Latest news with #Bernadoodle
Forbes
10-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Million Dollar Pivot: Sam Vander Wielen's Playbook For Online Entrepreneurs
Sam Vander Wielen When I Start My Business I'll Be Happy: A Practical, No-BS Guide to Successful Online Entrepreneurship turned one week old when I sat down with the author, Sam Vander Wielen. She was in the midst of a whirlwind of launch activities, which was evident in her voice—excited yet reflective. She just returned from her walk on a crisp New York City morning with Hudson, her beloved Bernadoodle. Her eyes brightened at the mention of her furry friend. 'He's been everything to me through all of this,' she said. Sam's career path from corporate attorney to online entrepreneur was anything but linear. The lack of fulfillment as an attorney came to a crossroads when she decided to double down on her health coaching side hustle. The pivot to her legal templates business (what she's widely known for now) emerged unexpectedly when she was attending a wellness festival to promote her health coaching services. Suddenly, she ended up with a line of entrepreneurs seeking legal advice for their businesses and her lightbulb moment became evident. "Sometimes your failures teach you more than your successes," she reflected. 'I was passionate about health coaching, but it wasn't a good business idea. My legal templates business was a great idea for a product. There was a lot of demand and not much supply. I also knew how to differentiate it.' Sam's business advice is contradictory from the marketing gurus claiming to follow your passion and guaranteeing overnight success. Centered on the book's title, the then-when approach to happiness rarely (if ever) pans out. Rather, as she states, happiness doesn't come from business success, but rather from how you approach life regardless of external circumstances. 'If you attach your happiness to external factors, you'll never be happy. It's just a carrot that keeps moving. Once you have a million-dollar business, you're surrounded by people with $5 million businesses and once again – you feel like you're not good enough.' When I Start My Business, I'll Be Happy: A Practical, No-BS Guide to Successful Online ... More Entrepreneurship I think what makes Sam's words connect deeply with readers is her vulnerability. She opens up about tragically losing both of her parents in a short time. Through these profound losses, Hudson became her emotional anchor. Sam's parents influenced her entrepreneurial spirit as they led by example. Her mother, a professional figure skater turned physician, made the career pivot at 41 – showing her that the unconventional path can be achieved through hard work. Her father's experience managing racetracks and marketing background gave her exposure to the business world. While many entrepreneurs seek to capitalize on expanding their offerings to increase revenue, Sam has intentionally kept her business primarily focused on a collection of legal templates she coined the Ultimate Bundle which has generated over $8 million in revenue. Her weekly newsletter, "Sam's Sidebar," reaches 47,000 subscribers – impressive for a topic many might consider dry. Her secret? What she calls the "broccoli and mac and cheese strategy." "I consider myself to be the broccoli because a contract or an attorney is something you need. However, everybody just wants mac and cheese. So I use that approach with my audience once they have the legal templates." 'Can you explain your marketing funnel in layman's terms?' I asked. 'I give something to the potential customer in order to invite them in my world, which in this case is a free webinar. After the webinar is completed, they will get a series of emails inviting them to get the Ultimate Bundle.' When asked about the relationship between money and happiness, Sam offered insights drawn from her own experience. "Money doesn't provide happiness. It certainly makes your life easier. I can pay for someone to do my yard, which makes me happy because I don't have to do it. But did it solve all of my life's problems? Of course not." Instead, financial success has allowed her to align her spending with her values—purchasing an electric car, supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with fundraising webinars in honor of her father, and caring for her dad when he was ill. When asked what advice she would impart on an ambitious person early on in their career, she said to always keep an open mind. It's the same philosophy that led her to discover her successful business. 'I didn't think of my main product when I started my business. I only started it because I listened to the feedback. If I had been closed off to it, I would've missed a big opportunity.' As we said our goodbyes, I couldn't help but notice the quiet confidence that comes from someone who has built success on her own terms. Sam Vander Wielen reminds us that sometimes our most meaningful success stories begin with noticing where people are already lining up to ask for our help, rather than forcing our preconceived notions of what our path should be. And perhaps most importantly, she offers a powerful reminder that the business doesn't make you happy - it's learning to find joy in the journey, no matter where the road leads. Click here to listen to the full interview with Sam Vander Wielen
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ohio family contracted stomach bug from puppy bought from Petland, lawsuit claims
GROVE CITY, Ohio (WCMH) – A Grove City family has filed a lawsuit against Petland, claiming a puppy they bought from the Chillicothe-based retailer transmitted an ailment to them. The lawsuit, filed by Brian Guerin and Cara Gozzard on April 29 in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, states the couple bought a female mini Bernadoodle puppy from Petland's Grove City location in January 2023. Columbus woman shares experience as extra for 'Superman' filmed in Ohio The dog, who the family named Nellie, began to have diarrhea within 24 hours of bringing her home, the lawsuit claims. The couple originally thought this may be due to the stress of a new environment. However, the lawsuit claims that within days, the couple's 5-year-old daughter came down with a stomach bug. Within a week of their daughter falling ill, their 5-year-old son began experiencing the same symptoms, including 'severe abdominal pain.' A short time later, Guerin also contracted the ailment. The couple took Nellie to the veterinarian, where she tested positive for Campylobacter, a bacterium that can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, vomiting and a fever. Guerin and his two children then also tested positive for the bacteria, which can spread between humans and animals. Guerin contacted Petland to inform them of the diagnosis, to which the company suggested the family could have acquired the bacteria through another source like raw meat, the filing states. The lawsuit claims both parents had to take time off work to care for their sick children, resulting in lost income. Guerin missed out on a work bonus amounting to thousands of dollars due to his inability to travel, and Gozzard, who is paid hourly, missed nearly a full month of work. Roosters on Olentangy River Road near OSU expects to reopen in the fall Additionally, the filing states Guerin has experienced long-term complications of Campylobacter, including stomach pain that impacts his daily life. The lawsuit argues the store knowingly sold the family an animal that was not healthy and violated the terms of a contract they signed with the retailer, which assured them the animal was kept in a clean and safe environment. The legal action is asking for damages of at least $25,000. The lawsuit was filed by the Ohio-based law firm Holland & Muirden, with assistance from Humane World for Animals, an animal welfare nonprofit. Nellie is now a 'happy' and 'healthy' dog, according to the organization. 'Taking weeks-old puppies away from their mothers and sticking them in a crowded store window is a recipe for spreading disease,' said Mark Finneran, state director of Humane World for Animals. 'The Guerin's case is a reminder that the puppy mill-to-pet store pipeline harms all of us, humans and animals alike.' Petland communications director Maria Smith said the company's attorneys are still reviewing the lawsuit. She claimed the retailer maintains 'stringent health protocols' for the puppies in its care, including an exam by a veterinarian before being offered for sale. 'In the event a puppy shows any signs of illness, it is not available for in-store visits or sale until the pet has undergone its full course of treatment, is no longer symptomatic, and has been re-checked by the store veterinarian and cleared for sale,' Smith said. 'In this particular situation, Petland does not know the facts surrounding how the family contracted Campylobacter and we cannot comment further at this time.' Trial for truck driver in I-70 that killed six will resume Thursday The April filing is not the first time the pet store chain has been at the center of a legal battle. Several other lawsuits were brought against the company in 2024, accusing it of selling sick animals to customers. In response to the previous lawsuits, Petland's CEO Joe Watson said Humane World for Animals is a 'radical animal rights group' that is 'burdening Ohio's busy legal system' to generate publicity. Campylobacter has also previously been connected to Petland. In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigated an outbreak of Campylobacter infection, stating many affected people 'had contact with puppies or were employees at pet stores, including Petland.' Most people recover from Campylobacter infections within a week; however, in rare cases, it can be fatal among young children, the elderly or those with weakened immune systems, according to the World Health Organization. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
Taylor Hit & Run: Driver arrested in death of family dog
TAYLOR, Mich. (FOX 2) - A dog was run over by a hit-and-run driver, leaving the owners to watch their beloved member of the family die in front of them. What they're saying On Monday, Kayla Marcoux was walking her three-year-old Bernadoodle named Gilly near Holland Road between Goddard and Wick. During their walk, a truck turned onto the road in the wrong lane, hit them, and kept on going, with security cameras along the route picking the truck up. "He was hit so hard that he flew out of his leash and harness. I just can't get it out of my head," Marcoux said through tears. "I was just in shock. I felt like I wasn't even in my body, and I was screaming." Those screams were caught on home security footage after the truck barreled into them. Then security cameras at a school a half mile away showed the driver pull up and pick up his daughter like nothing ever happened. What's next The heartbroken couple learned Thursday that Taylor police were able to track down the driver using digital evidence and other clues left at the scene. He is expected to be charged on Friday. What you can do The couple set up a GoFundMe page to donate all proceeds to the Taylor Animal Shelter.
