has a dog groomer and that's exciting to us. So we're going to ask him a bunch of questions about grooming dogs. Uh, well, tell us what a normal day kind of looks like for you at work.
Speaker 2 00:01:21 Um, well, it's definitely different now cause I've been doing mobile grooming now for three years. Um, so what's really awesome about it is I just, um, we have a setup with the company I'm at is, um, we have four vans. Uh, so, um, uh, there's a total, well, we have six gremlins now or we're about to hire another one. So basically on a given day, there's usually four of us. Um, and you just show up whatever vans available from. So if someone, because of the overlapping, someone might already have their tools in one van, so they leave in their overnight unpack and pack and repack again. So you just find an open van, jump in and start driving to your first appointment. Is there a specific
Speaker 0 00:01:57 Fan that's better than the others that everyone tries to run
Speaker 2 00:01:59 For? My boss teases me about it, but the one that I like, uh, I have one because it's actually the oldest one he owns, but I think it works the best, especially the air conditioner. Um, cause when it gets too hot, yeah, they're going to do the big part. And then I think I can, me, I think the dryer works a little bit better, but other than that, um, the other reason I also like it too is because, um, some of the newer vans in the driving section have like this little shelf above the, um, driver's seat. And I bang my head on that. So I like the old one and it doesn't have it. So I just, I forget because I'm six, two of our girls, you know, so they're all sure. So it's like, they don't even think about that, but to me, cause I'm literally like kind of like the max height for the van. So like I still am just like, I barely have like a hand with the ceiling wherever.
Speaker 0 00:02:49 Well, that's your height and not the way you drive that you're constantly hitting your head. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:02:54 So I, yeah, I just jumped into the one. It doesn't really matter. They all were great. Just like with my aunts and my guys, I was just like, I want that one.
Speaker 3 00:03:03 Yeah, I'm the same way. But uh, I, uh, I do drive a truck for a living, uh, from place to place that I, from my day job and uh, you know, I get to keep my truck, but anytime somebody else like I'm off right now, I've had some medical issues going on. So, you know, like, uh, it's somebody else's in my truck and I, and I guarantee you, as soon as I get in, I'm going to have to go through all of my little steps that I make mine again, you know, put all my things in their places and stuff and get rid of, yeah, whatever's on the floor. The crumbs.
Speaker 2 00:03:37 Yeah. That's the thing it's like sometimes they'll forget. Yeah. If someone had like a, they'll have like receipts from whenever they got like McDonald's or something and like I'll have to pick up, they're usually fairly clean, so it's not that big a deal. And there's obviously always dog hair and there's nothing that it seeps into every nook and cranny, no matter what you do.
Speaker 3 00:03:54 So how many places do you end up? Like how many appointments do you do a day? Can you do a day? Oh wow.
Speaker 2 00:04:00 The most I've ever done a day for him is 12 dogs. Um, well that's because it was just a ton of bass and they're all tiny. So it sounds like a lot, but it was like, it was like for two hours at one appointment. Um, so it went actually really quick. So was like, when I say 12 here, I was like, well, that seems like a lot, but it was like when they're chihuahuas, it tastes like 20 minutes to get them done.
Speaker 3 00:04:19 So our, uh, take a shorter than like the hair cuts and yeah.
Speaker 2 00:04:25 So, um, what a typical day I'll work anywhere from seven to eight dogs, sometimes nine. I have a couple of clients where they have it saves time when you don't have to drive. And they have like two to three dogs at an appointment. So it's a little bit times where it's like, where I get like pile up a day where there's like multiple clients, lot of multiple dogs, and then I'm able to do more, but typically seven days pretty much like the average.
Speaker 3 00:04:49 Yeah. Cool. Okay.
Speaker 2 00:04:51 When they'll range from like little multi-six too, and I have like a bunch of Burmese, mountain dogs and great Pyrenees clients that I do, like on the regular, so wow. Wow. Those are beautiful dogs. Yeah. They're there. I always say the bigger they are the sweeter than they are, but they're also kind of like also the most scaredy cat dogs I deal with too. So they don't want to get in the van, but once they're in there, they're totally fine.
Speaker 1 00:05:14 I saw a video once of a, um, they did this test of, you know, just this kind of test of a dog where they put like a secret camera and then, um, they would go into people's houses. Obviously the owner of the house was in on it, but they would come in and they would pretend to like attack the, the human and see how the dogs react and all of the big dogs
Speaker 3 00:05:37 Like ran under the table.
Speaker 1 00:05:40 We're the ones that would go after the guy.
Speaker 3 00:05:41 That's great. Yeah. But you know, we have a, uh, under medium sized dog, I would say he has a beagle. Um, but he would definitely run away. He would bark and bark and bark.
Speaker 2 00:05:52 I would say they're pretty. Yeah. They're pretty good at being pretty defensive the family. So
Speaker 3 00:05:58 Yeah, I imagine he, he, his bladder would be on the floor, but, but he'd slowly back away as he's barking. See, I don't know or not anyway.
Speaker 2 00:06:12 Well, yeah, I mean, for the most part, yeah. Just kind of show up and you know, you, you get, you go up to the house. I mean, going back to the whole, how the day looks, I just, you know, I show up a walk to the door, ringing the doorbell, or there was a couple where I just texted him really quick. And then, um, I grabbed the dog say a quick, hello, take him and then start working on the bath and the haircut and go through the normal processes and then get them right back and head to the next one.
Speaker 3 00:06:36 Yeah. See, I dig that. Now you said, uh, you know, you had tried some self-employed men didn't, you you're employed and, you know, with this, uh, dog groomer, is there something you like more about, uh, uh, being, or what do you like about your job now? I guess in general, but also what was easier? Yeah,
Speaker 2 00:06:54 I really like about it now is I do kind of miss working around people. Cause I started in the salon. I worked at PetSmart for forever. And so it was really nice being in, you know, with a group of people, both, but I'm such a stickler for just wanting to expedite my work and cause I just want to work and be done. So it's kinda, the biggest thing really is actually in not having to deal with phone calls and booking appointments. Like I what's so great about what I do now. And it's kind of like the biggest thing I like is that I just show up room and go home. So I don't have to deal with clients, contacting me or literally having to stop and answer a phone, call, book an appointment, and then go back to what I was doing. Or when I was at like at PetSmart, it was having to stop because someone says that they're falling behind with their schedule and having to go get their dog out and like either check in the dog for them or check out a dog and hand them to the client for them.
Speaker 2 00:07:42 So like, I like just being able to just take care of my dogs and then, and then, and just stick to that.
Speaker 3 00:07:48 Yeah. If you're efficient at what you're doing, it's it's and you know, that's the other thing for me. If I get behind, if I get behind it doesn't bother me because it's my fault. I can deal with my own mistakes, but once I have to deal with other people in, I rely on a lot of people once I really have to rely on somebody else and it's their mistake once or twice as you know, or whatever, but it's, then it's like five or six people and then I'm behind and I'm annoyed so
Speaker 2 00:08:10 Well, and that's the thing I'm like, I'm such a, I'm like these only groomer that's like always ahead of schedule. Like I'm usually like a 15 to 20 minutes sometimes more like an hour sometimes depending on how my day goes. But um, like some of the other groomers, just because they're, they're just not as fast as me cause I've been doing this a lot longer than most of them. There's only one other groomer that we, he recently hired. That's been grooming for 15 years. Um, where, like, I just like, in my mind I cannot stand being like, it's like, if your appointment's at one, I am going to do everything I can to be there at one. And I can't stand being late. Like he tells clients, all his clients is a normal thing. Cause he, you know, he's thinking of the other groomers like, Oh, can you give him a half hour windows? Like your appointment at one, but they might show up like, you know, like with, at and T or whatever, you know, like, Oh, we'll be here between four and seven, uh, next year. So, uh, it's just so it's like, I was like, we, I promised you one o'clock I'm gonna do everything I can to get you to there, you know, your scheduled time. And like, that's just a thing in my head. And I like, I feel super guilty if I start getting behind. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:09:07 I feel the same way. Um, that I think that's huge. And you know, it's, it's your integrity too. If you say you're going to be there at one that you you're doing what you said you were going to do. I mean, you know, yeah,
Speaker 2 00:09:16 Yeah. It's nice about lockdown is like client. A lot of my clients are working from home. So I was like, I know it can be early cause they're not like going anywhere. They're home.
Speaker 3 00:09:25 Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. Although then you show up with it at the same time as the pizza guy and the, you know, the FedEx guy and the ups guy. And it's like, there's only room for one of us in the driveway. How was your purse? And he ended up being elite.
Speaker 1 00:09:40 So, so, so let me ask you this. How does it work when, uh, cause our dog is just like a bath dog. He doesn't get his hair cut thing for bagels. Um, but if there's a dog that gets their haircut, how does that work? Is that something you just kind of do a general cleanup or do people actually have requests? Like I want them to look like this.
Speaker 2 00:09:59 Yeah. There's some specifics. Like they want the face to kind of have a certain shape. So, and then there's certain breed, uh, specifics, like let's take, um, like a Yorkie or a West Highland terrier. For example, they both lose two breeds are known for having what we call tipped ears. So it's specifically, the technique is where you shave the top one third and then you scissor in the edges. So you have that really defined triangular shape of the ear that pointing your look and then you have specific rules. Like let's take a schnauzer. For example, they have a specific breed pet. That's why they have that little skirt and they have the live and you have to shave and specifically where the muscles lineup, because pretty much every breed, trim out there is meant to do one of two things, either define a look or muscles or function. So like even poodles, let's take them to the classic, you know, your standard pool with that jacket and the pompoms. Those are actually more functional than they are fashionable. So Jack is actually exactly, he's meant to keep them warm. The pom-poms are meant to keep their ankles warm. Cause they're actually hunting water dogs they're meant to retrieve waterfowl. So those palms are meant to keep their ankles warm.
Speaker 3 00:11:04 Yeah. I don't think a lot of people know that that's <inaudible>
Speaker 2 00:11:07 Well, it's kind of funny because when duck dynasty was super huge, they, everyone was making fun of, I think it was his name uncle Cy when he caught a poodle because they're also super gentle way. Not crushing the animal, you know, the bird when they to retrieve it too, they have what they call, um, gentle jaws. So they pick it up nice and they bring it right back to ya.
Speaker 3 00:11:24 Nice. Better that way.
Speaker 1 00:11:25 No idea. I just thought it was a silly, rich person thing.
Speaker 3 00:11:29 I saw it on TV, you know?
Speaker 2 00:11:33 Yeah. I mean there's like, and there's like a dozen different kinds of like poodle things. Like there's the town and country, the clown. Do you have the continental, which is that full jacket and everything. And then you have like the modified lamb cut and you have, um, like the new Yorker, new Yorker and some other ones. I can't remember the there's like a lot of names. Yeah. We all gone. Yeah. All right. What's the dog version of a mullet.
Speaker 0 00:11:55 Uh, Ooh,
Speaker 2 00:11:57 That's a good question. I think, I guess the reverse would be maybe well Wheaton because everything shaved in the back, but they have that long fall stuff coming forward because they have that fall right. Between the eyes. So I guess if the molded in the front,
Speaker 0 00:12:10 That's funny. That's awesome. What is it called?
Speaker 2 00:12:14 Oh yeah. Soft coated, Wheaton terrier. Super they're really popular puppies. Could they literally look like little bears when they're like that first like, like up to about six months, but then they get this really, you know, they totally changed cause their color, the coat changes and everything. And then they get a really cool specific Bree cut where you kind of have what they call a fall. So you just kind of scissor out these little eye holes, but they have like all this hair dripping over their face.
Speaker 3 00:12:38 So they really do their business in the back and partying.
Speaker 0 00:12:44 They got the big old beard and everything together. That's my kind of, Oh, sorry.
Speaker 3 00:12:53 So is there any things that, uh, you, you don't actually enjoy about what you're doing now then?
Speaker 2 00:13:01 Uh, it's just, you know, I'm getting older, I'm going to be 32 year coming up. And one of the things I realized like this has kind of a limit specifically, specifically, physically, especially when it comes to larger dogs. Like I know I've, I've hurt my back a couple of times dealing with larger dogs, having to lift them and pick them up. And, and especially like we've been raising our prices specifically and we had to really, you know, we, as a company was with input. My boss is getting input from all of us, especially when it came to the larger breeds. And um, especially with the way the economy is going. Like we had to really put a thought of like, okay, like if we're going to put our bodies on the line doing these really large dogs, like, you know, let's get paid appropriately to it. Sure. And we've, I've lost like a few, like, cause I get it. It's like when you have three Burmese, I had one client literally had three Burmese round dogs. Like we're about to charge you almost $500 for three dogs. I get it. You know, we're probably not going to keep you, but I mean, someone who has one I'm like, I can't, you know, I'm charging them, you know, the same price per year. If you had only one, it would still be the same price. Like you chose to have three.
Speaker 0 00:14:07 Right, right. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:14:11 Oh yeah. That must be crazy. Now I imagine because, uh, so I mean, cause there should be like something you could, uh, I'm imagining like stairs that could be let down to get them up. But you're probably talking about like getting them up on a table where you can do the work. I'm assuming, is that what you're?
Speaker 2 00:14:26 Well, not just keep getting them on the table. Cause the tables we have get low and then they have little ramps to get them into the tub. But it also, when they get to a certain age and they age faster. So once they're like five, I don't even say sometimes even four plus years old, they have a hard time just standing. And then that means also being steady. That means I've had older, larger dogs, like golden retrievers where they can't, they almost literally fall off the table and you're trying to, it's hard to catch an 80 pound. Yeah. Oh wow. That's you know, you know, that's, you know, an awkward position. Oh yeah. So, and then it just, you know, the time it takes to, you know, if they take longer everything, I mean, you're talking about instant, you know, like I said, if a trial would take me 15 minutes, Permian is going to take me probably like an hour. Wow. That's crazy. Cause you know, all that Fern hair and just getting it dry,
Speaker 3 00:15:14 I can imagine. So you, um, so you had, how long did you say you're doing this for? You said the other guy was 15 years, but how long I've been doing it? 10 years. 10 years. So did you start at PetSmart? Is that where you started doing it? Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:15:26 Yeah. I, uh, I started, um, as a baler and worked my way through the process of their, uh, Academy and training and, and then ju and work my way up and I mean, it's really two options. Your pay, there are groomer. And then unless you're the slot manager, which I did that for a short stint and then I was like, ah, I need a groom because I wasn't making enough money. Like, uh, let's not deal with everyone. Else's drama. Let me just focus on mine.
Speaker 3 00:15:50 Yeah, no, no. Oh, is it like a commission type thing or is it based on,
Speaker 2 00:15:55 Um, it's pretty much commission-based um, where, uh, I'll just take best Martin's example because it seems like that's still kind of what it is there. Petco is a little bit different. I know, known Gramercy. I worked at pick-up, but um, and I've seen where other small shops to kind of still do the same all where you're paid 50% commission, whatever dog you do.
Speaker 3 00:16:14 Okay. That's a good commission. I got paid 50% commission. That'd be great.
Speaker 0 00:16:22 Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:16:22 When you're doing a lot of these little guys, if you're fast, you, I mean, that's kind of, that's where it comes down to, with being a dog. Groomer is the only way to make more money is to grow more dogs. And if you can, only, if you're only skilled enough to do a certain amount dogs a day, then let's say you're self employed. Then the only other option then two is to bump up your prices. Yeah. So it's kinda, yeah.
Speaker 3 00:16:41 Sorry to interrupt you. I was going to ask, so how did you get interested in it in the first place? Was it, was it just looking for something or did,
Speaker 0 00:16:47 Uh, it was definitely
Speaker 2 00:16:49 Not my first choice actually, when I was 15, my mom had a friend who owned her own shop. Uh, and during the summer I went to work for her for a day and I
Speaker 0 00:16:58 Hated it. I was like, this is
Speaker 2 00:17:01 The ears are so nasty, squeezing their buses, disgusting.
Speaker 0 00:17:05 This is wet
Speaker 2 00:17:06 And hairy and there's Herrmann mouth and my eyes, it was the most miserable. Like I never wanted to do it. And then I got married, really young. We got married, I got married at 20. And, um, originally before I became a dog groomer, I was a window cleaner and I worked for a small company, but we're talking to like, you know, when the economy is really, really bad, like 2009 ish, 2010. And, uh, I did lose my job. And so looking for new work, I mean, I was applying at every place that was pretty much generic for interviews, but my mom had a friend that was moving to Hawaii, but they were at that customer in the area. And she said, here, if he's looking for a job, just kind of like, it seemed like a good idea, like fine, because I started on the warehouse floor and then within a month I was in the salon just because that's just how it ended up working out.
Speaker 2 00:17:54 But, um, there's just apply. And then, you know, this w and then she kind of broke down and it's like, this is how much you can make. Once you kind of work your way as being a groomer, you get the experience. It's like, okay, if I just look at the long-term, this is a good idea, and I can suck it up and, you know, just kind of get over my own little, being uncomfortable with certain things, and then just learn to just deal with the job as it is and fine. So I got to the job and then, I mean, I got hired. I just started out on the, yeah, I was just doing like stocking first in the morning for like a month, because they were the way the salon worked was when they have bathers. They want them to become groomers, which is really nice.
Speaker 2 00:18:29 They want them all, you know, these people that like to get the skill set to move up, because a lot of them kind of move on anyway, that either they go to a private shop where they even just simply to start running their own business, um, mobile or otherwise. And so the, the salon I was at can only have a certain amount of bathers, which I think was four. Okay. And, um, just based on the numbers that they normally did. And so I was just basically waiting for the next set of beavers to go to their grooming Academy, which would open up a bathing position. So as soon as that happened, I became a breather. And then they just kind of give you, it's kind of, um, it is a bit of a sink or swim kind of situation because you do need to have a hustle mentality because it is even balers are working their butts off. Yeah. Um, because they're usually doing more of the larger animals, like, cause you're constantly getting German shepherds labs, uh, dogs that obviously don't need the haircut, but they obviously need a baby because he like big shedders sure. Um,
Speaker 3 00:19:24 Everyone's getting a bath and anyway, okay. Yeah. That makes sense.
Speaker 2 00:19:28 Yeah. So they're dealing with all the non, so they're doing like, they're dealing with the little chihuahuas, but they're dealing a lot of like pit bulls and Dobermans. So anything that's short hair also that doesn't need a bath. So you have to really learn to time it because you're also doing more dogs sometimes. Like when I was at Baylor you're part time, but you're still doing almost the same amount of dogs in a shift. So you'll still doing eight, maybe even 10 bath dogs. Um, so you, you got to hustle and you're also doing all the walk-in stuff, because like I said, MERS we're commission-based so have a nail trim walks in PetSmart didn't want the groomers to do it. Cause they don't want to pay him $5 on a $10 nail trim. I think it's more now, but let's just for argument's sake. Um, so they want the bathers to handle the walk-in stuff because they're hourly and it's like, okay, have the hourly person take the five minutes of their time to make them so they make money for the salon. So it's like,
Speaker 3 00:20:14 No, I'm sorry. I was just saying everyone's job is hard. And it's funny, you know, there's always somebody who thinks, Oh, that sounds easy until, you know, until you really get into the mentality of, or not just the mentality, but into the details of the job. Every job is hard. Every job has very specific things that go on. You know what I mean? It's like, and I hear it. You know, I hear it with so many people and I'm thinking like, dude, if you say that about this guy's job, you know, someone saying that about your job, do you not understand that? Like, you know, it's like, it's the same for everybody. The grass is always greener, man. You like,
Speaker 2 00:20:48 The grass is always greener except, you know, the one thing that was nice as not being Baylor anymore. When I finally got to be grooming, not having to do Huskies cause Huskies with they have their big multi-season having to deal with all that. Shedding was never fun. We call it a for blizzard. When we got the blow money, I love for just flying thickly through the air. I mean, now I still have to deal with some of them because like now with mobile, it's like you get booked when you get booked. Cause we obviously do everything as a grimmer. Like you're getting, I'm getting bath dogs, I'm gaining haircut dogs. You just get sent out for whatever. Cause it needs not going to have a specific person just for baths. But um, so, so I have only a couple of Huskies. I do regularly. We're at the deal with a lot of shedding. Wow.
Speaker 3 00:21:30 With your current, uh, job. Um, did you, did you go in, I mean, I know for the first one you kind of had to end for this job, did you, was it a kind of a direct link like that? Or did you have the interview? I'd like to know more about the, you know
Speaker 2 00:21:44 Yeah. So I, yeah, because it was a little, I was a little nervous leaving PetSmart because it was, I would say overall it's a great place to be because when you're a groomer, you're automatically, full-time, there's vacation pay, there's sick pay. There's 401k, there's a health plan. So it's like, it's a great job overall. I mean, obviously, like I said, because you can only grow them so much and their prices are set by them. Um, like my, my concern was okay. Health insurance, which we were getting at the time through me, but then my wife got a new job. And so, so I got to not worry about that. So then my bottom line is like, Hey, what's the bottom dollar I'm going to make versus especially cause like going to a small mom and dad thing was like, okay, so they're not going really going to be vacation pay.
Speaker 2 00:22:23 Cause I already was getting to the point where I got three weeks of paid time off like, Oh, that's kind of awesome. It's not having to worry. But then it's like, if I make more, I make more. It's like, whatever. So, um, but yeah, with him, one of the, couple of the groomers I used to work with, ended up working for him and they was like, Hey, you're hiring. And because we knew we knew each other for so long because I worked with them for both least a couple of years. Um, they're like, we know you, like, this seems like a good fit for you. Plus they were also going to get a little hiring bonus if I went on. So there was a little incentive for them to get me to quit, but they were like, they genuinely were like, you know, this seems like this would be a good fit for you.
Speaker 2 00:22:59 And they put they're a hundred percent. Right. I mean, I'm still with this guy for three years. So, um, so yeah, we just, we sat down and went in the interview and kind of like, even with him and same thing with PetSmart, I've always been upfront about having autism. And so I, you know, I bring it up. I always brought up any interview, you know, when that was in high school, when I got up at the library, um, when I got the window clean it off, like, it feels like this is, you know, I have this. So there's like a communication issue. Like just be a little bit slower with me and understand like I just need a little, just give me a minute and we'll figure it out together. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:23:30 Right. So you have known for a while too then. I mean, clearly it wasn't like a late, late stage kind of, Hey, I just figured this out.
Speaker 2 00:23:39 Yeah. I mean having autism, sorry. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. I got when I was in the fourth grade, so we're talking like 89. So we're talking like 96, 97 ish. I think whatever my fourth grade year was.
Speaker 3 00:23:55 So do you think, so do you think knowing for such a long time that was helpful getting into, um, like into the job, into the workforce? Yeah. Like, uh, already maybe having some communication, dealing with people, accommodations, these sorts of things. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:24:12 Um, I mean I think, yeah, knowing it definitely helps cause it's just, it w knowing when I was little already helped, because it's just like, okay, I know what my issues are. And I know that has the name. And I know that there is now techniques that can be used to one, help me figure out how I can do whatever task, but also communicated with those who don't understand like, like when I'm going through a problem or if I'm having an issue and then that way I can explain to it. Yeah. So it's kind of like, it's freeing in a sense of that. You're able to understand yourself, but also being able to communicate it and help other people understand who you are and what you're going through. So that way they can be more understanding. And like, there does not harping Danny, I'm just like ignorant of what's going on.
Speaker 3 00:24:59 Sure. Yeah. Yeah. No, that's good. That's gotta be really nice. I think so. So let's talk about, let's talk about, um, kind of more personally, how it works for you. How does, uh, how does, uh, being autistic make your work hard? What's hard about it.
Speaker 2 00:25:15 Four, I would say beating with mobile. It's actually made it overall a lot easier because it fits into my overall personality type. You know, I have no problem being alone all day. I can just listen to my podcast, but it also allows me to, um, just be super hyper-focused on my task and, you know, get in an, it took me for a while. Even when I worked, when I first started customizing, it took me a while to find my process. So now it's like, I kind of have my mental list and my mental checkpoints, especially timing wise, learning, you know, what took what, and then not overthinking something in being super too detailed where it's like, okay, just be done with the animal.
Speaker 2 00:25:52 Like the dog wants to go home now. So, so it's just, you know, learning kind of like, okay, this is, you know, do this step and then move on. So like having those mental checkpoints essentially of what I'm working on and then being able to, just to move on, to finish what, um, room, um, you know, originally I would've said it was definitely more challenging because like I said, I'm working in a salon with like, I always was a big salon for PetSmart. So like the one first one was in was a thousand Oaks. We had like 10 groomers in there. Oh, wow. I think we had 14 at one point. It was the one in, down here in Encinitas where we had more like 10. So they're, they're fairly large. Like some other ones, usually we're like six or eight. Um, but it's like, you know, you're and it's mostly women.
Speaker 2 00:26:35 Like I was usually the only guy, um, only a couple of times, like the one down here, uh, where I used the last one, I worked out where it's like, there was actually three of us, three guys, but it's like, I'm in the salon with, you know, a dozen women. And it's like the, you know, the communication skills are definitely gonna be a whole lot different between me being a guy and I mean, a women and then just, you know, and then just dealing with different personalities because there was definitely an array of different person. It's like, it'd be a groomer. We always said, you have to have a certain level of crazy to want to do the job.
Speaker 1 00:27:05 That's funny. That's not the first time
Speaker 3 00:27:07 That I pick a lot to think a lot of it work in general. You gotta to be a little crazy to get out there. Right. I mean, it was kind of funny when you say makes you crazy, at least maybe that's what it is. One of the things that you were talking about with, um, sort of, uh, what's the word, um, getting your job, the details down Pat kind of thing. And the checklist and the checklist. I mean, that's a, it hits home over here because I will, uh, at first I'll get into a job really slow and methodical li I will be slow and behind and I will maybe even take twice as long will take, you know, someone else might jump in four months, they're ready to roll me. I'm eight months a year, but I ended up being faster later because I need to know the ins and outs of every single process. And then at the end of that, it's, I kinda, I say, say to people when it's at the beginning, it's in the front of my mind, I have to think about it constantly. But then as I get going, then that whole process, it I've made this whole, you know, one, two, three, four, five in, and it goes in the back of my head and then I'm a master at, and I can just blow through it. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:28:13 Especially when you're dealing with like, you know, a couple of dozen different like dog reads that are, you know, hyper, like I said, hyper specific to, you know, uh, form and function. So it's like you have from English Cocker Spaniels to Scotty's and Westies to, um, you have to learn all these things.
Speaker 3 00:28:29 I guarantee now when the Jew, you don't even have to think about which appointment you have, you just show up, you see it. You're like, got it. Boom.
Speaker 2 00:28:35 Yeah. That's the one thing I do kinda miss though. It's like with, with the mobile grooming, everyone's kind of like, could we do a lot deal with more senior pets in a sense, because we're dealing with, with clients that can't drive themselves or can't really deal with the commute to go and take their dog, or we're dealing with dogs that can't make the commute because they're just too old. Um, and we still have a good number of obviously it's just, they love the convenience of it. Um, but so it's dealing with, you know, those senior pets and, you know, so we just deal with a lot of just haircuts that are just more function than anything. So it's a lot of just simple, short trims. There's a few that are still a little bit longer than I think you, but, um, we're like a PetSmart. I definitely dealt with way more brief specifics. Like now I barely deal with like, Pomeranians like, or even shit suits, which is kind of weird. Um, but like the main thing I, I deal with is like golden retrievers and multi-system just stuff that gets a simple, you know, shaved down for the most part and just overall, they just want them nice and short and, and well, captain, babe, that's pretty much it.
Speaker 1 00:29:36 Um, so let's talk a little bit about some of the things that your boss does or even could, um, that helps support you at work, um, in ways that you might need
Speaker 2 00:29:45 Well, I mean, for the most part, he's pretty good with just keeping communication to a minimum where, so it's like the only thing he has to come to me, it's like, if there was a customer complaint, which very, very rarely happens, like I might've forgotten a color, let's go to like the worst thing I've done. Um, uh, fortunately I've had like no dog incidents where I've accidentally cut a dog. I haven't done that in for everything. Goodness. So it's usually like, okay, there was like maybe a small and it's usually with a new client. Cause like you're, you're getting to know them. You're getting to know the dogs. I was like, I might have done the haircut, not quite the way they want it. So it's like, like they're unhappy with that. And it was a communication thing. So he understands. Okay. Um, so I mean, for the most part, it's just like, I would only say it's like, if he's actually upset, it's kind of hard to tell sometimes because, um, he just does everything via text. So I sometimes have a hard time translating the text message. Like, wait, are you upset? Or you understanding at this point? And then of course I'm too nervous to even ask, like, can you just be a little more straightforward with what this text message means? Like, are you mad with me? It's like, if you are just used beyond, right? Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:30:52 You're like record a, record your voice through the text message you can do that.
Speaker 2 00:30:56 Send me the voice memo. Let me, yeah, exactly. Send me the voice. Copeley go off your tone of voice and see,
Speaker 3 00:31:04 You have to help people with the text messages all the time, you know, and I'm the same way, you know, I get a text on my God. You know, you got to ask people around you. Like w what do you think they mean by this? You know, it's like, dude, there's nothing to worry about. They probably just mean this and like, Oh yeah, you're probably right. I guess so a little over thinking. Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:31:20 I have discovered that I just have to intend to read it as
Speaker 3 00:31:29 Like a positive way or
Speaker 1 00:31:31 As neutral as possible, or at least as positive as possible
Speaker 3 00:31:34 For you. That makes a lot of sense. Yeah. Otherwise
Speaker 1 00:31:36 I respond to everything. Like I fly off the handle. What does it mean
Speaker 2 00:31:40 By that? Looking for an argument.
Speaker 3 00:31:42 Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's kind of our go-to sensitive, but they said
Speaker 1 00:31:55 Like this a certain
Speaker 2 00:31:56 Way, exclamation point in caps, yelling at me.
Speaker 1 00:32:06 Yeah. But I find, uh, for my peace of mind, I have to just decide that everybody is being positive and happy and, uh, you know, otherwise it's yeah.
Speaker 3 00:32:17 Problematic. That is hard in this world. Sometimes they just assume that everyone's being that way, you know? Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:32:24 But it is helpful for my piece.
Speaker 2 00:32:26 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Having that mindset just like, no, one's actually looking for a fight. Like, they're just like trying to, they're just trying to put it like, this is just what it is and then just go from there.
Speaker 1 00:32:37 So we talked about the things that, um, you know, that can, can be difficult. We talked about some of the things that, that can be helpful as far as support. Uh, let's talk about, um, let's talk about the good stuff. What is it, um, that you think being autistic is really helpful? What is the super power that you get at your job?
Speaker 2 00:32:58 It's kind of like, I think what is it, the biggest thing is once you kind of get into something like, like I've definitely have dedicated myself to this as overall career. And I, I definitely have other interests, right? Like when you get super into something, like, you know, it forwards and backwards, like you be, you, you maybe not intentionally more unintentionally, you become the extra, whatever you're doing. And, and that becomes super beneficial. Like the hard part was actually gaining the competence of recognizing, like, I know what I'm talking about, especially when it came to pet parents that like, when they have mad at animals, like they didn't, you know, properly brush them in between groups and they get super mad and then just putting your foot down. It's like, I can't brush this out. And if I do, I am legitimately portraying your pet.
Speaker 2 00:33:41 So either I shave your animal because it's, what's safe and best for them, or I'm going to leave and you can find someone else who can do it well. And I've ha and I've done this now finally over a year. Like, I, I would say it wasn't until I was like a good three years, four years into grooming where I was finally had that confidence. And it took like that when I was like, you know, I, I I've had, and I've had the same lines. Like, if you don't think, if you don't trust me to just do what I'm saying, like, go ahead, take your dog, tip today, find another shop. And they are willing to do it. I will pay for it, but nice. Like, I just, like, I'm not doing, I'm not brushing it out. Cause this is it's, it's bad for you.
Speaker 2 00:34:22 And most of the time when they realize, like they have the option to lose their appointment today, like just do it. And then, and then I show them, I've literally had pictures where I, I mean, I still have some, like, I've shaved animals. We're head to toe where it's like a stuffed family. I have eye holes in the shaving of the head. I had like horrible, mad at him. I've done that. I've had neglected animals. I've you know, so it's like, that's the one thing that kind of gets hard about the job is, um, you know, you know that these I've definitely had a lot of, because you know, dogs only listen along. Yeah. I mean, especially with mobile, you're dealing with senior pets. Like more, I deal a lot more with them passing now where just because they're older, they pass, I, you know, I'm dealing with more of them lately.
Speaker 2 00:35:03 Like just this week I had another one pass away just like literally the day before the room. So, um, that's the one thing that gets kind of bums you out? I actually, because like I said, too, I have senior people that I having them pass away. It's hard, you know, you come attached cause you're, you're, you're go to their homes. They see regularly, you do know them. They know you, you have these, you know, these, you know, there's simple and casual conversations, but you know them and you end up having a connection and that's why they trust you to come to the house. They trust you with their animal, their family member. Um, and so it's like one of those kind of things that it's like, it bums you out. I don't know, groomers that aren't a hundred percent non-affected by, it's like, you know, you can do your best to compartmentalize it. Uh, where, you know, it doesn't affect you a hundred percent. So it's just, um, it's just the app, but it's just one of those things that it's, it gets the, uh, you know, and, um, but you know, you just kinda keep going. I mean, at least I'm not like a vet that has to put them down and dealing with that on the regular Lila, like the only thing, like, that'd be way, way more of a bummer. Um,
Speaker 3 00:36:06 I guess you got to look at some of those things that you have to sort of look at, Hey, this is, this is better for the animal, you know, kind of like, you know, with the, with the, and you know, you're not going to torture the dog. You're saying, Hey, you know, you had the confidence to get to that point where you're saying, this is what's best for your dog. You know, you want what's best for your dog. And I'm at the point where I want what's best for your dog, you know? So I'm curious because we've talked about, um, you know, you know, the superpower, you know, and some of the stuff that you've dealt with, you know, but I'm also curious with all those kinds of things in mind, you know, cause you've also talked about, um, before the sh uh, our show, you know, we were talking about, you had a lot of other things going on and like, you know, I think that's pretty awesome, you know, uh, I mean, I don't want to say what you've you're doing, but there was all kinds of stuff. And so it, you know, with the job that you had, um, you know, you got into it, you know, not necessarily what you would have jumped into, but now that you're there, you said, Hey, look, I'm, this is what I know I'm going to go career length with it. Do you have like a dream job? If you could create it, like something that would fit you perfectly kind of like the, kind of like the mobile thing. Does you now, do you have that dream job that fits you perfectly? That, what would that be?
Speaker 2 00:37:21 That's that's a good question. Um, I don't know. I mean, the only thing is, like I said, because of the physicality of dog grooming with my back, I mean, I would have to probably jump to something with a little less physicality. So, I mean, I love photography, so I think if I could do go and do photography full-time um, I mean, I would love to do, because I've done weddings. So either weddings or maybe even going to video filmmaking, like documentaries would be kind of awesome. Just like, yeah, it's a lot of heavy gear, but it's like, kind of like the stresses, it's a different kind of stress thing, obviously. So, I mean, you have to pick and choose your battles. Um, I just feel like with dog grooming, I kind of have a, a finite timeline of it where I'm physically going to be able to do it. Cause my, in my mind, it's like, how long can I, can I do this into my fifties and sixties? And at what point will I be able to, I have to stop doing dogs over a certain weight just because of, I can't risk my health more than anything. Cause if I risk my health, that means I can't room. So it's like, how do you know being employed? Like when do I communicate to my boss is like, Hey, my body can't handle taking golden retrievers two to three times a day. Yeah.
Speaker 1 00:38:36 That's Adam right now. I mean he,
Speaker 3 00:38:38 Yeah, I do. I do a lot of heavy lifting. So, uh, you know,
Speaker 1 00:38:43 I'm going to quantify that he lifts, he lifts almost a ton of product a day.
Speaker 2 00:38:53 So it sounds like you were in shipping and receiving of like FedEx or something.
Speaker 3 00:38:57 Well, I do a, I do merchandising, but uh, I, I have multiple accounts where I bring in products, you know, it's food and drinks and snacks and drinks.
Speaker 2 00:39:06 Oh yeah. That's heavy because like, think about like a, like a 36 pack of soda. Those things are like 30, 40 pounds.
Speaker 3 00:39:14 So yeah. And I have, uh, I have a very large route and uh, so I, I load up my truck, you know, at the beginning of the day it's pallets of stuff, usually like three or four pallets and uh, every once a day and I go in, but you know, so it's a lot, you know, for sure. So yeah, I've thought about that many times, you know,
Speaker 1 00:39:31 I mean, we're in the same conversation. It's like, you know, at some point his body is physically not going to be able to do his job anymore, you know,
Speaker 3 00:39:38 But I think that's probably about 85 or 90 is what I'm guessing.
Speaker 2 00:39:41 Yeah. Yeah. I guess the only other thing I could think of is, you know, I would still love to maybe, you know, if I could make the podcasting a full-time thing, like I have my podcast and what I like about what the, where I started now, making it more of a niche is that it's super focused on autism. And to me, I feel like it's autism positive and finding those positive stories about it and also all the different scientific research and stuff like that. Um, it would be nice to be, you know, not in a, I don't know, I don't want to call it myself like a spokesperson, but just kind of keeping a show and a program focused on not just the positivity of it, but also resources of it. I try to talk about, you know, like the different doctors that have different therapies and functioning
Speaker 1 00:40:23 Well, and if I CA if I may, you have kind of, um, kind of been the spokesperson, I guess, for that, uh, on this show, at least so far, most of the people we have interviewed have been late diagnosed and that being the case myself included, um, have had major issues in, around finding, keeping work.
Speaker 2 00:40:49 That's a big thing. Cause I think the unemployment rate for people with autism, especially as adults is like, it's like the 70%.
Speaker 1 00:40:57 Yeah. It's, it's huge. Um, and if I had known long before, if I had known, when I was in fourth grade, I would have had the tools or at least the self-awareness to be able to, um, uh, go into the workforce with a different mentality and I might have fared better. I mean, I'm not going to regret what you know, but there's a huge difference and you have kind of personified that difference for us. Right. Like you knew early and you, um, you're highly successful in the workplace, I think. Awesome.
Speaker 2 00:41:34 Uh, thank you. I appreciate that very much. Yeah. I mean, I, I mean, it's kind of like a one-six I've done public speaking because I went with my old behavioral therapist. She, um, had a great program. Um, but now she's focused. She has a, she had one book. She has come out that's called, um, quirky. Yes. Helpless. No, that's really great for, um, parents with autistic children and kind of talking about, you know, uh, interacting with their kids and how to help them and with the schooling and all that. But she has a great book coming out. Um, I don't know if it's titled yet, but her book is specifically directed at, um, hiring managers and HR personnel in that area for businesses to help them, um, better understand their autistic employees and how to communicate with them and how to best, uh, accommodate them. Um, so she has a book coming out on that. And so I don't know if it's titled yet. Her name is Dr. Cynthia NARAL. Um, and, um, so if you guys ever want a researcher, so she's fantastic. She actually was there for me when I was a tiny kid and with my friends, with my mom and helped me with in my early development with all that. That's fantastic.
Speaker 1 00:42:33 Wow. That's exciting. You get a reference in the back of the book.
Speaker 2 00:42:37 Uh, yeah, she interviewed me for the part of the book. Yeah. She had a lot of her current and past patients, um, with the, in talking about, you know, working and, you know, how, you know, what helped you as an individual with autism to stay in work or what helped you with interviews or what helped you with communication with your employers? So we kind of talked about that and, um, so some of that will be referenced in her book. That's fantastic. Oh, I am all over that.
Speaker 3 00:43:02 And uh, and honestly I think it's cool. I like the, you know, you say, well, I'm not necessarily a spokesman spokesperson, you know, but you know, the point is, is, you know, with both of us doing podcasts is, you know, we're trying to get the word out, trying to normalize it, normalize just normally not like that
Speaker 2 00:43:17 Acceptance of it. I mean, that's kind of like what we can, I mean, you guys probably saw because I mean, we know we first communicated on Reddit was like, all right, we're kind of done with autism awareness. How about autism acceptance? Like, listen, it's here. There is, there could potentially be cure, but at the moment there is no cure. And just because there might be doesn't mean we're wanting it either. You know, like why can't we just be, you know, just like we're here as any other individual, just like, you know, we, you need some minor what I would consider minor accommodations because it comes down to understanding more than anything. We're not asking for breaks for shortcuts. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:43:55 Sorry. I was saying, I don't know, worried, man. I said, I disagree. I think the rest of the world needs some minor adjustments. And like, I like being who I am.
Speaker 2 00:44:04 Oh yeah. There's just more positivity above anything and everything else with everything going on. Just jump to positivity, not to negativity.
Speaker 1 00:44:13 It's getting there. It's getting, yeah. You know, the autistic community is being more open right now. Um, people are, um, you know, people are, um, disclosing. That's the word I was looking for, that people are disclosing more often. Um, and it's funny because people, you know, people that are not in the know are suddenly like, well, autism is this sudden epidemic. No, it's not. We've always been here. We're just now speaking up. Yeah.
Speaker 2 00:44:41 Yeah. Really. We're just finally kind of asking for just we're asking is like, please try not to silence us. Like we are, we're just trying to find her voice now and we need to be a bit louder because there's still that tendency of being quieted and pushed aside almost where it's like, Oh no, we'll figure it out for you. Like, no, we're going to tell you what we need. Thank you.
Speaker 1 00:45:04 Right. Yeah. Well, awesome. I think that's our time, but Stephen, it has been amazing talking
Speaker 2 00:45:11 To you. This was fun.
Speaker 1 00:45:16 I, um, I think we're going to link to your podcast in the show notes. Yep. Awesome. And if there's any other socials or anything that you want in the show notes, go ahead and shoot those to me. And we'll, um,
Speaker 2 00:45:30 Anyone listening, you can follow me ballistic autistic pod on Instagram, a ballistic Aspy on Twitter. Um, ballistic autistic pod at Gmail. If you want to email me anything. Um, I'm pretty much an open book. So there's any additional conversations or questions anyone has. Um, because I've talked to parents, I've talked to, you know, other podcasts. Um, I'm very much an open book. Uh, and then, uh, yeah, I mean, I'm not the greatest with social media, so I don't post too often. Cause it's like, uh, again, I try to keep a little bit ambiguity cause like, obviously I don't want my boss being blown up because I'm an employee and then so, so, but I mean, I try to be as open as I can, but uh, I mean, if that ever happens, like, you know, everyone discovers them like, all right, let's just go full force with everything. But at the point it's just a, I try to be an open book as possible, but, um, yeah, it is what it is.
Speaker 1 00:46:15 I love it. Well, thanks so much for being here. All right. Thank you guys. Thanks a lot, everyone for joining us today. It's been a blast. Oh yeah. Hey, we want to talk to you really tell us about your job. Go to our website, carve resumes.com, fill out the contact form. Uh, tell us how to get in touch with you and we'll take it from there. Absolutely. Thanks for joining us again. Have a great day. <inaudible>.
